Participate in a project designed to increase awareness about first-generation college students of color among CU Denver students, staff and faculty in the university. Applicants must be CU Denver undergraduate or graduate students enrolled in spring 2024.

Undocumented undergraduate and graduate students are welcome to apply.

Story themes may cover challenges related to your financial situation, social life, work life, family life, academic stress/burnout, university bureaucracy, or learning style. 

Formats of the first-person stories (3-5 minutes long) may be audio or video. 

Story creation will take place over a one-one multi-day, digital storytelling workshop (3-4 hours overall; in-person or Zoom) with the project leader, Marty Otañez, Associate Professor, Anthropology, CU Denver. No experience necessary.

The repository of stories produced in the project will be integrated into a forum for faculty and other campus community members in fall 2024. The forum is designed to increase knowledge of DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) and lived/living experiences of CU Denver first-generation students of color who have been impacted by university budget cuts.  

Each individual who completes a story by 10 May 2024 will receive a $200.00 stipend.

Four spots are available in the project.

Funds for the project received from the CU Denver Division for Teaching Innovation and Program Strategy

To learn about joining the project, contact Marty.Otanez@ucdenver.edu