Building 1700, Room 1726 sits nestled between the 2100 and 1600 buildings, but the presence it holds is anything but small. Open and ready for students from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Black Cultural Resource Center (BCRC) serves as a place for Black and African American students at Las Positas College.
Asian, Latine and white students make up the majority of Las Positas College’s student population, with Asian and Latine students making up the larger population at 33% and 26%, respectively. Black and African American students, by contrast, represent just 4% of total enrollment as of spring 2025. In an area as diverse as the Bay Area, that number stands out like a sore thumb. It makes the importance of resources offered through the BCRC even more significant.
Compared with nearby campuses, including its sister school, Chabot College, where Black students make up approximately 8.5% of the population as of Fall 2025, Las Positas is playing a game of catch-up in representation.
Black students remain severely underrepresented compared to other ethnic groups in LPC. Taking into consideration California’s overall diverse demographic and the college’s location in the Bay Area – with historically higher percentages of Black residents and students in nearby institutions– it raises an unavoidable issue: despite resources set up for students, LPC still falls behind demographically.
According to the BCRC’s mission statement, the center exists “to provide a sense of community, visibility and a safe space where Black students are empowered to exist freely with love, self-definition and self-determination.”
Through programs such as Umoja, ConnectUp (CUp), the Black Student Union (BSU), Black Education Association (BEA), Sista 2 Sista and A2MEND, the BCRC actively puts its mission into practice.
These initiatives are designed to do more than offer support. They aim to create a sense of belonging and a community in which Black students can thrive.
On any given day, students make their way in and out of the building, enjoying a meal, holding a conversation outside near the quad, gathering inside when events are being held and simply using it as a third space between classes. The BCRC doors are wide open, welcoming anyone interested in participating.
Programs such as ConnectUp hone in on upholding first-year Black students of all ages and backgrounds at LPC, with the goal of increasing retention and success of students by way of personal connection. CUp offers first-year Black students, who are not yet a part of any program offered at the BCRC, coaching and mentorship to help influence academic success, pairing them with offered coaches who will help guide the student towards appropriate academic support programs.
As a second-year student, I found myself surprised when a CUp canvas notification appeared on my screen on Feb. 3, 2026– one that hadn’t shown up since Dec. 10, 2024 – highlighting exciting events being held by the BCRC through this year’s Black History Month.
Being a mixed race student– Black, white and Mexican – I technically qualify for the program, though my eligibility is limited not by my identity, but by time. CUp is intended for students enrolling in their first semester at LPC, and this spring marks my second year on campus.
While my reenrollment could have just been a harmless, if not welcomed, mix-up, it prompted a question in my mind. If programs like CUp are designed to improve student retention, why does Black enrollment at LPC remain so low?
Is the re-enrollment of students who were previously part of the program an aspect that will encourage an influx of Black students?
The question ultimately extends beyond any single program and points back to LPC as an academic institution. The college has made notable progress in its stances in recent years, including the election of President Dyrell Foster, in the COVID-19-ridden 2020.
At a time of national reckoning on race following the murder of George Floyd, when being Black in America was one of the biggest targets you could have on your back, the world should have been against Foster. But at a moment when many institutions would have hesitated, LPC chose to take that step forward and break a long-standing barrier.
Throughout February, the Connect Up canvas course highlighted Black History Month Spotlights, introducing students in the program to others in the Black community who have gone on to do wondrous things. Amanda Gorman, Kadir Nelson and Dr. Hadiya-Nicole Green are just a few represented by the program. These individuals’ contributions span across many genres– literature, art and science– showing students that the opportunity is not limited to one single path.
Community engagement extends past just online spaces, though. On Feb. 17, the BCRC hosted a “Taste of Soul” event in the LPC quad. Despite cold temperatures and a steady rainfall following a week of showers, students gathered under tents as music played and conversation carried through the open space. Rain or shine, the community shows up.
The combination of music, rain, shared interest, and anticipation as students waited in line created a scenery for more than just a celebration—it became an opportunity for cultural exchange and visibility.
Later in the day, community support continued at the LPC Hawks’ final home game, and the sophomore night of the season. The BCRC encouraged students to attend as part of a celebration of its 4th active year. Advisors and students alike showed up for the game, members of the BEA enjoyed the thrilling game in the stands, and students a part of the BSU hosted the snack bar. During halftime, Richardson took to the mic to address the crowd and thanked the people in attendance for the support the BCRC has received through the years.
What ultimately fosters a welcoming environment for people of an underrepresented community is consistent, visible community building. Events, meetings and shared spaces set the stage for connection– sometimes even for those who aren’t actively seeking it.
Yet these resources alone do not ensure engagement. Support systems can only succeed if students are aware of them, trust them, and feel encouraged to participate.
The BCRC demonstrates what intentional support can look like. It is proof that LPC knows how to build community when it chooses to do so. But meaningful support cannot start only after students arrive. If enrollment numbers of Black and African American students continue to hover at just 4%, the question is no longer whether resources exist, but whether the institution is willing to look at why so few Black students enroll in the first place.
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TOP PHOTO: On Feb. 18, LPC’s African American Male Education Network and Development (A2MEND) hosted their annual event “Taste of Soul” in the quad. Despite the rain the event went on as planned — students were welcome to attend and indulge in southern fried chicken sandwiches or poorboy sandwiches –- made by the Southern Comfort Kitchen foodt ruck.
Milo Jones is the Editor-in-Chief for The Express. Follow him on X @stayonm4rs.
