A lot of students can tell you how important First Generation College Bound has been for them academically. But Alonzo Washington can tell you first-hand just how much impact it can have outside of the academic world.

When he was a teenager living in Kimberly Gardens, Washington’s family was evicted. But even though Joe Fisher’s only connection to Washington was through FGCB’s homework club, he was opening his door.

“Mr. Fisher came with open arms and offered that I lived with him,” Washington said. “He did not want this tragedy to affect my future and college aspirations.”

With that kind of support, Washington became the first member of his immediate family to graduate high school when he graduated from Laurel High in 2003, and he went on to become the first member of his extended family to attend college.

Fellow FGCB alumnus Reginald Black said it’s stories like that and others that are why Fisher’s organization is preparing to celebrate its 20th year of helping disadvantaged students achieve their dreams in attending college.

Washington joined Fisher’s homework club when he moved into Kimberly Gardens after spending his early years in Washington, D.C.
While Fisher took-in Washington following his family’s eviction, the support did not stop there.

“He taught me how to research for a particular school, how to properly fill out an application, essay writing and strategically applying to schools that would offer the most financial aid,” Washington said. “He is my mentor. He prepared me emotionally and mentally for college through his long talks and words of wisdom.”

With that support, Washington got into the University of Maryland College Park and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in criminology and criminal justice.

“If not for FGCB, I think I would have taken a year off of school and applied to college a year later,” he said. “I think I wouldn’t have the opportunities that I have now and I honestly don’t think I’d be working with a Prince George’s County Council now.”
Black joined FGCB in third grade, but said some of the greatest support he received from the organization came as he started preparing for college.

“You don’t really understand what you’re going through at first, especially when you’re the first to go to college in your family,” Black said. “But Mr. Fisher provided me with not just the opportunity to go to college, but helped me understand the preparation process.”

Black said the advice and guidance he received from FGCB has extended beyond his high school years and into college. As he wound down his undergraduate career, he took the same advice received on going to college and applied it to graduate school
.
“It’s always helped me stay a step ahead,” he said. “I’ve helped a couple friends prepare for graduate school. With anything, there’s a process, and FGCB prepared me to know that process and get the ball rolling.”

In March, Fisher gathered more than a dozen of FGCB’s alumni at a reunion reception that doubled as the program’s “Thousand Friends” fund-raising campaign. The campaign’s aim is to get 1,000 donors to give at least $100 each.

About 15 of the graduates, including Black and Washington, spoke with a crowd of organization supporters, family members of alumni and elected officials, telling them of the affect that FGCB has had on them and the importance of assuring that it continues.

Among the elected officials was state Sen. James Rosapepe, who represents Laurel. He vowed to continue his ongoing support of the organization.

“In President Obama’s speech to Congress, ... he said each high school student has a responsibility to our country to pursue college education,” Rosapepe said. “America is falling behind the rate of the world in college graduation. You here today, led by Joe Fisher, led by your board, led by the graduates that we’re all so proud of, are leading the way to solving America’s major challenge.”

For Fisher, that was music to his ears.

“It was rewarding seeing the results of the journey that started 19 years ago,” he said. “They’ve achieved their goals, they’re working and they’re living their dreams, and that’s really the goal for us.”

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