HOPE 2025: Highlights, Voices, and What Comes Next
April 9–11, 2025 | National Harbor, Maryland
At HOPE 2025, parenting students and allies from across the country gathered to reimagine higher education. From the opening session to the final plenary, the voices of student parents made it clear: real change starts when families are centered, respected, and heard.
Explore the HOPE 2025 photo gallery
View the full photo gallery here and tag your memories with #GenHOPE25.
If you attended: what stayed with you?
Share your reflections and help inspire others in our community.
Mark your calendar for HOPE 2026
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Here’s a look at the five main stage sessions that defined this year’s national conference.
Day 2: April 10
Opening Plenary: From the Experts — Fatherhood, Determination, and College Dreams
Speakers:
Reginald M. Grant, Chief Operating Officer, Generation Hope
Kevin Platero, DC Scholar, Generation Hope
Raheem Jackson, Student Parent Fellow, Generation Hope
Ariel Ventura Lazo, DC Scholar Alum and Scholar Program Coordinator, Generation Hope
“I want my son to see me graduate and know he was my reason, not my excuse.”
“We [student fathers] are not a risk, we’re an investment that’s worth it.”
Lunch Fireside Chat: Family Ties — A Conversation With Grace Bastidas
Speakers:
Grace Bastidas, Vice President and Editor-in-Chief, Parents
Nicole Lynn Lewis, Founder & CEO, Generation Hope
“If you’re not asking student parents what they need, you’re designing solutions for a problem you don’t fully understand.”
“What is your superpower? Focus on those and give yourself more credit.”
Afternoon Plenary: Where We Stand Today — Race, Access, and Families
Speakers:
Elissa Nadworny, Correspondent, NPR
Fatima Goss Graves, President and CEO, National Women’s Law Center
Dr. Manica F. Ramos, Senior Research Scientist II, Child Trends
Furard Tate, Director, Entrepreneurship Center, Greater Washington Urban League
Scholar Story: Celeste Ampaah, Student Parent Fellow, Howard Community College
“When it comes to DEI and early childhood, these are not buzz words, these are bedrocks of health and development.”
“With the help of Generation Hope, I’ve shifted my definition of what it means to be successful. Success means to persevere even when things get tough. To get up and achieve my goals... even when I don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. I am successful, as long as I keep striving to achieve my goals.”
Day 3: April 11
Morning Plenary: Championing Families as a Tenet of Institutional Leadership
Speakers:
Amber Angel, Program Officer, ECMC Foundation
Dr. Christopher M. Reber, President, Hudson County Community College
Dr. Frances Villagran-Glover, President, Southeast College
Dr. Makola M. Abdullah, President, Virginia State University
Scholar Story: Makayla Diles, Generation Hope NOLA Scholar, Delgado Community College
“The barriers to higher education for student parents like lack of childcare and housing, are often labeled as non-academic barriers. But those are in fact academic barriers and we need to flip that mindset to ensure that we partner with community organizations to provide those resources, because if we don’t, we won’t get the completion rates we need.”
“In this environment, I have never felt belittled or looked down upon. I know I have a family.”
Closing Plenary: From Student to Legacy — A Generational Story of Hope and Opportunity
Speakers:
Nicole Lynn Lewis, Founder and CEO, Generation Hope
Nerissa Anderson, Nicole’s Daughter
Alicia Price, Student Parent Advocacy Alliance
Child: Kenji (8)Rocelyn Alvaredo, DC Scholar, Student Parent Advocacy Alliance
Child: Jazmin (6)
“I’ve seen how resilient my children are, how patient they are with me... my oldest son... he’s definitely taught me how to be a better communicator.”
“Do not be afraid to ask for help... and also, I tell other student parents... to not compare yourself to others because... we all have our own timeline.”
