Ira de A. Reid House/Black Cultural Center
The Ira de Augustine Reid House/Black Cultural Center is a residential space for students invested in the histories, legacies, and traditions of the African diaspora as well as a cultural center for the campus community. The six residents work collaboratively with the Ira Reid Advisory Council as well as with the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) to articulate and sustain programming that extends the legacy of Ira de Augustine Reid, Haverford's first tenured African American faculty member; Reid chaired the Sociology and Anthropology Department at Haverford and published nine books focusing on social conditions and educational aspirations of African American communities throughout the country.
The first floor of the Ira de A. Reid House/BCC functions as a common space for the community: students can reserve the common area for meetings, social gatherings, talks, and cultural events with faculty, staff, alumni, and members of the larger community. Residents work collectively to establish regular programming such as weekly “open house” hours for studying, socials for prospective students, and dinners with faculty members as well as campus-wide events co-sponsored by other campus organizations and programs such as affinity groups, Africana Studies, and the OMA. The OMA dedicates part of its budget to support programming in Ira de A. Reid, and OMA staff members work with residents to secure funding and sponsorship for major events.
Seeking to host and event at the Ira De A. Reid House?
Take a look at the calendar for available times, and contact Denise Allison or Mohamed Abdalkader.