Emily Lindell

Emily joined Ampersand Families in August 2020 and was promoted to Senior Youth Leadership Program Coordinator in March 2023. Emily brings a multi-disciplinary background to her work at Ampersand Families. In the past she has answered hotlines and facilitated support groups for survivors of sexual violence; worked at an LGBTQ youth community center; provided support for incarcerated and formerly-incarcerated parents; attended childbirth as a doula (pregnancy and labor support person); facilitated unlearning racism workshops for white peers; taught comprehensive sexual health education to junior high and high school students; and provided administrative, accounting, and clerical support in a variety of settings. Emily has many years of experience working in Minneapolis and St Paul-based nonprofits, plus a decade with organizations in and around Bemidji, Minnesota.

When she is not facilitating MYVoice activities, Emily loves to ride bike, garden, camp, and play roller derby. She also loves spending time with her niblings and the other important young people in her life. Emily considers herself pretty nerdy and is into crosswords, audio books, and being cozy. Despite her introversion, Emily loves people, her bio and chosen family, her housemates, and her amazing friends.

Emily believes that connection, belonging, and healthy relationships have the power to transform our lives and our world. She places a high value on racial equity, social justice, centering youth voices, and trying to live out the maxim “Nothing about us, without us, is for us” when it comes to the impact of youth expertise on the child welfare system. These are all reasons that she loves being part of the team at Ampersand Families. Emily is honored to get to work alongside young people from across Minnesota as a part of MYVoice programming. Emily is passionate about collaborating with young people to enact the MYVoice values of Connection, Education, and Change.