UCI Giving Day 2020

The Cross-Cultural Center was founded on October 16, 1974. We were the first UC campus to establish a multicultural center. Our center’s mission is to be a space for students to imagine and inspire an equitable, socially just campus, to affirm and develop intersectional, cultural identities, and to build a more inclusive community. 

As it has since its establishment in 1974, the Cross-Cultural Center continues to provide many students a home away from home. And for many, it remains a safe space from which students may launch their involvement in a myriad of campus programs and leadership opportunities.

Former staff of the UCI Cross-Cultural Center. Featured on the bottom right is Dr. Lori S. White former Director of the CCC from 1982-1984 and again from 1987-1990.

Forty-five years ago a small group of dedicated students, staff and faculty recognized the need for creating social-cultural support systems for ethnic minority students. This group set out to provide a range of services for students from underserved communities and backgrounds. 

As a pioneering vehicle for social justice, the CCC has inspired systemic and institutional change across the UC system. We are incredibly proud to celebrate our 45 year history and thrilled to continue our journey towards a brilliant future.

Dr. Yusef Salaam of the Exonerated Five formally known as Central Park Five, with UCI undergraduate student and actor, Ethan Herisse, who played young Yusef in the Netflix docuseries “The Central Park Five.” Dr. Yusef Salaam was invited to host the Dr. Joseph L. White Lecture as part of the MLK Jr. Symposium on January 23, 2020.

To commemorate the CCC 45th Year Anniversary, we invited Dr. Yuself Salam of the exonerated five, formally known as the Central Park Five, to speak at the Dr. Jospeh L. White Lecture which is held during the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. symposium. Your support helps us host major speakers and events for the campuswide community.

Two undergraduate students (Tingyao & Tamara) co-host the annual Community Roots Festival.

The Community Roots Festival brings our campus clubs and organizations, indivdiuals, student groups, and community members together to celebrate our cultural diversity through dance performances and an artistic mural competition. Our student organizers are heavily involved in making this day a major campuswide celebration of diversity.

Undergraduate First Year Students listening to staff panel at the Student Multicultural Leadership Institute (SMLI) 2019.

The Summer Multicultural Leadership Institute (SMLI) is a leadership opportunity for incoming first-years looking to explore their social justice identities and find community. Students make connections in the program during the summer and later go on to serve as volunteers in our center or apply for paid student leadership roles on campus.

These dynamic programs and initiatives are only a small piece of the greater vision we have in store for the Cross-Cultural Center. To make that vision come true, we need you. 

This Giving Day make a gift, of any size, to the Cross-Cultural Center. Your generosity today will help us to continue to make history.