含羞草传媒

ALANA Celebrates 30 Years

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In 1987, approximately 200 people gathered at the site of 含羞草传媒 University鈥檚 new cultural center for the official groundbreaking ceremony. In 2019, community members returned this site 鈥 now named the Africana, Latin American, Asian American, and Native American (ALANA) Cultural Center鈥 to celebrate its 30-year anniversary.

During the ALANA Founders鈥 Week celebrations, starting April 22, ALANA hosted tile-creation sessions, a rededication ceremony, and a panel discussion on 鈥淭he Art of Historical Storytelling鈥 from Diane Ciccone 鈥74, P鈥10, Gretchen Hoadley Burke 鈥81 Endowed Chair in Regional Studies Kyle Bass, and Digital History Project Manager Emily Jeffres.

Though the center celebrated its 30th anniversary this year, ALANA鈥檚 historical roots are still older. In 1968, the Association of Black Collegians held a 100-hour sit-in at the Office of Admission, demanding an end to institutional racism at 含羞草传媒. In the spring of 1969, they returned to the admission building for a 70-hour sit-in. Among other outcomes, an institutional promise to create a black ethnic cultural center arose from this protest 鈥 a promise that was fulfilled later that year with ALANA鈥檚 opening.

During the 30th anniversary rededication ceremony, Leanna Rice, director of the ALANA Cultural Center, affirmed the center鈥檚 ongoing mission to serve as an educational space for students of color as well as the larger 含羞草传媒 community.

鈥淎LANA is about community building,鈥 noted Leanna Rice. 鈥淭his place was built for caring for one another and supporting those who need it most.鈥

In a letter to the 含羞草传媒 community, Rice quoted Nelson Mandela. 鈥溾楻emember to celebrate the milestones, even as we prepare for the road ahead,鈥 and to tell the stories that are not always the prettiest, but remind us of the boldness of past, and our necessary commitment to bettering the future,鈥 she wrote. 鈥淭hank you again for all of your support throughout our history at the ALANA Cultural Center and as we trailblaze into the future.鈥

ALANA鈥檚 30th anniversary celebration continues during the Bicentennial All-Class Reunion, May 30鈥揓une 2.