Movement Ambassador – The Handshake of Promise (Volunteer)

Movement Ambassador – The Handshake of Promise (Volunteer)

PromisePublic | Community Engagement, Public Activation & Advocacy

Organization: Mentor A Promise (MAP)

Location: New York City (In-Person Activation)

Type: Volunteer / Event-Based

Reports To: Director of Policy, Advocacy & Public Engagement

Works Closely With: PromisePublic Team, PromiseStudios, Volunteers, Community Participants

About Mentor A Promise

Mentor A Promise (MAP) is a New York City–based nonprofit dedicated to empowering youth experiencing housing instability through mentorship, education, and community. Our work is rooted in dignity, connection, and the belief that every child deserves to be seen, supported, and given the opportunity to thrive.

About PromisePublic | Policy, Advocacy & Public Engagement

PromisePublic is MAP’s public-facing division responsible for advocacy, community engagement, and public activation. The division ensures that MAP’s mission is not only delivered through programs—but seen, felt, and experienced across the city.

About the Movement | The Handshake of Promise

The Handshake of Promise is not just an event—it is a living symbol. A chain of human connection formed hand-to-hand, person-to-person, across our city. It represents what we believe at Mentor A Promise: that no child experiencing housing instability should feel unseen, untouched by care, or disconnected from opportunity.

This movement invites individuals to physically embody hope—through presence, through touch, through unity.

Role Overview

Movement Ambassadors are the heartbeat of this activation. You are not just attending—you are carrying the mission forward through human connection.

Your role is to engage, invite, and build a visible chain of solidarity by connecting hand-to-hand with others, sparking conversations, and amplifying the purpose behind each interaction.

This is advocacy in its most human form.

Key Responsibilities

Form the Chain

• Participate in the symbolic “Handshake of Promise”
• Physically link with others to create a continuous line of connection and unity

Public Engagement

• Invite passersby and community members to join the movement
• Engage individuals in a respectful, welcoming, and inclusive manner

Storytelling & Advocacy

• Share the mission of Mentor A Promise
• Communicate the purpose behind the movement with clarity and authenticity

Presence & Representation

• Represent MAP with professionalism, warmth, and integrity
• Create a space where individuals feel comfortable and valued

Digital Amplification

• Capture and share photos and videos (as appropriate)
• Support extending the movement beyond the physical activation

Meaning & Responsibility

• Understand and uphold the symbolic importance of each interaction
• Ensure all engagement reflects dignity, consent, and care

Qualifications

Required

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Comfort engaging with the public in a respectful and inclusive way
• Ability to represent MAP’s mission with clarity and authenticity
• Alignment with MAP’s dignity-centered and trauma-informed values

Preferred

• Experience in community engagement, outreach, or advocacy
• Interest in social impact, storytelling, or public activation work
• Comfort participating in public-facing events

Commitment

• Event-based volunteer role
• Participation in scheduled NYC activation(s)
• Optional involvement in pre/post event coordination

What You’ll Gain

• Experience participating in a public movement and community activation
• Opportunity to engage directly with communities across NYC
• Collaboration with advocacy, storytelling, and creative teams
• Professional references and letters of recommendation
• A meaningful role in building visibility and connection

How to Apply

Interested participants must apply through Idealist and submit:

• Brief statement of interest describing why this movement resonates with you

This role is not about standing in a line.

It is about becoming part of something larger than yourself.

One hand reaching.

Another hand accepting.

And a city, slowly remembering what it means to hold each other up.

This role holds the pieces together.

From research to outreach to execution—help ensure every story is fully built before it’s told.

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with our organization. At this time, volunteer opportunities are limited to individuals based in the United States due to legal, safeguarding, data-privacy, and programmatic requirements. We appreciate your interest in our mission and your understanding of these constraints.