9: Developing Practices and Norms

This chapter furthers the conversation regarding intersectionality and provides a critical review of what support can look like for cultural and identity centers. More specifically, this chapter reviews the author’s experience as a staff member for a cultural center and leading a Men of Color Initiative on a college campus. By diving deeper into intersectionality as a framework, the author provides ways in which he utilized the framework with a Men of Color program to further push the conversation in understanding the nuances of navigating systems related to gender and race/ethnicity. The author analyzes the current state of higher education institutional support for Cultural and Identity Centers and provides a critical perspective on points of improvement. In conclusion, the chapter offers different approaches for supporting cultural and identity centers and the power that these centers have to transform the entire institution while contributing to students’ holistic development.