Alliance of Cultural and Ethnic Harmony

2025 ACEH Scholarship Winners
Upward Bound Towards a College Education

Congratulations to the Hope College TRIO Upward Bound student winners of ACEH Scholarships for this 2025 year.

Mariah Collier is graduate of Holland High School (pictured left) and Geira Gomez is a graduate of West Ottawa High School (pictured right). Geira will attend Aquinas College this fall to study Psychology. Mariah plans to continue at Davenport University to complete a degree in Business Management.

Click here to view the full story on our scholarship page

In 2013, ACEH established its scholarship program and made its first award to an Upward Bound student. in recent years, we have increased the number to two and the amounts to $1,500 for the Rebecca Arenas Scholarship and the ACEH Scholarship. Event sponsors and donors like YOU—our members and friends—made this possible. Please help keep it going by clicking on the DONATE button at the bottom of the page.

I AM College Bound

I AM Academy winners of this year’s ACEH funded scholarships are Benjamin Kikstra for The Fronse and Germaine Pellebon-Smith Kujicchagulia Self-Determination Scholarship and Aubree Veltema for The NIA Purpose Scholarship.

ACEH Board member Brigitte Wooten made the presentations during I AM Academy’s Youth Night June 19, 2025.

Click here to view the full story on our scholarship page

In 2021, ACEH granted funds for the Fronse and Germaine Pellobon-Smith Kujichagulia Self-Determination Scholarship Award. It was originally established by Maple Avenue Ministries. Event sponsors and donors like YOU—our members and friends—made this possible. Please help keep it going by clicking on the DONATE button at the bottom of the page.

Response to LEDA's Statement of Closure

The recently announced permanent closure of the Lakeshore Ethnic Diversity
Alliance (LEDA) is a loss to the greater Holland community. LEDA was
founded in Grand Haven in 1996 as a response to a racial hate incident and
has been a beacon of hope and progress.

LEDA's programs and initiatives have left an indelible mark on the community.
Calling All Colors, LEDA’s longest-running program, provided a safe space for
middle and high school students, fostering a sense of belonging and
empowering them to share their thoughts and experiences. Starting in 2001,
the annual Summit on Race and Inclusion brought together national speakers
and diverse attendees, facilitating crucial conversations and follow-up actions.
Diversity Training Workshops reached hundreds, spreading messages of
equity, inclusion, and belonging. LEDA’s "Talking to Kids About Race" training
program resulted in a book that continues to educate and inspire.

Founded in Holland in 1999, the Alliance for Cultural and Ethnic Harmony
(ACEH) has also been dedicated to promoting unity and equity. Our mission is
to work for justice, equal opportunity, ethnic awareness, cross-cultural
understanding, and appreciation for diversity. We have done this through
partnerships, including with LEDA; programs; scholarships; communitywide
social gatherings; and a newsletter about diversity issues and events.
As a non-profit, non-partisan, grassroots organization, ACEH aims to create
an environment where everyone feels welcome and respected. Like LEDA,
ACEH is not affiliated with any political or religious groups.

The loss of LEDA will be deeply felt, as its presence and contributions were
instrumental in creating a more equitable and inclusive community. Today,
many individuals and organizations share that goal. With them, ACEH remains
committed to carry forward the work that LEDA began 29 years ago.
Together, we will honor LEDA's legacy and strive to build a community where
all people feel valued and included.

Ann Weller Receives Social Justice Award
A Lifetime Achievement

The Holland Human Relations Commission presented Ann Weller with the Lifetime Achievement Social Justice Award during a presentation held at City Hall on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023.

The annual award ceremony recognizes local individuals and organizations who represent the virtues of social justice by offering equal opportunity and equal access for the residents of Holland.
In acceptance of the award, Ann had this to say:
“Throughout my life, before I moved here and since I moved here, if there are issues of peace and justice, if there are issues of gender equality, if there are issues of who can belong and who can’t belong, I will never be a bystander," she said.

Click here to view the Holland Sentinel Article

Holland PRIDE 2022

Centennial Park was bursting at the seams June 25, with the largest PRIDE Festival ever in Holland.

ACEH had a popular booth with giveaways,
tattoos, newsletter sign-ups, and info.

Volunteers were Al Minert, Laura Quigley-Hobbs (shown here), Erica Quinoñes, Kim Ludwig, Dawn Brott,
and Ann & Herb Weller.

Racial Disparities in Health Care Series

We had really informative discussions with our partners about vaccine skepticism.
Here is the YouTube link to our launch of this series held in conjunction with MLK Day.
Here is the YouTube link to our February 21 discussion focused on the Black community.
Here is the link to our April 11 discussion focused on the Hispanic/Lantinx community.
Here is the link to the video with Spanish subtitles.
Please share these videos and let's get our community vaccinated!

A big thank you, again, to the several panelists and partners who helped the ACEH put together this vital series.

Affordable Housing in Holland
The ACEH supports expanding our housing stock

The Board of the ACEH continues to support the addition of housing stock to our city and neighboring communities -- particularly affordable housing. We support the work of Housing Next and its vision of adding Smart Density to our neighborhoods. We support collaboration and creativity as we move forward and our community grows.

Please follow Housing Next on social media or sign up to receive its newsletter. Executive Director Ryan Kilpatrick does a great job explaining the need and demonstrating how Smart Density can be done in our neighborhoods without taking away from the aesthetics we love and appreciate. Read the latest from Mr. Kilpatrick and Housing Next HERE.

Microaggressions in the community

The ACEH sincerely encourages you to consider having Alan Headbloom into your church, your business, your club or any other organization you belong to. Everyone could benefit from this discussion. Learn more about Alan and his history and how he helps people address their biases here.

About Us

Founded in January 1999, the Alliance for Cultural and Ethnic Harmony, ACEH, is a non-profit, non-partisan, grass-roots group of ethnically diverse people from Holland and nearby areas. ACEH is a friendly organization that welcomes all people and works to create the feeling that our communities belong to everyone. ACEH is not affiliated with any political or religious groups, and is supported by membership dues, donations and grants.

What does ACEH do?

Holds monthly public meetings to talk about local and national justice and diversity issues, listen to speakers from different ethnic groups, and take part in "walk in my shoes" cross-cultural exercises.
Provides a safe and respectful place to share experiences of prejudice and racism and to work on solutions.
Works with ethnic and civic groups on projects to foster an inclusive community, including the Lakeshore Area Summit on Racism.
Offers resources of ideas, speakers, materials and diversity training to schools, businesses, clubs, and religious organizations.
Supports public efforts to oppose discrimination, racism, and violence.
Publishes a monthly newsletter sent via email or regular mail; also sends e-mail bulletins about events and issues in West Michigan.
Holds annual potluck with ethnic foods and family games, sponsors other social events.
Encourages patronage of ethnic businesses and events.

Resources for Discussing and Disrupting Racism

The Alliance for Cultural and Ethnic Harmony is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. Donations to ACEH are tax deductible as allowed by law.

"We need diversity of thought in the world to face the new challenges." - Tim Berners-Lee

Alliance for Cultural and Ethnic Harmony

2025 ACEH Scholarship WinnersUpward Bound Towards a College Education