Mayor’s Young Ambassador Initiative

The Mayor’s Young Ambassador Initiative (MaYA) provides transformative international travel experiences for community college students from the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD), most of whom have limited access to global learning opportunities. Fully funded by the City of Los Angeles and private donors, MaYA enables Los Angeles College Promise students to immerse themselves in new cultures, build cross-cultural competencies, and develop personal and professional skills.

Launched in 2018 by the City of Los Angeles under Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Office of International Affairs, MaYA is now operated by the City’s Youth Development Department (YDD) in collaboration with the Foundation for the Los Angeles Community Colleges and the L.A. College Promise Implementation Team. To date, MaYA has sent more than 269 students on trips to 14 unique international locations, including Egypt, Mexico, France, Taiwan, Kenya, China, and more.

Participants, known as Ambassadors, are drawn from across the nine LACCD campuses and 41 Los Angeles ZIP codes. 61% are the first in their families to attend college, 47% are first-time international travelers, and one-third are first-time passport holders.

Impact Highlights

  • 84% of alumni report staying in touch with tripmates years after the program.

  • 88% of alumni reported increased personal confidence; 95% reported increased motivation. Students regularly cite MaYA as a source of strength, courage, and inspiration in their ongoing educational journeys.

  • 85% of alumni feel more confident navigating professional environments. Many reference MaYA in résumés, scholarship applications, or interviews, highlighting teamwork, leadership, and global awareness.

  • 87% of Ambassadors from early cohorts have completed their degrees, certificates, or transferred.

  • 98% of alumni express a desire to travel again; 60% have done so since their MaYA trip.

  • 89% report increased civic engagement at home. Participants return with a broader understanding of cultural and global issues, and often engage more deeply with civic life in L.A.

Explore the MaYA Impact Report
Logo of Los Angeles City College, featuring a stylized black tree or plant in the center on a blue background with the name encircling it.
Seal of the City of Los Angeles featuring the American flag, bear, eagle, castle, and lion symbols, with a border of beads and the text 'City of Los Angeles' and 'Founded 1781'.
Logo for the LA City Department of Youth Development, blue text with a stylized YDD and city skyline
Logo for the Foundation for the Los Angeles Community Colleges, featuring a stylized 'L' in colorful geometric shapes and the organization's name in black and blue text.
Group of young people standing in front of an airplane at an airport, smiling and posing for the photo. Some are wearing blue T-shirts with 'MaYA 2018 Summer Abroad' printed on them.
Group of 15 young people posing outdoors by the water with the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge in the background on a sunny day.
Group of young people and officials gathering in a formal room with American, California, and organization flags, holding diplomas, smiling, celebrating achievement.
A group of diverse young adults and professionals posing together in a room with wood-paneled walls and flags in the background.
Group of people riding camels in the desert with pyramids in the background.
Group of seven young adults posing indoors in front of multiple international flags, smiling and making peace signs.
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