Rosa Parks African American Theme House

Rosa Parks African American Theme Housing (R.PAATH) is a student-initiated living-learning space for students whose interests span historical, present-day, and future experiences of predominantly African, Black, and Caribbean (ABC) peoples.

Established in 2011, it has grown into a space that nurtures, educates, and supports the students in community. Named for NAACP activist Rosa Louise McCauley Parks, R.PAATH was created after students asked for a dedicated space for those committed to the growth and development of ABC peoples. Now a unique icon across campus, the symbolic red, black, and green coloring was added in 2017 as a result of student voices.

R.PAATH fosters Cultural Competence, Cultural Intelligence, and Ally Development through organizing, living, studying, and socializing with peers passionate about political, cultural, social, and economic issues of African, Black, and Caribbean People.

• R.PAATH is designed to intentionally create space for students to feel connected, safer, and supported in a community centered on the experiences of African, Black, and Caribbean peoples. This is a primary focal point for the staff supporting R.PAATH.
• Educational seminars, programs, dialogues, and speaker series are structured to encourage solidarity and unity among students from all cultural backgrounds.

R.PAATH is located at Stevenson College and is available to students of any college affiliation. The R.PAATH community includes both the residence hall and apartment housing.

Did you know...

• Ethnic residential theme houses benefit both marginalized and majority students
• Ethnic residential theme houses contribute to increased satisfaction of those students involved
• Special campus services designed to support minority students, including racial and ethnic theme houses, positively contribute to minority student retention