Anna Hollis

Amachi Pittsburgh

Amachi Pittsburgh - Empowering young minds to overcome the challenges of parental incarceration and reach their full potential. Amachi (ah-mah'​-chee) is a Nigerian Ibo word that means, "Who knows what God has brought us through this child?"​ The English translation of "Amachi"​ forms the foundation of our mission to empower young minds to overcome the challenges of parental incarceration and reach their full potential. We work strategically to support children and families impacted by incarceration through a unique partnership of secular and faith-based organizations. Our core services include one-on-one mentoring, family reunification (delete and) support, and advocacy. Of the 2 million children with an incarcerated parent in the U.S., more than 8,500 live and struggle with the many associated challenges (such as shame and shifting home environments) in the Greater Pittsburgh Area. Without immediate and sustained intervention, these innocent children can follow a well-documented trajectory of a generational cycle of poverty, crime, and incarceration. We are committed to addressing this crisis on three fronts: 1) one-on-one mentoring to help break the generational cycle of incarceration, 2) family reunification support to strengthen family ties that help reduce trauma for children and recidivism when parents are reentering society, and 3) youth leadership/advocacy development to empower constituents to raise awareness and advocate for change through the use of their powerful voices and compelling stories.