Jesus Javier Franco

Michelle Obama famously said “when you’ve worked hard and walked through that doorway of opportunity, you do not slam it shut behind you. You reach back and you give other folks the same chances that helped you succeed." She could very easily have been describing Javi Franco and the transformative impact they have made on so many Dartmouth communities! They certainly made the most of their own opportunities (in classrooms, in activities, in their growth as a scholar and as an activist) but their greatest success may be the profound effect of their support on others.

Javi’s involvements on campus were both varied and remarkably unified. They were a First Year Student Enrichment Program (FYSEP) mentor, helping first-generation and low-income incoming students to find their place at Dartmouth and learn to thrive. They were a Mellon Mays Fellow, focusing fiercely on eventual graduate studies, most likely in urban equity issues. They were Director of Co-FIRED, working with folks both on and off-campus to improve the lives of undocumented students and community members, at a time when national leadership was actively working to undermine them. They have worked tirelessly with the Office of Pluralism and Leadership (OPAL), most recently helping to plan Lavender and LatinX graduations. And they are most proud of their work across all four years with Novack Cafe, rising to Manager and helping to make it a safe and welcoming place for all workers, including so many who identify as queer and/or first-generation and/or low-income and/or POCs. Javi says they wanted to “create communities around campus centered around those who do not fit into Dartmouth's ‘mainstream’ culture or feel ostracized because of differences in race, income, size, or ability.” In deep appreciation of their efforts, we proudly present Javi Franco with this Legacy Award.