Mission

Known as the Afro House, this space provides a supportive and inclusive environment and programs that empower students, faculty, staff, and community members to excel in their endeavors, stretch themselves to experience diversity, engage in activism, make positive choices, and serve their communities. 

Support the African-American Cultural Center

Vision

The vision for the Afro House is to be a space for Black students to feel welcomed and at home. It’s a space that they can take ownership of and is a haven for them. The space is filled with events and community building programs like the Being Black at Iowa project, Hair to Heart, and collaborating with Black Student Union for Sunday Dinners. We have partnered with UCS, CDE, and various other student groups to provide resources and programming for our students. BA.R.S., Hubard Group, Sista Speak, & BSU are all Afro House advised groups.

History

Founded in 1968, the Afro-American Cultural Center (Afro House) was founded to establish a space for Black students from different cultural backgrounds at the University of Iowa. In preserving Black culture, the center provides an opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to share their cultural knowledge and educate the entire community. The Afro House provides a supportive and inclusive environment while providing programs that empower students, faculty, staff, and community members to excel in their endeavors, stretch themselves to experience diversity, engage in activism, make positive choices, and serve their communities.

Amenities

The Center is available for programming and as a venue for University of Iowa student organizations’ events.  It is equipped with: a fully-stocked kitchen, a living and dining room, game and study rooms, a library, wireless internet (Netflix, Pandora)  computer and printers for our patrons to use, TVs, DVD players, and various board games. Afro House has anything you need to host a program, make a meal, study, or simply relax and socialize with friends!

Professional staff

freddy sims

Freddy Sims Jr.

Title/Position
Coordinator, Afro-American Cultural Center
A group photo of the Afro House student staff

Student Staff

Learn more about the student staff currently working at the Afro House!

Meet our student staff

Location

303 Melrose Ave, Iowa City, Iowa

Hours

  • Monday - Thursday: Noon - 9:00 p.m.
  • Friday: Noon - 5:00 p.m.

Note: We will close during University holidays and academic breaks.

Contact the Afro House

Phone: 319-335-8296

Email: aacc@uiowa.edu

Social media

Afro House Facebook page
Afro House Instagram page

Faculty/Staff Council 

African American Council

Afro Voices Documentary: Home Away From Home

Upcoming Events

Athletes and Resistance Panel - Sports, Power, and Resistance Obermann Arts & Humanities Symposium promotional image

Athletes and Resistance Panel - Sports, Power, and Resistance Obermann Arts & Humanities Symposium

Saturday, September 23, 2023 10:30am to 12:00pm
Iowa City Public Library
Panel #3: Athletes and Resistance Adrian Burgos (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign): "In Clemente's Wake: Afro-Latino Ballplayers and the Quest for Respect" Noah Cohan (Washington University, St. Louis): “Raising a Glass Helmet: How Black Athletes and Artists Resist Football’s Head Gear” Jaime Schultz (Penn State University): "Consumed: On Women, Distance Running, Disordered Eating, and Illness Narratives" Moderated by Glenn Houlihan, a PhD student in American...
Political Activism Panel - Sports, Power, and Resistance Obermann Arts & Humanities Symposium promotional image

Political Activism Panel - Sports, Power, and Resistance Obermann Arts & Humanities Symposium

Saturday, September 23, 2023 1:00pm to 2:30pm
Iowa City Public Library
Panel #2: Political Activism Travers (Simon Fraser University): “Trans Participation in Sport: The Fight to Include Us in Public Life” Douglas Hartmann (University of Minnesota, Twin Cities): "Documenting and Rethinking the Impact of Protest through Sport: The Case of WNBA Activism in the 2020 Georgia Senate Race" Jason Kido Lopez (University of Wisconsin, Madison): "Constructing Crisis in Women’s Sports: Outkick’s 'Anti-Woke' Sports Media Brand" There will be a break from noon to 1 p.m...
Closing Reflections - Sports, Power, and Resistance Obermann Arts & Humanities Symposium promotional image

Closing Reflections - Sports, Power, and Resistance Obermann Arts & Humanities Symposium

Saturday, September 23, 2023 2:30pm to 3:00pm
Iowa City Public Library
This the closing session of the Sports, Power, and Resistance: Legacies and Futures Obermann Arts and Humanities Symposium.  Free and open to all.
Levitt Lecture Series: Alan Page promotional image

Levitt Lecture Series: Alan Page

Tuesday, September 26, 2023 7:30pm
Hancher Auditorium
TICKETS Free tickets (limit two) will be available from the Hancher Box Office beginning Monday, Aug. 21, at 10 a.m. Part of the Fall 2023 Levitt Lecture Part of Hancher's 51st season Alan Page was first known for his skills in football both in college and in the NFL. At Notre Dame, he led the school's storied football program to the 1966 national championship. He was a first-round draft choice of the Minnesota Vikings in 1967. During his career for the Vikings and Chicago Bears, he played...
Multicultural Greek Council (MGC) Orientation promotional image

Multicultural Greek Council (MGC) Orientation

Monday, October 16, 2023 5:30pm to 6:30pm
Iowa Memorial Union (IMU)
Come learn about the Multicultural Greek Council organizations that are here at the University of Iowa!
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