The Allan Hancock Pride Center, a space dedicated to serving the LGBTQ-plus community and its allies on campus, opened its doors on Oct. 30.
“We were, gosh, thrilled to finally see that vision come to light. I know for decades there had been a dream to have it,” Hancock Director of Student Engagement and Community Outreach Stephanie Robb told the Sun. “We worked really hard as a campus with the administration, with the grants office, with the student club also to get that center opened.”
The college celebrated the grand opening with rainbow balloons and speeches from Kevin Walthers, Hancock’s president and superintendent, and someone who started Hancock’s first LGBTQ-plus club.
“[He] only had two people show up,” Robb said of the campus’ first club, “so now for the center to be there and be utilized by 20 30peopleto a day for the week … is wonderful to see.”
The center was a longtime dream of Kate Adams, a former Hancock professor and advisor for the Pride Alliance—the current LGBTQ-plus club on campus. The space is dedicated to her and contains about 100 LGBTQ-plus focused books from her personal library that she donated to the college.
The center came to fruition after Hancock received grants from the California Community College Chancellor’s Office dedicated to helping LGBTQ-plus students find connections on campus following the COVID-19 shutdowns. While space is a “hot commodity” on campus for things beyond classrooms, Robb said, the Pride Alliance advisors, grants team, and other administrators were able to find underutilized space in the campus bookstore. With the green light from the bookstore, the team was able to embark in its three-year journey to get to opening day.
“Providing a safe space for any marginalized population on our campus is extremely important to our administration, me personally, and so many on our campuses, which is so nice because not all campuses have that support,” Robb said. “They need to see people like them, hear similar struggles and success stories—‘You can go on and succeed, you can transfer and have success in your career and academic goals.’
“There’s support groups all over the community. … That’s essentially what this is—it’s a space and you get to talk with others in situations,” she continued.
Outside of Hancock, Santa Maria (like many other communities on the Central Coast) doesn’t have a designated LGBTQ-plus business or space for the community to get together. The Pride Center will help students connect with their peers who identify with the LGBTQ-plus community and provide education for those hoping to learn more.
“We definitely want to see lots of events and activities on a regular basis to benefit the community to help those students. We want to have educational workshops, bringing guest speakers and training … for anyone interested in better understanding and supporting the community,” Robb said.
Hancock hired a full-time employee who will operate and oversee the Pride Center during the week and help coordinate events, programming, and workshops that will benefit the students.
“I’m so excited for what does happen over the next few years and decades. It’s just going to grow, and we’ll further educate people in so many ways,” Robb said. “It’s long overdue and well-deserved.”
Highlights:
• The Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department invites community members and businesses to display their festive spirit by decorating their homes, lawns, and storefronts for the holiday season. The annual Lights, Sights, and Holiday Nights contest gives community members a chance to showcase their creativity and be honored for the best use of lights, best lawn display, best holiday theme, and the best window display. Nominations run from Nov. 22 through Dec. 6 at 5 p.m. People will email up to three photos of the display, along with their physical address, and a contact number (if available) to rpinfo@cityofsantamaria.org. Prejudging will take place on Dec. 9 from 5 to 9 p.m., and the final judging will occur on Dec. 11, from 5 to 9 p.m. Winners will be recognized at the Dec. 17 City Council meeting. Direct questions to (805) 925-0951, Ext. 2260.
• Join the Lompoc Parks and Recreation Department on Dec. 14 for a pancake and sausage breakfast with Santa at the Dick DeWees Community and Senior Center, 1120 West Ocean Ave. There will be an 8:30 a.m. or 10 a.m. time slot available. Admission for children between 3 and 12 is $10, and it’s $12 dollars for people 13 and older. Children under 2 are free with at least one paid adult. Children need to be accompanied by at least one adult. Space is limited, and registration is required online at cityoflompoc.com/government/departments/recreation. Call (805) 875-8100 for more information.
Reach Staff Writer Taylor O’Connor at toconnor@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Nov 21 – Dec 1, 2024.