Amber Clayborne is the parent of a survivor of child sexual abuse and a dedicated advocate for children and families affected by sexual trauma. Originally from San Francisco, California, Amber navigated complex systems to find the support and resources her family needed in the aftermath of abuse.
Motivated by her personal experience, Amber founded the Kerengende Foundation in 2019. Kerengende provides child sexual abuse prevention education, along with direct services and support for children and families throughout Illinois.
Amber’s mission is to help build communities that are informed about body safety, consent, and abuse prevention so that fewer children experience trauma. She serves on the board of Children’s Advocacy Centers of Illinois (CACI), a statewide network that coordinates comprehensive responses to child abuse cases across Illinois.
Amber has spoken at conferences across the country on child sexual abuse prevention, healing, her family’s experiences, and the mission and vision of her organization. She is passionate about fostering more compassionate interactions with law enforcement, empowering communities to prevent and respond to abuse, and highlighting the importance of strong community partnerships. She holds a Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management and is an ICF-accredited Healing-Centered Coach.
She also serves on the Safe From the Start Committee through East Side Aligned, which supports families with children ages 0–5 who have been affected by violence. The committee works to develop a sustainable system of care centered on child well-being and holistic family health.