12th Annual First Gen Summit
Saturday, November 2, 2024, at Southern New Hampshire University
Our 2024 First Gen Summit Keynote Speaker
Erica Alfaro is an award-winning author, educational advocate, and the proud daughter of migrant farm-workers. In 2019, Erica’s graduation picture, standing in a strawberry field with her farm-worker parents, became the first graduation picture to go viral. Her story received global recognition and made headlines worldwide. Erica was born in Fresno, CA but grew up in Tijuana, Mexico. She was 13 years old when her family returned to the United States. Erica struggled academically, became a teen mom, dropped out of high school, and lived many years of domestic abuse. Education was Erica’s ticket out of poverty and the door to many opportunities. After many adversities, Erica defied the odds and became the first woman in her family to obtain a formal education and a graduate degree.
Meet our 2023 Keynote Speaker!
A Place to be Inspired & Inspire Others!
The First Gen Summit serves as a site for the meeting of the minds. First-gen students and their allies come together to identify problems, discuss grassroots solutions, and share what’s working on their campuses. First and foremost, we want to find solutions identified by students who can work with their staff, administrators, and faculty allies to create change. First Gen Leadership offers spaces where students can both identify these problems and build grassroots solutions to them.
Which workshops would you like to attend?
Check out our early workshop submissions
Say Hello To Our Speakers
We couldn't be more excited about our lineup. Which workshops will you be checking out?
Summit Schedule
Become a Sponsor
Sponsoring organizations and businesses make it possible for the summit to remain free for all students. Email Summit@classism.org if you are interested in sponsoring and click below to see our sponsorship levels.
Join our Mailing List
To keep up to date about the Summit, join our mailing list, where you can learn about submitting workshops, registration deadlines, and announcements about keynote speakers.
Our Summit Story
The First Gen Summit was envisioned by Adj Marshall in the fall of 2012 as a place for first-generation college students to come together to define and design new ways of viewing the First Gen label in contrast to the generally applied deficit lens. The very first Summit was held in the Spring of 2013 with just 40 attendees. Today the First Gen Summit brings together between 200-300 students and allies each year.
Since 2012 First Gen Leadership has worked with first-generation students through consultations and workshops at many campuses throughout the country First Gen Leadership has offered First Gen students access to the materials, tools, and networking opportunities necessary to thrive in a college environment and beyond. First Gen Leadership also works with campus faculty, staff and administrations to identify obstacles to First Gen and low-income students.
Workshop Submissions
By submitting a proposal for a workshop session at the 2024 First Gen Summit, you are becoming an integral aspect of our mission. Submit your workshop proposals today!
Thank you to our incredible sponsors!
