Centro Cultural Cesar Chavez fosters academic and cultural engagement

The CCCC is located on 26th Street across from Reser Stadium. 

Cultural center open to all looking for belonging in an inclusive community

Originally established in 1972 as the Chicano Cultural Center, the Centro Cultural César Chávez is one of the seven Cultural Resource Centers at Oregon State University. Located across from Reser Stadium, the cultural center fosters community, cultural education and academic success by hosting events and meetings and providing access to educational resources.

“The CCCC exists to support the different ethnic and cultural peoples’ pursuit of their educational goals and the retention of their culture,” according to the CCCC webpage. “Further, it strives to inform both the respective cultural groups and the greater university communities about issues central to the Chicanx/Latinx/Mestizx culture and heritage.”

During the school year, the center is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Fridays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m, according to Kevin Santos Flores, the assistant director of the CCCC. The center also provides access to tutoring every Monday evening from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m..

According to Tiffanie Rivera-Di Lucio, the student success peer facilitator at the CCCC, the CCCC has many resources freely available for all members of the OSU community, including a community kitchen, computers with access to free printing, as well as both lounge areas and quiet areas for prayer or meditation.

“Due to the name of our center, a lot of people think that you have to be Latinx in order to come into our center, but that is false,” Rivera-Di Lucio said in an email. “I love meeting new people and building relationships, so seeing a new face coming into our center always brightens up my day.”

Rivera-Di Lucio says anybody interested in engaging is welcome to stop by the CCCC during work hours, but another way people can get involved is by attending events.

According to Santos Flores, there are currently two major events planned that will be hosted by the CCCC. On Tuesday, September 26 from 4-6 p.m., the CCCC will put on the annual ¡Bienvenidos! event to kick off the school year. At this event, the center welcomes returning and incoming students and provides a space for Latinx student organizations to table and recruit student involvement, Santos Flores added.

The CCCC will also be partnering with the Native American Longhouse Eena Haws for their annual Dia de los Muertos celebration, which usually takes place on November 2, according to Santos Flores.

“The event is one of the most important events in the community because it highlights the continent’s indigenous traditions that are used to celebrate the life of family members who have passed away,” Santos Flores said via email.

According to Rivera-Di Lucio, the CCCC is not just a location for events or a provider of resources, it was also a space for her to find a sense of community and belonging during her first year at OSU.

“Being away from home and transitioning to a new lifestyle was tough, but getting involved with the Centro and DCE as a whole turned my life around,” Rivera-Di Lucio said in an email. “I was able to come into a space where I felt welcomed and safe, and I would only hope that students and community members feel the same way.”

 

Was this article helpful?
YesNo