ATLANTA, Ga. — Three decades after the Downtown Atlanta Ambassador Force first hit the streets around the 1996 Olympics, the group is bringing back a piece of Atlanta history.
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The Downtown Atlanta Ambassador Force unveiled new uniforms and fresh branding Monday while recreating an iconic photo of the original ambassadors riding an escalator at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta.
Several dozen current ambassadors took part, including longtime members who have served for more than 20 years.
The original photo featured ambassadors wearing their now-iconic pith hats when the program launched in conjunction with the 1996 Olympics.
“The greatest thing about our ambassadors is that they embody the spirit of welcome that Atlanta is so well-known for,” said Nancy Zintac Vice President of Communications and Engagement, Downtown Atlanta Inc.
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Today, the Ambassador Force is made up of three groups focused on keeping Downtown Atlanta clean, safe and welcoming.
Safety Ambassadors greet visitors, residents and workers, provide directions, assist with issues such as dead batteries and patrol parking areas while also helping with police calls when needed.
Clean Ambassadors pick up trash, remove graffiti, pressure wash public spaces and help maintain Downtown Atlanta.
Outreach Ambassadors work with people experiencing homelessness, connecting them with resources, case management, MARTA cards, Lyft rides, family reunification and housing placements.
The Ambassador Force was founded in 1996 by Central Atlanta Progress, now part of Downtown Atlanta, Inc., through the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District.
The organization says the program has spent the past 30 years helping create a clean, safe and welcoming environment in the heart of Atlanta.
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