A compilation of essays presenting the conditions and promises of the university for African American faculty and students that is enhanced by the development of Black culture centers in the university community.

The organizations in this Snap Shot study play a vital role in the cultural arts field highlighting institutions that reflect the aesthetic spectrum of excellence grounded in the international community perspectives that nurtured their growth. These organizations reflect the rich tapestry of racial and cultural groups that are major contributors to the cultural life of this nation. They also represent important pillars in the infrastructure of historically underserved and under-resourced communities of color and poor white rural sectors.This initial ³Snap Shot² has raised more questions than it answers. It is clear that a more extensive, in-depth study must be conducted to fully understand how organizations that are critical assets to their communities and influence the cultural diverse programming of large organizations are still fragile and at risk of surviving. Similar to the questions raised by the Occupy Wall Street Movement, how does the role of the top 1% of wealthy individuals, corporate, foundation, and public funders, influence policies to disproportionately support the more endowed organizations and under resource the community cultural organizations that reflect the 99%?Historical underfunding coupled with economic crisis have further impacted the ability of these important organizations to sustain their operations and some of the Snap Shot organizations have been forced to close their doors. Others continue to struggle to survive while serving their communities who are also at risk due to the fiscal crisis that has heightened unemployment, homelessness and decreased social services vital to the infrastructure of underserved communities. These community cultural arts organizations are in large part multidisciplinary in their framework and are beacons of light for communities that still believe in the promise of equal opportunity and access for all.Since the second edition of Cultural Centers of Color by the National Endowment for the Arts, December 1993 (first edition, August 1992) there has not been a critical look at the state of the community cultural arts field. This preliminary study begins to address this void by identifying a sample of multidisciplinary cultural arts community organizations that developed specifically to address the cultural and artistic contributions, histories, and cultural legacies of their communities to a national audience. The work of these organizations have been instrumental in making visible and insisting that the stories of their communities are part of our nations narrative.The realization that these vital small and mid-size community organizations survive in a year-to-year funding world speaks to the commitment of Board of Directors, staff, volunteers and audiences that are committed to their survival. It is our expectations that this Snap Shot of Community Based Cultural Arts Organizations encourages policymakers, funders, and communities to understand the critical voices that these institutions contribute to the cultural life of the Nation, our international profile, and their immediate communities.

Are cultural centers ethnic enclaves of segregation, or safe havens that provide minority students with social support that promotes persistence and retention?Though Black cultural centers boast a 40-year history, there is much misinformation about them and the ethnic counterparts to which they gave rise. Moreover, little is known about their historical roots, current status, and future prospects. The literature has largely ignored the various culture center models, and the role that such centers play in the experiences of college students. This book fills a significant void in the research on ethnic minority cultural centers, offers the historic background to their establishment and development, considers the circumstances that led to their creation, examines the roles they play on campus, explores their impact on retention and campus climate, and provides guidelines for their management in the light of current issues and future directions.In the first part of this volume, the contributors provide perspectives on culture centers from the point of view of various racial/ethnic identity groups, Latina/o, Asian, American Indian, and African American. Part II offers theoretical perspectives that frame the role of culture centers from the point of view of critical race theory, student development theory, and a social justice framework. Part III focuses specifically on administrative and practice-oriented themes, addressing such issues as the relative merits of full- and part-time staff, of race/ethnic specific as opposed to multicultural centers, relations with the outside community, and integration with academic and student affairs to support the mission of the institution. For administrators and student affairs educators who are unfamiliar with these facilities, and want to support an increasingly diverse student body, this book situates such centers within the overall strategy of improving campus climate, and makes the case for sustaining them. Where none as yet exist, this book offers a rationale and blueprint for creating such centers. For leaders of culture centers this book constitutes a valuable tool for assessing their viability, improving their performance, and ensuring their future relevance – all considerations of increased importance when budgets and resources are strained. This book also provides a foundation for researchers interested in further investigating the role of these centers in higher education.

The Crisis, founded by W.E.B. Du Bois as the official publication of the NAACP, is a journal of civil rights, history, politics, and culture and seeks to educate and challenge its readers about issues that continue to plague African Americans and other communities of color. For nearly 100 years, The Crisis has been the magazine of opinion and thought leaders, decision makers, peacemakers and justice seekers. It has chronicled, informed, educated, entertained and, in many instances, set the economic, political and social agenda for our nation and its multi-ethnic citizens.