Leading First Gen: Taking Change Into Your Own Hands (Olin 101)
A workshop by Ugomma Ugwu-Uche , Clay Dickerson , Brookelyn Mitchell , Tyler English and Leanne Maharaj
About this Workshop
In this roundtable discussion, 5 student leaders from the University of Virginia will share their stories about the challenges and triumphs of being a first-gen and/or limited-income student leader. During the first half of the session, attendees will hear how first gen students at UVA have taken change into their own hands through “student self-governance,” a tradition of self-governance at UVA that places much of the responsibility of steering university life in students’ hands. Attendees will hear about how they can be empowered in their leadership while holding their first-gen/limited-income identities and will be given the opportunity to share their own stories. The second half of the session will provide an opportunity for attendees to build community with one another and discuss the challenges and opportunities they’ve faced while leading first gen. Attendees will walk away feeling empowered in their identity, themselves, and in the community they will build during the summit.