Cal State San Bernardino will host its inaugural Native Community Welcome Dinner on Sept. 18. This special invitation-only event will welcome new and returning Native students to the academic year and bring together Tribal Councils and representatives, Native organizations, K-12 educators, CSUSB faculty and staff.

Hosted by the Office of Government, Tribal, and Community Relations, the First Peoples’ Center, and the Office of Outreach and Student Recruitment, the event serves as an opportunity to build meaningful connections and highlight the strong support system available to Native students on and off campus.

Attendees will hear remarks from CSUSB President Tomás D. Morales, enjoy cultural performances by bird singers, and learn about on-campus resources, programs and partnerships that support Native student success. Representatives from the First Peoples’ Center and other CSUSB departments will introduce services and spaces designed to foster belonging and persistence.

“As a Native student and staff member, I have had the pleasure of experiencing and organizing a Native Welcome Dinner at both UC Riverside and Cal Poly Pomona,” said Alex “Panda” Armendariz, director of Tribal Relations. “These dinners are an opportunity for our students to meet each other and the network of support from our staff and faculty, along with our surrounding Native community.”

The evening aims to mirror CSUSB’s Native American Graduation ceremony, bookending the academic year with cultural celebration and community connection.