By Melanie Gerner, Staff Reporter

The Rose Black Resource Center’s (RBRC) “Welcome Black” virtual mixer Friday was small but mighty. Conversations ranged from family and finance to 2020 ballot propositions and virtual community building through the RBRC Facebook Group Page.  

Catherine Jermany, the center’s director, emphasized that even though its office in the LSU is closed due to the pandemic, the RBRC’s mission to build community, engagement and connection will continue.

“Usually students will just come in and talk about what’s going on,” said Jermany. “It’s tough, a lot of our resources are in person, so during this transition we are trying to connect with students.”

During the two hour and 15-minute mixer, which the center holds at the beginning of each fall semester, Jermany encouraged  attendees to reach out and make an appointment with her, “just to talk.”

The center, which was launched in 2017, was created by and for students with the purpose of  “improving Black student enrollment and graduation rates at CSUDH,” according to its website. The center offers Black students multiple  resources including  academic advising, basic needs referrals , career counseling, mentorship and community engagement through cultural events. 

“We want to reflect the Black experience and Black culture at our events,” Jermany said.

Center mission more important than ever

Amidst the social unrest and the overreaching uncertainty of the Covid-19 pandemic, the RBRC remains steadfast in its dedication to uplift black voices, spotlight Black culture and support Black students at CSUDH.

That is why the center holds a range of events from the fun (paint nights and watch parties) and creative (poetry slams), to the scholastic (a McNair Scholars’ workshop this month) and pragmatic (financial literary programs).

But the focus is on support and building community, both between Black students, faculty and staff on campus, but also with the CSUDH family. Two events this month exemplify that: TRIBE, a Black men’s weekly discussion group that will hold meetings beginning Sept. 10, and a Sept. 30 workshop, “To Allyship and Beyond.”

The latter, Jermany said, “is geared for allies but also for those who want to be part of the conversation about how to help others understand what we need as Black people.”
For more information visit here, or email BRC@csudh.edu, call (310) 243-3668