On Thursday, the Paul Robeson Cultural Center (PRCC) and other cultural organizations, such as the Indigenous Peoples’ Student Association (IPSA), Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Caucus (ADIPA), Latino Caucus and Black Caucus held their annual cultural collaborative event, Together at the Table, to celebrate diversity and culture.
This is the fifth time the PRCC has hosted Together at the Table, but this year’s event was its biggest yet. Held in Heritage Hall in the HUB-Robeson Center, the event consisted of ethnic food from various cultures, multiple dance performances from groups such as the Jake George Family with their traditional Ganon:yok and Smoke Dance, Caliente! Dance Team and K-pop Music and Dance (KPMD) and community building exercises to help cultivate a number of new connections for students of varying backgrounds.
The George family performs traditional Native American dances at The 5th Annual Together at the Table event in Heritage Hall on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025 in University Park, Pa.
“As we come here today as students, scholars and community members, may we carry (a) sense of gratitude into how we listen, learn and engage with one another,” IPSA President Sienna Strong-Jones said in her speech.
The event not only commemorated Thanksgiving, but it also helped give thanks to the Penn State community in general, allowing countless individuals from different backgrounds to join together and share their life experiences with one another.
“I find it really inclusive and I like the overall family feeling it brings because it’s open to everyone,” Christopher Benson, a member of Black Caucus and Black Male Leadership Symposium (BMLS), said.
Not only does Benson find that there is great power in bringing people together, but so does the PRCC as a whole. They strive to make every event that they host inclusive to everyone, creating a space for every individual to feel included and celebrated, Gracy Franco Prasanna, APIDA Caucus president, said in her speech.
She said the PRCC feels it is important to bring diverse individuals together, and so did many of the attendees, believing that uniting diverse backgrounds is extremely important.
Attendees listen to a performance at The 5th Annual Together at the Table event in Heritage Hall on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025 in University Park, Pa.
“It was a really good atmosphere where (people) got to learn about different cultures,” Aichata Diarra said. “They just got to experience being together at a time where unity really matters.”
Diarra, a third-year studying biology, emphasized the importance of these organizations’ works in bringing individuals together. She feels it sets a precedent for other organizations and universities to help promote more inclusivity.
“I think it’s very important for communities such as (these) to come together … so that everyone can come learn about other cultures and can come with an open mind instead of one that is very assimilated,” Diarra said.
A guest speaker talks at The 5th Annual Together at the Table event in Heritage Hall on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025 in University Park, Pa.
Many acknowledge that being in a large university can sometimes feel isolating and that these events are just one of the ways organizations are helping promote community connections among students to help void that sense of separation and loneliness.
“As you are navigating this semester, continue to come together as a community because as we move forward, that is the ammunition we need to fight any types of systematic barriers within this world,” PRCC Director, Evan Williams, said in a speech.
From the vibrant decorations and various ethnic dishes, to the expressive music and lively crowd, Heritage Hall lacked no element of inclusion and excitement. Throughout the entire event, not a single face could be seen without a smile.
“I love the blend of cultures,” Daniel Ortiz, a third-year studying advertising, said. “Especially in a time now where there’s a lot of hate … a lot of division … I feel these events are so important for us.”
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