Most students at some point in their journey ask themselves if they are in the right place or whether they truly belong. A new space at Pierce is aiming to quell these common concerns.
The Multicultural Center officially opened on Tuesday, Feb 28, at 2 p.m. and Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez was present to deliver the keynote address.
Students and faculty gathered to share foods from around the world including egg rolls and mini samosas. Like its ethos, the room was open and welcoming with art adorning the walls. Stacks of inclusive books written by women, LGBTQ+, and BIPOC authors were piled on shelves. A cover of Lou Reed’s Take a Walk on the Wild Side played softly in the background as students, faculty, and administration mingled and discussed the exciting new space.
During his remarks, Rodriguez said that the center is a statement to civic engagement, student support, civil rights and justice. It is a chance to discuss, debate, clash, and to ultimately learn about each other.
“Not everyone feels welcome, all the time,” Rodriguez said. “I like the idea of a place whose purpose is to make the campus more welcoming, and more inclusive, and to put programming together that will allow people to grow and learn.”
Rodriguez said he believed that college environments need to mimic the real world to set students up for success.
“The society that we are preparing students for is multicultural, multi linguistic, and diverse,” Rodriguez said. “It’s not homogenous. If we don’t provide opportunities for that, it really is a mis-education.”
The center is a safe space for students but especially for those who may not always feel like they belong. Associated Student President Qais Azizi knows what it means to students to have an established physical space.
“The center is where we can continue to make peers a space where students can feel a sense of belonging, especially in terms of students who vary in ethnicity, socio-economic background, or sexual orientation,” Azizi said. “It means inclusivity and it means understanding each other.”
Azizi is excited not just for the space itself but also for what it symbolizes.
“We’re most excited to see how students will come here and learn from one another,” Azizi said. “They can use the space in between classes to do homework and connect with other students, but also to kind of bridge the gap between our differences.”
Beyond appreciation, the Center promotes intercultural learning so that students can learn about the variety of cultures that are present at Pierce.
Multicultural Center Coordinator Tatevik Melkumyan said it was important in creating the space that it reflects what students said they needed and wanted to see.
“It’s going to serve them in the way that they’ve told us they want to be served,” Melkumyan said. “So that made it really enjoyable for me to put together.”
The idea for this center took years to come to fruition and hard work by many faculty, administration, and students. Rodriguez emphasized the teamwork and collaboration that went on behind the scenes.
“These sorts of activities don’t just happen,” Rodriguez said. “They happen because of leadership, courage, commitment, resource allocation, talent, and support. It is a statement and an investment by your president, by your leadership, faculty, staff, and by your students saying we want a safe space for us to connect.”
One student in particular was the driving force. UCLA student and former Pierce College ASO representative Sierra Bledsoe took the center from idea to execution.
“When I transferred to UCLA, I knew I had to pass on this mission,” Bledsoe said during her speech. “I am proud of my peers for continuing this mission to create a multicultural center for students. I feel very honored to have made a change on campus and played a leading role in something amazing that students can enjoy for years to come.”
Students have a lot of events to look forward to at the center this month. The next one is on Wed. March 15 and it’s called Women’s History Month: Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories, Tue. March 21 will be the Nowruz Celebration, and Wed. March 29 Trans Day of Visibility Safe Zone Training. More details can be found on Instagram @lapcmulticultural_ctr.
The Multicultural Center is located in the Library and Learning Crossroads in room 5110. It is open Monday – Thursday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m..
