Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network

What Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network does

Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network (CACEN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2009 and headquartered at the Social Fabric Hub in Englewood, Colorado, with a mission to build bridges of awareness, knowledge, and understanding between diverse Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities in Colorado and to advance equitable opportunities. The organization serves Colorado's AANHPI population across cultural recognition, civic engagement, mental health, youth development, and data research domains, partnering with entities including the Colorado Health Institute, Advancing Justice | AAJC, Right to Be, Outdoor Asian, Aurora Mental Health & Recovery, the Colorado Judicial Department, and Colorado Parks & Wildlife.

Core programming spans four flagship offerings: the Social Fabric Hub community center (opened March 2025, 67 Inverness Dr E Unit C, Englewood), the annual Asian American Hero of Colorado Awards (held each May since 2009, with the 17th annual ceremony on May 30, 2026), the Lanterns Over the Rockies weekly radio/podcast program, and the Colorado Lotus Project data research initiative (originally created May 2024 by Colorado AAPI Circle and Colorado Health Institute; relaunched under CACEN as Phase 2 in May 2026). Supporting programs include community resilience training, mental health and wellness initiatives (including an AANHPI Mental Wellness Summit), youth outdoor programming via the Colorado Parks & Wildlife Outdoor Equity Grant, and leadership and civic engagement training. As of the most recent disclosure, 5,000+ community members have been served through the Hub since its March 2025 opening, and 104 individuals have been recognized as Asian American Heroes of Colorado across 17 years.

The revenue model is a hybrid typical of community-based 501(c)(3) organizations: tax-deductible individual and organizational donations (incentivized with slippers at $25+), recurring annual memberships ($300 individual / $500 organization, billed annually), event ticket sales ($35-$45 for the Hero Awards ceremony), silent auction proceeds, and institutional grants (e.g., Colorado Parks & Wildlife Outdoor Equity Grant Program). Distribution is regional and community-led — direct services are delivered at the physical Hub, through annual events, via community-partner network co-marketing (Asian Vibes in Denver, Mile High Asian Food Week, Japanese Arts Network), and through owned social media channels (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn) plus a Google Calendar and LinkTree hub. Technology is not central to the operating model; there are no disclosed APIs, no proprietary platform, and no AI components.

Name

Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network

Legal name

Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network

Website

https://coloradoasian.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network (CACEN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that serves Colorado's AANHPI communities. It operates the Social Fabric Hub community center in Englewood, the Colorado Lotus Project data initiative, the Asian American Hero awards program, and cultural, wellness, and youth programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Englewood

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations supporting AANHPI community programs. Donations of $25+ receive slippers as a thank you gift.
2. Membership Fees: Individual memberships at $300/year ($25/month when billed annually) and Organization/Company memberships at $500/year ($42/month). Members receive event discounts, space reservation discounts, and perks from local Asian-owned businesses.
3. Event Revenue: Ticket sales for the annual Asian American Hero of Colorado Awards ceremony ($45 general, $35 student). Silent auction proceeds support intergenerational learning programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network (CACEN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates the Social Fabric Hub community center in Englewood, Colorado, and delivers AANHPI community programming including annual awards, a radio/podcast program, data research, leadership and civic engagement training, mental health and wellness programs, resilience/harassment response training, and youth outdoor activities. It is supported by individual and corporate donations, individual and organization memberships, event ticket sales, and grants.

Product overview

Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network (CACEN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that offers a portfolio of community programs and services centered around its Social Fabric Hub - a cultural and community center. The organization operates several core programs including the annual Asian American Hero of Colorado Awards, the Lanterns Over the Rockies radio/podcast program, and the Colorado Lotus Project data research initiative. Additional programs cover community resilience, leadership and civic engagement, mental health and wellness, and youth outdoor activities. The organization also offers membership programs for the Social Fabric Hub with individual and organization/company tiers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Colorado Lotus Project: A groundbreaking data research initiative focused on understanding the experiences and needs of Colorado's AANHPI communities, operating under CACEN since May 2026. Originally created by Colorado AAPI Circle and Colorado Health Institute.
• Lanterns Over the Rockies
• Asian American Hero of Colorado Awards

Products and services

• Social Fabric Hub Community Center AANHPI community and cultural center in Englewood, CO offering co-working space, event venues, community programming, and member services for Colorado's AANHPI communities. Open by appointment Monday through Friday.
• Asian American Hero of Colorado Awards Annual awards ceremony held each May since 2009, recognizing outstanding AANHPI community leaders, with tickets sold to the public and a silent auction supporting intergenerational learning programs.
• Lanterns Over the Rockies Weekly 30-minute radio program and podcast hosted by Kai Vong that highlights stories of Colorado's diverse Asian American communities.
• Colorado Lotus Project Data research initiative publishing disaggregated data on Colorado's AANHPI communities across seven domains: Demographics, Health, Housing, Income and Economic Opportunity, Education, Crime and Justice, and Democracy.
• Social Fabric Hub Membership Annual membership program for the Social Fabric Hub, with Individual ($300/year) and Organization/Company ($500/year) tiers providing access to community space, member events, discounts on hosted events, reduced pricing on space reservations, and perks from local Asian-owned businesses.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5,000+ community members served since March 2025 opening
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Colorado Health InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Colorado Health Institute served as the research and data lead for the Colorado Lotus Project. The partnership integrates disaggregated data with community-informed storytelling across seven key domains to help community leaders, policymakers, and funders understand AANHPI community needs.
• Advancing Justice | AAJCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCACEN partners with Advancing Justice | AAJC to provide 'How to Respond to Harassment and Practice Resilience When People Experience Anti-Asian/American Harassment' training at no cost to Colorado's AANHPI communities.
• Right to BecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint partner with Advancing Justice | AAJC in providing resilience training and harassment response education for AANHPI communities in Colorado.
• Outdoor AsiancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide youth outdoor programs including tai chi at the park, bike rides, foraging adventures, and other outdoor activities for Asian youth in Colorado.
• Colorado Parks & WildlifecoreOthersProvides Outdoor Equity Grant Program funding supporting CACEN's youth outdoor programs in collaboration with Outdoor Asian.
• Asian Vibes in DenverminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCACEN supports Asian Vibes in Denver, a local AANHPI organization, through its community programming and events.
• Mile High Asian Food WeekminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCACEN supports Mile High Asian Food Week, a local food event initiative supporting Asian-owned restaurants and food businesses.
• Japanese Arts NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in intergenerational art workshops and community-building creative programming at Social Fabric Hub.
• Lotus Public AffairsminorOthersFounder & Principal Neal Walia serves on the Colorado Lotus Project Advisory Board and is a candidate for state representative.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates: National AANHPI advocacy organization with local chapters running community programs, leadership training, and civic engagement initiatives. Comparable to CACEN in its community-organizing model and AANHPI-serving mission.
• Asian American Federation: Regional umbrella nonprofit supporting AANHPI community organizations through research, grantmaking, and capacity-building. Comparable to CACEN for its focus on disaggregated AANHPI data, policy advocacy, and supporting community-based AANHPI nonprofits.
• Japanese American Citizens League: National AANHPI membership organization offering community education, leadership programs, and heritage events. Peer to CACEN because both operate membership-driven nonprofit models serving AANHPI communities with cultural and civic programming.
• Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC: National AANHPI advocacy and education nonprofit. Direct peer because CACEN partners with AAJC on resilience training for Colorado's AANHPI communities, and both share a focus on civil rights, civic engagement, and community education for AANHPI populations.

Broad incumbents

• Center for Asian American Media: National nonprofit supporting AANHPI media, storytelling, and cultural representation, including the Lanterns Over the Rockies radio/podcast host station KGNU. Peer to CACEN's media arm because both produce AANHPI storytelling content and cultural programming.
• Wing Luke Museum: Established AANHPI cultural institution operating a museum, community center, and educational programming in Seattle. Comparable to CACEN's Social Fabric Hub model of combining physical cultural space with AANHPI community programming and exhibitions.
• Japanese American National Museum: National AANHPI cultural and educational institution with exhibitions, community programs, and a research arm. Peer because it operates a physical cultural hub serving AANHPI communities with education and programming, similar to CACEN's Social Fabric Hub.

Regional players

• Asian Community Development Council: Regional AANHPI-focused nonprofit providing community services, civic engagement, and cultural programming primarily in Nevada. Comparable to CACEN as a similarly-sized regional AANHPI community organization with cultural, educational, and civic engagement programming.
• Asian Pacific American Network of Colorado (APEN): Colorado-based AANHPI community advocacy and education organization. Direct regional peer to CACEN because both serve Colorado's AANHPI populations with civic engagement, cultural, and education programming and compete for similar state-level funding and partnerships.

Emerging players

• Outdoor Asian: AANHPI-focused outdoor recreation nonprofit offering youth programs and community outings. Peer because CACEN partners with Outdoor Asian on youth outdoor programming in Colorado (tai chi, bike rides, foraging), sharing the same AANHPI youth wellness mission.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@cacendenver
• Facebookfacebook.com/coloradoasian
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/coloradoasian
• Instagraminstagram.com/coloradoasian

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network