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Celebrating Heritage Months
The University of Denver is committed to living our values of diversity and inclusion. Our community and institutional success is dependent on how well we engage and embrace the rich diversity of our faculty, staff, administrators, students and alumni.
With that shared value in mind and in partnership with Human Resources & Inclusive Community (HRIC), the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI), The Cultural Center, Community + Values, and the Staff of Color Association (SOCA), we will celebrate the identities and histories of members of the DU and world communities. Each month we will feature events and stories to honor one another and learn about our unique differences.
Advancing a key strategic initiative outlined in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Action Plan, the Heritage Months Initiative will contribute to the creation of a campus climate and culture that strives for excellence in inclusion in all aspects of the University of Denver’s operations. Join us in this celebration!
Celebrating Pride Month
June is LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, a time to celebrate the vibrant and diverse contributions LGBTQIA+ have made to the DU community and historically to our culture and society! During this time of celebration, DU also wishes to acknowledge the activists who strive to make the world a safer and more equitable space for everyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
DU is dedicated to putting an end to the historic discrimination and violence the LGBTQIA+ community has experienced and continues to experience. Since the advent of what is considered the modern LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and more) following the Stonewall Riots in June 1969, intersecting identities have become an integral part of the current LGBTQIA+ movement, as people who hold intersecting identities in marginalized groups experience disproportionate levels of violence, discrimination and silencing. Now more than ever, amplifying underrepresented voices within the LGBTQIA+ movement – People of Color, transgender and non-binary individuals, neurodiverse individuals, etc. – is essential to ensuring continued progress is made on issues of equity and social justice.
As we recognize both the struggles and joyous achievements the LGBTQIA+ community has made, join DU in celebrating Pride this month with events being hosted across campus. Find out more about LGBTQIA+ resources and Pride events on the Cultural Center’s website.
June 11 | Race Unity Day
Celebrated annually on the second Sunday of June, Race Unity Day is dedicated to promoting “racial harmony and understanding.” Started in 1957, Race Unity Day is sponsored by the Bahá'í National Spiritual Assembly but is a universal holiday that can be celebrated by everyone. In recognition of this day, DU commits itself to combatting racism and prejudice in our community and wishes everyone a peaceful and safe holiday.
June 19 | Juneteenth
Juneteenth, or Emancipation Day, commemorates the end of chattel slavery in the United States. This day serves as a reminder of the pain and evils of slavery, and its legacy in our society, but also of the hope and courage of the people who fought for their freedom and the freedom of future generations. Today, activists carry on the mantle to end racism and discrimination in our society, and realize equity, equality and happiness for everyone.
DU wants to acknowledge the hard work and indelible contributions Black activists and everyday individuals have accomplished in our community to make our campus a more inclusive, equitable and welcoming space. DU is dedicated to progressing anti-racism initiatives through efforts like our Black Community Initiatives and more. Additional resources for Black community members can be found on the BCI Website.
On this auspicious day, DU wishes everyone a peaceful, reflective and joyous holiday.
June 24 | Litha
Also known as Midsummer’s Night, Litha is the pagan holiday that celebrates the beginning of summer. Based on the traditions of many cultures, Litha is a time to commemorate inner power and brightness. DU wishes everyone observing this holiday a happy and brilliant summer!
June 28 - 29 | Eid al-Adha
Eid al-Adha, or the Festival of Sacrifices, is the Islamic holiday commemorating the end of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. The bigger of the two Eids, this holy set of days is celebrated with a sacrifice, or Qurbani, that commemorates the Prophet Ibrahim’s devotion to Allah and willingness to sacrifice his son, Ismail. For everyone observing this holiday, DU wishes you a holy and reverent Eid al-Adha.
Learn More & Watch Previous Webinars
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September 15 - October 15 | Latinx Heritage Month
Latinx Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15 to October 15 in the United States as a way of recognizing the contributions of those who have ancestral ties to South and Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. These days are significant to the Latinx community as they honor anniversaries of independence from European colonial rule for many of these nations.
Check out this list of Latinx booksellers and recommended reads!
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October | LGBTQ+ History Month
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) community have long endured persecution and harm as they have sought equal rights and basic access to health care, employment and marriage. In October of 1994, Rodney Wilson, a high-school educator from Missouri—in collaboration with community leaders and fellow educators—began the practice of celebrating LGBTQ+ History month. The “+” in the “LGBTQ+” moniker indicates a continuing evolution of our understanding of gender and sexuality. It represents the gender identities or sexual orientations not yet systemically recognized or affirmed. LGBTQ+ History Month purposely coincides with National Coming Out Day on the 11th of October and celebrates the liberation of living as openly LGBTQ+.
Watch the 2021 LGBTQ+ History Heritage Month C+V Community Talk
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October | Disability Employment Awareness Month
This month, we recognize people who experience disabilities, a minoritized identity that may not be immediately visible. It is in the service of recognizing their needs and advocating for their rights that, 30 years ago, the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law as an important foundational step. While Disability Employment Awareness Month is necessary to highlight those who contribute to these collective successes, we must acknowledge that the struggle to correct disabling infrastructure and community norms extend to more than just the work environment. Disability rights advocates urge a more nuanced and comprehensive approach to advance the rights of this community by recognizing various awareness months, and working to eliminate barriers to working, thinking and learning.
Watch the 2021 Disability Employment Awareness Heritage Month C+V Community Talk
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November | Native American Heritage Month
In 1990, the U.S. Congress designated November as Native American Heritage Month. This time period has particular resonance for us at the University of Denver due to our historic relationship with Native and Indigenous peoples on the land that DU calls home. As documented and described in the findings of the John Evans Report and other sources, figures prominent in the founding of DU bear culpability for the violence and injustice perpetrated against Native peoples—specifically at Sand Creek. This tragic, historical legacy is something we struggle with to this very day. We do this with the acknowledgment that the land where the University of Denver now sits is the ancestral homeland of the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes, and that there is much work still to be accomplished. This work will take the active participation of each of us, the entire DU community.
Watch the 2021 Native American Heritage Month C+V Community Talk
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January | Martin Luther King Jr. Day
We celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a federal holiday in honor of the person he was and for showing America a pathway to make peace with our painful history. In Dr. King, the Black resistance movement found a champion with the revolutionary vision, the political savvy and the oratory ability to spark our imagination and capture the nation’s conscience. Though he was not the first to advocate for racial equality, with the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Dr. King and many of his allies incorporated within America’s governance framework the enduring ideal that all people are equal and thus deserve to be treated as such.
Watch the 2021 Martin Luther King Jr. Day C+V Community Talk
Watch the 2022 Martin Luther King Jr. Day C+V Community Talk
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February | Black History Month
Black History Month is a dedicated time to recognize the contributions of Black peoples to the world. It was in 1915, almost half a century after the abolition of slavery, that historians Carter G. Woodson and Jesse Moorland celebrated what was then termed “Negro History Week.” In 1976, President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month, asking for the public to “seize an opportunity to honor the often-neglected achievements” of Black people. This month is also a time to reflect on the historical and contemporary injustices perpetrated against an entire race and imagine a world that should be different. Black and African American communities continue to struggle in the grips of unjust criminal justice and education systems that continue to diminish the lives and opportunities of their people. These are systems that require re-imagining and re-building and we all share in that work.
Watch the 2021 Black History Month C+V Community Talk
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March | Women’s Herstory Month
In March, we celebrate Women’s History Month in recognition of women’s service and contributions to the continued progress of humankind. In 1987, Congress declared March as National Women’s History Month in perpetuity. DU encourages our community to continue the conversation about the role of women in historical and contemporary life as we build a more equitable and just society.
Watch the 2021 Women’s Herstory Month C+V Community Talk
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April | Autism Acceptance Month
In April we celebrate Autism Acceptance Month. According to the Autism Society of America, the prevalence of Autism in children has risen from 1 in 125 in 2010 to nearly 1 in 59 over the past decade. Autism advocates hope that, as awareness and acceptance of Autism increases within the larger population, the stigma of diagnosis and the social barriers that hinder people from living full and meaningful lives will dissipate.
Watch the 2021 Autism Acceptance Heritage Month C+V Community Talk
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April | Arab American Heritage Month
For centuries, members of the Arab community have come to America’s shores, sharing with this country their gifts, talents and unique perspectives. As we welcome others from around the globe, we also welcome migrants from the 22 Arab nations who arrive to seek opportunities, flee persecution or simply look to build a better life. As a community and as an institution, we have a supporting role to play in helping them to realize their dreams and aspirations here in America.
Watch the 2021 Arab American Heritage Month C+V Community Talk
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May | Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month
In May, we celebrate Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month. May was selected to commemorate these communities to recognize two historical contributions. On May 7, 1843, the first Japanese people immigrated to the United States and May 10, 1869 marks the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad, the majority of which was crafted by Chinese immigrants. In honoring the contributions of Asian, Pacific Islander and Desi Americans, we also acknowledge the lived experiences of members of these communities, both in the past and today. This includes deeply meaningful accomplishments, vibrant cultural contributions and, unfortunately, challenges in the face of hate, violence and racism.
Watch the 2021 Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month C+V Community Talk
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May | Jewish American Heritage Month
On April 20, 2006, President George W. Bush proclaimed that May would be Jewish American Heritage Month. The month of May was chosen due to the highly successful celebration of the 350th Anniversary of American Jewish History in May 2004. As we uplift Jewish communities for Jewish American Heritage Month, we must also note the world’s historical and, unfortunately, continued antisemitism. Yet, despite centuries of marginalization, Jewish Americans have persevered. We acknowledge the Jewish community’s challenges while at the same time celebrating the Jewish community’s successes.
Watch the 2021 Jewish American Heritage Month C+V Community Talk
Celebrating Jewish American Heritage Month Web Page
Created through a partnership with Center for Judaic Studies, University of Denver Hillel, the USG Secretary of Religious Life, Heritage Months & Community + Values
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June | Pride Month
Pride Month was first celebrated in the 1970s during what is considered the inception of the modern ‘lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, two-spirit, and more’ (LGBTQIA2+) movement. Inspired by the passionate and transformative June 1969 Stonewall Riots, Pride Month has grown and evolved significantly over the past 50 years. Intersecting identities have become a fundamental part of the modern LGBTQ+ movement, ensuring other social justice issues and salient identities are not left behind.
Propose a Program or Highlight a DU Community Member
We recognize that our community and institutional success is dependent on how well we engage and embrace the rich diversity of our faculty, staff, administrators, students and alumni. With that shared value in mind, throughout this academic year, we will publish a series of articles to celebrate the Heritage and History months. Also, if you are aware of any events that are happening on campus or have an idea for Heritage Month events, we'd love to hear about them and promote them campus-wide.
Heritage Month Highlights
C+V Community Talk in Partnership with Heritage Months: Securing Justice: Q&A & Call to Action after MLK Jr. Day
Celebrating Disability Employment Awareness Month with Bill Casson
‘Building Joy’: Celebrating Pride Month with Cody Ortiz-Oldham
Celebrating Arab American Heritage Month with Neda Kikhia
Celebrating Black History Month with Afrah Caraballo
Q&A: Celebrating Native American Heritage Month
