The “Our Campus, Our Voice” Challenge
Generation Hope’s “Our Campus, Our Voice” Challenge is an initiative to create more family-friendly college campuses and invest in the advocacy and leadership of parenting college students. By putting both resources and decision making in the hands of student parents, who are disproportionately students of color, Generation Hope is also addressing the racial inequities that exist within our higher education system. Through the Challenge, current Generation Hope Scholars or alumni receive $500+ in mini-grants to help fund their (COVID-safe) projects, which address gaps in supports for student parents at their institutions or alma maters.
Funding for this effort came from our founder and CEO’s 2020 Black Voices for Black Justice Award.
Press Release
Meet the 2021 “Our Campus, Our Voice” Challenge Winners
Meet the Review Committee
“Our Campus, Our Voice” Challenge Outcomes
The purpose of this microgrant initiative is to:
Reinforce the tremendous assets that student parents bring to their campus community.
Put resources and decision-making power into the hands of those who are most impacted by the barriers to success in higher education -- a practice that gender inequities and systemic racism have historically prevented.
Engage young parents in the quest for solutions while building their career, advocacy, and leadership skills.
Plant seeds for authentic student-parent efforts on DC-area college campuses.
“We want to reinforce the tremendous assets that student parents bring to their campus community and equip them with what they need to create change on these college campuses. By putting both resources and decision making in the hands of student parents who are disproportionately students of color, Generation Hope is also addressing the racial inequities that exist within the higher education system.”
- Nicole Lynn Lewis, Founder & CEO
2021-2022 “Our Campus, Our Voice” Challenge Winners
Alicia Price
Trinity Washington University
Alumna
It Takes a Village: This project will provide toys for the children of student parents on campus to support parents while they study and/or fill out applications or other important documents. It will make it possible for student parents to complete tasks on campus with their children and to create a more family-friendly environment.
Chelsea Callender
U. of Maryland Global Campus
Scholar
Mommies Need Love Too: A virtual “Paint and Sip” for student parents and a conversation about the book Pregnant Girl that focuses on self care for women of color, specifically highlighting how student parents of color can take care of themselves after hardship and challenges.
Ericka Best
Trinity Washington University
Alumna
Welcome on Campus: This project will provide books, toys, non-perishable items, and gift cards for student parents that will be kept in the student affairs office. It will signal that student-parents and their children are welcome on campus and will assist them with their short-term needs.
Nija Simmons
Wilson College
Alumna
Empowering Students and Student Parents of Color: Three workshops facilitated on campus by people of color focusing on the topics of health care, education, and mentorship as they relate to parenting college students.
Bri Whitfield
George Washington University
Alumna
Book Club and Dinner: This project will engage students and faculty members in a dinner conversation about the book Pregnant Girl. The discussion will bring awareness to the issues student parents face, the barriers that can be (and should be) dismantled to help this population succeed, and how students, faculty, and staff can create change.
CiCi Felton
Morgan State University
Alumna
Community Vibes: A Pregnant Girl book discussion and meal with teen/ student parents, other students/alumni, and faculty/staff. This will raise awareness about the need for resources and services for student-parents on campus and how other students/alumni can support undergraduate student parents.
Joseph Yusuf
Howard University
Alumnus
Spotlight on Student-Parents: A video project that will include interviews of current and former student parents about their experiences and challenges during their time on campus. It will recognize the student parent population and begin to tell their stories.
Sholachauntel Shoda
Trinity Washington University
Scholar
Knowledge of SNAP: A virtual training on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and how student parents can access it for food for their families. Participants will also receive grocery gift cards.
Carla Rocha
George Mason University
Alumna
Kid Fun Kit: Interactive kits with activities and tools to keep student parents’ children engaged while they are busy with school work or studying. The kits will be available on campus in study-halls, learning centers, and libraries and will foster a culture of engagement and learning for kiddos while their parents do the same on campus.
Colleen Forsee
George Mason University
Alumna
Nature Kits: Kits that will be distributed on campus to encourage outdoor play for student parents’ children in a meaningful, directed way, and foster parent-child engagement in natural settings. The kits will include literature and material that are racially diverse.
Naraya Omar
Northern VA Community College
Alumna
Student-Parent Swag: The design of a student-parent-focused t-shirt that will be distributed to student parents on campus and worn during a lunch conversation about the experiences of this population with the campus president.
Yoslin Amaya
University of Maryland
Alumna
Student Parent Focus Group: A focus group with student parents on campus that will allow faculty and staff to hear what this population needs to thrive on campus. The focus group will inform the current student parent initiatives on campus.
Meet the Review Committee Members
A Review Committee composed of student parents outside of the Generation Hope Scholar Program, funders, advocates, educators, and other stakeholders assisted in reviewing and scoring applications.
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Alice Johnson Cain
Executive Director
The Moriah Fund -
Dr. Adrian K. Haugabrook
Executive Vice President and Managing Director, Social Impact Collective
Southern New Hampshire University -
Gail Cornwall
Freelance writer, former public school teacher and lawyer
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Jesus Benitez
Ascend Parent Advisor
The Aspen Institute -
Quanic Fullard
Program Officer
The Annie E. Casey Foundation -
Lesley Del Rio
Recruitment Specialist
AdvanceEDU -
Lindsey Reichlin Cruse
Senior Fellow, Postsecondary and Workforce Education
National Skills Coalition -
Mia Bernardino
VC / Impact Investor
Imaginable Futures -
Nahla Walker
Student
The Ohio State University -
Rosario Torres
Program Officer
ECMC Foundation -
Sara Levy
Program Manager
Michael & Susan Dell Foundation -
Traci Lewis
Assistant Director
ACCESS Collaborative -
Yazmyn C. Smith
ACE Coach/Instructor
Southeastern Louisiana University