About

Our Story

The Alliance for the Low-Income & First-Generation Narrative (AL1GN) is a student-centered conference series and coalition dedicated to empowering and connecting first-generation and low-income (FGLI) students. AL1GN began in 2015 as a coalition of FGLI students and the staff who support them, growing to now include hundreds of students, staff, faculty, and administrators from dozens of schools and organizations. Since 2015, we’ve held 5 annual national conferences and have served over 25 colleges and universities across the country.

In the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, the AL1GN team decided to pivot from conferencing to targeted mentorship. Specifically, we decided to launch a STEM mentoring cohort, centered around professional and academic development and peer mentorship. Through small, regular interactions like our weekly text-based stand-ups, as well as our annual New York City trip to visit working professionals in STEM, cohort participants develop a strong sense of community.

Our Vision

AL1GN strives for a fair and equitable higher education system that empowers all students to become successful college graduates, regardless of socioeconomic status, generational educational attainment, race, immigration status, or other protected classes. In response, AL1GN conferences worked to provide a platform for first-generation and low-income students to share their diverse narratives, build community, and discuss innovative policies and programs to implement at their home institutions. Our programming centers student experiences, academic and professional development, and local and national activism. Now a STEM peer mentoring cohort, AL1GN continues to work toward this vision by empowering first-generation/low-income students to reach their career goals, while building community together.

Our Conferences

The AL1GN conferences sought to provide a forum through which FGLI students could take control of their own diverse narratives while working together with faculty and staff to spark new and revamped programming at their home institutions. Over the course of a weekend, participants exchanged ideas, created new relationships with fellow student leaders and concerned staff, and developed the foundation on which impactful work can occur. Housing for students was always provided, and admission and meals were free for all attendees.

AL1GN’s organizational structure was designed to be student-centered. Each year, two undergraduate students from the host school would assemble a team of other students, staff, and administrators to plan a conference that they were proud to host. Students chose themes, workshop topics, speakers, and more, with the support of the AL1GN National Team.

Our Team

Our executive team currently consists of the following members (we are currently recruiting!):

Chris Lam is one of the co-founders and current co-executive director of AL1GN. He graduated in 2017 with a dual Bachelor’s from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Columbia University. He previously worked as a data scientist and started his PhD in Astronomy at the University of Florida in Fall 2020. He is from South Florida and is always talking about dropping a mixtape that never comes.

Amy Tin is one of the Board of Directors members of AL1GN, serving as Treasurer. She graduated from Georgia Tech with a Bachelor’s in Math and is currently a Software Developer. She has 4 years of experience volunteering with organizations that focus on increasing the accessibility of resources for first-gen, low-income students. She likes drawing, painting, crocheting, and scrapbooking.

Alyssa Bulatek is the current secretary for AL1GN. She is from Park Ridge, Illinois and is a radio astronomer by training, but has worn many hats in her life so far: costumer, rocket builder, (amateur) mandolin player, and cross-stitcher are a few of them. She graduated from Macalester College in 2020 with a degree in Physics/Astronomy and Applied Math/Statistics. After graduating, she started a PhD in Astronomy at the University of Florida, where she is currently.

Past characters of AL1GN

We are so grateful to the many people who have made AL1GN happen throughout the years. The founding team consisted of four Georgetown Scholars Program students: Josi Sinagoga (who came up with the name AL1GN), Francisco Gonzalez, Christine Trinh, and Chris Lam. The first conference, at Barnard College in 2017, was organized by Erin Cao and Chris Lam, with support from Miguel Yepes, Chris Sinclair, Chelsea Wicklem, Lynn Dao, and administrative sponsor Dr. Michell Tollinchi. The 2018 conference at the George Washington University was organized by Luis Otero, Yazmin Santos, and administrative sponsor Brittany Abraham. The 2019 conference at the University of Virginia was organized by Josh Farris and Ellie Brasacchio. The 2020 conference at the University of Richmond and Virginia Commonwealth University, which was cancelled by the Covid-19 pandemic, was organized by Patrice Branch, Jon Mirador, and administrative sponsors Lisa Miles and Elizabeth Bambacus. The 2021 conference at the College of Wooster, which was virtual, was organized by Annelisea Brand and Savannah Sima.

Past executive team members include Erin Cao (2017-2020), Jennifer Chung (2018-2020), Michaela Moses (2019-2022), Joseph Mendoza (2019-2020), and Kathryn Radziwonski (2022-2023). We thank as well the many others who have helped in committees and advisory roles throughout AL1GN’s nearly decade-long history.

Are you an AL1GN alum looking to stay involved? Say hi – you might be just who we’re looking for!