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Galloway, N.J. – “I cannot believe that it has already been a year – time really flies when you are having fun and making an impact while doing so.”

Mo Keane, the graduate coordinator for the Proud, Resilient, Educated Peers (PREP) Team, welcomed everyone into the Multicultural Center’s lounge for the center’s first Birthday Bash on Thursday, Feb. 22, complete with balloons, a photo booth, cake and toasts to the future.

Shavie “Va” Lee, a sophomore in the program, talked about first meeting Jovin Fernandez, director of the Multicultural Center, and how her infectious positivity managed to get him out of his shell. Since the center’s opening, Lee has been in the lounge helping support programming, manning the front desk and helping students find resources, earning him the nickname “Mayor of the MC.”

“Since that day, I felt like I finally found my place in Stockton – a place where I can call home, a place where I belong and a place where I can just be me and be comfortable. It later became the place where I would get my first job and learn what it means to be a young professional,” Lee said. “Working here opened up some other opportunities for me, like being , connecting with prospective students and their families to help them learn how great Stockton is and leading the Friday Fun Nights here at the center. I firmly believe that the Multicultural Center is the heart of Stockton.”

Christopher Catching, vice president for , who was on the planning board responsible for the center’s opening, provided background on the planning process. According to him, the purpose of the center was to create a transformative student life space. 

“Prior to two or three years ago, the connotation of lower F-wing was an undesirable location,” Catching said. “But, due to the great work of the folks who planned this place physically, [the center] made it come to life and really revitalized this whole side of campus. Everybody wants to be down here now: we have University Relations & Marketing, around the corner and I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the new Meditation Room. It matters to have a multicultural center because it helps students feel a sense of belonging and connectedness.”

For Suleman Sami, a junior in the Computer Information Systems program, the center was responsible for changing his mind about transferring out of Stockton and helping him grow as a student leader.

“This center has grown to be more than just a place of employment for me; it now serves as a pillar for both my professional and academic development. I have become a better person, scholar and professional because of the support, friendship and learning experiences I've experienced here,” Sami said. “I want to express how much this center means to us: it has become a home away from home and a place where we can explore, learn and grow together. As we go into the next year, we hope to see more of you here and look forward to great memories and times together.”

Keane shouted out the PREP Team for supporting the Advocacy, Belonging and Campus Standards department in hosting programs and collaborating with student organizations. The impact on the campus community was highlighted in a video compilation.

“Ms. Jovin and I are so, so grateful for all that you guys do at the center every single day,” Keane said. “When you walk in here, and you see someone smiling, please know it's one of these beautiful people up here who are bringing so much energy and light to the center. [They] are really the heartbeat of this place.”

The birthday bash included performances by , the (PASAS), the , and student Imani Turner.

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– Story by Loukaia Taylor

– Photos by Susan Allen