Ambassadors of Hope and Opportunity Project

AHO 3 Fold INTENTION: 
1)     To educate the community about the growing issue of youth homelessness 
 
2)     To make a Case for an NEW THINK DIFFERENT Approach to serving homelessness youth – with AHO as the successful model 
 
3) To inspire & share the ways the community can get involved in the solution. 
AHO is changing the narrative around the Youth Homelessness and offering ways, the Marin community,
can lead the way around this growing trend.
AHO is a unique model, with a successful youth-led solution, to the old narrative.
“A problem cannot be solved by the same thinking that created it." Albert Einstein

--Creating a New Narrative to educate the community about the growing issue of youth homelessness. --Engaging and inspiring youth and the community to become actively involved in the solution.
--AHO is relationship based and personalized to each youth's needs…….at AHO youth are not “cases to be managed"
--Youth involved in every aspect of the organization where their voices are heard, honored and
respected.
--AHO focuses on personalized, comprehensive resources that you choose.
--Youth offered leadership opportunities using the 21st Century Life Skills for Success through projects they design and create.
• Initiation
• Problem solving
• Critical thinking
• Collaboration
• Creativity
• Communication
--Work with youth up to 5 years or more as needed so they have the support to reach theirs goals.
--Offer ways to bring the COMMUNITY together toward the SOLUTION. --AHO is a unique model, with a successful youth-led solution, to the old narrative.

--AHO is a unique model, with a successful youth-led solution, to the old narrative that has attracted a strong, committed Board and Council of Investors, the fundraising arm of AHO. --

The support of a 165-member Alliance for Youth service partner network of doctors, dentists, optometrists, trauma therapists, attorneys and other professionals and organizations, businesses, faith communities and individuals that help AHO provide pro bono comprehensive personalized support for AHO youth.

Over the past 17 years since AHO's inception, 3,725 previously homeless young adults have been successfully served to complete their educations and move forward to achieve their life goals. Many have graduated from four year schools like UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, Loyola University, Portland University, Brown University and others are at College of Marin.

AHO Youth Team has produced 6 Youth Connect events where the key resources homeless youth need are brought together in one location to eliminate the barriers of transportation and lack of support. Twelve Car Washes for a Cause and Youth Concert fundraiser. The AHO Youth Homelessness to Hope traveling murals which the youth team engaged 30 schools and over 1,200 youth to participate with them in creating which since their completion in 2013 have been exhibited all over the Bay Area where previously youth come to share their stories and educate the community about this growing issue.

After traveling for the past 8 years throughout the Bay Area, AHO is gifting the murals to College of Marin as their permanent home, thus leaving a legacy of AHO to the college.

Awards
AHO’s Founder was honored with the National Jefferson Award for Humanitarian Service in 2007. Also in 2007, Vince Chew, a previously homeless youth served by AHO, was honored with the Heart of Marin Award in the adult category, as Volunteer of the Year.
In 2008, Peter Coyote narrated the AHO documentary film titled, “Youth Homelessness: A Growing Trend,” which aired twice on PBS and was screened before the California Legislature. This film was produced by the California Research Bureau in Sacramento, an AHO partner, and the lead agency for homeless youth research.
In 2011, AHO received the Hero of Marin Award for spearheading a groundbreaking, successful program model and for persevering in addressing the growing trend of youth homelessness in Marin.

In 2016, AHO received a Founder’s Award as a role model for its insight, foresight and courage to bring this issue to the community’s attention.

In 2017, AHO’s Founder was honored with the Marin Women’s Hall of Fame Award in the category of Social Change for her innovative, preventative, cost-effective, youth-friendly and community-driven program for homeless youth that offers a successful model for other communities.

In 2017, AHO received the We Rise Award from the Hivery

In January 2018, Macie Millstein, a youth volunteer on the AHO Youth Leadership Team, received the Heart of Marin Award as Youth Volunteer of the Year.

In 2019, AHO was twice nominated for Innovation and Nonprofit Excellence for the Heart of Marin Award.

In October 2020, AHO received the 100Marin Award in the field of Public Health.