Our Story
AMP is the brainchild of Emily Goldberg, the mother of two autistic sons. One day, her son came home from school and recounted the social challenges he encountered on the playground: “No one understands me, Mom. Not even you, because your brain works different than mine.”
She realized that while her boys were supported by a network of family, friends, teachers and therapists, they did not know any autistic adults who could serve as positive role models. She envisioned a program in which autistic adults would serve as mentors for children and adolescents who face the unique challenges that growing up autistic in a neurotypical world can present.
With the support of the Autism Society of Minnesota, AMP was piloted in the Minneapolis metropolitan area in January 2019 and has been serving autistic adults and youth since.
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Hear from our Participants
“It’s pretty powerful. I feel like I’m making a real difference in their life…it makes me excited to come here!”
Josie, AMP Mentor
Hear from Josie about her experience as a mentor here.
“It’s good to just get something off your chest to somebody that you know can hear you & you know is actually listening.”
Yari, AMP Mentee
Meet Yari in KARE11’s feature on AMP.
“It’s something that I wish I had when I was growing up in high school…somebody who’s older, who’s been there before.”
Derek, AMP Mentor
Visit KARE11’s feature on AMP to hear more about Derek.
AMP Staff
Emily Goldberg (she/her)
Founder
Emily parents autistic twin boys who sparked the idea for AMP. She oversees the program, engaging in strategic planning, establishing partnerships, and working to secure financial support.
Jenny Dempsey (she/her)
Program Manager
Jenny’s extensive background in nonprofit management and social work have been essential to AMP’s development from the start.
She manages the program and is the main point person for mentors, mentees and their families. She parents an autistic teen and speaks fluent Spanish.
AJ Hokland (they/them)
Program Consultant
An autistic parent, teacher, and advocate, AJ has been a leading AMP voice, directing the program’s shape from early concept development to the present.
They lead mentoring sessions, support participants, and develop and host “Mentoring the Mentors” programming to support AMP mentors.
Always insightful and eloquent about their autistic experience, AJ was featured on the “Autism After 18” podcast, which you can listen to here.