Nearly 300 participated in Wednesday’s Otter Cross Cultural Center (OC3) annual block party, transforming Cal State Monterey Bay’s (CSUMB) Inter-Garrison Plaza into a bustling scene of music, tables, and tents.
The community celebrated the new academic year with live performances, T-shirt making, food, and raffles.
“It’s just a big block party to build community,” said Peter Xiong, program coordinator for the OC3. This community building is central to OC3’s mission, Xiong said, as an on-campus organization that strives to promote diversity, cross-culturalism and social justice at CSUMB.
“The big thing about this event is that community partners and campus partners have a chance to come and hang out and get to know students. Today we have our social justice-oriented partners who come spread the word about what they’re doing,” Xiong said.
With over 20 clubs, organizations and departments tabling in the plaza, students looking to make new connections in their community had no shortage of opportunities.
Some campus partners included the Otter Dreamers Club, Men of Color Alliance and the Abolitionist and Decolonial Learning Collective. Representing the larger Monterey Bay community were groups such as the Monterey County Health Department, Seaside Community Action Team and Planned Parenthood.
There to entertain the crowd were local musicians Gabi Bravo, based in Watsonville, and Salinas’ DJ Baby Dizzle.
“Every year we get our local artists to come out. You know, we try to stay hip,” said Xiong.
“This is the second time I’ve DJ’d this event and it’s really nice to see the community come out and get involved with all the students. I feel like a little local celebrity,” said Baby Dizzle, also known as Diana Centeno, CSUMB alumni and Administrative Support Coordinator for service learning.
Wednesday’s block party also provided students a chance to connect with their peers, said Wilbert Rivas, fourth-year human development and family science major.
“I like meeting and talking to new people, so that made me want to come out here,” said Rivas.
For first-year business major, Elizabeth Arakaki, the block party was an exciting introduction to campus.
“There’s so many people [here] from so many different backgrounds,” Arakaki said. “I lived in a small city, so I only had a couple of people to talk to. But now I have so many people, so many perspectives. It’s really opened my eyes to how many different people there are on campus…it’s like seeing the world in a whole new light.”
Eric Xiong, a fourth-year marine science major and regular participant in OC3 events like the Block Party, encouraged more students to get involved with the Cross Cultural Center, located on the third floor of the Otter Student Union.
“OC3 contributes to a safe space on campus. There’s always cool people to meet there…you get a lot of support. You just gotta go walk in there,” Xiong said.
“It’s like a puddle of water. You just have to go in there and drink it to see what it’s about.”
“It’s like a puddle of water,” Xiong added. “You just have to go in there and drink it to see what it’s about.”