FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: jay@generationhope.org
Phone: 202.735.139
Generation Hope Reaches 30 Partner Colleges, Expands FamilyU with Dual-Track Strategy
The expansion introduces a focused regional track in partnership with the Jeremiah Program, alongside a new national cohort including Coppin State University, San Diego City College, and LA Mission College.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — [August 10, 2026] — Generation Hope, a nonprofit providing direct support and national advocacy and research for student parents in college, today announced an expansion of its landmark FamilyU technical assistance initiative.
With the addition of six new higher education partners, the FamilyU network now reaches 30 colleges and universities nationwide. Through FamilyU, Generation Hope partners directly with higher education leaders to build family-inclusive campuses—extending impact into institutional systems to drive sustainable, campus-wide policy, culture, and data-driven shifts.
What is the FamilyU Expansion Strategy?
The newest expansion reflects both geographic and structural variety in higher education, spanning multiple regions, institution types, and student populations. For the first time, Generation Hope is executing a dual-track strategy: launching a focused regional cohort in partnership with a national nonprofit alongside its flagship national cohort.
Why Partner with Jeremiah Program for a Focused Regional Track?
To deepen regional impact, Generation Hope is partnering with Jeremiah Program —a national nonprofit renowned for its proven two-generation approach to disrupting poverty for single mothers and their children.
By pairing Generation Hope’s institutional transformation framework with Jeremiah Program’s deep regional footprint and work to support and scale solutions that meet the needs of families, this joint cohort delivers targeted support to higher education systems in the Upper Midwest. The Jeremiah Program Cohort specifically serves:
North Dakota State University (ND)
Minnesota State Community & Technical College (MN)
Minnesota State University-Moorhead (MN)
"Partnering with Jeremiah Program allows us to combine institutional capacity-building with deep, community-rooted expertise in two-generation family mobility," said Nicole Lynn Lewis, Founder and CEO of Generation Hope. "By aligning our systemic FamilyU model with JP's proven support for single mothers in Minnesota and North Dakota, we are creating a localized blueprint for how colleges and community organizations can co-create family-inclusive campuses.”
"At Jeremiah Program, we know that higher education is one of the most powerful levers for economic mobility for single mothers and their children," said Michera Brooks, Chief of Staff at Jeremiah Program. "This collaboration with Generation Hope allows us to work directly with higher education leaders in Minnesota and North Dakota to break down barriers for student parent success and ensure our regional institutions are intentionally designed for family success."
Which Institutions are Joining the 2026 National FamilyU Cohort?
Running parallel to the regional track, Generation Hope’s 2026 National FamilyU Cohort continues the organization’s national momentum, supporting two-year, four-year, urban, and regional institutions across the country:
Coppin State University (MD)
San Diego City College (CA)
LA Mission College (CA)
"Joining FamilyU showcases our commitment to creating a campus culture where every student knows they belong here and where parenting students and their families feel a true sense of belonging as they pursue their educational goals," said Dr. Ricky Shabazz, President of San Diego City College. "Together, we are building pathways to opportunity and transforming lives."
Why is Systemic Support for Parenting Students Critical?
Nearly one in five undergraduate students in the United States is a parent, yet higher education systems rarely account for the unique time, financial, and logistical challenges they face. Through the two-year FamilyU cohort, made possible with support from ECMC Foundation, participating institutions receive hands-on coaching, actionable data insights, and policy audits to embed family-inclusive practices across campus administration, financial aid, child care access, and student services.
With 30 partner institutions nationwide, FamilyU is accelerating systemic change across higher education. Colleges in the network have strengthened student parent data collection, adopted family-inclusive policies, expanded support services, and invested in campus infrastructure that helps student parents persist to graduation. By helping more parenting students earn degrees, this work also expands economic mobility—single mothers who complete a degree or earn college credit are projected to earn roughly $256,000 more over their lifetimes than they would with only a high school education.
About Generation Hope
Generation Hope is a nonprofit providing direct support and national advocacy and research for student parents in college. Through its FamilyU technical assistance initiative, Generation Hope partners directly with higher education institutions to build family-inclusive campuses nationwide. Learn more at www.generationhope.org.
About Jeremiah Program
Jeremiah Program (JP) is a national organization dedicated to disrupting generational poverty for single mothers and their children. Utilizing a proven two-generation (2Gen) approach, JP combines college access and career support, high-quality early childhood education, safe housing, and empowerment training to foster long-term economic mobility. Learn more at www.jeremiahprogram.org.
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