The restoration of the George A. Jackson Black Cultural Center

The restoration of the George A. Jackson Black Cultural Center The restoration of the George A. Jackson Black Cultural Center Taryn Theilen, Diversity Reporter October 14, 2026 Katelyn Retzlaff The George A. Jackson Black Cultural Center on Welch Avenue in Ames, Iowa, Oct. 9, 2026. The George A. Jackson Black Cultural Center (BCC) has needed renovations for a long time and is currently temporarily closed due to structural issues affecting the safety of the building. The BCC, located at 517 Welch Ave, serves as a meeting place for Iowa State University student organizations, including the Black Student Alliance (BSA). The building has a history of needing repairs for things such as water damage and old age. “The house was built approximately in 1918, so we are reviewing the condition of the house and what it takes to restore the house so that it is both safe and useful to all those who would come to the space,” Jordan Brooks, Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA) director and Assistant Dean of Students for Intercultural Initiatives, said. “We are in the early stages of that review, so the specific areas of improvement and details on what is required to do so are not clear just yet.” The BCC has been used for student meetings as far back as 1970, when it was first established following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. It was started as a non-profit by the Black Student Organization (BSO), which formed after a protest against his assassination and a demonstration to recognize his accomplishments.  The organization wanted to be a group dedicated to solidarity of Black students against discrimination on campus. They planned to use the space for programs that highlighted and celebrated Black culture. “It has always been a site of relationship building, belonging, education and unity between Iowa State students,” Brooks said. Students who use the BCC today are anticipating the reopening and restoration of the building. “The BSA and the African Students Association, the two largest groups that represent the Black population at Iowa State, are really putting in the effort and trying to strategize ways to restore the BCC, not just repair it,” Nyonnua Quayeh, a second-year student in supply chain management and BSA historian, said. “We want to make it better than it was before because it’s been neglected for so long.” The BSA, which used the BCC frequently, has found other places to conduct their meetings.  “We’ve been utilizing things on campus like the Kildee Pavilion, but it’s not the same,” Quayeh said. “There’s a different level of comfort. When you’re going to the BCC, you can show up in pajamas or whatever. It’s like when you go to your friend’s house, you can just hang out and be.” The restoration would serve all of the student organizations that use the BCC for organization meetings or even hangout sessions.  “It’s such a great space for us to collaborate and find community. During my first year, it was so easy to get to know each other. Sometimes it was just like, ‘okay we’re hosting at the BCC, let’s go play cards, listen to music and hang out with each other,’” Quayeh said. The BCC is located off campus because it has not always been directly affiliated with Iowa State University. The BCC and Iowa State University struck a deal in 1995 where the university would give money towards needed repairs if the BCC would be open to all student organizations. “The house is unique, as it is located south of campus and away from the hustle and bustle of student activity,” Brooks said. “The goal is for individuals to gather in the house to build community and belonging through opportunities that enhance academic and personal development.” This is just one way the history of the building is interwoven into the BCC that Iowa State knows today. The BCC was named after George A. Jackson in 2017, who was the director of the Office of Minority Student Affairs, now known as MSA, when he came to Iowa State University in 1978. He served the university for 31 years. He advocated for promoting diversity within faculty, staff and students at Iowa State University and, through his efforts, according to the Iowa State University Bibliographical Dictionary, enrollment of student minorities increased by 290%. He also created programs that helped minority students with tuition costs. “It’s really important to know that you belong here, and not only that you belong here, but you’re safe here,” Quayeh said. “Especially with the Black population here being so small, it’s important to have strength in numbers.” Even while the historic building is temporarily closed, its purpose is still being continued. “While the ways students engage with the purpose evolve to their needs, it continues to serve as a place for learning, community, and belonging,” Brooks said. “The BCC is another one of those spaces where it is important to share the history, so community members can make a deeper connection and more appreciation for what has come before them.” 0 Like This Story Share on Facebook Share on X Email this Story Print this Story Tags: black student alliance black student organization george a. jackson george a. jackson black cultural center multicultural student affairs Donate to Iowa State Daily $6,633 $10,000 Contributed Our Goal Your donation will support the student journalists of the Iowa State Daily. 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A lecture with Sally Kenney About the Contributor Katelyn Retzlaff, Reporter Katelyn is a sophomore studying Marketing and Spanish with minors in German and business analytics. She has a love for music and learning about other cultures. This is her second year with the Iowa State Daily as both a photojournalist and a reporter for the Arts and Culture desk.