[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 147 (Wednesday, September 5, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1209]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CELEBRATING THE CHICANA(O) AND LATINA(O) STUDIES DEPARTMENT (CLS) AT 
   CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LOS ANGELES UPON ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIMMY GOMEZ

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 5, 2018

  Mr. GOMEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the Chicana(o) and 
Latina(o) Studies Department (CLS) at California State University, Los 
Angeles upon its 50th anniversary. Established in 1968, the program has 
expanded from four classes to 150 courses annually. Created during an 
era when communities of color stood up for equality and civil rights, 
this program sought to build a new, positive narrative of Mexican 
Americans in the U.S., while preparing students to pursue careers in 
various fields, including education, law, and the social sciences.
  Since its founding, the CLS program's focus was interdisciplinary and 
broke with academia's traditional emphasis on specialization to instead 
focus its study of Mexican Americans through courses in history, 
culture, political science, psychology, and an emerging Chicano 
literature. While the scope and breadth of the CLS program has changed 
over the years, its impact on the minds of our youth has remained 
constant and is as relevant now as ever before.
  To create an equitable society, we must acknowledge the systemic 
inequalities that immigrants and all communities of colors continue to 
face. Our educational institutions can serve as vehicles toward this 
end. That is why we must work together as policy makers, educators, 
community leaders, and students to lead our generation into a future 
that truly embodies the ideals our country has aspired to since its 
founding.
  I ask all members to join with me in commending the CLS program and 
California State University, Los Angeles for their 50 years of 
educating Los Angeles' youth for a brighter future.

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