2025

Ambition Harper is the first foster care poet in the history of the United States. He holds an associate’s degree from Camden Community College and is currently attending Rutgers University in the Criminal Justice Program. Ambition is the founder of The Adopt Channel and the New Jersey Child Welfare Association (NJCWA), an organization that honors professionals in the child welfare ecosystem. He is also a member of both the Rutgers NAACP and the Gloucester NAACP chapters. Ambition Harper is a lecturer and poetic theorist who believes that poetry has the power to change people and perspectives. He is a four-time author and has performed at Rutgers University, Temple University, and for the NAACP, as well as at various conferences and panels. In addition to his performances, Ambition teaches poetry workshops designed to help other poets use passion, stories, and memories to convey impactful messages. He believes that spoken word is the intersection of literature and acting.

Beyond his work as a national poet, Ambition is also known for his foster care advocacy. He has organized conferences and workshop panels focused on improving the foster care system. Drawing from his own adoption story, he seeks to uplift and encourage children and adults who have experienced similar traumas.