Emma Bentley

Emma joined Ampersand Families in January 2023. She is very close to graduating from Century College where she is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. She will receive her Associate of Arts degree with focuses on Human Services and Social Work. Emma has worked with youth for 9 years, including 5 years working as an Inclusion Specialist, Behavior Paraprofessional, Special Education Paraprofessional, and Youth Care Professional. She also has 2.5 years of experience volunteering at a shelter for unhoused families and a national children’s literacy nonprofit.

In her free time, Emma enjoys losing herself in a good book, seeing live music, cooking vegan dishes, and perusing thrift stores. However, more often than not, you can find her at home spending quality time with her super senior cat, Kikyo.

Emma is honored to be working for a human services agency that actively works to create systemic change while focusing on underserved populations and treating every youth and family with the utmost dignity and respect, regardless of differences. She feels lucky to be working with a team of people who share many of the same values as her: hope, equity, antiracism, empathy, and more. Her passion for human services work, particularly work involving youth, is stronger than ever. Emma believes every youth deserves an unconditionally loving, safe, supportive, permanent family by their side.