Great news — applications for the FamilyU Seal are now open!
The FamilyU Seal is a national certification recognizing higher education institutions and nonprofit organizations that show measurable, intentional support for student parents and their families.
Through the Seal program, we celebrate organizations that are investing in student parent success, raising awareness of this often-overlooked student population, and helping build a stronger future for families and communities.
In this video, you'll hear from last year's Nonprofit Exemplar winner, New Legacy Charter School, whose innovative approach helps teen parents continue their education while caring for their children and preparing for long-term success.
If your institution or nonprofit organization is committed to serving student parents, we encourage you to apply and share your work with a national audience. Learn more and submit your application today 🔗 https://www.generationhope.org/familyu-seal
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We are a nonprofit organization providing direct support and national advocacy & research for student parents in college 💜
06/16/2026
Looking for a meaningful way to give back?
Generation Hope is seeking volunteers who are passionate about supporting teen parents in college and their families. Our volunteers play an important role in helping Scholars navigate higher education while balancing the responsibilities of parenthood.
There are a variety of ways to get involved, including tutoring and academic support, individualized career guidance, childcare support and even group volunteer opportunities!
You can choose to commit to a long-term role or participate in a one-time opportunity — just know that your time and expertise can make a lasting impact.
Volunteer opportunities are available in the Washington, DC region, New Orleans, Dallas and virtually.
Join us in ensuring student parents have the support they need to earn their degrees and create greater economic opportunity for their families. Learn more and sign up today https://www.generationhope.org/volunteer
There’s still time to join FamilyU Cohort 6! Generation Hope has extended the application deadline to June 30 and opened two additional spots for institutions interested in advancing outcomes for student parents and their families.
Today, 1 in 5 college students is raising children while pursuing a degree, yet higher education systems are often not designed with student parents’ realities in mind. Balancing coursework, childcare, and financial obligations requires huge commitment, and institutions play an important role in ensuring student parents have the support they need to reach graduation.
Through the FamilyU Cohort, colleges and universities receive tools, guidance, and a community of practice to help drive meaningful institutional change for student parents and their families.
If your institution is ready to strengthen support for student parents and create lasting, multi-generational impact, we encourage you to apply.
Application deadline is now Tuesday, June 30 – learn more and submit your application https://www.generationhope.org/familyucohort
06/11/2026
For student parents like Tremond, getting across the graduation stage is about tuition support, having access to mental health care, mentorship, and people who are understanding and supportive.
Tremond, our Dallas Scholar who recently graduated with a psychology degree, shared that therapy was something he always wanted but couldn’t easily access. Through our Scholar Program, he was able to finally begin that journey, alongside mentorship from a fellow father who helped guide him through school and into what comes next.
That kind of support changes how someone moves through college, graduation, and everything after.
Our graduation campaign is about Tremond, and every Generation Hope Scholar coming after him. We need our community to show up for student parents who are doing all of the above at once. A gift of $30, $50, or $300 helps make sure support like counseling, mentorship, and community stays within reach.
Support our graduating Scholars through the link in our bio 🔗!
One of our FamilyU Fellows, Heather, took the stage at this spring’s commencement and put our FamilyU initiative right in the spotlight, sharing how their work is helping colleges better recognize and support student parents on campus.
And honestly? That’s what this is about — real stories and real change happening inside institutions that choose to show up differently. If your college is serious about supporting student parents in a deeper way, take this as your sign: applications for the FamilyU Cohort are OPEN and the deadline has been extended to Tuesday, June 30.
Let’s build campuses that actually reflect who students are. Apply now through the link in bio 🔗.
06/09/2026
Our Scholars are heading into a new season, and we’re actively recruiting mentors across ALL 3 sites to walk alongside them through college, life, and everything in between.
And right now, we’ve got a specific need we’re hoping to fill ASAP — two fathers joining our incoming DC cohort are in need of male mentors. Someone who can show up, listen, share, and just be that steady presence.
If you’ve ever thought, “I wish I could support a student parent in a real way,” this is it. This is that moment. Get in touch with us and learn more through the link in bio 🔗!
At our latest Community Conversation with Jeremiah Program, Nicole Lynn Lewis shared something unexpected: when she submitted the final manuscript of her new book, she had no idea how much the country would change in the months ahead.
Now, readers are turning to it as they navigate big questions about family economic security, access to higher education, and what it takes to create real opportunities for parents and children.
One of Nicole’s favorite parts? Meeting readers who have gone on the journey with her and discovering what ideas, questions, and solutions they carry forward after turning the last page.
That’s what these conversations are all about — just coming together to ask hard questions, share experiences, and imagine what’s possible.
Watch this clip from our May 4 Community Conversation and register for the rest of the tour and don’t miss future events through the link in our bio! 🔗
At this year's D.C. Scholar Program Graduation Banquet, Scholar of the Year Mary Grace "Gracie" Armstrong shared a perspective that captures why supporting student parents matters.
"So often I hear 'despite being a mom' — as if our children are barriers standing in the way of our success. But for me, it has never been despite my daughter. It has always been because of her."
As we celebrate graduates across the country, we're also thinking about the student parents who are still working toward that same moment.
Generation Hope is approaching a significant milestone: the 300th college degree earned by a Scholar. Every degree represents more than an academic achievement. It reflects the impact of a community that helped close financial gaps, provided mentorship, offered encouragement, and ensured families had the support they needed to continue their education.
Today, we're inviting our community to help the next student parent reach graduation.
Thanks to a generous matching gift from The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, every donation will be matched dollar for dollar, doubling its impact. Join us in ensuring student parents have the support they need all the way to the finish line – https://bit.ly/3Q4xu3k.
06/03/2026
We've extended the application deadline for the 2026 FamilyU Cohort to June 30!
Across the country, colleges and universities are working to better support student parents and their families. Through the FamilyU Cohort, institutions come together to learn, collaborate, and implement strategies that help student parents stay enrolled, complete their degrees, and create brighter futures for their families.
If your institution is looking to strengthen support for student parents, this is an opportunity to join a network of peers committed to advancing family-inclusive policies, practices, and systems on campus.
The application deadline has been extended to Tuesday, June 30, giving interested institutions additional time to apply and become part of the next cohort.
We look forward to welcoming the next group of colleges and universities dedicated to making higher education work better for student parent families.
Apply today 🔗 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DPM7GMQ
06/02/2026
Last week, ‘Tiny Sparks’ brought together supporters, partners, advocates, and community members for an inspiring evening dedicated to student parents and their families.
Throughout the event, attendees heard firsthand stories about the realities of balancing college and parenting, and why investing in student parents creates lasting impact for entire families.
One of the evening's most memorable moments came from Generation Hope scholar alum Najah Mills, who shared her journey to earning a college degree while raising four children. Her reflection that student parents "are not an anomaly" served as a powerful reminder of what becomes possible when families have access to the resources, support, and opportunities they deserve!
We were honored to hear from Generation Hope Founder & CEO Nicole Lynn Lewis and award-winning broadcast journalist and NBC4 weekday news anchor Shawn Yancy, who reunited for a meaningful conversation after both being recognized as Washingtonians of the Year in 2023.
To everyone who joined us, shared space with us, and invested in the future of student parents: thank you! The conversations sparked that evening will continue creating opportunities for families long after the event ended…
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