Multiracial Americans Of Southern California

Multiracial Americans of Southern California (MASC) was founded in 1987 by Nancy G. Brown, a mother of two biracial daughters, and Levonne Gaddy, a multiracial adult, with the mission of building community and advocating for multiracial/ethnic and transracial adoptive families. - In 1997, MASC played a key role in crafting and supporting the revisions to Federal policy that allowed marking one or more races on the Census through our co-founding of Association of Multi-Ethnic Americans (AMEA). The 2020 U.S. Census was the first time in which multiracial people could self-identify and mark one or more races, capturing data that showed a 276% increase in individuals who identify as ‘two or more races’ since 2010. - At MASC we are committed to engaging and building community with this rapidly growing mixed race population. It is important for multiracial/ethnic families to have access to an organization that serves as an anchor of support and provides resources specific to their experience. - MASC creates educational programming that supports parents in affirming their children's multiracial/ethnic identities. - Research shows that by embracing all of one’s racial/ethnic identities, multiracial/ethnic children have improved mental and emotional wellbeing. At MASC, we encourage our community to be their full authentic, whole selves. - MASC organizes parent workshops and children’s events, supports forums on transracial adoption, and creates workshops to educate teachers on best practices to be inclusive of multiracial students and families in their schools. - MASC provides support to multiracial youth and teens by hosting teen discussions that foster a sense of inclusion, offering internships, and coordinating art shows where teens can express themselves and affirm their identities. “MASC has provided me with an environment where I can celebrate and express every part of myself, and I’m proud to contribute to its mission.” – Paige, MASC Teen Intern MASC strives to build a community where multiracial/ethnic people and their families feel a sense of belonging all while affirming and honoring their multiracial/ethnic, multicultural, interfaith and transracial adoptive identities.