In 1977 a group of students of Mexican ancestry who identified as Chicana/os in recognition of their unique social, cultural and political identities joined forces with a Chicano Art Professor, Rubén Trejo, to establish the Chicano Education Program.
Since its creation, this program has served as an academic and community center for students and their families.
Today, the Chicana/o/x Studies Program provides services for students of all backgrounds:
Our program offers academic and non-academic support services both in English and Spanish, such as advising, peer mentorship, and tutoring opportunities, culturally relevant events, scholarship information, and a home away from home.
The Chicana/o/x Education Program’s student recruitment efforts are focused on various activities aimed at encouraging Chicano/Latino students to pursue higher educational opportunities at EWU.
Specific recruitment activities include:
The Chicana/o/x Studies Program provides a variety of academic and non-academic support services benefiting students.
Academic services include advising, guidance towards scholarship information, mentorship opportunities, culture-based initiatives, linkages for tutoring needs and a college orientation class.
CHST also assists students to become familiar with university regulations and practices and advocates on the students’ behalf with other university departments and offices.
The Chicana/o/x Studies Program maintains contact with both the Chicano and non-Chicano communities throughout the state of Washington. The program’s outreach efforts include seminars, lectures, cultural and art exhibitions for both the community on campus and surrounding areas.
On the national level, the Chicana/o/x Studies Program actively participates with the National Association for Chicana & Chicano Studies, an organization which promotes research relevant to the Chicano community.
The Chicana/o/x Studies Program has a dual mission at Eastern Washington University.
The program’s first mission is to actively contribute to enhancing the opportunity and participation of Chicanos/Latinos in higher education. This mission is achieved by actively recruiting and supporting Chicano/Latino students to have a positive and successful academic career.
A parallel CHST mission is to contribute to EWU’s goal of addressing diversity, by providing all students, regardless of ethnicity, with a Chicana/o/x Studies curriculum leading to a comprehensive understanding and appreciation of the Chicano/Latino community and relevant issues. CHST is committed to staging initiatives that adhere to and meet its dual mission.
The Chicana/o/x Studies Program is divided structurally into three distinct program components; Student Recruitment Efforts, Student Support Services, and Additional CHST Activities.
For more information, email chst_program@ewu.edu.
The mission of Nuestra Raices is to empower and advance the Hispanic community. We serve the community, organizations, businesses,
and students. For over 20 years, Nuestra Raices has been serving Spokane and the Inland Northwest youth by providing scholarships, resources, and acknowledgment to students of color.
With the collaboration of Eastern Washington University- Chicanx Studies Program, Nuestra Raices and Chicanx Studies will bring Spokane a student engagement mentorship program for students of color, both young and returning professionals. The Hispanic Leadership program has been developed to provide guidance, mentorship, and support to students, young professionals, and returning professionals.
We believe that all women can embrace their identity, define their future and change the world.
Welcome to MiA – Women in Action! We are a non-profit organization committed to supporting and advocating for victims of domestic violence and/or sexual assault in the Spokane area. For some time now, we have noticed the lack of resources, information and tools in Spanish about these issues of domestic violence. So we want to create a bridge between the Latino community and the community resources in our city.
Mujeres in Action Website (Spanish Only)
Mujeres in Action Facebook (Spanish only)
Planned Parenthood fights to ensure that all people have access to high-quality and affordable health care, regardless of race, income, geography, immigration status or gender identity — no matter what. That is why Planned Parenthood’s Raíz program is committed to breaking down barriers in accessing health care in the Latinx community. The Raíz program is about more than just health. It’s about justice, knowledge, and power.
Planned Parenthood Raiz Website
Planned Parenthood Raiz Facebook (Bilingual)
Our students have many resources available to them within the Spokane and Cheney area.
Here is a list of a few of them, and we are always looking for more to add!
Feel free to email chst_program@ewu.edu with any questions or information about community resources.
The Latino Hope Foundation’s scholarship fund supports Latino students attending Gonzaga University, Eastern Washington University, Whitworth University, Washington State University-Spokane, University of Washington-Spokane, Spokane Falls Community College and Spokane Community College through financial support and mentorship through their full journey in earning their degree or vocation.
In an effort to strengthen and foster understanding and appreciation of the Latino community, Latino Hope Foundation hosts events in Spokane that educate the community about the Latino culture and heritage through the arts, music, cultural celebrations and sharing of the historical contributions Latinos have made building our country and our communities.
Latino Hope Foundation Website
Latino Hope Foundation Facebook
This is an opportunity meant to alleviate any financial burdens that would prevent a student from pursuing an internship. Students participating in an unpaid internship at a non-profit or governmental agency can apply for a one-time stipend.
Learn more about the qualifications and deadlines on the Krumble Foundation Internship Stipend Program Website
This is an opportunity for students that are pursing projects in environmental work to receive funding to assist with their project. Applicants’ projects are invited from a wide range of topics, including but not limited to: history, literature, theatre, anthropology, art, music, biology, and geosciences.
Chicana/o/x Studies Program is partnering with Alex Gibilisco, City Council Manager of Equity and Inclusion Initiatives, and Lisa Gardner, City Council Director of Communications + Community Engagement to bring job experience to our EWU students in form of an internship.
This internship and partnership is important so we allow students of diverse backgrounds see themselves in policy making roles, learn about organizational change through equity perspectives and to also see there are opportunities in the City of Spokane that align with their passions.
Equity work is broad and can be applied in any of the expert fields we work in from neighborhood planning, environmental sustainability, to budgeting, housing and the unhoused. It is an opportunity for students to work with diverse stakeholders and to understand the needs and functions of the city.
Regarding any questions regarding the internship, please contact Alex Gibilisco at agibilisco@spokanecity.org or Lisa Gardner at lgardner@spokanecity.org .
EWU is partnering with Sherwin-Williams in Spokane, they are looking for bilingual (English and Spanish) students to enter their internship programs and work for in their local branches for hands-on experience. For more information contact:
There are a number of scholarships available to our students at Eastern Washington University in multiple different areas.
Scholarship requirements are listed under each scholarship and if you have any questions, please feel free to email us: chst_program@ewu.edu.
Also head on over to the EWU Student Scholarships page for more information about the General Scholarship Application and other opportunities:
As a regional public university, EWU reaches out to all diverse populations of our region. We strive to be a welcoming, friendly place for all students.
One of our strategic planning initiatives is to work toward the federal designation of a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). For an institution to qualify as an HSI, it must have at least a 25% Latinx/Hispanic student population. Our stretch goal is to be designated an HSI by 2023.
Receiving this designation could provide EWU with access to resources that will benefit the entire student body. However, much more importantly, the extensive planning work on this initiative is helping us identify opportunities and challenges not only for the fastest growing population in our state but also for all prospective and current students.
As a program, we welcome any type of support that will help us provide opportunities for the academic and personal success of our students. If you or your institution/organization are interested in giving a gift, donations are accepted through the EWU Foundation and are tax-deductible.
To make a donation online, you can give through our secure online giving site.
To make a donation by mail, please write “Chicano and Chicana Studies Program” on the message line and mail to:
EWU Foundation
Hargreaves Hall 102
Cheney, WA 99004
