Welcome to the “Supporting Our Latinx/Hispanic Communities” EDI Toolkit! The term “Latinx” refers to someone who is native of, or descends from, a Latin American country; the term “Hispanic” tends to refer to people, cultures or countries related to Spain and/or speaking the Spanish language. Latinx/Hispanic communities span multiple continents and represent a wide variety of nationalities, languages and cultural traditions.  There is a long and diverse history of Latinx/Hispanic communities in what is currently referred to as the United States (U.S.). Members of various Latinx/Hispanic communities in the U.S. continue to face discrimination and encounter structural barriers to their access to such benefits as employment, education, healthcare and beyond.  Notwithstanding such oppression, Latinx/Hispanic communities continue to make significant contributions worldwide. Since 1968, the United States has observed Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15) to recognize the histories, cultures and achievements of these communities.  

The Latinx/Hispanic community at UCLA is home to a diverse and engaged constituency, embracing and representing dozens of cultures. Centering these perspectives and voices helps ensure all members of our UCLA family are treated with dignity and care, paramount to the mission of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).

For decades, Latinx/Hispanic Bruins have been actively involved in the UCLA community, and Latinx/Hispanic alumni have made significant contributions to the university and beyond.  In 2020, UCLA began the formal process of becoming a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), which would qualify the University for a wide range of federal grants to bolster educational programs and benefit Latinx/Hispanic communities.