BCC Beautification Day

Monday, October 7, 2019
Keesha L. Ward, Assistant Director of Alumni Relations
In Collaboration with the Coalition of Black Students
Drake University

Dear Drake Alumni and Campus and Community Partners:

Since 1969, the Black Cultural Center at Drake University has been deeply rooted in tradition and Blackness, proving to be a valuable resource to students who identify as Black, African, African American, Pan-Carribbean, and Multi-racial, on the Drake University campus. It was developed as a result of an expressed need by Black students at Drake. Today, 5%, or 150, of the current undergraduate student population identify as Black. The BCC has given students a place to study, watch movies, have dinner with friends, host organization meetings, cultural events and panel discussions, and just hang out - a sense of belonging and home away from home. Students are able to see themselves reflected in spaces such as the BCC; ultimately, helping them lead change, persist, and be successful during their time here at Drake.

In our commitment to preserving its history, we are looking to host a ‘BCC Beautification Day’ on Saturday, Oct 26, from 9:00 am-12:00 pm., in celebration of its 50th year anniversary . With building positive relationships with alumni, as well as with students on Drake’s campus, this will be an opportunity to bring both students and alumni together in a meaningful way.

It is time to help make the BCC look beautiful again - but we need your help in doing so. After taking some time to walk through the BCC, we have noticed some areas of improvement to assist in making it feel like home again. We invite you to take part in this day, whether you are local or reside outside of Iowa. If local, please join us to help clean up the space. We have listed some items/areas below that we feel would benefit in our efforts. Our goal is to raise funds to help purchase these items and others:

• Artwork for the walls
• New photo frames (4x6, 5x7, and 8x10)
• Large area rugs
• A desk
• A bookshelf
• Cultural books
• Kitchenware
• Have the walls touched up with paint
• Patio furniture

It is our hope that students, alumni, staff, faculty, and administrators will continue to acknowledge the importance of the BCC, and continue to support its existence. Without the help of the Drake community, the ‘BCC Beautification Day’ would not be possible. The existence of the BCC will continue to make a profound impact and be a service to the entire Drake community, and we look forward to having you join in our goal.

Thank you for your time, and Go Bulldogs!

Keesha L. Ward
On behalf of the Coalition of Black Students and the Office of Alumni Relations at Drake University

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