Harper’s Cultural Center
Building D, Room D-281 (above Starbucks)
Under the vision of Dr. Avis Proctor, Dr. Tamara Johnson led the opening of the Cultural Center in November 2021, thanks to the research and request of many Harper employees and students. The Cultural Center at Harper College is a culturally-affirming, educational lounge and event space for students and employees. Serving as an academic and social counterspace (learn more about counterspaces below), employees and students are encouraged to build connections, express their identities and values, engage in dialogue, and enjoy a place where they can have a sense of belonging on campus. Brittany Barber serves as the Manager of the Cultural Center.
The Cultural Center enhances the Harper community by:
Stop by and see for yourself why over 4,500 people attended the cultural center in 2022!
The Cultural Center hosts a variety of opportunities for Harper faculty, staff, and
students to get involved. If you are a student organization or employee department
seeking to host an event in the space, please click the link below to submit your
reservation request. Cultural centers were founded in the 1960's by Black students in response to hostile
conditions on predominately white college campuses. It is because of their courage
and activism, that cultural centers are present today. Historically and currently,
cultural centers serve as safe spaces, particularly for those individuals with marginalized
identities.
When designing programming and resources, we often seek to address the data reflecting
our largest equity gaps. Accordingly, the reservation form was updated to request
that those interested in reserving space articulate how their prospective event aligns
with the purpose of the Cultural Center.
The Cultural Center offers:
Counterspaces can provide opportunities to increase human, cultural and social capital that is often limited to lower-income and racially marginalized communities. They provide space for students and employees who come from oppressed and marginalized populations to feel validated and appreciated for their stories, and allow them to unpack other challenges and questions they have.