Maybe not all, but most people who work and live Downtown are familiar with the Downtown Ambassadors. They may not know their specific duties, but at the very least they could probably point one out.
Of course, how could one not be aware of these Ambassadors? They’re certainly not hard to miss with their bright orange shirts and tan hats. Both news stations and papers have covered the Ambassadors, featuring their helpful services to visitors and others walking the streets of Downtown.
But how do the merchants feel about these Downtown Ambassadors? What do they mean to them? And what effect, if any, do they have on them?
Vikki Wilkins, part owner of The UPS Store on 221 N. Hogan St., thinks they’re critical.
“They’re like our eyes and ears,” Wilkins says. “They give us a sense of security. The private towers have their own personal security, so a lot of people don’t realize what it’s like to be out in the streets.”
“But the Ambassadors make it all seem less scary. They bring the merchants a better sense of safety.”
Wilkins also says that with the Downtown community trying to expand even more, these Ambassadors are going to be what makes Downtown unique.
“They’re going to be what sets us apart because whatever you’ll need, they’re going to be there.”