1stGenYale at the 2025 For Humanity Illuminated Event in DC

President McInnis ’90 MA, ’96 PhD visits with two 1stGenYale board members, Barb Protacio '81 and Carla Rangel '24 in the Engagement Zone at For Humanity Illuminated, Washington D.C.

What a powerful evening in Washington, D.C., as more than 400 members of the Yale community gathered at the Waldorf Astoria for the latest For Humanity Illuminated program with President Maurie McInnis. 1stGenYale was proud to be present for this inspiring celebration of Yale’s impact across the arts and humanities, scientific discovery, public policy, and leadership. As conversations centered on access, affordability, and the essential role of higher education, we were reminded how critical first-generation and low-income student voices are to that future.

President McInnis spoke candidly about trust in higher education and reaffirmed Yale’s commitment to expanding access, including tuition-free education for families below a certain income threshold and $564 million in financial aid across Yale’s schools. For 1stGenYale, this commitment is not abstract — it is personal. It represents pathways that make a Yale education possible for students who are the first in their families to navigate higher education, and who go on to shape classrooms, communities, and careers in transformative ways.

From Leo Villareal’s “digital campfire” of public art to Priya Natarajan’s groundbreaking research on black holes, from Natasha Sarin’s evidence-based policymaking to James Hatch’s journey as an Eli Whitney student and lecturer, the evening showcased the breadth of Yale’s impact. 1stGenYale stands proudly within that story — as part of a community building leaders for a better world, and ensuring that brilliance, resilience, and potential are recognized wherever they are found.