Like many student-focused entities at Penn, the campus’ cultural resource centers are open to any student at Penn from any ethnic, racial, social, academic, gender or educational circle. They serve to educate, support and celebrate different traditions while fostering leadership and service aimed toward all of Penn’s and Philadelphia’s communities.
The Chaplain works in partnership with professional staff from a number of religious communities to serve the religious and spiritual needs of members of the University community.
The Albert M. Greenfield Intercultural Center was established in 1984 and welcomes all students interested in fostering intercultural understanding on campus. As a site of learning through cross cultural activism, reflection, and dialogue the GIC promotes co-curricular educational and cultural programs. The Center provides support to the United Minorities Council (UMC) and to its many constituent groups. It is also home to popular intercultural programs, such as: Programs for Awareness and Cultural Education (PACE) - a diversity education program and Alliance & Understanding (AU) - an exploration into the historic partnership between Blacks and Jews during the Civil Rights era, as well as, organizations such as the Race Dialogue Project and Natives at Penn, the latter being an organization for students interested in Native American issues.
Centrally located in the ARCH Building at 3601 Locust Walk, The Center for Hispanic Excellence: La Casa Latina is Penn's Latino cultural house. La Casa Latina is a community space designed to serve the needs of all Latino/a students and the Penn communities at-large.
The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center at Penn, one of the oldest and most active programs of its kind in the country, supports Penn lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students, staff, alumni, and faculty and increases the general Penn community's understanding and acceptance of its sexual and gender minority members. Established in 1982, the Center provides a variety of services throughout the year for and concerning Penn's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community.
Makuu Black Cultural Center is a nexus of academic, professional, and personal growth for University of Pennsylvania students interested in Black culture and the African Diaspora. Through advising, leadership development, cultural and social programming, the center expands student access to the University's resources. Makuu, short for Makao Makuu, means "home" or "headquarters" in Kiswahili, an African language used in some East African countries. As the parent center of Umoja, the University of Pennsylvania's coalition of black student activity groups, we advise the student leaders of our many academic, cultural, performance and faith groups on campus. Makuu also provides a space for the University community to engage and learn about the African Diaspora.
The Pan-Asian American Community House is a hub of academic, personal, and professional growth for University of Pennsylvania students interested in Asian American culture and the Asian American Diaspora. Through advising, leadership development, advocacy, social and cultural programming we expand student access to the University’s resources.
The Penn Women's Center's mission is to understand and address the evolving needs of all women at the University of Pennsylvania, redress gender inequity and, in so doing, support and advance women's personal and professional development and empower them to reach their fullest potential. We sponsor programs on career development, stress management, parenting, sexual violence prevention, health and wellness alongside events highlighting women writers, activists, artists and political and professional leaders. We play an advocacy role regarding issues of gender equity, health, childcare, workplace discrimination, domestic and sexual violence, and mental health.