On Sept. 5, more than 100 campus and community supporters joined the fiesta celebrating the fifth anniversary of the Latinx Resource Center. Since its creation, the LRC has achieved a lot, from surviving the challenges of the pandemic to its current standing as one of the finest centers of its kind in the U.S.

But the effort has paid off. Located in the RISE Suite in the Student Center and under the direction of Adelí Durón, the LRC recently received Excelencia in Education Program to Watch recognition as one of 12 programs in eight states that make a positive impact on Latino student success.

As she busily prepares for another academic year, Durón answered these questions about the center:

How many students utilize the Latinx Resource Center?

The Latinx Resource Center had 2,273 visits – with 652 of them being unique visitors – in 2023-24. This does not account for the majority of our programs that occur outside our physical space. Our largest events – La Bienvenida and Dia de los Muertos – had well over 500 students each in attendance.

What services does the center provide?

The LRC offers resources, programs and a space where cultura, arte and academia are interconnected. The framework of our programming is divided into academic support, signature programs, workshop series and leadership opportunities – everything from a University Affairs introductory course for first-year students to providing space for a sense of belonging.

For brevity’s sake, I will focus on our workshops created and implemented mostly by our student intern team. All of these are run as series; they just vary in frequency: Spanish Hour, Cafecito con Profesores, Platicas, Counselor in Residence, Q Rants, Embracing Your Indigeneity, Meet Your Pueblo and a financial literacy collaboration with Puerta Abierta.

How has the center changed over five years?

When I was first hired as the founding director, we did not have a physical space yet. We were scheduled to open in spring 2020 and then summer 2020, which – as everyone can imagine – did not happen due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the fall of 2021, we were finally able to open our physical doors. We started with planning programs that targeted STEM majors, grad students and AfroLatinidad. In the second year, the LRC inherited long-standing student-run programs, such as the student organization Mesa Unida, formerly a coalition of Chicanx/Latinx student organizations, along with activities like La Bienvenida, La Despedida and the affiliates program, now known as Mesa Unida.

Over the last three years, we have been able to fully develop a schedule of educational and community-building workshops, a volunteer program, and a peer-to-peer mentorship program, as well as create a community mural that now hangs in the space.

The center opened a few months before the pandemic. How did it adapt?

Since we were still new, with no physical space, to a certain extent, it felt easy enough to pivot to Zoom life. We moved our first program, which began in the winter of 2020, a math tutoring program, Mermeladas de Estudio, to Zoom. We held some community-building social programs virtually, creating online Lotería nights.

As co-chair of the Latino Excellence & Achievement Dinner, I worked with the committee to move this large-scale program to fully prerecorded livestream. I co-advised Nuestra Graduación through the variations of what the program could look like and assisted them through the help of the commencement team to move it to a virtual event.

And then there were programs that we had to let go of – there wasn’t a great way to do a Salsa Night virtually. It was definitely a difficult time, having so many unknowns and counseling students through the difficulties they were facing and, later, the realization that programs they had planned for, looked forward to – especially commencement – wouldn’t be what everyone had envisioned.

How does UC Irvine being a Hispanic-Serving Institution elevate the entire campus?

UC Irvine is not only an HSI; it’s a Hispanic-Serving Research University and a Minority-Serving Institution. All these designations mean that UC Irvine is attracting a diverse student body. Being an HSI promotes a campus culture that values and celebrates the rich cultural heritage, traditions and contributions of the Hispanic community. This cultural enrichment benefits all students by exposing them to diverse perspectives and fostering a more inclusive environment. We hope the LRC’s increased focus on creating a supportive environment for Hispanic students fosters a sense of belonging among all students, particularly those from underrepresented groups. Our belief is that an inclusive atmosphere can positively impact mental health, student engagement and overall campus climate.

What do you hope to accomplish over the next five years?

As part of our five-year celebration, we are launching Art-in-Residence with Ramón Ramirez’s artwork. We hope this is the beginning of developing partnerships with local Chicanx and Latinx artists to display their work each year.

The LRC is currently working with the UC Chicanx Latinx Alumni Association and our counterparts across the UC campuses to secure permanent funding through the state. I hope to continue exploring other funding opportunities, such as HSI grants, donations and partnerships with local businesses. I want to help the campus work toward the Seal of Excelencia from Excelencia in Education. I hope these endeavors will help us expand our reach and program offerings.