Hey y’all! My name is Alioune Dia, and I’m an incoming Morehouse College senior based in the Bronx, New York. As a first gen. student, I’ve been incredibly blessed to be able to study within the AUC and have various financial interventions pave the way for me to continue my education down at Morehouse College, even extending to some tuition-based financial aid blessings this summer. HOWEVER, like so many of our stories, the first gen. struggle to support one’s own education doesn’t stop there.

Like many others this summer, campus housing has been virtually impossible to attain as a non-freshman, and so trying to leverage off-campus housing has been a priority, to little or no avail so far. At this stage, I, like too many of my brothers, would be severely at risk of being unhoused to start off the school year, particularly given the cost of off campus housing. I’m still hoping to work my way towards a solution surrounding this housing crisis that’s affected me personally, but I was once told and firmly believe in not being afraid to lean on support as well to get over the hurdle. So if you can find time to donate, or just as importantly, share this message, it’d be much appreciated.

Thank you, and God Speed!