40 Hours for the Forty Acres Spring 2023

Who We Are

FLI aims to empower African American undergraduate women in their pursuit of academic, personal and professional development on campus and beyond. FLI upholds its values to foster confident, authentic, ambitious, honest, accountable and socially responsible individuals.

What We're Fundraising For

FLI Around the World Scholarships

Research shows that some of the barriers that keep Black students from participating in a study abroad program are lack of knowledge about the programs, inadequate funding, lack of traveling experience, parental concerns and more. Through our FLI Around the World campaign we aim to expose Black women to global initiatives and encourage them to push past the barriers. One way we do this is to provide scholarships for students to participate in our department’s study abroad programs. The Division of Diversity and Community Engagement, for which FLI resides, offers global studies to Dubai/Abu Dhabi, CapeTown, South Africa, Beijing, China, and Costa Rica.

FLI Leadership Retreat

We aim to build up the whole student and equip them with tools to make good choices holistically; FLI is preparing its members to make a social and economic impact in local, national and global arenas. Our annual retreat is designed to do just that. On March 3-5, 2023, we hosted 110 students at the 9th annual FLI Leadership Retreat at Stoney Creek Ranch. The theme for the retreat was “BE.coming”—inspired by our forever first lady Michelle Obama’s book Becoming. The “BE” is emphasized because so often on our journey to fulfill our dreams, we forget to just BE and enjoy where we are on the way to where we’re trying to get. This retreat allowed each participant to unpack their past, to inform their present, in preparation for their future.

Funds raised for FLI Leadership Retreats will be allotted to lodging, transportation, meals, workshops, team building activities & more.

Your Impact

We are always so grateful for our sponsors and donors who time and time again go above and beyond in their giving. They have helped make many of our signature events possible. The funding we receive is used to enhance our student’s experience through our programming. We offer weekly interest groups for holistic development, an annual leadership retreat, a mentorship program, an NYC Exposure Experience, and more. This particular fundraiser will go to support FLI students who participate in our department’s global initiatives by making available to them FLI Around the World Scholarships. Studies show that global experience helps to increase a students confidence academically; increases their global knowledge and awareness; increases their emotional intelligence; helps them to thrive in ambiguity; increases their cultural intelligence and so much more! Some of our students who travel abroad with us, state that it was their first time on an airplane, or it was their first time out of the state of Texas. Several of the students who have gone abroad whose parents were initially skeptical of them going so far, have now returned and taken their entire families abroad. Some of the students who participated have now graduated and because of their exposure abroad have attained careers in other countries. Many more students return from their global experience and talk about how they are empowered to raise their hand in classroom settings, back on campus, and participate in the class discussions, where as before they felt incompetent.

Testimonials:

“I am a first-generation college student doing a lot of things that my family hasn’t had the chance to do and I know the things I am doing make my family proud, but being in China made me realize that I was also their wildest dream.” -Jalesha Bass

“FLI definitely helped me build character and build better habits professionally. You all played a huge part in my leadership development and communication skills. As well as my confidence in myself. Fli also really encouraged me to study abroad which gave me a global perspective of the world. Y’all also help me learn how to do good in interviews when y’all did the interview thing my freshman or sophomore year.”

“FLI has given me a community of wonderful, beautiful women that I can call family and that I know I can come to for anything! I have gotten so much good advice and life spoken into me and FLI was essential for my undergrad experience, I am so grateful to have joined this org.” 

“FLI has impacted my experience at UT in the best way possible. FLI was the one organization I could always count on to have people who genuinely love me there and will never make me feel like an outcast. I’m so glad I found FLI because it has transformed me into a more confident, resilient, and fearless woman.”

The entire study abroad experience cost about $5K for each student including airfare, a passport, programming, food, and personal expenses. Lodging is provided. Below are donation suggestions:

Donation Suggestions:

• Bronze Level: $100 Because you care!
• Silver Level: $500 To make an impact!
• Gold Level: $2500 To make a difference!
• Platinum Level: $5000 To spread the love!