Philadelphia Councilmember Kendra Brooks joins CCP for grand opening of Roary’s Cubhouse family study room

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 30, 2025

Contact:
Antwon R. Martin
armartin [at] ccp.edu (armartin[at]ccp[dot]edu)
267.666.7881

Roary’s Cubhouse, named after CCP’s lion mascot, Roary, is a place for student parents/caregivers to study while their children play

PHILADELPHIA – Community College of Philadelphia celebrated the opening of a new family study room for students with children today. Leadership of the College and partner organizations were joined by Philadelphia City Councilmember and CCP alum Kendra Brooks for the unveiling of Roary’s Cubhouse, named for CCP’s lion mascot, Roary. The event took place outside the new family study room in the Library and Learning Commons on the College’s Main Campus.

Research shows over three million undergraduates, or 18% of the student population in the United States, are student parents—and they are largely understudied and underserved.

“Roary’s Cubhouse represents a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to supporting student parents and caregivers,” said Dr. Alycia Marshall, interim president of Community College of Philadelphia. “This new family-friendly study space is designed to empower students with children to pursue their academic and career goals while managing the responsibilities of parenting. We created this space to provide comfort, connection, and a sense of community—for our students and their young children.”

During the grand opening event, attendees heard from Councilmember Kendra Brooks; Dr. Alycia Marshall, interim president of CCP; Aisha Folkes, director of strategic education initiatives at The Jed Foundation; Melissa Fogg, executive director of Student Support at CCP; and Quianna Footman, student and parent at CCP.

"When I first started at CCP, I was juggling school, work, and parenting,” said Councilmember Brooks. “Roary’s Cubhouse would have made a big difference for me and my daughter. It’s a safe, welcoming space on campus, and it sends a clear message to parenting students and their children: You belong here. We see you, and we support you."

Roary’s Cubhouse will be a welcoming environment for students who are parents/caregivers to study while their children play in the same room. The space will include study materials, desks, and computers for students and toys, games, child-safe furniture, and more for children.

“Our research shows that student parents often don’t feel a true sense of belonging on campus, and can even feel unseen. Belonging is a powerful protective factor for mental health and the reason why JED recommends designated spaces—such as Roary’s Cubhouse—that meet the specific needs of this sometimes-overlooked population,” said Aisha Folkes, JED’s director for strategic education initiatives who has worked with Community College of Philadelphia as a participant in the JED Campus Collaborative for Student Parents. “Roary’s Cubhouse is a wonderful example of a family-friendly space serving as a creative solution for parents who need to bring their children to campus to continue their education. Parenting students at CCP no longer have to choose between study time and caregiving responsibilities. Seeing one of JED’s recommendations come to life demonstrates how impactful our collaboration is and we’re proud to continue to support CCP in prioritizing the needs of all students.”

CCP is one of 10 schools in the JED Campus Collaborative for Student Parents, a mental health collaborative designed to enable community colleges to better support students who are parents. Each school in the learning community receives a student parent action plan with recommendations, selects at least two interventions, receives technical assistance, and a $5,000 subgrant towards implementation which is generously supported by ECMC Foundation. CCP identified “designated family friendly areas” as one of their interventions and used the funding given toward bringing Roary’s Clubhouse to life.

Students can reserve Roary’s Cubhouse starting today.

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About Community College of Philadelphia
Community College of Philadelphia is the largest public institution of higher education in the City of Philadelphia. With an open admissions policy, the College serves all who may benefit – regardless of age, income, or ability. For more than 50 years, the College has lived up to its mission and goals by providing educational access for over 700,000 Philadelphians, setting families, businesses and neighborhoods on the path of shared prosperity and opportunity. For information on the College's degree and certificate programs, workforce development strategies, and community engagement initiatives, visit ccp.edu and follow us on social media @CCPedu.

About The Jed Foundation (JED)
JED is a nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for our nation’s teens and young adults. We’re partnering with high schools, colleges, and school districts to strengthen their mental health, substance misuse, and suicide prevention programs and systems. We’re equipping teens and young adults with the skills and knowledge to help themselves and each other. We’re encouraging community awareness, understanding, and action for young adult mental health.

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