The mission of the Cross-Cultural component of CCLD is to assist in the development of students through programs that increase cultural awareness and subsequently their understanding, cultural competencies, as well as to help them become more socially responsible.

The mission is achieved through supporting student groups that are housed in CCLD,

Asian Student Alliance (ASA) and Affiliates, Black Action Society (BAS), Campus Women’s Organization (CWO), International Graduate Student Organizations, and Students Allies Intergroup Dialogue Facilitators (SAID).  

ASA represents six Asian student groups: the Chinese American Student Association, Filipino Students Association, Indian Sub-Continent Association, Korean Culture Association, and the Vietnamese Student Association. The Annual Gateway Clipper-Semi Formal and a film festival highlight some of their programming.

BAS traditionally partners with CCLD and other student groups, National Society of Black Engineers and Jump Start, for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration. The Pitt community also looks forward to BAS’s Black History Month programming.

CWO sponsors the annual Take Back the Night Rally/March that is focused on violence against women. Their programming also includes the Vagina Monologues and a self-defense class.

The International Graduate Student Organizations in CCLD are called ANKUR: Indian Graduate Student Association, Chinese Students and Scholars Association, Pan African Graduate and Professional Student Association, and the newly formed Pitt International Student Association. ANKUR sponsors Diwali ‘festival of lights’, Chinese New Year Celebration, Saudi Open House, Kwanzaa, and the International Fashion show are some of their prominent programming.  

SAID is a group of student facilitators trained to foster honest and transformative conversation promoting understanding and respect across group identities. SAID facilitates Intergroup Dialogues and Common Ground hot topic issues affecting our society and how we live as well as interact with each other.