First Voice Generation follows the stories of three Latinx high school students in Holland, Michigan. As children of Mexican immigrants, they struggle with a sense of identity and belonging growing up in this predominantly Dutch community. They dream of being the first in their family to go to college but Covid-19 shuts the world down, and virtual learning exacerbates their struggles. The cost of affording college makes their dream seem impossible.

This film is directed and produced by Cynthia Martinez. Cynthia is a 2nd generation Mexican-American born in Holland, Michigan. She is a mother, writer, director, and producer. A graduate of Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, her experience includes working for Univision News in Miami. She is currently engaged with directing and producing films and media that advocate social justice.

A Q/A session with Cynthia will take place immediately after the screening.

This is a free event and is open to the general public.

The First Voice Generation film screening and Q/A is hosted and sponsored by Student Success and Calvin First as part of the National First-Generation College Celebration Day programming.