CLSD first opened its door in 1991 after having been conceptualized and created by Chican@ and Latin@ students, staff/faculty and community members in the late 1980’s. The office’s mission is threefold: advocate for the retention and graduation of Chican@/Latin@ students; engage and empower students to become leaders, professionals, and/or scholars; and create community among and between other Chican@ Latin@ spaces on and off campus.

In efforts to ensure that the needs of Chican@ Latin@ students are being met, the CLSD hosts events, works alongside other RAZA spaces, and offers a variety of resources, including, but not limited to: a student led intern class that you can take for units; an academic newsletter; and Grad Student office hours. The CLSD believes in a family and generational model when it comes to helping and learning from each other. And learning takes many forms and one of these being watching and doing. Everyone has a role to play – students, staff/administrators, faculty and community members. The CLSD office is student run, staff lead and community supported.

The CLSD is part of the collaborative unit of the Multicultural Student Development (MSD)Unit in César Chávez.  The MSD Unit is composed of the  Asian Pacific American, African American, Native American, Cross-Cultural Student Development Offices and the Multicultural Community Center. For more information check us out at: clsd.berkeley.edu and come visit us in 245 Chávez!