UNIVERISTY PARK, Pa.—The Paul Robeson Cultural Center (PRCC) at Penn State recently marked its 50th anniversary as a pillar of diversity, equity, inclusion and cultural celebration on the University Park campus.
Welcoming new leadership and staff
The PRCC, a unit in the division of Student Affairs, entered a new chapter with the appointment of Evan Williams as the incoming director in June. Williams has made it a top priority to assemble a staff that shares a common mission: to support diversity, equity and inclusion for all Penn State students, especially those from minoritized and marginalized populations.
“Having a new staff come in together has allowed us to really expand the vision for the center and introduce new ideas, new people, and new energy,” said Williams. “With that change we have hopes for a new and brighter vision and that will impact the students here at Penn State as we reimagine what the PRCC can do.”
Williams has been joined by assistant director Marynes Castillo, program coordinator for the BLUEprint Mentoring Program Demarkcus Harmon, program coordinator for signature programming, identity, and affinity community support A.B. Bejar, and office manager Cecil Houseknecht.
Additional community coordinator positions have been created to support the identity-based caucuses on campus. These positions, funded by the Student Initiated Fee, will serve as professional support to assist students leaders in navigating the University, fostering a sense of community and connection, and ultimately maximizing their impact on campus.
Continuing traditions in the PRCC
Attiliah Garcia, a BLUEprint mentor with the BLUEprint Mentoring Program, noted that what makes the PRCC special is its shared vision.
“The one thing that brings me into the PRCC is the sense of community and the home away from home feeling,” she said. “It is a place where I get to hang out with my friends and be my authentic self.”
The PRCC has always provided a diverse range of activities and events throughout the year that encourage different perspectives, experiences and cultures. These signature events, like Fun Fridays throughout the semester, the "Pride in Our Community" pep rally during Homecoming, and the annual STOOP performance have continued to provide students with platforms to share their voices with the Penn State community, while also showcasing the diverse talent embedded within and across our communities.
Harmon knows that the new staff plays an important role in supporting that sense of community and tradition.
“We want to be present; one of my main goals with BLUEprint is to promote student development and increase opportunity,” Harmon said. “There is an excitement for us as a new team in strengthening those signature programs but also adding innovative co-curricular engagement and new, inclusive opportunities to form community and connection.”
Bejar noted that the PRCC’s programs fulfill a crucial need for community building and identity-based programming that is primarily student-led and supported by staff.
“It’s been great to see students in the space; a lot of folks who stop by the center stop by to hang out and it’s refreshing to see folks come in, be their authentic selves and have the opportunity to contribute to our mission as a center,” Bejar added.
Preserving the legacy
The PRCC continues to stand today as a center that embodies acceptance, engagement and community, which honors and carries forward its historic legacy.
Along with hosting signature programs, the PRCC continues to support the PRCC Student Liaison Advisory Board and the BLUEprint mentoring program, focused on students of color, assisting first-year, change of campus, and transfer students acclimate to University Park and foster academic and personal success.
“The PRCC is integral to Penn State because it really provides a home and a safe space, specifically for the people of color on campus,” said BLUEprint mentor Ashley Lebron. “The resources, the advisers, the staff, really do well in making sure everyone is taken care of and our voices are heard.”
All are welcome
The PRCC is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Fridays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The space continues to be a welcoming space for all Penn State students to relax, study, and interact with peers and the staff.