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Founder and Director Reiland Rabaka describes the mission and goals for the Center for African and African American Studies (CAAAS) or "The Cause."

Mission

The mission of the Center for African and African American Studies (acronym: the CAAAS, and commonly called “the Cause”) is to research, preserve, promote, interpret, and disseminate knowledge about the histories, cultures, and arts of Africa, African Americans, and the wider world of the African diaspora. With its emphasis on historical knowledge, cultural grounding, academic excellence, social responsibility, and artistic expression (à la the National Council for Black Studies, the Association for the Study of African American Life & History, and the Association for Black Culture Centers), the CAAAS promotes the production and dissemination of knowledge, personal and professional development, mentorship, leadership training, and advocacy for social change and social justice.
 
The CAAAS has three major program areas: (1) research; (2) visual and performing arts; and (3) faculty and graduate student awards and fellowships. The CAAAS strongly encourages faculty and graduate students interested in applying for the Center’s awards and fellowships to make frequent appearances at major CAAAS events, programs, lecture series, panel discussions, art exhibitions, and/or film screenings. These occasions provide important opportunities to interact with the students, staff, faculty, alumni, artists, activists, and allies of the CAAAS and Denver/Boulder CAAAS community partners. The Center for African and African American Studies is open to all and a rich resource for all. We are committed to building the Beloved Community—a safe and sacred place where each of us offers up the best of ourselves in the service of all humanity without regard to race, gender, class, sexual orientation, or religious affiliation. 
 

Vision

The Center for African and African American Studies is a co-curricular and community-building space where students, staff, faculty, alumni, artists, activists, allies, and community members come together to critically and systematically study the historical, cultural, spiritual, sociopolitical, economic, and artistic experiences of Africans, African Americans, and the African diaspora. We welcome everyone seeking to learn about and teach, as well as anyone seeking to conduct research and creative work in, African studies, African American studies, and/or African diaspora studies.

Outcomes

CAAAS students, campus citizens, and community members will be able to:

  • Explain the importance of Sankofa (Knowledge is power) and their intersecting identities in relation to historic and current African, African American, and African diasporan identities, histories, and cultures
  • Describe the role, purpose, and importance of Ubuntu (interconnection) and broader conceptions of African, African American, and African diasporan family, community, and culture
  • Explore the importance of Umoja (unity) and embrace a sense of selflessness, togetherness, and community-mindedness
  • Explain the importance of Nea Onnim (the principle and practice of lifelong learning) and develop a viable plan for lifelong learning
  • Explain the importance of Kuumba (creativity) and demonstrate an awareness of, and fluency in, African, African American, and African diasporan creativity, innovation, and cultural expression in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts & Mathematics)
  • Identify experiences, concepts, and resources that impact African, African American, and African diasporan health and wellness on the Boulder campus, in the Boulder community, and beyond

Governor Polis Proclaims Feb 1, 2023 as Center for African and African American Studies Day
(click here or click on the State of Colorado image, below, to read the proclamation)

Click to Read the Proclaimation of the Cause Day, Feb 1, 2023.

Key Focus Areas

  • The contributions of Africa and people of African descent to world history and culture, including the United States, and specifically Colorado and the Denver/Boulder metropolitan area.
  • The African diaspora’s contributions to world history and culture, with an emphasis on its contributions to the United States, and specifically Colorado and the Denver/Boulder metropolitan area.
  • African Americans’ contributions to U.S. history and culture, with an emphasis on their contributions to Colorado and the Denver/Boulder metropolitan area.

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Governor Polis Congratulates the Grand Opening of The Cause

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