What is FLAN?

“When I was graduating from Stanford in 2016, I was so excited to leave and go back home (shout out to Palmetto, FL and Manatee County!). It was an exhausting and draining journey to get my degree. I felt some resentment towards the institution for taking so much of my energy and spirit. It was a constant struggle to feel like I belonged and to manage the ever-present feeling of being an “imposter.”

After graduating, I had no intention of participating in the Stanford Alumni Association. I didn’t even activate my alumni email account. When it came to Reunion Homecoming and all the other Stanford alumni stuff, it just didn’t sound like fun. To me, those events seemed to be like Admit Weekend, NSO, and other “school spirit” occasions. Occasions when I felt my identities and experiences were excluded or erased. Instead, I stayed in touch with friends and students from the Stanford FLI community (shout out to LSP!)

Being a part of FLAN reminds me of all the strength, wisdom, and friendship in the FLI community. In some very powerful and beautiful ways, being in a community with other FLI folks makes me feel at home.

Nurturing those friendships with other FLI folks from Stanford proved to be essential to my transition to alumni life. Even though I was back in my hometown, it was a struggle to re-establish a sense of belonging with family and friends. Going further into my professional career, I continued to feel the confusion and self-doubt that often comes with being “the first.”

I had a college degree, but I was still FLI.

Through FLAN, I’ve been able to connect with alumni across many class years, engage with supporting current FLI students, and learn about ongoing advocacy for the FLI community. The FLI community continues to be a space where I can feel truly “myself.” It’s a space where I don’t have to explain my struggles or apologize for my achievements. No matter when you graduated or how your FLI identity shows up in your life, I hope you are able to find a home with FLAN too."

--
Andrew Vasquez, ’16 (religious studies)
he, him, his
FLAN Board Member

FLAN Board also facilitates committee groups, which include members from the Board and general members. We encourage you to join a committee!

The current list of committees include:

• AlumFLI: Leading events and initiatives to help onboard graduating students to alumni life

• FLIP x FLAN: Building collaborative partnerships with FLI student leadership on campus, primarily through the student group First-Generation and/or Low-Income Partnership (FLIP)

• FLI Office x FLAN: Building collaborative partnerships with the professional staff of the Stanford FLI Office and other faculty and staff allies

• FLI Graduation: Coordinating with FLI student and staff leadership on campus to facilitate commencement celebration efforts for FLI graduates

• Membership Drive: Cultivating and growing FLAN membership

• Student Mentorship and SAM: Working with BEAM and SAM staff to coordinate FLAN members wishing to engage career mentorship

• Newsletter: Creating a periodical newsletter to inform and engage FLAN members

• Reunion Homecoming: Coordinating FLAN activities for the annual Stanford Reunion Homecoming celebrations

• Regional Happy Hours: Planning local social events for FLAN members

• Social Media: Developing and implementing social media campaigns to support FLAN and FLI community needs

• Webinar: Planning and coordinating educational and community-minded webinars for FLAN members and the greater Stanford FLI community

• Website: Hosting a FLAN website with events, resources, and news for our members

To join, email us: flan@alumni.stanford.edu