Thanks to a $1 million state appropriation, championed by Senator Hearcel Craig and others, Ohio State’s African American and African Studies (AAAS) Community Extension Center recently underwent a major renovation.
The renovated building, located just three miles south of the Columbus campus in the King-Lincoln Bronzeville neighborhood, provides a space that will continue to connect Ohio State with the local community and offer programming to engage with those in the area. “When I speak about the Community Extension Center to prospective faculty, their eyes open in a way that is so exciting, because this is a very special place,” said Dean of Arts and Humanities Dana Renga. “I think it differentiates us from other Black studies programs across the country. Because of the center in this wonderful historic community, people leave amazing jobs to come here to Columbus, Ohio, to do the work.”
To commemorate the reopening of the space on March 28, State Senator for Ohio’s 15th District, Hearcel Craig, was in attendance. Craig lauded the extension center and emphasized its commitment to connecting with the community.
“This center has been a beacon of knowledge and a sacred sanctuary for learning and a hope for cultural exchange. It stands as a testament to the resilience and the determination of the American and the African American communities, both within our community and beyond, to academic excellence, social justice and community engagement,” Craig said. “As we embark on this new chapter, let us uphold the principles of equality, justice and solidarity that lies at the core of the center’s mission.”
Dr. William E. Nelson Jr.
Nelson retired from Ohio State in 2009 after 40 years of service. Among his many accolades, Nelson served as chair of the Department of Black Studies, the Arts and Sciences Faculty Senate as well as spearheaded the founding of the African American and African Studies Community Extension Center. Nelson also served as president of the National Council for Black Studies and the Columbus Chapter of the Ohio Black Political Assembly.
His impact as a scholar-activist is measured by the many students dispersed throughout the community and the country whom he mentored over the course of a lengthy career at Ohio State.
Originally opened in 1972, the renovated center includes a new meeting hall with multiple classrooms, fitted with updated technology. In the center of the building sits a small library and seating area with a television that displayed a burning fireplace, creating a welcoming atmosphere.
New programming and educational opportunities are set to be hosted in the new space. For example, ‘Lunch and Learns’ will feature academic and industry experts discussing their areas of expertise with community and faculty alike. The space will also host “Black to Basics,” a podcast that explores Ohio State’s 10 dimensions of wellness among central Ohio’s Black population.
Upon its reopening, the center presented a gallery featuring “Women who changed our community,” honoring eight local African American women who made an impact in the area. Examples included legendary artist Aminah Robinson, whose art is permanently displayed at the Columbus Museum of Art, and historian, scholar and author Dr. Anna Bishop, who published a rich and detailed history of the neighborhood titled, “Beyond Poindexter Village: The Blackberry Patch.”
“This is a one-of-a-kind program. There is nothing like it in the country,” Renga said when discussing AAAS. “(This renovation) is going to further distinguish the center, the department, and continue the good work in this very special space. It’s a very exciting time for Black studies at Ohio State, on campus and in the community.”
Department Chair Cynthia Young, who joined AAAS in 2023, said that the investment in the center has reflected Ohio State’s overall commitment to the department, which has put an emphasis on hiring new faculty in addition to investing in the brick-and-mortar building.
“This renovation has coincided with Ohio State’s investment in African American and African Studies. This year alone, the college has hired three new AAAS faculty members,” Young said. “Last year, we hired five new faculty members. We’ve hired faculty who are already or will soon be leaders in Black studies and related disciplines. This department is young, or in my case young at heart, and hungry. And we want to build a Black studies department for this century.”
Young concluded by thanking everyone who played a part in bringing the renovations to completion and promised to continue to advance the mission of AAAS. “This renovation was a labor of love,” Young said. “It was a product of so much care and generosity, especially on the part of Senator Craig, Dean (David) Horn, Dana Renga, and (AAAS Program Manager) Monica Stigler. For me, it’s a promise and a vow to everyone that says we know where we’ve been, and we know where we’re going.”
