Alkebu-lan Cultural Center
During its glory days under the direction of Versie Mae Richardson, the Alkebu-lan Cultural Center was home to a variety of dance classes, playwrights, and even a renowned boys’ choir that toured Europe and the U.S.
By Jason Hardin
Eventually moving to its current location near Raymond Ave. & Washington Blvd., Richardson’s vision inspired class, confidence, and respect in one of Pasadena’s toughest neighborhoods. On April 15th, 2013, at the age of 93, Versie Mae Richardson passed away after months of suffering from declining health, which ultimately left Alkebu-lan in full control of former board member Dianne Lewis.
Since Lewis assumed the role of board chairman and director, it’s no secret that the viability and performance of the Alkebu-lan Cultural Center has dwindled. As a full time volunteer at Alkebu-lan from June to September of 2014, I was able to get a behind-the-scenes look as to why community interest in this once-prestigious organization has declined, and it all comes down to one word –mismanagement.
In the few months I volunteered for the organization, it seemed like anything but the renowned organization that was home to many local notables, such as William Syms (City of Pasadena Program Coordinator) and Manual “Paco” Swartz (Music Producer). Instead, I found myself in a beautiful facility that appeared to operate without any procedures, guidelines, staff, or leadership. Trying to fill the center’s many voids, I found myself recruiting volunteers, producing marketing materials, counseling the youth day-camp, establishing facility rental procedures, instructing classes, and supervising “Summer ROSE” employees.
During my intense “pro bono” involvement with Alkebu-lan, I was not once introduced to the entire Board of Directors nor ever provided with all of their names. Every request I had made to meet with the Board of Directors to discuss my concerns was eventually denied by Ms. Lewis. By September, I was forced to part ways with Alkebu-lan, due to the resistance I received from Ms. Lewis to provide proper disclosure of information and communication with the Board of Directors. Upon leaving Alkebu-lan, I communicated all this in an email to Pasadena City Manager Michael Beck.
A rendering of the future Alkebu-lan as Versie Mae Richardson had envisioned before she passed away.
On August 4th, 2015, I was invited by “Uncle Bubba” of KPAS to attend an “intervention” designed to initiate the formulation of a new Board of Directors in hopes of revitalizing Alkebu-lan and keeping it in the community in the city-owned facility. The meeting consisted of over a dozen members of the Pasadena/Altadena community, who are outraged at the direction the once-reputable organization is headed. When Lewis was questioned by members of the group regarding Alkebu-lan’s administration problems, she refused to answer questions and stormed out of the meeting after which discussion continued on the procedures of establishing a new Board of Directors for the organization.
This being the only African-American cultural center in the San Gabriel Valley, you can see why it is absolutely important that we restore the value and legacy that Ms. Richardson and Alkebu-lan brought to the under-served communities of Northwest Pasadena. I urge everyone interested in the future of this worthy organization to get involved before it’s too late. If you are interested in volunteering or joining the board of directors, I suggest sending an email on inquiry to JRCC Supervisor Jarvis Emerson.
Together we can make the Alkebu-lan Cultural Center bigger, better, and more valuable to the community than it has ever been!
> The Alkebu-lan Cultural Center was founded in 1989, by Versie Mae Richardson, Emerson Terry, and D. Marie Battle as a “temple of learning” that focused on African and African-American culture. Richardson believed that by encouraging creativity and educating the youth on the many achievements of Africans and African-Americans, she could help instill in them a sense of value and pride. This is what led to the formulation of the organizations motto, “Know Thyself”.
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