Fall 2025 Ambassador Fellowship

The Ambassador Fellowship assists formerly incarcerated people in cultivating the skills and system-knowledge needed to lead the fight for criminal legal reform. Ambassadors work to combat the dangerous one-sided narrative that influences the way the public responds to criminal legal issues. This paid, eight-month fellowship trains system-impacted people in storytelling, advocacy, and organizing to lead conversations about the harms of mass incarceration and to push for reform. 

The ideal candidate would be an individual who poses the following qualities:

  • Lived experience within the carceral system 
  • Passionate about transforming their story into a narrative for social change
  • Been home for over 1 year
  • Established in their basic needs (employment, housing, childcare, etc) and is ready for an additional challenge.

The position requires a weekly commitment of 10 hours. The first 6 months of the fellowship will involve weekly training in a hybrid in-person/remote schedule. Over the course of the second stage fellowship, it is our desire that Ambassadors participate in speaking engagements, sharing their story while cultivating their personal advocacy message. 

Ambassadors will receive a monthly stipend of $1,000 each month of the program. 

Application Requirements:

  • Desire to talk about direct personal experience with the criminal legal system 
  • Public speaking experience
  • Passion for changing the criminal legal system
  • Motivation to share their personal perspective and cultivate their skills
  • Desire to be a part of a team and an advocate for IPP’s message
  • Ability to travel to our office in the Chicago Loop on a bi-weekly basis 
  • Ability to attend a hybrid training every Monday from 1-3pm (with the exception of federal holidays).

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis between August 18th - September 5th. Please apply using this Google Form.