News and Events
Stay informed about ARC research, public programs, student opportunities, community partnerships, conferences, publications, and upcoming events.
August 2026
ARC Expands its Network of Strategic Partnerships
As of August 2026, the Africana Research & Cultural Renaissance Center has established collaborations with Brilliance Exposed, IKG Cultural Resources, Klaman & Co., the Molefi Kete Asante Institute, the African Heritage Studies Association, and African Ancestry. Together, these relationships will connect SDSU students and scholars with opportunities in Afrocentric research mentorship, cultural restoration, field experiences, public programming, community engagement, and scholar-activist networks. Students will also gain experience in genetic ancestry research, cultural competency, scientific ethics, responsible data practices, and the research and documentation of African cultural histories. African Ancestry will further collaborate with ARC on its emerging work related to California Senate Bill 437 and reparations, including the ethical incorporation and stewardship of genetic data.
July 2026
ARC to Lead Statewide Reparations Research Initiative
In July 2026, San Diego State University was selected as the lead and coordinating campus for the California State University’s $6 million Descendancy Research and Verification Program authorized under Senate Bill 437. The multi-campus initiative brings together SDSU, CSU Long Beach, and Sacramento State. Each participating campus has designated two principal investigators to guide the work.
At SDSU, Taharka Ade, Director of the Africana Research & Cultural Renaissance Center, serves as Principal Investigator, and Arun Sethuraman, Chair of Biology, serves as Co-Principal Investigator. The Africana Research & Cultural Renaissance Center will lead the project’s Africana Studies, genealogy, cultural-history, community-engagement, and cultural-pattern dimensions, while the Sethuraman Lab will direct its scientific and genetic research.
Beginning in September 2026, the partners will develop a preponderance-of-the-evidence methodology for conducting and verifying genealogical research related to reparations eligibility, as well as a public-facing ArcGIS Cultural Patterns platform documenting African and African diasporic histories, migrations, and cultural continuities. The project will integrate genealogical, historical, cultural, community, and scientific evidence, establish ethical standards for the use of genetic data, and provide research and training opportunities for students through the 2029–30 academic year.
March 2026
Black Leadership Alliance Coalition Awards $1,000 Grant to Support ARC
The Africana Research & Cultural Renaissance Center (ARC) is honored to announce a $1,000 grant from the Black Leadership Alliance Coalition (BLAC) in support of the Center's mission to advance Africana-centered research, cultural restoration, and community engagement.
ARC extends its sincere appreciation to the BLAC and its Chief Executive Officer, T.J. Harris, for their partnership and belief in the transformative power of Africana-centered scholarship. This contribution marks the beginning of what both organizations hope will be a lasting collaboration dedicated to advancing cultural excellence and community impact.
ARC Formally Approved as an SDSU-Designated Center
San Diego State University formally approved the Africana Research & Cultural Renaissance Center as an SDSU-Designated Center on March 4, 2026, following the recommendation of the College of Arts and Letters and review by the Deans Research Council. In granting final approval, Vice President for Research and Innovation Hala Madanat cited ARC’s compelling mission, strong advisory leadership, thoughtful governance, sustainable funding strategy, and meaningful partnerships, describing the Center as representing “an important contribution to SDSU’s research enterprise and to our broader mission as a public research university.”
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Africana Research & Cultural Renaissance Center
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-6032
Location: Arts and Letters (AL) 378
Email: [email protected]