The Youth Ambassadors Initiative (YAI), was developed as a summer pilot project in 2011 to meaningfully engage our long-time youth who have been involved in M.O.M.I.E for several years.  The YAI is a year-round initiative that engages and employs youth in creative community projects to develop their potential, build leadership, and strengthen their sense of purpose within M.O.M.I.E’s. On an ongoing basis, the initiative offers support in academic development, mentorship, advocacy, career development, college preparation, human rights education, and financial education. 

Our Youth Ambassadors are dynamic, creative, and passionate young people who have spent their core developmental years at M.O.M.I.E.  As part of the YAI, M.O.M.I.E offers an intensive 6-week summer program and is working toward expanding programming year-round.
 
The Youth Ambassadors Initiative is guided by the following key goals:

• Deepen leadership opportunities for our young people (both within and outside the organization).

• Engage our young people in meaningful, relevant work experiences.

• Elevate critical academic and career skills including, writing, teamwork, public speaking, and project management.

• Improve academics in school.

• Gain entry into the best middle, high schools, and colleges in the city.

 
The ultimate goal of the YAI is to take M.O.M.I.E’s to the next level by institutionalizing the initiative’s foundation so that we are nurturing our young leaders to ultimately become the change-makers that we teach them about.