Otis College’s FirstGen First Flight and Black Creatives Institute Programs Build Campus Community Before School Begins

The inaugural FirstGen First Flight program and Sixth Annual Black Creatives Institute bridge gaps and build community among incoming students.

When the Black Creatives Institute (BCI) launched at Otis College in the summer of 2020, the goal was to support students’ personal growth as well as cultural and career development while nurturing their sense of belonging. Today, BCI is not only thriving but it has now become a model for a new program, FirstGen First Flight, which welcomed its inaugural cohort of students this summer.

FirstGen First Flight was designed to foster community among incoming students who are the first in their families to pursue a college degree. The five-day, immersive experience was free of charge for students to attend. It offered activities that exposed students to concepts that will play a meaningful role in their success at Otis: financial literacy, work-life balance, campus resources, career preparation, and the strengths of the FirstGen identity. 

Throughout the week, attendees developed support networks that included faculty, peers, and mentors with FirstGen backgrounds. As one student commented at the conclusion of the program,“I learned that I don’t have to be scared and I have such a big future ahead of me.”

According to Otis’s census for the incoming Class of 2029, 35 percent are first-generation college students. The College has also been named one of 60 new members of the FirstGen Forward Network for 2025-2026 for demonstrating a commitment to improving experiences and advancing success for the College’s first-generation students.

Both BCI and FirstGen First Flight ran concurrently in August, providing incoming first-year and transfer students with a head start on their college journey. “Together, the two programs hosted several crossover events, allowing more than 75 students a chance to connect, collaborate, and build friendships that will carry them through their journey at Otis College and beyond,” says Dr. Theresa Lucas, Dean of Student Affairs. 

Like FirstGen First Flight, a primary goal of BCI is to increase student engagement and to support student retention and degree completion. According to a BCI survey, over 90% of attendees felt they left with the tools and resources needed to succeed at Otis College. They also left BCI knowing how to access resources designed to support their personal, academic, and social success. The program’s annual mix of keynote speakers, art activations, field trips, and industry panels helped attendees envision a path from Otis to career options after graduation. 

Some of this year’s BCI speakers included Halima Hudson, who most recently served as co-writer on the Disney+ series, Iwájú, and Maurice Harris (’05 BFA Fine Arts), an artist whose pieces have been commissioned by Louis Vuitton, Beyoncé, Dior, and Gucci. A panel, sponsored by the Bond Creative Advancement Project (BCAP), included Natasha DesRuisseaux (Lead of Emerging Creators at Meta); Richard Cox (Chief Merchandising Officer at PACSUN); Perry Fair (Head of Creative at Mattel); Mike Chubb (Art Specialist at Treyarch); and Lara Juriansz (Creative Director at Media Arts Lab), and was moderated by Leonardo Lawson, the CEO of FIFA 1904 and an Otis College Board of Trustees member. DREAMHAUS LA, founded by Otis alums Mike Reesé (’13 BFA Communication Arts) and Nikkolos Mohammed (’13 BFA Fine Arts), hosted an activation led by Creative Director Sam Danan (’16 MFA Graphic Design).

Past BCI speakers have included Chrysta Burton, Senior Vice President for Physical Production and Visual Effect at Paramount Pictures and Will Ragland, Creative Director at AppleTV+. Notable alumni studio visits have taken place with Kohshin Finley (’12 BFA Communication Arts) and Lanise Howard (’20 BFA Fine Arts). 

Students who successfully complete BCI have the opportunity to apply for the BCIxBCAP Industry Mentorship Program. So far, 17 students have been selected and matched with industry mentors who work in the art and design industry as mid- to senior-level creatives. The students also receive one-on-one support from a peer mentor throughout the academic year.

“It was powerful to see alumni return as speakers and presenters who are fully invested in pouring back into the next generation of Otis College Black creatives,” Dr. Lucas says. “The Black Creatives Institute is more than a program. It is a home. It’s where students sharpen their creative voices while being fully seen, fully valued, and reminded that they belong in every space their journey takes them.”

Related News