For students in the Institute for Latino Studies, learning extends far beyond the classroom. This summer, 18 undergraduates will take part in the Cross Cultural Leadership Program (CCLP), an immersive internship experience that places them in Latino communities across the country, including Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, El Paso, and South Bend.
Since its launch in 2005, CCLP has served as a cornerstone of the Latino Studies curriculum at Notre Dame, offering students the opportunity to apply their academic learning in real-world settings. Through partnerships with community-based and national organizations, the program equips students with the tools to engage meaningfully with the communities they study.
“Latino Studies is an interdisciplinary field of academic teaching, research and scholarship engaged in understanding the past, present, and future of the youngest and fastest-growing population in the United States,” said Karen Richman, professor of practice and director of undergraduate studies. “Our academic program offers a minor and supplemental/second major in Latino Studies to approximately 100 students. CCLP has been a key component of the Latino Studies curriculum since it was launched in 2005. The internship provides a means for our students to apply what they have learned in Latino Studies classes at Notre Dame to the real world in service to Latino communities.”
The program’s emphasis on experiential learning allows students to engage directly with issues such as immigration, education, public health, and legal advocacy. By working alongside organizations embedded in Latino communities, students gain a deeper understanding of the structural challenges and lived experiences that shape these spaces.
For sophomore Paola Salazar, this summer represents both a professional and personal opportunity for growth.
“This summer, I was placed in Los Angeles, California, where I’m interning with Community Lawyers Inc. I look forward to engaging with a community that differs greatly from my Midwestern hometown and to be working at an immigration firm, where I will witness firsthand how new policies are impacting the legal sector and the communities it serves,” she said. “I am grateful to the Cross Cultural Leaders Program for providing me with the opportunity to connect with my culture in a new setting, recognizing our differences while appreciating our similarities.”
Programs like CCLP reflect the broader mission of Latino Studies at Notre Dame: to connect academic inquiry with community engagement. As students step into new cities and unfamiliar environments, they carry with them not only the knowledge gained in the classroom, but also a commitment to service, cultural understanding, and leadership.
Through this immersive experience, participants are not only observing communities, but becoming active contributors within them — an approach that underscores the transformative potential of Latino Studies both on campus and beyond.
Originally published by Grecia Alcantar at latinostudies.nd.edu on March 31, 2026.
Chicago
Abraham Claudio, '29
Leslie Rodriguez, '27
Annika Fernandez, '27
Guadalupe Dolan, '27
Parker Gaines, '27
Ian Moore, '29
Lindsey Jimenez Salazar, '28
Diego Cubillo, '27 (not pictured)
South Bend
Angela Calva, '27
Benny Ortega, '29
Mario Carmona, '29
Austlynn Quiroz, '29
Los Angeles
Quinlen Schachle, '28
Paola Salazar, '28
Erik Aviles, '28
Becky Island, '28
New York City
Jonathan Calixto, '28
Jianni Ortiz, '29
Joshua Silva, '28
