Andrew Ankamah

Champion for change: Andrew Ankamah Jr.

School/College: College of Liberal Arts
Degree: BA, political science, 2023
Hometown: North Brunswick, New Jersey
Current Job Title: Constituent services advisor
Current Employer: Office of Pennsylvania State Representative Amen Brown

Philadelphians of all ages can count on Andrew Ankamah Jr., CLA ’23, for help. As a constituent services advisor for Pennsylvania State Representative Amen Brown, Andrew helps residents of West Philadelphia connect with critical public services such as rent and utility assistance, while also connecting at-risk youth to career opportunities by organizing job and college fairs.

Andrew Ankamah poses with a thumbs up in Philadelphia.

An inclination for public service began in high school, where Andrew served as class president all four years. Shortly after graduation, a video was posted online showing students using a racial slur, inspiring Andrew to create The Accountability Initiative, through which current and former students shared concerns about racism at the school with administrators. The effort led to changes such as stricter disciplinary measures, teacher training and curriculum modifications.

Once enrolled at Temple, Andrew turned The Accountability Initiative into a student organization, focused at first on combating gun violence through public demonstrations at locations like the Bell Tower, and later expanding to youth mentoring. He has since registered the organization as a nonprofit, opening chapters at other colleges across the country and earning a 2023 McDonald’s Black and Positively Golden Change Leader award of $20,000.

“I think Temple made me the leader that I am today. I was able to join student organizations and get involved with the community. But I felt my advocacy really spark around anti-gun violence advocacy, holding protests at the Bell Tower and bridging the gap between the local community and Temple students.”

—Andrew Ankamah
Constituent services advisor

Andrew Ankamah poses in front of Philadelphia wall mural.

Community connections. While at Temple, Andrew held a position working for Britt Walden, director of student services at the Beasley School of Law. Under Walden’s guidance, Andrew says he became much more organized and gained experience juggling multiple responsibilities.

Getting political. After graduation, Andrew jumped at chance to work for Rep. Brown, where more doors opened: Andrew was appointed by former Mayor Jim Kenney to the Philadelphia Youth Commission and was later counseled to pursue a master of public administration at the University of Pennsylvania’s Fels Institute of Government. Andrew isn’t sure which direction his career will head next but notes with a smile that the title of Pennsylvania’s first Gen Z state representative is still up for grabs.