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, including professors, teaching professors, and postdocs, as well as classified employees.
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
Book Club (Spring 2023)
Join the First-Ever Asian-Themed Book Club at Mines!
4/24 - 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
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
11/16/2022 - MACA Potluck
Book Club (Fall 2022)
Join the First-Ever Asian-Themed Book Club at Mines!
[Open to All] 2022 MACA Monthly Meeting and Social
Every second Monday of each month
1pm, Hybrid (Brown Hall W475 and Teams)
- April 11, 2022 (PDF slides)
- May 9, 2022 – Topic: Chinese (PDF slides)
- Slides with Video (requires mines.edu access)
- Video: Intro to Chinese Food
- Video Why Do Chinese People Prefer Drinking Hot Water?
- July 11, 2022 – Event Planning for Fiscal Year 2022 (PDF slides)
- Members discussed two events, one during the Mid-Autumn Festival and forming a book club. To participate, please come to our monthly meeting!
- August 8, 2022
- We continued discussion of two upcoming events and created a Foodie channel in our Teams.
- September 12, 2022
- October 10, 2022
- November 14, 2022
- December 12, 2022
11/9/2022 - Asian-Themed Book Collection
These titles were suggested by MACA’s members and are now available for checkout from the Mines Arthur Lakes Library. We have created a webpage (below) to highlight these books that cover a variety of subjects related to Asian people, history, and cultures.
Please check back periodically as new ones may be added throughout the year.
MACA would like to extend a special thanks to the Mines Library for their help in acquiring these books and adding them to its DI&A collection.
10/25/2022 - 2022 MCA Professional Development Conference
The Second Annual Inside and Outside the Box Professional Development Conference
Date: October 25, 2022
Time: 8:30am – 12:30pm
Place: Green Center (multiple rooms)
Register and learn more from here –>
Brought to you by all MCAs
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
6/10/2022 - Invited Talk "Reclaiming Our Past, Building Our Future: Re-envisioning Denver’s Historic Chinatown"
Invited Talk: Reclaiming Our Past, Building Our Future: Re-envisioning Denver’s Historic Chinatown
Date: Friday, June 10, 2022
Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Location: Green Center 200F
4/11/2022: Monthly meeting & social
We held our first membership meeting on 4/11. We mainly discussed the planning of a culture and food event. Please see the left side for the details of 2022 MACA Monthly Meeting and Social.
3/2022: Membership Survey
Our 2022 Membership survey was advertised to our membership and Daily Blast: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=4AlymbMJI0aaTXavpEpnXFEmso0vwDNGr89CVGHWAdlUODJDMk1TSEtDRVFGV1pPVDBWSktLWk4zWCQlQCN0PWcu
2/15/2022: Interactive Workshop "Solidarity, Not Model Minority"
Facilitator: Dr. Zhao Han, Computer Science & Angie Reyes, ITS
Green Center, 1-1:50pm, February 15, 2022
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.
Outcome:
- Raised awareness of the history and harm of the Model Minority myth
- Broke the “Not Your Model Minority” film into three digestible interactive sessions with discussions
- Attracted 38 registrants and 25+ attendees from all university communities, promoting Stop Asian Hate movement as solidarity opportunity
12/2021: Statement of Support
Please scroll to see the Mines Community Alliances Letter of Support.
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
Zhao Han, Chair
Email: zhaohan@mines.edu
Zhao Han (韩昭) is a Post-Doctoral Fellow in the Department of Computer Science at the Colorado School of Mines. In the background of the Asian community being increasingly targeted and motivated by the MINES@150 strategic plan on Diversity, Inclusion, and Access, he founded Mines Asian Community Alliance in November 2021 once he arrived in August 2021. Previously, he was Vice President of the Chinese Students & Scholars Association at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Together with other MCAs, all Mines Asian Community Alliance members, as well as the Colorado School of Mines, Dr. Han is excited for the opportunity to advance the understanding and inclusion of all Mines employees, with a focus on staff and faculty with Asian and Pacific Islander backgrounds. Dr. Han has a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Massachusetts Lowell and received his M.S. and B.S. degrees from the University of Manitoba in Canada, all in Computer Science. For more, please visit his personal website.
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.
Angie Reyes, Treasurer
Email: areyes@mines.edu
Angie Reyes is Associate Director of ERP Technology Operations (ES) under Information and Technology Solutions (ITS).
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.
Michele Douglass, Book Club Lead
Email: mdouglass@mines.edu
Rakhi Ihiga/Anum Siddiqi, 2022 Diwali Festival Co-Leads
Rakhi Ihiga: rihiga@mines.edu
Anum Siddiqi: asiddiqi@mines.edu
Vacant - Committees/Leads
These roles are suggested by the MCA Governance document and W-MCA (Policy).
Publicity (Communication) – Responsible for branding, website, newsletter, Twitter (& other social media), and regular emails (emails may be handled by the secretary, if appropriate)
Career/Professional Development – Providing inspiration, motivation, instruction, and growth experiences for MCA members necessary to improve current performance, foster retention, and prepare for additional professional responsibilities and advancement opportunities.
Professional Networking – Providing mutual support required for career advancement for employees, and to establish working relationships with other employee groups inside and outside of the Organization whose goals, philosophies, and objectives are compatible with the MCA in the areas of equal opportunity, inclusion, affirmative action, and effective management of a culturally diverse workforce.
Recruitment – Contributing to the attraction of top diverse talent throughout the university.
Fundraising and Economic Development – Identify and developing synergistic economic, educational, and financial opportunities for both MCA members and external organizations seeking to partner with the Organization to favorably impact the MCA’s demographic group.
Ad Hoc – Volunteer Chairs will form Ad Hoc Committees for the purpose of delivering a specific service to the MCA. The duration of these Committees will be determined by their purpose.
Policy – Help create and influence campus-wide policies that lead to greater inclusion and access for women on campus.
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.
Jane Shiao, 2022 Mid-Autumn Festival Lead
Email: cshiao@mines.edu
Jennifer Phou, 2023 Luner New Year Festival Lead
Email: jphou@mines.edu
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!
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.
