The Sáma-Sama Initiative
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The Sáma-Sama Initiative
The Sáma-Sama Initiative is dedicated to exploring the connections within the AANHPI community here in Colorado and addressing its needs through three core pillars: Educate, Preserve, and Advocate.
Our mission encompasses curriculum development, living traditions programming, and cross-cultural community, all aimed at enriching educational experiences and fostering cultural appreciation. By leveraging community resources and partnerships, we strive to create inclusive, culturally relevant content that celebrates AANHPI heritage. Through collaborative efforts, we aim to preserve and showcase living traditions, ensuring they thrive for future generations.
Get Involved:
Curriculum Development Committee
Support in creating inclusive educational materials that incorporate AANHPI cultures and perspectives. Bring educators together to create culturally relevant lessons that can be integrated into school curriculums and community programs.
Lessons can be geared around cultural-specific topics or embedded into grade-level standards to support educators in adopting inclusive lessons while teaching standards-based content.
Community Partnerships Committee
Build relationships with community members and organizations to lead programs, promote cultural awareness, and work on developing sponsorship opportunities to support our programs.
Together, you will work on building an AANHPI performing artists directory that can be shared with schools and community centers, and work to secure cultural and business partnerships.
School Programming Committee
Support with designing and implementing in-school presentations and workshops focused on AANHPI living traditions, which can be presented in various formats.
The committee organizes rotating workshops, recruits and trains presenters, gathers and analyzes feedback, and manages the distribution of educational resources such as community and book recommendations.
CO AANHPI Performing Artists
Joining as a performing artist allows you to share your culture with schools and communities.
When you join our directory, you can connect with diverse audiences, and enhance your teaching skills through collaboration and professional development opportunities. Your participation will play a key role in preserving and showcasing your living traditions, making a meaningful impact on cultural education and community engagement.
Community Resources
- Community Book List
- K-12, Collegiate Community Survey
- AANHPI Performing Artist Sign Up
- Community Volunteer Sign Up
Our Team
Nessa Whitney
Director of Curriculum Development
As a Filipina-Chinese American who was born and raised in Colorado, Nessa understands the lack of multicultural education in our community. She is dedicated to culturally and linguistically diverse responsive teaching. She currently serves on the board for Heart and Sol of Loveland and the Filipino-American Community of Colorado. A student at MSU of Denver, her research focuses on how social studies curriculum can become more representative of marginalized communities and provide a more diverse curricular lens.
Namdev Palalay
Director of Community Partnerships
Namdev is a Filipino-Sikh American where his passion stems from learning about different AAPI cultures. He is currently participating with four local dance groups, Colorado Bhangra Team, Hawak Kamay Dance Company, FACC Padayon, and Mānava O Polynesia. His love and passion for dance has transpired in pursuing the Arts and Cultural Management and Marketing program at University of Denver. As a current graduate student at DU, he hopes that with his work he can connect with AAPI communities through cultural programs and organizations. He believes that through cultural arts and cross-culture engagement, we all can come together as a collective to keep learning about the communities we’re surrounded by every day.
Danielle Stratton
Director of Educational Programming
Danielle is a Filipino-American originally from Oklahoma, now residing in Colorado. She is an educator for Aurora Public Schools and is currently a graduate student in the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education program at CU Denver. Danielle’s work explores how preserving and revitalizing living traditions with a community-based education lens can leverage students' cultural and linguistic backgrounds to enhance learning experiences and outcomes in K-12 education.
The Sáma-Sama Initiative
720-477-3507 samasamainitiative@gmail.com
Instagram: @samasamainitiative
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