UW and the Community

Through its Artistic Partner program, Meany Center for the Performing Arts is introducing new voices and fresh perspectives to its programming. 

When he isnât lecturing at the University of Washington or pursuing his doctoral studies at the University of California, Davis, Tory Johnston (Quinault) co-hosts a global Indigenous radio show, Sounds of Survivance.

Combining classroom time and outdoors experiences, a Disability Studies course explores what it means to provide access and disability justice for community members in recreation spaces.

Opportunities on campus and in the community that are free or discounted for UW students. 

Assessing the size of the homeless population is full of challenges and has often led to undercounts, but a team of researchers at the University of Washington has developed a system that they say fills in those gaps. Zack Almquist, a UW associate professor of sociology, and Amy Hagopian, professor emeritus of health systems and population health, are interviewed.

"Being a first-generation student means breaking barriers and boundaries for myself and for others. I feel a deep responsibility to push myself to step outside of my comfort zone and enter uncharted territories to advocate for my community." - Kimberly Il, Student

"From my extended experience as a first-gen student, the most important thing is to acknowledge what you do not know. Treat every moment of confusion as an opportunity to build your collection of knowledge and every new environment or experience as a pathway to learn more about yourself." - Adrian Guerrero, Student

"Being a first-gen to me means having to navigate higher education largely on my own. I never take the chance to enter college and grad school for granted, and I'm really grateful for how far I've come." - Linhang Huang, Student

"I would encourage current and future first-gen students to not be afraid to ask questions and lean on people around you. There’s a lot that we don’t know about navigating academic spaces and so many of the mistakes I’ve made could have been avoided if I had the skills to communicate my needs." - Keila Taylor, Student

"To current and future first-generation students, I would like to say this: Your unique experiences and perspectives are so valuable; they have the power to inspire. Remember, your story matters." - Bogdan Brunsh, Student

"I approach every day that I access education and challenge systems of learning within the university setting as a radical form of change which applies to my attendance at UW." - Yasmine Gomez, Student 

"My experiences as a first-generation college student shaped my values of learning, growth, and community, which led to the start of my career working at various nonprofits and pursuing a Masters degree in Nonprofit Leadership." - Kimmy Nguyen, Alum

"My goal was to get into college, I hadn't thought much about what to do after I was accepted. With the encouragement of my family, classmates, professors, and colleagues, I have accomplished more than I thought was possible for myself." - Teyloure Ring, Alum

"Being a first-generation student can, at times, make it feel like much is working against you. When you feel this way, I urge you to take advantage of the resources available at UW. There is an entire first-gen community here at UW, along with your advisors, who can support you in times like this." - Jacob Russell, Student

"To be the first in my family to go to college means breaking generational cycles and healing generational trauma. While I may be the first in my family to graduate, I most certainly will not be the last." - Anisa Navarro, Alum