About us ~

The Paul Robeson Community Center is located at 6569 S. Vermont in South Central Los Angeles. The Center was founded by a multi-cultural group of community activists including the late actress, Frances Williams.

Mission - The Paul Robeson Community Center’s mission is to teach cultural awareness through education and community activities accessible to the entire community. Through the influence of role model, Paul Robeson, and the dedication of the volunteer Board of Directors and volunteers of the community, the Paul Robeson Community Center takes an active role in educating today’s youth and adults through educational events and activities.


                                                               
                                                                Paul Robeson, great community activist.

History - The Paul Robeson Community Center’s founders saw the need for this unique multi-cultural community center in South Central Los Angeles and this dream became reality when The Paul Robeson Community Center opened its doors in 1986. For the past twenty years, the Paul Robeson Community Center has provided the public with access to events held to reintroduce the legendary actor, singer, athlete, community activist, lawyer, scholar and fighter of social justice.



               
                Co-Founders Adele and Oneil Cannon

Center Components

A meeting place for cultural events.

Reference Library and Reading Room for readers of all ages.

A book shop. [link]

Archive of multi-cultural literature and documents.

A Voting and Voter Registration location.

Community Outreach - The Paul Robeson Community Center is continuously providing the community with several activities, events, and venues for the entire community to enjoy and benefit from.

Youth Education

· Promote appreciation for the Fine Arts through activities such as the Kraft Foods Child Art and Development Program and workshops conducted at the Center and local schools.

· All Day Art and Multimedia Event

· A Curriculum [link] designed to teach youth about Paul Robeson.

· Designed, developed and distributed to reintroduce Paul Robeson into classrooms and libraries throughout Southern California.

· Programs in the Los Angeles Unified School District

· Sports Activity Day for Community Young People

Adult Education Program

Funded by the Califronia Department of Education, the Center holds courses on topics such     as English proficiency, literacy, history, and government.

Our Living History Project [click here to see past fliers]

Provides the community a chance to learn about history through the people who have lived through it. Past guests include Hope Foye and Esther Cicconi discussing such topics as the McCarthy Era, The Depression, and the struggles for Civil Rights.

 

             
       Guest Lecturer Esther Ciccioni with Paula Solomon and Carol Frances Likins

 

Multi-Ethnic Senior Citizens Activities to build a bridge between generations [click here to see past flier of the tribute event, “A Half Century and More of Activism in Los Angeles & Black History with Senior Sisters]

Community Forums and lectures

Afro~American History Month Lecture

Guest lecturers such as author Gerald Horne

"Days of Dialog" Programs featuring dialog between and among community members of different ethnic groups on various topics of interest.

A Youth Radio Training Program

A program designed to show youth and young adults how to communicate and learn from others through the power of journalism. Young people are given the chance to have a voice in what matters to them by learning to produce a radio program.

 

Intercultural Celebrations

Annual Inter-Cultural Cinco de Mayo celebrating the Independence of Mexico

Juneteenth Festivals celebrating the Emancipation Proclamation [click here to see past flier]

Ongoing Lectures, Concerts Movies and Contests about Paul Robeson, both independently and in conjunction with other Community Organizations.

The Unitarian Church of Los Angeles observation and celebration of Paul Robeson’s life [click here for past flier]

Art Exhibits

Exhibit of Sculpture by Richmond Barthe, funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the City of Los Angeles

The Southside Cultural Society sponsored events and programs:

Non-Denominational Easter Sunrise Services at the Hollywood Bowl

Art Against Apartheid Programs, including 25 Multimedia High School Assembly

 

Past Activities have also included:

Tribute to Paul Robeson at the Weisenthal Museum of Tolerance

Exhibitions, lectures, forums and performances at:

o The Hollywood Entertainment Museum

o The California African-American Museum

o The Museum of Cultural Diversity

o The Watts Labor Community Action Committee Center

o Movie Screenings at The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

o The University of California at Los Angeles (including a film retrospective plus a day Scholarly Symposium)

o The Paul Robeson Community Center

Re-dedication of Paul Robeson’s Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Sponsorship of an art and essay contest on Paul Robeson for middle and high school students.

Appearances and participation in community groups, schools and television and radio forums focused on Paul Robeson.

The Paul Robeson Community Center is made possible by the care and dedication of the volunteer Board of Directors and individuals from the community who volunteer their time and expertise to provide quality programs for residents and a safe place for the kids of Los Angeles. Please call today to volunteer!

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The Paul Robeson Community Center
6569 S. Vermont Ave. (between Gage and Florence
Los Angeles, CA 90044  ---  (323) 752-7285