The elders say that “it is only when a child has washed her hands, can she eat with queens”. For me, to be nominated and asked to represent MHACASA as the African co-chair is like the child who has been given that privilege to feast with queens.

This position which has been bestowed upon me is by every means a momentous task which seeks true leadership. And it has been said that with true leadership comes true responsibilities. Having served on the MHACASA board twice; first as an ALANA representative and subsequently as the African SGA representative was a refining process. This was a process through which I learned how to “wash my hands” and learned what real leadership entails. However, these have not been my only learning experiences. Everyday represents the chance for me to learn something new and grow as a person.

Being an active member of MHACASA and serving on the board has never been about what MHACASA can do for me, but what I can for MHACASA with what I know and what I have. I will not deny that this journey has been full of road bumps. There have been days when I have felt like giving up and wondered why I was giving so much to MHACASA when all people did was to complain. Despite these setbacks, I was constantly drawn back to how much I loved MHACASA.

If I should say that I am confident that next year MHACASA will be problem free then that will not be true. I cannot make promises because I am human and bound to make mistakes. However, I have unwavering hope that MHACASA will taken to greater heights. It is not the task of one person or the board to make MHACASA what it should be or where it should go. Rather it takes the dedication and determination of everyone who has a stake in it to take it far.

With God as my help, it is my hope that if there is only one thing I can do in my tenure as the African co-chair that it would be to inspire others and to rejuvenate the passion and love that people once had for MHACASA.

Hi MHACASA Ladies

AC Day 2008 was the first time a “Making of AC Day” video was made and in the beginning there was an animation of a bus making a journey from African and the Caribbean to Mount Holyoke. It was representative of the journey we have taken to be here, in a new place that is different from our homes. To find a solution to this problem, to create a home away from home there was the creation of MHACASA which has continually provide a home for us here.

I have this great opportunity to serve this organization; to help in the preservation of this sisterhood that was created. I am hardworking, dedicated and committed to MHACASA and its further development. I have served the board before as an intercollegiate representative and a social chair and have gained valuable experience through the work that was done with the other members of the board and with the organization. I am ready to take on the responsibilities that are associated with the position I was nominated for.

MHACASA has a huge place in my heart and it would be a great honor if I was selected to be apart of a board that is willing to work together and with the organization to make it better than it already is. With that in mind, my name is Kadian Collie and I am running for Caribbean Co-Chair.

Thank you

VOTE FOR ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SGA Platform

As the SGA representative I plan on having MHACASA's voice heard more in Senate. I hope to do so through the following means.
1. Send out the senate agenda to the org prior to SGA meetings
2. Inform you of issues SGA wishes to vote on prior to the actual vote. This way I wish to get a general consensious from the Org before I make the vote.
3. I plan on working with the SGA representatives of the different MHC orgs similar to ours to find ways for our Org Chairs to have time in senate so that the greater MHC campus has greater knowledge of our org and its runnings.
4. I will continue the work that this year's senators have done by reporting back to the org about the Senate meetings, as well as reporting directly to you when we have MHACASA meetings.
Finally I hope to be in greater contact with the Chair of Organization and Public Relations officer as to have more of a say in E-board decisions, in hopes that what has presided in the Presidental search committee does not happen again.
Having served on SGA this past year as a Hall representative, I am familiar with the senate protocol and I plan on using the knowledge I have gained this past year to have MHACASA's concerns and events be well known throughout the campus.

Secretary Platform:

AS MHACASA's Secretary, I will be committed to informing the org on issues presented  at
general meetings and board meetings. As a member of the Honor council in High School, I
know how important minute details are in conveying the right message, I will use the
skills I gained from being a member of this council to better inform MHACASA members as
well as the greater student body about pressing MHACASA issues. I have captained squash
teams and been central to leadership in roles in high school as a proctor/prefect.. I
would say that being captain of a squash team has helped flourish my skills as a leader
as I have had to build up team moral when we did not win, but more importantly I built a
strong team bond, in a sport of individuals. I do posses leadership qualities and will be
ready to step in for our co-chairs should they not be available. I hope that you will
allow me to be your secretary-general to continue to steer MHACASA into its rightful path
on campus.

Hello, lovely ladies of MHACASA!!!!

My name is Naa Abia Ofosu-Amaah, class of 2010 and I would like to be your next ALANA rep. The job of the ALANA rep is to “coordinate the recognition, acknowledgment and organization of New African and Caribbean students and to maintain a network with African and Caribbean Alumnae”. I am very outgoing and it will be no challenge whatsoever for me to make new students feel welcome on our campus. I have been a very active member of MHACASA ever since my first year here at MHC and through my preparations for events such as African Caribbean Day, Dessertmania, and of course the good times at our awesome parties I have built long lasting friendships with MHACASA members.

Even though women of color are highly marketed on this campus, we know that our representation in the most influencial committees is minimal. I intend to assist in the recruiting of strong and influential young women from Africa and the Caribbean in order to increase the involvement of African and Caribbean first years in the Mount Holyoke community. As the ALANA Representative, I will ensure that our incoming students and present MHACASA members are readily connected with alumnae. With me as the ALANA rep for 2009, the endless network between alumnae, incoming and upper-class women at MHC, is assured!

To my dearest darlings,

First of all, I would like to congratulate everyone for making AC Day a success. I was there in spirit and enjoyed looking at the pictures on Facebook. Whether you danced, cooked, decorated, cleaned or attended the show, I am sure your support was greatly appreciated. Once again, we displayed our beauty, strength, creativity and ability to work together as a team, and as a sisterhood.

Now down to business. I admit that I was shocked upon receiving the email from Jemila informing me that I had been nominated for Caribbean Co-chair and Caribbean Social Chair. It was an instantaneous moment of self-reflection as I evaluated my ability to serve MHACASA as well as she deserves to be treated. When I speak of MHACASA, not only am I referring to the organization and how she appears to the outside world, but moreover you. I thought of every one of us who make up this group, this society, this union of cultures, ideas and opinions. As a result, I decided that I would only be able to give my all as your Caribbean social chair if you so choose.

I often times invite friends to my house for ours devours or even a small party. However, before coming to Mount Holyoke, I was elected to be the Event Coordinator of another organization in my boarding school. The board members and the club at large admired my organizational and budgeting skills, as well as my efficiency in ensuring that all plans run smoothly. I present these two situations in an attempt to show my dynamism and diversity in handling whatever task I am faced with. Whether it is planning our parties throughout the year or all the festivities surrounding AC Day, events for Black History month or Africa Week, I am ready to tackle them all. I enjoy making sure all the food, decorations, entertainment and all other details are done to the best of my ability in order for all events to be successes.

Most importantly MHACASA, I want to emphasize that all these events are for all of us. I will need you input, your suggestions and your help in making each and every event a success in your eyes.

Good luck on everything as we near the end of another semester. For some, it was your first, for others, your last as a current Mount Holyoke student. Luckily, you will always be a Mount Holyoke woman but moreover and forever, a MHACASA queen.

Blessings, Love and Honor.

Natalia