Middlesex Community College

PAASA News

MCC to Host Second Annual Lowell Asian American Film Festival

By: Caitlin Buckley,
MCC Press Release
October 2, 2023

Middlesex Community College is proud to present the second annual Lowell Asian American Film Festival (LAAFF), starting on Friday, October 20. Over three days, Middlesex will screen seven Asian American-directed films from across the country in celebration of art, culture and diversity. Held at MCC’s Richard and Nancy Donahue and Family Academic Arts Center, the entirety of the festival will be free.

Read Full Story: https://teamsites.middlesex.mass.edu/pressreleases/Announcements/DispForm.aspx?ID=2827&Source=https%3A%2F%2Fteamsites%2Emiddlesex%2Emass%2Eedu%2Fpressreleases%2Fdefault%2Easpx

MCC's Holistic Support Services Guide AANHPI Students to Success 

By: Caitlin Buckley,
MCC Press Release
September 28, 2023

Funded by an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI) grant by the U.S. Department of Education, Middlesex Community College provides access to resources and support through a holistic approach to increase the retention and graduation rate for Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) students. This includes programming and activities offered through the Program for Asian American Student Advancement (PAASA) and the Asian American Connections Center.

Read Full Story: https://teamsites.middlesex.mass.edu/pressreleases/Announcements/DispForm.aspx?ID=2826

MCC Celebrates AANHPI Heritage Month with A Taste of Asia Event

By: Caitlin Buckley,
MCC Press Release
May 30, 2023



On Thursday, May 11, Middlesex Community College held A Taste of Asia event in celebration of Asian American Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage month. Hosted by MCC’s Program for Asian American Student Advancement (PAASA), the Asian Students in Alliance (A.S.I.A.) Club shared a selection of dishes showcasing Asian cuisines.

Read Full Story: https://teamsites.middlesex.mass.edu/pressreleases/Announcements/DispForm.aspx?ID=2764&ContentTypeId=0x0104007C98928AF35ECC4895EDFFAB7E476F0C

GALLERY: Khmer New Year celebration in Lowell

By: Staff; Aleah Landry Photo
The Sun
April 24, 2023

Program Specialist for The Program for Asian American Student Advancement at Middlesex Community College Charly Chea, of Lowell, top right, is joined at the PAASA booth at the Khmer New Year celebration at Clemente Park by volunteers and MCC students Dylan, top left, Victor, bottom left, Janet, and Bunthorn, all of Lowell, on April 22, 2023.

To view more photos:https://www.lowellsun.com/2023/04/24/gallery-khmer-new-year-celebration-in-lowell/

Classic Films Return to the Big Screen at MCC's Academic Art Center

By: Caitlin Buckley,
MCC Press Release
October 4, 2022

The college will also host the first annual Lowell Asian American Film Festival (LAAFF) on Friday, October 21, 2022 and Saturday, October 22, 2022. Over two days, Middlesex will screen Asian American-directed films from across the country. Attendees will also have the opportunity to hear from various directors, actors and artists involved in the films during Q&As. Tickets are $5 per event or $20 for the weekend.

Read Full Article: https://teamsites.middlesex.mass.edu/pressreleases/Announcements/DispForm.aspx?ID=2644

At Middlesex Community College, Extra Help for Asian Students

By: Linda K. Wertheimer
New York Times
June 5, 2018

LOWELL, Mass. — After her first-ever class at Middlesex Community College last fall, Socheata Mam sank into a couch with her backpack in the main building’s lobby. The 19-year-old Cambodian immigrant was overwhelmed, realizing she had committed to a full load of five classes and her 30-hour-a-week job as a grocery cashier.

Her parents, with limited English language skills, could not guide her. They had never had a chance to go to college because the Khmer Rouge not only committed genocide of more than 1.7 million Cambodians from 1975-79, they also cut off educational opportunities for many of those who survived.

Ms. Mam, who immigrated to the United States at age 9, said she believed she had to rely on herself for everything at her college in Lowell, Mass., home to the nation’s second largest Cambodian population.

But Virak Uy, a Cambodian refugee who is the director of the college’s new Program for Asian American Student Advancement, had no intention of letting her flounder. He urged Ms. Mam to stop by the Asian American Connections Center, which opened in 2017 to help Southeast Asian students.

During the spring semester, Ms. Mam went to the connections center every day after classes. Mr. Uy, whose desk faces the entrance, was usually the first person she saw, and just behind him covering most of the back wall was a 10-foot-wide by 5-foot high painting of Angkor Wat, a 12th-century Cambodian temple complex. Ms. Mam’s family has a smaller version of a similar painting in their living room.

AANAPISI Grant Updates (via Middlesex Connector)

The AANAPISI grant has enabled Middlesex Community College to make significant progress in the area of academic quality and student services during its first two years. Over the past three months, we have been developing and submitted the annual report which is required by the federal government. This process has given us the opportunity to reflect on the different components of the grant and to thank the numerous faculty, staff, and students who have made valuable contributions to the success of the program.

As we enter the next few years of the grant, we hope to continue to leverage and make connections with community partners and to expand services to more students in the areas of academic quality and student services and improve the student college-going experience.

May 2018
Multicultural Achievement Peer Program (MAPP)

On March 11, the Multicultural Achievement Peer Program (MAPP) hosted its end-of-year celebration at the Asian American Connections Center in Lowell.

MAPP provides MCC students a unique opportunity for social and educational support, as well as guidance from their mentors, to ensure a smooth and positive transfer experience to UMass Lowell. This year’s pilot program matched 10 MCC student mentees with 10 UML mentors according to their academic program.

During the celebration, participants had the opportunity to network over lunch and received certificates of completion, T-shirts, and other prizes. We hope to continue the MAPP mentorship program next year with a new cohort of mentees and mentors.

 

April 2018
Asian American Heritage Month

This month, the Program for Asian American Student Advancement (PAASA) has been celebrating Asian American Heritage Month at MCC. Throughout the month of April, PAASA has been highlighting the diversity of the Asian American population here by asking students to self-identify their ethnicity and taking a picture. Students, faculty, and staff from Cambodia, China, and many other countries proudly had their pictures taken on both campuses.

In addition, we have hosted several events throughout the month, including an Opening Event where students learned about the Japanese Internment. At the end of the month, students volunteered at the local Lowell Khmer New Year Festival in Clemente Park. Thank you to everyone who has participated and we look forward to celebrating next year!