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HOW TO JOIN
READY TO APPLY?
- Explore our website. Check out our programs and review our admissions requirements.
- Learn more about the Chicago Chapter activities by exploring the tabs on this webpage.
- Submit your application (it should take around 30 minutes or less) and pay the $75 application fee to hold your spot. Questions or tech issues? Reach out to our Admissions team at [email protected].
APPLICATION DEADLINES
January 21, 2026 is the Application Deadline to join the Chicago Chapter. Late applications may be considered on a case-by-case basis until training starts. Please contact [email protected] for more information.
Missed the local chapter deadline? You can still join us for summer 2026 through the National Chapter and complete training virtually!
Interviews
The Chicago Chapter will reach out to schedule a family interview online via Zoom. At least one parent or guardian is required to attend, and the interview lasts approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour.
CONTACT
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact [email protected].
ABOUT
The AMIGOS Chicago Chapter is part of a 9 Chapter Network that recruits, trains, and supports AMIGOS volunteers and families in their local community. Volunteers from the Chicago area train together as a group before leaving for their summer experience in Latin America. Our board supports volunteers and families with group fundraising, service learning, community building, and overall preparation. Learn more about our Summer Programs here!
HISTORY
During Summer 2021, the Chicago North Chapter and Urban Chicago Chapter merged to form the Chicago Chapter. Since Chicago North’s incorporation in 1973 and Urban Chicago’s incorporation in 2003, over 1,000 youth from Chicago and its suburbs have volunteered through the chapter path, fundraising and training locally before the summer.
CURRENT VOLUNTEERS
Chicago Chapter volunteers attend Evanston Township High School, Glenbrook North High School, Glenbrook South High School, Jones College Prep, New Trier High School, Northside College Prep, Walter Payton College Prep, Whitney Young Magnet High School, Von Steuben High School, and many more!
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
AMIGOS actively recruits and supports inclusion of volunteers from diverse backgrounds. AMIGOS Chicago provides need-based financial assistance with distribution determined by family income, number of dependents, and special financial circumstances. We provide amounts of $500–$2,500 to qualified applicants as financial assistance deductions on the program fee.
Applicants applying for financial assistance may request a temporary waiver of the $75 non-refundable application fee. The waiver is temporary while the chapter reviews the financial assistance application and determines an award offer (if any). If the volunteer and family accept the offer to join AMIGOS, they will then be required to pay the $75 non-refundable application fee.
On the application, students should select “Yes” that they intend to apply for financial assistance. Students must select “Yes” to this question in order for the Financial Assistance Application to appear on their dashboard. Then, at the end of the application, they should select, “I request a waiver”.
ADDITIONAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
- All alumni interested in volunteering again with AMIGOS qualify to apply for the Alumni Award. We highly encourage you to apply for financial assistance.
- Earn discounts or cash payments for referring the next cohort of AMIGOS volunteers! Learn more about our Alumni Referral Program and sign up to receive your unique referral code.
RESOURCES:
- All alumni interested in volunteering again with AMIGOS qualify to apply for the Alumni Award.
- To learn more about program fees, check out the Fees and Financial Assistance webpage.
CONTACT:
- Please reach out to the AMIGOS Chicago Treasurer with any questions regarding financial assistance via email at [email protected].
TRAINING
The transformative AMIGOS experience starts before leaving home.
With over 60 years of experience preparing young people for travel and service abroad, AMIGOS training offers unparalleled global youth leadership development. Pre-departure training equips volunteers with the critical thinking, communication skills, and technical knowledge they need to make a meaningful impact across cultures while staying healthy and safe. The Chicago Chapter AMIGOS training is youth-led, experiential learning that prepares volunteers for their AMIGOS experience, builds a community of youth and families with shared values, and develops life-skills to help students succeed beyond AMIGOS. Training sessions are facilitated by the Training Team and include guest speakers from the community and the Board of Directors.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TRAINING PROGRAM INCLUDE:
- Unparalleled leadership development
- Cross-cultural awareness and understanding
- Health and safety training
- Opportunities to practice Spanish
- Creating a community of young people with shared values
TRAINING CALENDAR
The Chicago Chapter is finalizing the 2025-2026 training schedule. More information will be shared here soon!
FUNDRAISING
GROUP FUNDRAISING
AMIGOS Chicago provides chapter discounts, offers financial assistance, and covers local program costs through fundraising activities. We chose these activities to maximize our ability to provide the AMIGOS experience to all volunteers without regard to family financial circumstances.
Fundraising skills are an important component of AMIGOS training program and raise awareness of AMIGOS programs in the community. Volunteers receive considerable help with regard to fundraising strategies, and the experience gained in this effort will build important skills!
LETTER WRITING/DONOR CONTACTS
Each volunteer is required to send out a combination of 100 letters and emails to friends and family, to request individual tax-deductible donations (the revenue from this effort is pooled). Letters are written by the volunteer with considerable help provided by the chapter during the process.
To see some of our fundraising efforts from last year, check out our Summer 2025 CauseVox Campaign here.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Kelsey Creamer
President and Assistant Training Director
Kelsey first joined AMIGOS in 2007 as a volunteer in Paraguay from the Chicago North Chapter. She has maintained her relationship with AMIGOS by serving on both the closed Phoenix Chapter and Chicago Chapter boards. She currently holds the title of President and Assistant Training Director. Kelsey has continued growing in the social sector and works for a nonprofit board service program at Northwestern University. Outside of work, Kelsey enjoys going to concerts, cooking and spending time with her rescue Boston Terriers.
Lauren Antosz
Treasurer
[email protected]
AMIGOS was the first opportunity Lauren took advantage of to travel internationally. Little did she know that it would solidify her interest in cultural exchange and community development! She went on to study abroad and conduct research in Santiago, Chile through programs at the University of Notre Dame and with the U.S. Student Fulbright Program. Now that she is back in Chicago, she supports the local chapter as Treasurer!
Megan Harsh
Training Director
[email protected]
Megan is proud to be a Midwesterner who grew up in Indiana, and has now settled in Chicago after post-grad layovers in Mexico, Washington, and California. She teaches Spanish at DePaul and works at a federally qualified health center in the city. Megan is in her emerging athlete era and will run her first marathon this fall. You can find her open water swimming in the summer and cross country skiing in the winter, as well as maxing out library cards and nerding out on all things linguistics. We’re thrilled to have her as Chicago Chapter Training Director!
Share Your Time and Talent!
The Chicago Chapter of AMIGOS is always looking for volunteer board members! If you are interested in contributing to our chapter either as a board member or as an ad-hoc volunteer, please email [email protected].