Cultural Centers

Connect with your identity and experience new perspectives through our cultural and community centers. The centers serve as programming and community spaces where you can learn, network, seek and give support. As we work together to create an equitable and inclusive community at Mount Holyoke, each center plays an important role in promoting greater cultural awareness, dialogue and interconnectedness.

Discover our cultural centers

What are cultural centers?

Cultural centers are college-owned facilities established and designated for groups that are and have been historically marginalized within U.S. society. They provide an opportunity for students to support each other in a culturally comfortable and familiar environment. They serve an educational function by providing programming which is relevant to historically marginalized groups. The opportunity to develop such programming allows students from targeted groups to explore their own identity and develop leadership skills in an empowering way. They are important campus sites for leadership development for other students as well.

Centers are not residence halls as they are not intended to provide alternative living arrangements. They are not student organization offices as they are not primarily student work spaces, though that may be one function they serve. Centers can be reserved by any member of the MHC community for college-related functions such as classes, public lectures, special receptions or other large group gatherings. Additionally, the centers can be reserved by individual students for small dinners, birthday gatherings and meetings.

Asian Center for Empowerment

The Asian Center for Empowerment provides support, education, community and a meeting spot for students within the Asian diaspora (including, but not limited to, Asian, Asian American and South Asian).

Betty Shabazz Cultural Center

The Betty Shabazz Cultural Center assists and supports students who identify within the African diaspora (including, but not limited to, African, African American and Caribbean).

Eliana Ortega Cultural Center

The Eliana Ortega Cultural Center serves as a home away from home for students within the Latinx diaspora.

Jeannette Marks Cultural Center

The Jeannette Marks Cultural Center provides support, resources and programming for LGBTQIA+ students and their allies.

Zowie Banteah Cultural Center

The Zowie Banteah Cultural Center promotes visibility and empowerment for Native American students and communities of Indigenous people.

Find your community

Eliot House

A welcoming space for people of all faiths and spiritual beliefs to come together, Eliot House offers spaces for discussion, prayer and celebration as well as kosher and halal kitchens

Fearless First Resource and Community Center

Located in Blanchard 107, this space welcomes first-generation and low-income students with specialized resources and supports as well as the opportunity to share experiences and ask questions.