Multicultural Center

MCC Legacy Events

Black History Month • February 2023

All members of the WIU and Macomb community are welcome and invited to attend and participate in the Gwendolyn Brooks Cultural Center's commemoration of Black History Month, filled with opportunities for learning more about the Black experience and to promoting continuing conversation, growth, understanding and cooperation among and between all people and cultures.

Taste of Africa

Hosted by: African Student Association (GBCC)

African Student Association (ASA) serves an array of African delicacies and cuisine prepared by African students on campus.

The Vagina Monologues

Hosted by: Women's Center

"The Vagina Monologues" (TVM) as part of a V-Day campaign. V-Day is a global activist movement to stop violence against women and girls that raises funds and awareness through benefit productions of Ensler's award winning play and other artistic works. In the past, the V-Day movement has raised over $120 million, educated people about violence against women, funded over 13,000 community-based-anti-violence programs and safe houses and crafted numerous campaigns.

Women's History Month • March 2023

The Women's Center at Western Illinois University hosts Women's History Month throughout March. March is dedicated to learning how to love our bodies and celebrating the aspects that make us unique. Other activities in support of this theme include workshops, films, discussions, fitness and health through yoga and self-care are designed to inform, inspire and empower.

Love Your Body Week

Date: TBD
Hosted by: Women's Center

This week is dedicated to learning how to love our bodies and celebrating the aspects that make us unique. LYBW celebrates the accomplishments and achievements of women, while also supporting their mental and physical well-being,

Pride Month • April 2023

The Western Illinois University LGBT*QA Resource Center hosts a Pride Month Celebration throughout the month of April with a wide variety of events. In 2016, President Barack Obama declared the month of June as National LGBT Pride Month. However, due to the national observance falling between academic sessions for the majority of WIU students, the LGBT*QA Resource Center observes the identity month in April to celebrate and raise awareness of the 2SLGBT*QIA+ community at WIU.

Equality Ball

Date: TBD
Time: 7pm
Location: MCC Dance Studio/Multipurpose Room - LGBT*QA Resource Center x Unity

Equality Ball provides an opportunity for students to experience a prom/dance that they might not have had in high school due to noninclusive school policies that exclude queer and trans* students. As part of this program, there are no restrictions or judgments on who participants bring or what they wear. Refreshments are served.

Drag Bingo

Date: April 15, 2022
Time: 7pm
Location: Heritage Room Union - LGBT*QA Resource Center & University Union Board

UNITY at Western Illinois University will partner with the University Union Board for the annual "drag queen" show, which features professional performers from across the region. Admission is open free to the public, but attendees are encouraged to bring tipping money for the performers.

ate:  March 1-4th, 2022

Casa Latina Recognition Ceremony

Date: April 22
Time: 5-7:30 pm
Location: MCC Multiurpose Room
Hosted by: Casa Latina Cultural Center

The Casa Latina Recognition Ceremony recognizes Latinx/o/a/e students for their contributions to the University and Latinx communities, their graduation, and their next steps after college. 

Calle Murray

Date: Saturday
Time: 12 pm - 4 pm
Location: In front of MCC (Murray Street) 
Hosted by: Casa Latina Cultural Center

Calle Murray is an annual block party hosted by Casa Latina to celebrate intersectional Latinx and Indigenous cultures. This event brings together the WIU and Macomb in an open and engaging environment, while learning about the rich history and culture of the diverse set of Latinx countries represented by students, staff and faculty at WIU.

GBCC Graduation

Date: Thursday
Time: 5-7pm
Location: MCC Multiurpose Room
Hosted by: Black Student Association x Gwendolyn Brooks Cultural Center 

The GBCC recognizes Black/African American students for their contributions to the University and Black communities, their graduation, and their next steps after college. 

Lavender Graduation

Date: Friday
Time: 5-7 pm
Location: MCC Multiurpose Room
Hosted by: LGBT*QA Resource Center

The Lavender Graduation recognizes students for their contributions to the University and 2SLGBT*QIA+ communities, their graduation, and their next steps after college. 

Flor de Cultura

Cultural Pageant

Date: Friday
Time: 5-10 pm 
Location: Union Grand Ballroom 
Hosted by: Latin American Student Organization x Casa Latina Cultural Center

Flor de Cultura is an annual cultural pageant hosted by L.A.S.O. that provides students the platform to represent and showcase the various cultures in Latin America.   

Latinx Heritage Month • September 15 - October 15, 2022

The Western Illinois University Casa Latina Cultural Center will celebrate Latinx Heritage Month, Thursday, Sept. 15th through Saturday, Oct. 15. Scheduled events will provide the opportunity to learn more about Latinx history and cultural roots, the importance of building community, and empowerment through hardships.

BYOT (Bring Your Own Tortilla)

Location: MCC East Lawn
Hosted by: Casa Latina

Casa Latina hosts a Bring Your Own Tortilla (BYOT) event on the lawn of the Multicultural Center. Meat and ingredients will be provided and vegetarian options will be available during the free event. All you have to do is bring your own tortilla!

Big Picture & Picnic

Location: MCC East Lawn
Hosted by: LGBT*QA Resource Center

Members of the Western Illinois University community are invited to for an annual Big Picture Picnic by the LGBT*QA Resource Center. The Big Picture Picnic is held each year as an opportunity for community building among the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, asexual and allies within the campus community.

Take Back The Night

Western Illinois University's Women's Center and the TBTN committee hosts an annual Take Back the Night rally, in front of Sherman Hall. T-shirts and other items will be sold during the week leading up to the rally to raise money for the Western Illinois Regional Council-Community Action Agency, a local agency which supports survivors. 

Clothesline Project 

Hosted by: Women's Center

The Clothesline Project Display, dedicated to bringing awareness to violence against women and children. The shirts are added to the Victim Services' Clothesline Project collection for display throughout October.

Rally/March

Location: Sherman Hall/Chandler Park
Hosted by: Women's Center

The Take Back the Night rally will mark the culmination of campus events planned as part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The rally will include a march from Sherman Hall to Macomb's Chandler Park, where creative performances and stories of survival will be shared.

Trans* Week of Awareness

Trans* Day of Rememberance  

Hosted by: LGBT*QA Resource Center

The LGBT*QA Resource Center (RC) will commemorate Trans* Week of Awareness on campus in November. On the Friday of Trans* Week of Awareness, the RC will host Trans* Day of Rememberance to honor the lives of LGBT+ folks who have been  murdered as a result of transphobia. The day serves to draw attention to the violence endured by trans* people. 

Camp Out

Location: Hornfield Campus
 Hosted by:  LGBT*QA Resource Center

Define American

Hosted by: Casa Latina Cultural Center

Casa Latina hosts Define American, historically in conjunction with Thanking Our Immigrants, which is designed for the campus commnity to consider what the American identity means to them and how it is more complex than the simple U.S. American stereotype, while honoring the legacy of those who come to America with the hope for a better life. During the event, students express what they   Define   American   as, there are discussions had, and statements of their   American   Identity.