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A tradition of the University for more than five years, the Brown Bag Luncheons – sponsored by the Women’s Center – bring speakers every Wednesday and haven’t missed a day yet.

This week’s topic presented by Anita Serda focused on community development in Perrysburg Heights.

Serda, the current president of the Perrysburg Heights Community Association, presented the Perrysburg Heights communities ongoing project to her audience in Hanna Hall.

In the fall of 1990, Serda, a native of Perrysburg Heights, realized that this historically low income, Mexican American community needed help. That’s when she, along with other members of the community, created the PHCA to improve community relations, do away with negative stereotypes and most importantly build a sense of community.

“Kids needed more. They had the potential-and so I wanted to try and find a way to be able to do that,” Serda said. “If you look back at history, it took coming together to be able to do that.”

Serda believed that education is not a top priority in Perrysburg and wanted to change that by creating a community center to provide children with a sense of hope.

“Here’s a community where education is so low on the totem pole we really needed a structured tutoring program,” she said. “We wanted to be able to establish programs that kids could participate in and maybe a park.”

In June 1991 the PHCA became a non-profit organization and have since raised $1.3 million to help complete its mission.

Now, members are currently working on the completion of a community-wide youth sports and activities facility.

The facility – which is completely free of charge to members of the community – offers a wide range of activities including an indoor recreation area, teens and seniors centers, along with additional educational programs.

Krisztina Ujvagi-Roder, a University employee, is impressed with the progress and effort of the PHCA.

“I chose this [presentation] specifically because my husband and I are moving into Perrysburg, and so I had a particular interest in this one,” Ujvagi-Roder said. “But I was very interested in everything she had to say, they’ve obviously been a very successful program and everything is very positive and it’s something to be proud of.”

Serda, who has presented at various on-campus events including the Latino Issues Conference, is just one of many speakers scheduled at the Brown Bag Luncheons this year.

Chosen to come in recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, Serda realizes the importance of presenting at events provided by the Women’s Center.

“I think what the Women’s Center does as a whole for the University is invaluable,” Serda said. “I think that it opens up those opportunities for so many different groups and interests to be presented and it gives an opportunity for campus to come in and learn about other things that are going on in the community beyond BGSU.”

Started in September 1998, the Luncheons take place every Wednesday at noon in the Women’s Center throughout the school year.

Mary Krueger, director of the Center, takes pride in the luncheons and is looking forward to this semester’s scheduled topics, which range from the high risk to prostituting girls to the cultural and emotional implications of Thanksgiving turkey.

“Really it’s just a tradition,” Krueger said. “We’ve done one Wednesday of every academic year without missing a beat.”

The weekly series is essential to the Women’s Center and was the first program it developed six years ago.

“It’s the most eclectic thing that we do. Some of them are serious, some of them are fun and light,” Krueger said. “It’s a little bit of everything, and there’s something in there for everybody.”

With the wide range of topics and issues, Krueger is impressed with the average attendance, but encourages everyone on campus to join the luncheons, including men.

“What I always tell people is the Women’s Center is for women or for anyone that cares about women. If you fall into one of those two categories you are welcome,” Krueger added. “If you see Women’s Center on a flyer and write it off because you’re not a woman, well then I’m sorry but you’re missing out.”

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