I can’t believe it’s been 17 years since I started at CLP! I remember my first day: Our small, three-person organization was just a few years old and located in downtown Oakland in a single-room office with only two desks. Looking back sparks a lot of different emotions.
I’m deeply grateful to my CLP colleagues and teammates for their support and collaboration. I’m especially grateful to Linda Collins for giving me the opportunity to support and lead projects, initiatives and activities representing the organization.
I’ve had an incredible journey of personal and professional growth during my time at CLP. I focused on equitable student success, counseling and student services, creating communities of practice, and professional learning/development for faculty and staff across a large CLP portfolio of California community colleges. I helped support or lead work across an amazing array of projects, including the Career Advancement Academies (CAA), Concurrent Courses Initiative (CCI), Community College Linked Learning Initiative (CCCLLI), California Career Pathways Trust (CCPT), Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College & Career Training (TAACCCT), the California Counseling Network (CACN), Guided Pathways, Equitable Counseling, and many others. It was a privilege to collaborate with so many community colleges and partner organizations, addressing critical issues in supporting students to move successfully through their educational and career paths.
I’m proud to say that my CLP work aligned with my passion for equity-driven community college transformation that engages whole communities, a core value that has has been a theme throughout my career in education.
During my tenure with CLP, I was honored to have continued my service in California and nationally through many allied organizations (LULAC, UNIDOS, HACR, LICI, NCCHC), and particularly with The Puente Project and COLEGAS. All of these groups and organizations have helped shape my approach to educational equity, community building, and collaborative action. And all of it traces back to my early years as a volunteer working with Dr. Sandoval in downtown Los Angeles, an experience that inspired me to dedicate myself to making a difference through education.
My hope is not to stop or slow down but to leverage my past work and connections for more “good trouble” – sparking change, hope, and community through my next endeavors.
I’m going to be focused on family by continuing to home care my elderly parents-in-law. I will be continuing my role as adjunct counseling faculty at Berkeley City College, and starting doctoral studies at the University of Maryland.
I’m energized to launch my new nonprofit, FirstGen America, aimed at empowering underserved students and supporting their educational journeys.
I’m also looking forward to continuing collaboration with CLP, offering support for future projects or initiatives where I might be of value. I plan to stay connected with CLP colleagues and partners. I am always ready to contribute to meaningful work.
So, with immense gratitude to the CLP team and all the good trouble we’ve made together, I just want to say ‘hasta pronto’!
Luis Chavez,
CLP 2007-2024
Adelante!