Black Cultural Center 100 Third St., West Lafayette purdue.edu/BCC
BY CINDY GERLACH PHOTOS PROVIDED BY PURDUE UNIVERSITY
That’s the message made loud and clear by the many cultural and welcome centers in the Greater Lafayette-West Lafayette community.
You are welcome, and your culture is celebrated. One thing that every group makes known: These centers are not limited to the group whose name is used in the title. Each is open and inclusive — anyone is welcome to drop by and take part in activities.
Asian American and Asian Resource & Cultural Center 905 Fifth St., West Lafayette Purdue.edu/aaarcc
18 GREATER LAFAYETTE MAGAZINE
The Asian American and Asian Resource and Cultural Center opened in 2015, with the goal of providing educational and cultural resources for Purdue, as well as for the Lafayette-West Lafayette community. Programs are in place to help provide academic support to students, with academic outreach being one of the core goals of the center. A number of courses and minors are available to students who want to pursue further study. The center partners with other organizations across campus to sponsor programming, including speakers, movies, cultural events and panel discussions. A number of organizations are open to students, with academic, cultural or social missions, all related to Asian cultures.
Born during the tumult of the late 1960s, Purdue’s Black Cultural Center provides a place where the entire community can be educated and enlightened about the African-American experience. The building is designed to reflect much of that experience. Many of the design elements reflect parts of African-American culture, from the portal entrance — symbolizing the entrance to African villages — to the layout of the building, which incorporates metaphors related to these same villages. The lobby is open, encouraging community rather than exclusion. And an upper wrought-iron balcony railing represents enslaved Africans of the 1700s, who often worked in metal trades and blacksmithing, says Director Renee Thomas. The center provides a community for all Purdue and community members who have an interest in this culture. Of particular note are the performing arts groups that are part of the BCC, including: • Black Thought Collective: A dialogue-centered service learning group that provides an Afrocentric perspective, fostering intellectual enlightenment and educational opportunities • Black Voices of Inspiration: A choral ensemble that performs spirituals to gospel and contemporary music • Haraka Writers: A group of student writers, sharing the literary expres- sion of the African -American community through short stories, essays and poetry • Jahari Dance Troupe: A student dance company that traces the history of Black Dance in America • New Directional Players: The student theatrical company that performs thought-provoking drama about the African-American experience • Purdue Express: A 30-minute stage production about life at Purdue. The BCC features a library, a computer room and space for students to gather and be social. And its location between the academic center of campus and the residence halls makes it a convenient stop for students. “Students who have a greater sense of belonging have stronger retention rates,” Thomas says. “We try to engage them through our programming and our performing arts ensembles.” The BCC has two very distinct personalities. There’s the standard workday atmosphere between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., when it feels like an academic department. But in the evenings, the place comes alive with a vibrant, social vibe as students take over. “Lots of students take advantage,” says Thomas. “They really see it as their space as well.”
GREATER LAFAYETTE MAGAZINE 19
