Using Digital Narratives to Explore First-Gen Identities and Build Community

Smith College’s The Narratives Project: First-Gen Out Loud (FGOL) was the first orientation program for first-gen college students in the US. FGOL is a community-building program for first-gen students that focuses on reflection and storytelling. Jen and Laisha participated in FGOL their first year of college, and are now interns for the program. They’ll share their experiences with FGOL and talk about how the program has evolved over the years. They’ll also share their personal digital stories and give you a taste of what it’s like to participate in a real FGOL cohort meeting.

During our workshop, you’ll have the opportunity to have small-group and large-group discussions on the topics of first-gen programming, FGOL, digital storytelling, and community building.