What does it truly take for first-generation students from under-resourced communities to earn a college degree and build meaningful careers?
At a time when the value of higher education is increasingly being questioned, the Bottom Line Spring Education Forum: Mission & Impact invites students, alumni, advocates, and supporters to engage in an honest conversation about what student success really looks like and what it takes to achieve it.
Our panel discussion of current students and alumni will move beyond statistics and center the lived experiences of students navigating higher education while overcoming systemic barriers along the way.
Host: Gabrielle Gilliam, Executive Director, Bottom Line
Moderator: Esthefany Rodriguez, Senior Success Advisor, Bottom Line NY
Panel:
- Dan Papson, Managing Director of Programs, Bottom Line
- Jackie Guhanick, Access Program Director, Bottom Line
- Shaffiou Assoumanou, Dir. of Strategic Relationships, Africa, NYC Mayor’s Office for International Affairs
- Layla Ramirez, Dir. of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging, Justworks. CEO, The FirstOnes Collective
For 15 years, Bottom Line has worked alongside NYC students, providing the personalized guidance and intensive advising that help students not only access college, but persist through graduation and transition into meaningful careers. This forum serves as both a celebration of that impact and a candid reflection on the work ahead.
Join us as we celebrate 15 years of impact in New York City and explore what’s possible when students are met with the support they deserve.
📅 Thursday, June 11, 2026 | 6:00PM
📍 Fund for the City of New York
121 Avenue of the Americas, 6th Fl.
New York, NY 10013
🔗 Register Today: www.fcny.org/bottomline