UC Chicanx Latinx Alumni Association Summit Held at UC Irvine

Held at UC Irvine in January, the University of California Chicanx Latinx Alumni Association (UC CLAA) Summit was an event that fostered community and belonging amongst different UC campuses. This year's summit was a collaborative effort between the UC Irvine Alumni Association, the UC Irvine Latino Alumni Chapter, and UC-CLAA, highlighting the strong partnerships within the UC system.

We extend a congratulatory message to UCI-OC Alliance Campus Liaison Elsa Bugarini Yocca '85, UC Irvine Alumni Relations Manager, and the UCI Alumni Association team, who invited the Alliance to be a featured program. The summit took place at the Newkirk Alumni Center, providing an ideal setting for alumni networking and engagement. The UC CLAA, a statewide collective representing Latinx alumni from all ten UC campuses, organized this summit as part of its mission to support and empower the Chicanx and Latinx communities within the University of California system.

The UCI-OC Alliance's goal to strengthen the relationship between UC Irvine and the Orange County community aligns closely with the goals of the UC-CLAA summit. Both initiatives aim to foster connections, promote diversity, and create opportunities for underrepresented communities. The Alliance's focus on leveraging the power of alumni, community leaders, and UC Irvine to drive positive change in Orange County resonated strongly with the summit's objectives of empowering Chicanx and Latinx communities within the UC system. This alignment underscores the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing educational and social challenges faced by our communities. Our presentation and highlight included a fireside chat between Executive Director, Maria Cervantes and Alliance member Roger Nieves who talked about community leadership at UC Irvine and within the Alliance as an alum, inviting others to get involved.

Notably, the UCI-OC Alliance is unique to UC Irvine. This distinction underscores the alliance's special status and its potential to serve as a model for other campuses seeking to strengthen their community connections. Attendees also participated in workshops, panel discussions, and networking sessions, all aimed at strengthening the bonds within the Latinx alumni community and developing strategies to increase Latinx representation and success in higher education.

We are deeply thankful for the power of unity and collaboration demonstrated at this summit. The coming together of alumni from various UC campuses exemplifies the strength of our community in addressing the unique challenges and opportunities faced by the Chicanx and Latinx communities in California's higher education landscape. Our participation in the UC-CLAA Summit was a testament to our growing influence and impact.

For future UC-CLAA meetings visit the website.