The Center for African听and African American Studies celebrated its official grand opening to an energized, packed house and many high-profile surprise guests, including Deion 鈥淐oach Prime鈥� Sanders, who stopped by on National Signing Day, and Gov. Jared Polis, who made a video appearance.听
Hundreds of students, faculty, staff and Boulder community members packed the narrow halls of Macky Auditorium on the first day of Black History Month to tour the center鈥檚 new digs. Guests chatted, enjoyed appetizers and hors d鈥檕euvres and watched performances from high school and CU Boulder students, all while learning more about the center鈥檚 mission.
鈥淭his is a safe and sacred space where everybody is welcomed, they are respected, they are protected. It's incredibly inclusive,鈥� said the center鈥檚 founder and director Reiland Rabaka, who is also an ethnic studies professor. 鈥淲e are building bridges from students to faculty, from faculty to students, from this center on the Boulder campus to the broader Boulder community.鈥�
Also known as the CAAAS (pronounced听鈥樷�檛he cause鈥�), the center was created in 2021 as a place to research, promote, preserve, interpret and disseminate knowledge about the histories, cultures and arts of Africa, African Americans, and the wider African diaspora. More than that, the CAAAS was made, in part, by students, for students with the hope that it provides a welcoming space for generations to come.听
During the event, Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano announced a $1 million match over the next five years to help promote the center鈥檚 continued growth and evolution as the first center of its kind at any public university in Colorado. Alumni and longtime CU Boulder supporters Jeannie and Jack Thompson jumped at the opportunity to support CAAAS, committing a gift to create an endowed fund that will provide annual dissertation awards for doctoral candidates involved in CAAAS.听
鈥淚 am actually a fan of the shorthand CAAAS because it reminds me that, for every cause, there鈥檚 also an effect,鈥� said DiStefano. 鈥淚 have confidence that the CAAAS will grow, evolve and advance with the guidance, staff and student leadership, with the support of all of us gathered today. I鈥檓 proud to celebrate 鈥樷�渢he cause鈥濃�� and I can鈥檛 wait to see all of the effects.鈥�
For those who got there early, they got a surprise guest appearance: Coach Prime.
Alongside Rabaka, CU鈥檚 new听football coach toured the space adorned with vibrant, geometric fabrics听and filled with tables and couches for students and visitors. He also spent time greeting guests and encouraging others to visit when they come to campus.
Gov. Jared Polis also made a video appearance during the event.听
鈥淭his center will be a hub for teaching, research, creative work and important dialogue that won鈥檛 just strengthen our students and this campus, but will better the entire Boulder community, as well as the state of Colorado,鈥� Polis said. 鈥淚n Colorado, we know we are made stronger by diversity and through community, and our brightest future is one in which everyone can thrive.鈥�
Also in attendance were CU President Todd Saliman, CU Board of Regents Chair Lesley Smith, Regent Wanda James, Regent Ilana Dubin Spiegel听and Boulder NAACP President Annett James.
