Unity Center Fund

The Unity Center is a warm and welcoming space that affirms and promotes equity for historically marginalized and disenfranchised students.

The Unity Center houses identity-specific resources for:

• students of color
• LGBTQ+ students
• women
• students with compromised citizenship status

The Unity Center works with campus and community partners to create a climate where all students belong and have equitable opportunities and outcomes. The Center builds community, provides education, and supports students through programs and services in order to foster this space and environment.

Please consider making a gift to support the work of The Unity Center here at Rhode Island College.

Learn more about The unity Center at https://our.ric.edu/department-directory/unity-center

History of The Unity Center

The creation of the Unity Center would not have been possible without the support, work, and dedication of the Black and African American RIC community. It was with the support of the African American Studies Program, Harambee, the Latin American Student Association, and the Asian Student Association that, the Unity Center was proposed to the college in 1987 as RIC’s first multicultural hub. After opening its doors in 1994, it has increased its reach to support other marginalized groups, understanding that liberation is the work of collaboration.

The Kiswahili word for Unity is Umoja, the first principle and day of Kwanzaa. The Unity Center is the focal point of Umoja on campus. The center is dedicated to supporting various communities, including students of color, LGBTQ+ students, women, and international/immigrant/undocumented students.

The work of the Unity Center exhibits the values that we celebrate and hold dear as a community:

• Our work supports student development and empowerment. Using the principle of Kujichagulia—self-determination—we help our students define and name their voices. With between 15 and 22 student workers per semester, the Unity Center develops student leaders across communities.

• We aim to break barriers to the student experience, understanding that navigating college is not an easy feat. We use the principle of Ujima—collective work and responsibility—understanding that our students' problems reveal systemic issues that require collaborative answers.
• We understand the community has the wisdom to enrich our students and believe in Ujamaa—cooperative economics. In this practice, we pay honorariums and bring in speakers of various identities to ensure we correctly compensate communities for their labor while giving students vital resources and knowledge.

Your support can help us strengthen these vital resources and ensure all students feel valued and empowered.