Autism Mentorship Program

07/12/2025

https://spokesman-recorder.com/2025/07/09/black-fatherhood-autism-advocacy/

A father’s journey raising a daughter with autism becomes a powerful call to action for Black families, policy change, and inclusive education.

05/17/2025

AMP Mentors Past and Present in the News!

We're delighted to see three wonderful AMP mentors from Minnesota Independence College & Community (MICC) featured on local TV news. MICC has been a great partner of ours since our early development days. We're proud of you, Jenna, Dustin, and Josie!

https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/minnesota-independence-college-community-adults-with-autism/?intcid=CNM-00-10abd1h

https://www.micc.org/micc-participant-featured-on-rochester-kttc-news/

Emily

Emily Goldberg
Founder
Autism Mentorship Program
612.871.4390

Rochester's KTTC TV visited campus to interview MICC staff and participants, including Josie who is originally from Rochester! The interviews discussed how MICC programs empower participants to live independently with thriving careers and vibrant social lives.

05/03/2025

We're excited to have AMP staff and mentors featured in the media recently!

Hear Autism Mentorship Program founder Emily Goldberg and mentor Anna Voight discuss the AMP experience and more on the Mentoring Future Autistic Leadership episode of Today's Autistic Moment:
https://todaysautisticmoment.com/episode/mentoring-future-autistic-leadership
Note that the AMP discussion begins at 20:27.

In the previous episode of Today's Autistic Moment, longtime AMP mentor Jenna Olson discusses how Minnesota Independence College & Community (MICC) prepared her to be a leader in her work and life:
https://todaysautisticmoment.com/episode/educating-future-autistic-leadership

And in honor of April being autism acceptance month, here's AMP session facilitator Ali Burris's 2024 Autism Acceptance Day presentation for Kenworth Truck Company. She discusses the importance of autism advocacy, the difference between autism awareness and autism acceptance, and what self-advocates want you to know about autism:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkh6PkWqa4o&t=272s

Enjoy!

Emily

Emily Goldberg
Founder
Autism Mentorship Program
612.871.4390

Autism Acceptance Day presentation given by ASW president Ali Burris to Kenworth Truck Company! We discuss the importance of autism advocacy, the difference ...

01/30/2025

Here's a great PAID opportunity from our friends at MNprov.

MNprov Co-Founder Kelly Kautz previously ran a mentorship program at Minnetonka High School and was a wonderful resource for us when we were doing our initial research to build the Autism Mentorship Program.

At least one AMP mentee has taken MNprov classes and thoroughly enjoyed them!

We highly recommend this organization and the activities they offer.

https://mnprov.org/mnprov-live?

An improv performance troupe for neurodivergent adult performers! All positions are paid. Auditions to join the troupe will be:Saturday, February 8, from 2 - 6 pm &Sunday, February 9, from 12 - 4 pmYouth Performance Company641 Fairview Ave. N., Suite 191, St. Paul AUDITION REGISTRATION Welcome to MN...

12/23/2024

Guest Post: More info in comments

12/23/2024

🌟 Support and Inspire: Mentoring for Autistic Youth by Autistic Adults 🌟

The Autism Mentorship Program connects autistic youth with autistic adult mentors to create a supportive, understanding, and empowering community. Through shared experiences, our mentors guide and inspire young people to embrace their unique strengths and navigate life's challenges.
💡 Why It Matters:

Builds confidence and belonging for autistic youth.
Fosters meaningful connections with mentors who truly understand.
Creates opportunities for personal growth and success.
✨ How You Can Help

👉 Become a Mentor: https://autismmentorshipprogram.org/amp-mentor-application-form/
👉 Donate: https://autismmentorshipprogram.org/donate/
Together, let’s create a brighter future for the autistic community. 💙

12/02/2024

Learn about the Autistic Voices Oral History Project and the paid fellowship program they offer, called The Autistic Lived Experience: Community Curation and Memory Workers Fellowship.

"This groundbreaking fellowship program ... aims to expand understanding of neurodiversity, foster collective and accessible community documentation of the Autistic lived experience and advocacy movement, and enhance the fields of archives and oral history."

Applications open now through January 31st, 2025.

The Autistic Voices Oral History Project seeks to record, collect, preserve, and make publicly accessible the personal stories and lived experiences of autistic people spanning a broad range of experiences, intersectional identities and perspectives.

11/20/2024

Hello AMP Friends,

It's that time of year again when we look to you to Give to your Max to help support more mentorship for autistic youth by autistic adults!

If you've read enough of these fundraising emails and just want to jump into action and DONATE, here you go! https://www.givemn.org/story/Autismmentorship

Otherwise, read on!

I'm happy to report that the Autism Mentorship Program continues to grow and expand. With 26 mentors from a wide range of backgrounds serving 26 equally diverse young people, this year we raised the upper age limit of the youth we serve from 14 to 22 in order to provide much-needed and requested support in the often difficult transition years after high school.

As you may know, however, the funding landscape for nonprofits is changing, with fewer dollars available to fund programs like ours. With the community’s need for our mentorship services far outstripping what our resources can supply, we are currently looking at a $20,000 income gap for next year’s program.

In order to keep our program free and accessible for all Twin Cities autistic youth and their families, our Give to the Max goal this year is to raise that additional $20,000 needed to run next year’s program. It’s ambitious, but with your help we can keep AMP going and growing!

• Your contribution of $50 will pay for one mentorship session for 10 autistic young people.

• Your contribution of $100 will support mentorship for one autistic young person for 6 months

• Your contribution of $250 will provide training and orientation to prepare all mentors, mentees and their families to get the most out of the program.

• Any contribution, no matter its size will make a difference!

Won’t you please make your tax-deductible contribution today? With your help, together we can ensure that autistic young people get the connection and support they need to help them thrive.

Please donate now through our fiscal sponsor, Pillsbury United Communities: https://www.givemn.org/story/Autismmentorship

Thank you so much for your support!

AMP pairs autistic youth and adults in meaningful 1-to-1 mentoring relationships.

11/15/2024

AMP mentor Adriana Aldridge and founder Emily Goldberg (pictured here) met a lot of wonderful future mentors at the 7th annual Autistic Community Summit this weekend! AMP is proud to be an exhibitor and sponsor of this wonderful Autism Society of Minnesota event, designed for and by autistics.

Here's more information about the Summit, which takes place each fall:
Created and curated by people with autism and for people with autism, the purpose of the Autistic Community Summit is to provide a space for community building and sharing the knowledge and perspectives of Minnesota’s autistic community. This year’s summit is dedicated to amplifying the voices of autistic individuals and fostering a supportive community that embraces diversity, inclusion, and empowerment.
For more information, visit:
https://ausm.org/events/autistic-community-summit-2024/

09/08/2024

Our founder Emily and facilitator AJ spent the day at Imagine Cedar. We got to talk with quite a few interesting and interested people about AMP. Including Ilhan Omar. She said she would pass our info along to her team to add to her resource list.

Imagine Cedarfest is a big, family-friendly block party for neighborhood connection and community organization. This event is a fantastic way to experience artists, musicians, and local businesses from the neighborhood...

07/25/2024

Mentor an Autistic Youth!
Be Mentored by an Autistic Adult!
The Autism Mentorship Program is looking for
● Autisticadults(18+)whowanttosupportautisticteens
● Autisticyouth(age14-22)whowantmentorshipsupport
Are you an autistic young person between the ages of 14 and 22 who wants to connect with someone who has been where you are and truly understands? Or are you an autistic adult who is interested in mentoring an autistic youth? If you live in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area, you’re eligible to join the Autism Mentorship Program to talk, play games, and connect, all from the comfort of your own home. Mentorship sessions take place one hour a week over Zoom from October through May, with structure and support for all provided by autistic facilitators. We are an inclusive community that celebrates diversity.
Accepting applications for Fall 2024-Spring 2025 program year until July 31, 2024 Interested in finding out more or applying?
Visit our website:
www.autismmentorshipprogram.org
AMP logo original design by 2018-2020 AMP mentee Johnny Jimenez Lezama

“It’s pretty powerful. I feel like I’m making a real difference in their life…it makes me excited to come here!”

04/01/2024

Check out the Mom Enough podcast to hear founder Emily Goldberg and mentor Uma Oswald discuss the power of the Autism Mentorship Program:

Emily Goldberg, founder of the Autism Mentorship Program, & mentor Uma Oswald share insights on the power of mentorship for autistic youth.