Mines Asian Community Alliance (MACA)
Mission Statement
Founded in November 2021, the mission of Mines Asian Community Alliance (MACA) is to proactively help cultivate participant success through raising cultural awareness, community building, and the celebration of achievements, with a focus on Asian faculty and staff.
We aim to generate awareness of the Asian identity by attracting and retaining the best faculty and staff, building reverence through our contributions, and supporting the Colorado School of Mines in its commitment to achieving a culture of inclusion and equality.
We welcome and encourage all Mines employees to join us regardless of their race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, disability, veteran’s status, or other protected classification.
Events
Ongoing & Upcoming Events
11/07/2023 - Diwali Festival
Last year, this event attracted over 75 attendees and raise cultural awareness, specifically for the Diwali Festival commonly celebrated in South Asia.
Date: Wednesday, November 7, 2023
Time: 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Location: Marquez Atrium
Book Club (Fall 2023)
Join the First-Ever Asian-Themed Book Club at Mines!
4/24/2023 - MACA Activities Survey
MACA would like to gauge your interest in activities we’re considering for the summer and fall.
The survey should take no longer than 3 minutes to complete and will be open until 5/1.
Past Events & News
9/22/2023 - Guest Speaker: Nalye Lor
Date: Friday, September 22, 2023
Time: Time: 10:00am – 11:00am
Location: Ben Parker Student Center, Ballroom E
4/4/2023 - Guest Speaker: Curtis Chin
Date: Tuesday, April 4th, 2023
Time: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location: Arthur Lakes Library, Boettcher Room
4/3/2023: Interactive Workshop "Solidarity, Not Model Minority"
Facilitator: Dr. Zhao Han & Brianna Wolfe
Date: Monday, April 3, 2023
Time: 9 – 9:45 am
Location: Student Center Ballroom B
In conjunction with Celebration of DI&A at Mines
In this workshop, we will watch and discuss the documentary Not Your Model Minority to explore the origins of the stereotype and the intersections with past and present anti-Asian violence. It also examines the harm created by this divisive narrative and opportunities to build power and make progress towards addressing systemic racism in America.
The workshop will be segmented into multiple discussions where each discussion will have an assigned topic. The topic discussions will not only be centered around the Asian Pacific American community, but also extend to other communities to promote solidarity.
1/24/2023 - Lunar New Year Celebration
Date: Tuesday, January 24th, 2023
Time: 1:00 – 3:00pm
Location: Marquez Atrium
10/27/2022 - Diwali Festival
This event attracted over 75 attendees and raise cultural awareness, specifically for the Diwali Festival commonly celebrated in South Asia.
Date: Thursday, October 27, 2022
Time: 11:30am – 1:30pm
Location: Marquez Atrium
9/8/2022 - Mid-Autumn Festival Event
This event attracted over 90 attendees and raise cultural awareness, specifically for the Mid-Autum Festival commonly celebrated in East and Southeast Asia.
Date: Thursday 9/8
Time: 1pm – 3pm
Place: Marquez Atrium
11/2021: MACA was founded!
Statements of Support
Solidarity with LGBTQ+ Orediggers
In the wake of governmental actions to undermine equality and representation of LGBTQ+ people, Mines Community Alliances (MCAs) stand in support of LGBTQ+ Orediggers. As the leaders of the Mines Asian, Black, Latinx, LGBTQ, and Women Community Alliances, we embrace the pursuit of a culture of inclusion and equality. The MCAs believe inclusivity is essential, which means that everyone, regardless of gender expression, identity, or sexual orientation, deserves to live free from fear and that individual differences should be celebrated.
Mines Asian, Black, Latinx, LGBTQ, and Women Community Alliances stand in solidarity with LGBTQ+ Orediggers
April 4, 2022
Mines Community Alliances Letter of Support
As the leaders of the Mines Asian, Black, Latinx, LGBTQ, and Women Community Alliances, we embrace a mission to support the Colorado School of Mines in its pursuit of a culture of inclusion and equality, including disapproval of bullying and disrespectful behavior. We fulfill this mission through our program offerings, community-building events, and in our engagement with the broader campus community.
We would like to reassure the Mines community of our commitment to an inclusive and equitable campus environment for all students, staff, and faculty. As campus organizations designed to promote inclusion and belonging for minoritized groups on campus, we encourage all members of campus to utilize the many resources available to us to share about your experiences and seek support as needed:
- Institutional Equity and Title IX
- SpeakUp@Mines
- Faculty Senate Suggestion Box
- Colorado State Employee Assistance Program (CSEAP)
Zhao Han, Mines Asian Community Alliance
Alex Leach, Mines Black Community Alliance
Andres (Dre) Guerra, Mines Latinx Community Alliance
Megan Rose, Mines LGBTQ Community Alliance
Savannah Allshouse, Mines Women Community Alliance
December 2021
MACA affirms that Black Lives Matter
The Mines Asian Community Alliance is deeply saddened by the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, as well as all others who have lost their lives as a direct result of widespread racism in our country. One piece of our mission is to support the Colorado School of Mines in its pursuit of a culture of inclusion and equality; we address it directly through our program offerings, community-building events, and in our engagement with the broader campus community. We are in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
November 2021
MACA Leadership Team
Jennifer PHOU, Chair
The Chair leads the MCA. The Chair presides at meetings of the MCA and represents the MCA to the Organization at large. The Chair ensures that all committees and members abide by the guidelines of the MCA.
Brianna Wolfe, Treasurer
The Treasurer is the Chief Financial Officer. The MCA may receive funds from Mines Diversity, Inclusion & Access leadership, Executive Sponsor and/or Human Resources department to cover the MCA’s annual operating expenses, including committee work and events. The amount of money provided each year and the date upon which the MCA will receive such funds will be determined by Human Resources. The Treasurer manages these funds in collaboration with the MCA elected and volunteer officers. In addition, the Treasurer works in collaboration with Committee Chairs to secure and manage funds for special initiatives undertaken by the MCA Leadership Team and its members.
Vacant, Vice-Chair
We need your help! Please contact MACA Chair if you are interested.
The Vice Chair has responsibilities similar to the Chair’s. In case of the absence of the Chair, the Vice Chair performs the duties of the Chair. In case of the absence of both the Chair and the Vice Chair the Treasurer serves as Acting Chair.
Vacant, Secretary
We need your help! Please contact MACA Chair if you are interested.
The Secretary is responsible for recording minutes of meetings of the MCA, distributing them to members and/or the leadership team and performing all other duties ordinarily pertaining to the Office of Secretary.
The Secretary also has the Publicity (Communication) subcommittee role if it is vacant. Please see the Committees/Leads section.
Executive Sponsor: Brian Winkelbauer
Brian Winkelbauer is President and Chief Executive Officer of Colorado School of Mines Foundation.
Email: bwinkelb@mines.edu
Executive/Sr. Management Sponsor or Local Sponsor – The Sponsor works to provide strategic insights and assist in developing the MCA’s strategic plan over time. Act as a sounding board for new policy design. Participate in specific activities to support the network. Work with the senior leadership on behalf of the MCA to advocate the MCA’s mission and goals and link the MCA to other organization initiatives by demonstrating its unique ability to contribute to the organization’s mission. Sponsor will work with Human Resources to secure appropriate funding for MCA activities. Recommended sponsor level is a member of the Executive Leadership Team (i.e. President, Vice President, Provost, CFO, Vice Provost). Executive Sponsor shall serve two year term.
Leadership Role Initiatives
If you’d like to propose a new leadership role, please let us know and we could discuss it in our monthly meetings!
