Ethnic studies—the study of differences in race, ethnicities, nationalities, and even gender and sexuality—that took root decades ago in San Francisco State University sowed seeds in San Luis Obispo County’s Cuesta College.
Cuesta’s Ethnic Studies Club sprouted over the summer after a group of students in the social justice and ethnic studies class organized an open house.
“The need for the club was prompted by students identifying a space for new students beginning the school year, who wanted to have not just an experience of ethnic studies in the classroom, but also a space to have these conversations outside,” Ethnic Studies faculty member and club advisor Mario Espinoza-Kulick said.
He added that the Cuesta students drew inspiration from ethnic studies departments at institutions such as Santa Barbara City College and UC San Diego that have student clubs to complement their programs.
With 16 students signed up, the club had its first meeting on Sep. 3. It plans to meet via Zoom every Wednesday from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., with occasional in-person hangouts. Enrolled Cuesta students can sign up at tinyurl.com/ESC-signup. Keep up with club updates on Instagram @cuestaethnicstudies.
For SLO County resident Mayra Medina, who studies child and adolescent development at Cuesta, joining the Ethnic Studies Club more than helps her complete the 20 hours of community service required for her elective class.
“It’s something that I’ve always wanted to know,” she said. “It’s interesting to know the struggles that every ethnicity has gone through. … It had to do with different people that stood up for wanting to learn more about their background as well.”
At Cuesta, the Ethnic Studies course dives into the history of the movement that began in 1968, the Black Power movement, Asian American and Pacific Islander activism, Native American efforts toward self-determination, among other lessons. Students also get to learn about the prison industrial complex, xenophobia, decolonial resistance, indigenous sovereignty, exclusion, and being anti-racist.
Medina, a mother of five, hopes the club can be a place to discuss the disproportionate struggles faced by children and their families who come from underrepresented backgrounds.
“Preschool and child care, a lot of people can’t afford it or have to be on waiting lists to get their kids into the free preschool,” Medina said. “A lot of times, it’s parents, due to undocumentation or [lack of] education, or because they don’t earn much, who can’t afford it.”
Medina’s daughter, who’s also enrolled in Cuesta, is interested in learning more about the club. Now club treasurer, Medina believes it’s important for more people to familiarize themselves with ethnic studies.
“I think it’s important to know—not necessarily, like, every single struggle—but to know what everybody has gone through, to basically deserve what they have now,” she said.
Club President and computer science student Alexa Baird wants to engage in more conversations about Native American history given her multiracial heritage.
“There’s a lot of history about it that wasn’t discussed or talked about,” said Baird, a Fresno native. “That’s really important, because growing up, I dealt with a lot of prejudice, and I didn’t notice it until as I got older and I became more clear with certain things.”
Apart from meeting to talk about current events related to ethnic studies, the club wants to participate in cultural celebrations, read storybooks to children in local schools and libraries, support ethnic studies courses and assignments, and award scholarships.
The newly minted Ethnic Studies Club already has plans to work with local groups like R.A.C.E. Matters SLO and the UndocuSupport Coalition.
Club advisor Espinoza-Kulick told New Times that the club will submit a $500 request for funding from the student government. The money will supplement the Cuesta College Ethnic Studies Endowment.
Donations to the endowment can be made at
https://secure.givelively.org/donate/cuesta-college-foundation/ethnic-studies-c9222aa9-8e0c-40b6-90a3-c4388c9c1d35.
“We’re trying to meet a goal of $10,000 to be able to supply scholarships and field trips and conference travel and preparation for career readiness,” Espinoza-Kulick said. “We’ve been fundraising for five years, and so far, we’ve raised $2,400.”
In 2020, the Cuesta College Foundation approved the endowment with the support of faculty and students. The ethnic studies course itself came about in 2022 through the efforts of Espinoza-Kulick, Social Sciences professor Zachary McKiernan, Associated Students of Cuesta College student government President Dawn Grillo, and late student J.P. Flores.
“It wasn’t about the club at that point,” Espinoza-Kulick said, “but we were looking towards the future with creating an endowment account to fundraise so that we’re able to provide relevant experiences for students at Cuesta taking ethnic studies classes.” ∆
Reach Staff Writer Bulbul Rajagopal at brajagopal@newtimesslo.com.
This article appears in Student Guide 2025.