Amber Neal started working at Project Exploration in June of last year. And with over 10 years of experience working with youth in Chicago, she has a deep understanding and passion for creating pathways.

“We’re really trying to build this pipeline of pathways for our participants from when they are learners to now they are in a workforce development program and we are supporting them in their journey of becoming an adult,” said Neal who has previously worked for Chicago Public Schools, Northwestern and other nonprofits. “And what does that mean to have a support system in a city like Chicago, especially on the West Side and South side of Chicago.”

Project Exploration Senior Program Manager for the STEM Ecosystem Amber Neal’s favorite color is pink! Photo by Benjamin Cummings for Project Exploration.

Neal serves as Senior Program Manager of the STEM Ecosystem at Project Exploration. In her role, she oversees youth workforce initiatives and programs which get support through the Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS). She also assists Perriyana Clay, the Director of the STEM ecosystem in overseeing partnerships with other scientific institutions.

“We try to build up our partnerships across the West Side and South Side of Chicago. And we also try to ensure that there is an awareness of STEM within the communities that we serve and with which we work alongside. And to ensure that everyone has access to these opportunities that are being offered.”

Neal oversees the STEAMbassador program, an out of school time facilitator program for 18-24-year-olds in youth development. She grew familiar with it when she was at Northwestern and continues this program at Project Exploration.

Her Story

Neal was born and raised on the South Side in Marquette Park where she was nourished by her mom and her community. She attended a selective enrollment high school where she had the opportunity to meet and benefit from mentorship and counselors, which inspired her to provide these experiences to others.

• 

  In college, Neal served as the president for her chapter at Habitat for Humanity, assisting the houseless community. Photo by Amber Neal,

• 

  By the time Neal had graduated college she had lots of service experience. Her mom is also her number one inspiration! Photo by Amber Neal.

“You will see that sometimes folks have the heart to do the work, but they don’t have the resources or the support to be able to do what they want to do,” said Neal. “Having that experience of having those adults who had the heart but also had the resources to be able to do what they wanted to do was a really eye-opening privilege.”

In high school, she got into community service or service-learning work. And she continued this work at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign where she was the vice president of her Habitat for Humanity chapter.

Her Inspiration and Mission

Neal’s greatest inspiration is her mom, who she said formed deep connections within her community, in order to “keep striving, and keep on going.” 

“She’s shown me over the years all of the kind notes that she has received. It just shows the kindness of her heart which inspires me to be a giving person and just be nice,” said Neal, whose mom has been working at her job for 30 years. “I’ve seen how she’s been able to give kindness and love to people in multiple different ways. You know how some people give that love or kindness in just one way? I think she’s been able to see people for who they are and give kindness in the way they’d like to receive it.”

Neal’s goal is to create systems that are both of and for the communities within which we serve. She makes it a point to break down the barrier between non-profits and communities in order to provide solutions to and be directly accountable to the people.

Neal, left, tables at a recruitment event with the Project Exploration team. Photo by Project Exploration.

“I actually do love building relationships with people. In most of my jobs I’ve had the task of building a collaborative effort or partnership between organizations,” said Neal. “I think that coming here at Project Exploration that I’ve been able to pass down some of those tools or ways to lead an initial conversation with partners or people and I hope to be able to continue to do that as well.”

“I do really enjoy intentionally building out relationships and partnerships with people. Understanding and knowing that,‘hey this is not just us asking for a favor, this is not just me asking you to do this for us. It’s a two-way street.’” Said Neil, who went on to comment on the youth workforce and STEAMbassadors. “I want us not just to be an employer of our participants, because part of our role when it comes to receiving this funding is to be that support system and to be that mentor space for them.”