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About the AARCC

The AARCC is located on the third floor of the Baytree

Building within the Ethnic Resource Center

Mission

The mission of the African American Resource & Cultural Center (AARCC) is to provide support for the students in the African, Black, and Caribbean (ABC) communities at the University of California at Santa Cruz. We aim to foster an environment and community that supports all folks from the African Diaspora and encourages the pursuit of a deeper understanding of identity and culture as it relates to one’s educational journey.

The AARCC provides a wide range of programs, support services, and resources centered around the Black Diasporic experience. The AARCC serves as an advocate for ABC students on an array of campus matters. We encourage and facilitate student involvement and success in campus life, student organizations, academic excellence, and community engagement.

Vision

The AARCC endeavors to empower ABC students and community members to explore, honor, and respect their intersecting identities throughout their educational journey. The African American Resource & Cultural Center aims to be a hub for Black community on campus, while addressing systemic issues that impact the ABC community.

History of the AARCC

The African American Resource and Cultural Center (AARCC) was established in 1990-91 by UCSC alumna and Founding Director Sister Paula L. Powell, ’89. Since our founding as the first ethnic resource center at UCSC, we have striven to create and foster an environment in which students of African/Black descent excel personally, professionally, and academically through our commitment to celebrating our culture and providing multifaceted support and resources to students.

The AARCC provides a wide range of support, resources, and programs for students from the African diaspora at UCSC. We encourage and facilitate student involvement and success in campus life, student organizations, academic excellence, and community engagement. The center provides leadership training, conflict resolution, advisement, and advocacy for the diasporic community on campus.

The AARCC welcomes volunteers, mentors, and student interns to participate in the center’s educational and cultural initiatives. The AARCC works closely with various student organizations in order to establish viable support networks — both academic and social — for our students.

The AARCC works collaboratively with others on campus and in the surrounding community to enhance cultural and ethnic diversity initiatives on the UCSC campus. The center is located on the third floor of the Bay Tree Building and is open Monday through Friday. For more information, call 831-459-3561 or e-mail aarcc@ucsc.edu