FLIP National Brochure

Building a Stronger 

FGLI Community. 

www.flipnational.org

The Corporate Brochure 

Our mission is to 

promote equal opportunity for first-generation and low-income (FGLI) students 

in institutions of higher education. 

2


ABOUT US 

FLIP National is a non-profit established in September 2015 to promote equal opportunity 

for first-generation and low-income (FGLI) students in institutions of higher education. 

FLIP National acts on its Mission by: 

• Building a community for first-generation and/or low-income students, alumni/ae, faculty, 

and administrators within and across institutions of higher learning; 

• Establishing and/or expanding initiatives to alleviate the stress factors that hamper the academic 

success and well-being of first-generation and/or low-income students in institutions 

of higher earning; and 

• Advocating for policy changes to support first-generation and/or low-income students 

through our chapters at various institutions across the country, and on the national and international 

levels. 

WHO WE ARE. 

WHAT WE DO. 

FLIP National is a movement of First Generation 

and Low-Income students and allies in 

the form of school administrators, donors and 

corporations fighting to provide resources, advocate 

policy changes and create safe spaces for 

first-generation and/or low income students. 

FLIP National aims to establish campus-based 

chapters and promote collaboration among institutions 

in addressing issues that first-generation 

and low-income students face. This organization 

hopes to raise awareness abot the issues that 

hamper the academic success and well-being of 

FGLI students and pursue sustainable solutions 

through establishment of initiatives and advocacy 

for policy change. 

3


OUR COMPANY 

FLIP National aims to establish campus-based chapters and promote collaboration 

among institutions in addressing issues that first-generation and low-income students 

face. FLIP National has earmarked seven “Target Areas” namely: Food Insecurity, Student 

Homelessness, Academic Development, Student Wellness & Community Building, 

Financial Support, Professional Development and Awareness & Visibility. This organization 

hopes to raise awareness about the issues that hamper the academic success and 

well-being of FGLI students and pursue sustainable solutions through establishment of 

initiatives and advocacy for policy change. FLIP National currently has two official chapters, 

FLIP at Columbia and FLIP at Emory, with many more in the works. 

VISION. 

Our vision is to see a world of post-secondary 

education where first-generation 

and low- students have all the adequate 

resources and support to fulfill their academic 

potentials and achieve their career 

ambitions. 

MISION. 

Our mission is to promote equal opportunity 

for fisrt-generation and low-income students 

in institutions of higher learning through 

community building, resource allocation and 

advocacy. 

4


The 

Main Values 

of our organization. 

1 2 3 

Selflessness 

Transparency & 

Accountability 

Evidence-Based 

Problem Solving 

FLIP National values selflessness 

of chapter officers who 

initiate, restructure and sustain 

campus based initiatives 

and/or advocacy drives. FLIP 

National expects FLIP officers 

from the national level right to 

the chapter level not to claim 

individual ownership of initiatives 

they initiate but rather 

consider their work on these 

initiatives as their general contribution 

to the movement. 

FLIP National believes in 

absolute transparency of its 

operations and accountability 

of its officers an volunteers to 

their colleagues, constituents, 

media and general public. Accountability 

shall be achieved 

through open chapter deliberations, 

and transparent financial 

planning and reporting as 

well as general reporting on 

the successes and failures of 

initiatives and/or advocacy. 

FLIP National does not believe 

in paternalism in pursuing solutions 

to the problems facing 

first-generation, low-income 

students. We believe solutions 

should be based on scientifically-gathered 

evidence 

from surveys and in person 

accounts. Initiatives will be 

designed in consultation with 

the stakeholders and potential 

beneficiaries to ensure the 

cultural relevance and sustainability 

of our initiatives. 

5


OUR TEAM 

JOHN KOTEY 

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 

EXTERNAL AFFAIRS 

John Kotey is a C. P. Davis Scholar at 

Columbia University studying Electrical 

Engineering with a minor in Computer 

Science. He is the current co-chair of FLIP 

at Columbia’s Food Insecurity Committee, 

which has launched several initiatives 

such as CU Meal Share to address food 

insecurity on campus. With over 5 years of 

experience in the non-profit sector, John is 

excited to join FLIP National, a non-profit 

seeking to provide equal opportunity for 

first-generation and/or low income students. 

He is excited to join a movement 

fighting to provide resources, advocate policy 

changes and create safe spaces for firstgeneration 

and/or low income students. 

CHELSEA WICKLEM 

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 

INTERNAL AFFAIRS 

Chelsea Wicklem is a junior at Columbia University, 

where she studies English and Education. Chelsea 

is a founding member of FLIP (first-generation, 

low-income partnership) National, a national nonprofit 

devoted to promoting equal opportunity for 

first-generation and low-income students in higher 

education. Established in 2015 at Columbia University, 

FLIP has expanded and worked to implement 

various initiatives to address a multitude of issues 

that affect first-generation and low-income students 

across many higher education campuses, with the 

goal of creating equal access to higher education. 

Chelsea currently works in various schools in New 

York City, where she strives to improve high school 

graduation rates and college enrollment rates in 

schools. Passionate about making education equally 

accessible, Chelsea hopes to work with New York 

City schools upon graduation to not only raise high 

school graduation rates, but to also increase college 

persistence and graduation rates for first-generation 

and low-income students. 

6


NINA BECHMANN 

DIRECTOR OF 

COMMUNICATIONS 

Nina is a freshman at Columbia University 

where she studies Political Science. Nina is a 

founding member of FLIP (First Generation 

Low Income) National, a national non-profit 

devoted to promoting equal opportunity for 

first-generation and low-income students 

in higher education. Established in 2015 

at Columbia University, FLIP National has 

expanded and worked to implement various 

initiatives to address a multitude of issues 

that affect first-generation and low-income 

students across many higher education 

campuses. For the past 8 years Nina has 

worked with a not-for-profit organization to 

enhance understanding and peace through 

cultural exchange. She intends to apply some 

of the same values to FLIP National. Nina 

hopes to one day work with the Carr Center 

for Human Rights at Harvard and collaborate 

with the UN to research in preventing 

Human Trafficking. 

MANDEEP SINGH 

VICE PRESIDENT 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

7


OUR TEAM 

CHRIS SINCLAIR 

DIRECTOR OF 

INITIATIVES 

AMELIA COLBAN 

DIRECTOR OF 

DEVELOPMENT 

8


MIKOS LEGRAND 

DIRECTOR OF 

FINANCE 

EWOMA OGBAUDU 

DIRECTOR OF 

RESOURCES 

9


1 

DIVERSITY RECRUITMENT 

PIPELINE 

2 

Through our diversity recruitment 

pipeline, we will be preparing 

FLIP students for jobs 

at firms. These firms will pay 

for the recruitment of talent 

and professional training 

our students receive through 

a variety of fellowships such 

as a Tesgood (Tech for Social 

Good) Fellowship in preparation 

for jobs at these firms. 

RESEARCH 

CONTRACTS 

Through our grassroots initiatives 

via campus chapters 

backed by strong data collection, 

we will be positioned to 

run large scale research projects 

on issues facing the firstgeneration 

and low-income 

student community. We intend 

to secure research contracts 

with research institutes 

like The Pell Institute. 

10


OUR BUSINESS MODEL 

We have four main sources of revnue described 

below. 

We will be providing consulting 

services to colleges 

based on research we conduct 

on issues facing the 

FGLI communities in the 

respective schools and nationwide. 

3 

COLLEGE CONSULTING 

SERVICES 

Due to the relief nature of 

most of our initiatives, we 

intend to take advantage of 

grants dedicated to addressing 

general and specific issues 

relating to the first-generation 

and low-income student community. 

2 

GRANTS 

11


OUR TARGET AREAS 

FOOD INSECURITY 

Food Insecurity continues to be one of the most 

prevailing problems among first generation and 

low income students in institutions of higher learning. 

FLIP wants to expand on already established 

initiatives and find multi-campus solutions to make 

accessibility easier. Even though FLIP has had success 

with several initiatives on campus such as CU 

Meal Share and Share Meals, there’s still a lot more 

to be done to solve the problem of food insecurity 

among students. 

At various times during the academic year (semester 

breaks, university holidays, spring break, 

etc.), students may have difficulty finding somewhere 

to stay if they can’t afford to go home 

or don’t have the means to secure off-campus 

housing accommodations. As a result, students 

are unable to take advantage of certain opportunities 

(summer internships, unpaid internships, 

etc.) because they are unable to secure housing 

and are relegated to relying on people with 

apartments or hostels for housing. 

STUDENT HOMELESSNESS 

ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT 

Academic resources are an important component of 

gaining the adequate knowledge to succeed while in 

college. FGLI students often have problems affording 

the books and supplies required for their classes, 

putting them at a huge disadvantage in terms of 

keeping up with assignments. FGLI students also do 

not enjoy the luxury of family support with respect 

to the academic rigors of an post-secondary education 

in the same manner as their counterparts whose 

parents have attended college. 

12


FINANCIAL SUPPORT 

The need for urgent funding (whether related to travel, 

personal care, medical needs, academic resources, etc.) 

can have a huge impact on a student’s academic performance 

-- even prohibiting the student from continuing 

their education. By providing emergency funds to students 

in need, FLIP can help to increase the graduation 

rate for first-generation and low-income students. 

Many FGLI students do not have the advantage of having parents 

with a background in the corporate or professional world 

because their parents are also first-generation or low-income. 

Partnering with other non-profit organizations to provide 

professional development services to first-generation and lowincome 

students can help to address these issues on a larger 

scale. Also, working with for-profit companies to secure inkind 

donations, financial support, internship opportunities & 

networking opportunities will give our first-generation community 

opportunity & access to both people and companies 

that are supportive of our mission. 

PROFESSIONAL 

DEVELOPMENT 

AWARENESS & VISIBILITY 

For many FGLI students, there is a stigma that may be 

associated with being an FGLI student that students 

must learn to cope with. Initiatives such as FLIP’s Class 

Confessions Page, GEN Day & FLIP Voices provide avenues 

for FGLI students to call attention the issues that 

affect them as well as to have their presence acknowledged 

on their campuses. 

Many first-generation and/or low-income students have a 

hard time adjusting to the culture that exists on college campuses. 

They may experience “culture shock” because they are 

entering an environment that is so radically different from 

the environment they are used to being in. As a result, finding 

fellow peers that identify as first-generation and/or lowincome 

who can identify with one’s experiences can be very 

difficult and can have adverse effects on the well-being of an 

FGLI student. Creating spaces for FGLI students will reduce 

isolation and build a sense of community. 

STUDENT WELLNESS & 

COMMUNITY BUILDING 

13


FOOD INSECURITY 

INITIATIVES 

These are chapter -based initiaves 

designed to eradicate food insecurity 

among first-generation and low-income 

students across insitutions of 

higher learning. 

14


1 2 

3 4 

Some of our awesome projects 

1 

SHARE MEALS & CU MEAL SHARE 

Share Meals is a web and mobile app 

that will facilitate the exchange of meal 

swipes and free foood. It will eventually 

replace CU Meal Share. the Facebook 

group which has facilitated the exchange 

of over 1000 meals since Spring 2015. 

2 

FOOD INSECURITY SURVEY 

Using surveys via the SHare Meals app, 

our national portal, FLIP will run regular 

food insecurity surveys to determine 

the prevalence of food insecurity among 

fgli students. We will also run sentiment 

analyses on class confessions pages to 

obtain indirect food insecurity data. 

3 

FOOD PANTRIES 

FLIP National will be establishingchapter-based 

student-food pantries in our 

chapter institutions that have high 

prevalence of food insecurity. 

4 

PAY-IT-FORWARD CAFETERIA. 

We will be establishing Pay-It-Forward 

Cafeteria in our various chapter institutions. 

These cafeteria will allow benevolent 

patrons to pay more to cover the 

meals of less-endowed patrons. 

15


STUDENT HOMELESSNESS 

INITIATIVES 

These are chapter -based initiaves 

designed to mitigate or eradicate 

student homelessness among 

first-generation and low-income 

students across insitutions of higher 

learning. 

16


1 2 


1 

HOST FAMILY PROGRAM 

We will establish host family programs 

for our chapter institutions 

that do not have institutional host 

family programs. This programs 

will ensure that fgli students settle 

in quickly and have a host family 

to fall on intimes of emergency. 

This will also help to ereduce the 

soial isolation and imposter syndrome 

that many fgli students 

face. 

2 

EMERGENCY BREAK HOUSING/ 

STUDENT SHELTERS 

Some institutions do not offer 

summer and winter break housing 

for students in need. We intend 

to partner with organizations that 

run shelters for homelessstudents, 

school authorities, host families 

and alumni that live in the vicinity 

of the school to provide emergency 

housing for stranded students. 

Many FGLI students come 

from displaced families, abusive 

homes, might be DACA students 

or simply cannot afford to pay for 

housing during these breaks. This 

program will thus provide the 

much needed relief to homeless, 

stranded or displaced students. 

17


ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT 

INITIATIVES 

These are initiaves designed to improve 

access to academic resources 

and enhance the academic performance 

of first-generation and low-income 

students across insitutions of 

higher learning. 

18


1 2 

3 


1 

TEXTBOOK LENDING LIBRARY 

2 

INTERSCHOOL LENDING LIBRARY 

Aliquam consequat vestibulum augue in aliquet. 

Aliquam in fermentum urna. Quisque id 

odio dictum, varius sem eget, sollicitudin nisi. 

COLLABORATIVE DIGITAL LIBRARY 

3 




19


PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 

INITIATIVES 

These are initiaves designed to give FGLI 

students the necessary professional exposure 

and preparation for their dream 

careers. 

20


1 2 

3 


1 

DIVERSITY RECRUITMENT PIPELINE 




FELLOWSHIPS 

2 




PROFESSIONAL CLOSETS 

3 




21



INITIATIVES 

These are initiaves designed to provide 

financial support in the form 

of emergency grants and aid to 



learning. 

22


1 2 

3 4 


1 

ACADEMIC SUPPORT FUND 

Aliquam consequat vestibulum augue in ali- 

2 

MICROGRANTS 


quet. Aliquam in fermentum urna. Quisque id 




HEALTH FUND 

3 




STUDENT TRAVEL FUND 

4 




23



INITIATIVES CONT’D 

These are initiaves designed to provide 

financial support in the form 

of emergency grants and aid to 



learning. 

24


1 2 


1 

GRADUATION EXPENSES FUND 




ACCOMMODATION FUND 

2 




25


STUDENT WELLNESS & 

COMMUNITY BUILDING 

INITIATIVES 

These are initiaves designed to eliminate 

the factors that hamper the 

physical, mental, and social wellbeing 

of first-generation and low-income 

students. These initiatives also aim at 

fostering a sense of community among 

FGLI students, administrators and other 

stakeholders within and across institutions 

of higher learning. 

26


1 2 

3 4 

1 

QFLIP MENTORING 




SUPPORT CIRCLES 

2 




CLOTHING DRIVE AND WALL 

3 




FGLI PORTAL 

4 




27



INITIATIVES 

These are initiaves designed to raise 

awareness about the issues facing the 

FGLI community, foster public debate 

and ultimately influence policy changes 

at the institutional, state, federal and international 

levels to improve the lives of the 

FGLI community. 

28


1 2 

3 4 


1 

CLASS CONFESSIONS ANALYTICS 


2 

FLIP VOICES 






GEN DAY & GEN WEEK 

3 




FLIP GRADUATION 

4 




29



INITIATIVES CONT’D 

These are initiaves designed to raise 

awareness about the issues facing the 

FGLI community, foster public debate 

and ultimately influence policy changes 

at the institutional, state, federal and international 

levels to improve the lives of the 

FGLI community. 

30


1 2 


1 

FLIP CONFERENCES 




FGLI STUDENT CENTERS 

2 




31


We make 

a good plan 

for you. 

32


IMPLEMENTATION OF MASTER PLAN 

The master plan in the preceding pages 

will be implemented in the following 

phases: 

PHASE 1 

CHAPTER ESTABLISHMENT 

We intend to have 10 chapters by the end 

of this academic year and establish 20-30 

chapters each year thereafter. 

PHASE 4 

ESTABLISHMENT OF DIVERSITY 

RECRUITMENT PIPELINE 

We will start active revenue generation 

by establishing our diversity recruitment 

pipeline. Having run industry specific 

fellowships at this point, we can actively 

partner with companies to ensure they 

recruit the from the diverse pool of talent 

we have trained for their respective 

industries. 

PHASE 2 

LAUNCH OF FGLI PORTAL 

We intend to launch the FGLI Portal by 

the end of this academic year. This will 

allow us to conduct thourough evaluation 

of running initiatives, and put 

chapter executives and administrators 

in touch with one another. Strong data 

anlytics of our initiatives via the portal 

will allow us to fundraise effectively and 

transparently. 

PHASE 3 

EXPANSION OF EXISTING CHAPTER INI- 

TIATIVES AND LAUNCH OF NEW ONES 

Building on thesuccesses of our existing 

initiatves ran by FLIP at Columbia and 

FLIP at Emory, we will expand these 

initiatives to new chapters. This strong 

track record will also allow us to secure 

grants and other financial and in-kind 

support from individuals and organizations 

for further expansion. 

PHASE 5 - PART 1 

RESEARCH CONTRACTS 

With a critical mass of users on our 

FGLI Portal, and data-driven evalution 

of our initiatives, we will be positioned 

to conduct active research about issues 

facing the FGLI community and solutions 

that work. We can ttherefore obtain 

research contracts from organizations 

like the Pell Institute, UN et al. Research 

contracts will threefore bring in constant 

revenue. 

PHASE 5 - PART 2 

COLLEGE CONSULTING 

Our sustainability model will be complete 

with the addition of consulting 

services for colleges. Having conducted 

research on what solutions work for the 

FGLI student community, we can reliably 

advise colleges on what works and 

what doesn’t. 

33

We are 

#StrongerTogether. 

CONTACT US 

info@flipnational.org

FLIP National Brochure

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?