Veteran’s Day 2022 will be observed on Friday, November 11. In recognition of this important day, the UMass President’s Office DEIA Team will host a speaker program on Wednesday, November 9 at 12:00 p.m. Our panelists are two distinguished Marine Corps veterans who have dedicated their careers to helping other veterans:, Thomas Lyons, is the founder of the South Boston Vietnam Memorial Committee, a non-profit organization that erected one of the first community-based Vietnam Memorials in the country. He is the former Executive Director of the New England Home for Homeless Veterans and is a recipient of the UMass Boston Robert Quinn Award for Outstanding Community Leadership. Tom is a Marine Corp Veteran and served in Vietnam…, Patrick George, is the Director of Veterans’ Services for the Town of Watertown. He is also the president of the Massachusetts Veterans’ Services Officers Association, the state-wide organization of veterans’ services officers. Patrick is a Marine Corps Veteran and served from 2007-2012 on Marine Corps Base Hawaii. He served two deployments in Afghanistan. The panelists will discuss their own personal…
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The DEIA Communications team sends out monthly emails about upcoming diversity awareness events recognized either nationally or internationally due to their cultural, historical, or religious significance. See below for several diversity dates to be aware of in the month of November., Upcoming Observances, Note that Native American Heritage Month, National Day of Mourning, Thanksgiving, Transgender Awareness Week, Transgender Day of Remembrance, and Veterans Day are covered under the "Additional Awareness Events this Month" section below., Día de los Muertos , Tuesday, November 1 - Wednesday, November 2, The Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) is a holiday typically celebrated from November 1 to November 2. It is a joyful holiday where families and friends gather to remember loved ones who have died. Families create ofrendas, or home altars, which are decorated with bright yellow marigold flowers, photos of the departed, and the favorite foods and drinks of the one being honored. They also visit…, World Freedom Day, Wednesday, November 9, In 2001, the United States began observing World Freedom Day each November 9 to commemorate the 1989 eradication of the Berlin Wall, which had symbolized the Cold War, communism, and the division of eastern and western Europe. At the end of World War II, Germany, including the city of Berlin, was divided into East and West, with East Germany – known as the German Democratic Republic (GDR) -…, Kristallnacht (The Night of Broken Glass), Wednesday, November 9 - Thursday, November 10, Kristallnacht, or the Night of Broken Glass, is the day remembered as the turning point in Germany where Hitler switched from antisemitic rhetoric and laws to the goal of completely eliminating the Jewish community through violence. During the Night of Broken Glass, angry mobs attacked Jewish people on the streets or in their homes, businesses, and places of worship. Shattered glass from windows…, Marine Corps Birthday, Thursday, November 10, Marines across the globe celebrate the establishment of the Marine Corps on November 10, 1775. It is a day where Marines acknowledge 247 years of service as of 2022 as well as the many sacrifices made to defend democracy and the continued legacy of the Marines. The Marine Corps Birthday , also known as Marine Corps Day, includes a cake cutting ceremony in Washington D.C., which is recorded each…, International Men's Day, Saturday, November 19, International Men’s Day is a global day held annually on November 19 to recognize and celebrate the positive value that men bring to the world. The broader goal of the holiday is to promote awareness towards men’s issues. Each year is themed, with 2022’s being “Helping Men and Boys.” Resources will be posted to the site soon for the 2022 theme. You can check out past themes through the IMD…, Day of the Covenant, Friday, November 25 - Saturday, November 26, The Bahá'í Faith is the youngest of the world's independent religions founded in 1844 by Mīrzā ʿAlī Moḥammad of Shīrāz in Iran. Geographically, it is the second-most widely spread religion with about six million believers worldwide who come from various cultural, racial, social, and religious backgrounds. Every year in late November, Baha’is around the world honor unity on Day of the Covenant.…, Ascension of Abdu’l-Baha (Baha’i), Sunday, November 27 - Monday, November 28, 'Abdu’l-Bahá , which means “Servant of Bahá ”, was born on May 23, 1844. He was the eldest son and successor of Baha’u’llah, co-founder of the Bahá’í Faith. Abdu’l-Baha passed away on 28 November 1921. The Bahá’í community observes the Ascension of `Abdu’l-Bahá on this day. The anniversary of His passing is commemorated as a Bahá’í Holy Day. Over ten thousand mourners from diverse religions and…, Additional Awareness Events this Month, The DEIA Communications team will send out an email campaign around the following awareness events this month: Native American Heritage Month and National Day of Mourning Thanksgiving Transgender Awareness Week and Transgender Day of Remembrance Veterans Day
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View Recipes Submitted by Your Colleagues, We're pleased to announce the Family Recipe Project is now live. Thank you to everyone who has submitted a recipe so far! We launched the site today as President Ronald Reagan proclaimed October 28 as “National Immigrants Day.” It is celebrated as a moving reminder of what makes America unique among other nations. While it is not an official U.S. Holiday, Immigrants Day is an acknowledgement that…, Questions or compliments about a specific recipe?, Feel free to contact the employee who submitted the recipe directly., Submissions to remain open!, We realize that many family recipes are passed down just like stories - through spoken word. They often are so natural to us, we add a little bit of this and a little bit of that. It can take time to document what we've been making for years. We'll keep recipe submissions open indefinitely for whenever you have the time to sit and document your family recipe.
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About Diwali, Diwali is a major holiday that is celebrated around the world by millions of people. This five-day festival of lights is tied to many faiths, including Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism. While each faith carries its own significance and narrative, they all celebrate the victory of good over evil. Hindus celebrate the return of deities, Rama and Sita, to Ayodhya after their 14-year exile. It is…, Diwali Festival Happening in Cambridge on Saturday, Join Mayor Siddiqui, the Cambridge Public Library, and the City of Cambridge Employees' Committee on Diversity on Saturday, October 22 from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. for an afternoon of South Asian performances, activities, food, and fun celebrating Diwali, the Festival of Lights. View the Festival Schedule, How is Diwali Celebrated?, Diwali marks day three of the five-day festivities. This is often the main day of festivities. It is the time when people perform acts of dana (charitable giving) and seva (selfless service), deep cleaning and decorating the home, performing religious ceremonies, stringing up lights, and reflecting on deeply-held values.
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Share Family Recipes and Stories for Immigrants Day, In 1987, on the 101st anniversary of the unveiling of the Statue of Liberty, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed October 28 as “National Immigrants Day.” It was celebrated as a moving reminder of what makes America unique among other nations. While it is not an official U.S. Holiday, Immigrants Day is an acknowledgement that the United States has more immigrants than any other nation. Whether your…, please submit a recipe by Friday, October 21, . You’ll also have the option to submit a family story about that recipe. Submit a Family Recipe, Thank you to everyone who participated in the Ancestry Survey for Family History Month!, We are currently working on the President's Office Interactive Family Ancestry Map, which will be published at the end of the month. Thanks to everyone who completed the survey and for the feedback we received on this year's survey - we will apply that feedback to next year's survey., All are Welcome to Participate in the Tell Your Story Series, We’ve been honored to have three great Tell Your Story events over the last year and a half. Thank you to Ismael Carreras, Shahriar Panahi, and Chanda Wolf for participating in the series. If you are interested in sharing your story, contact Cheryl Millett at cmillett@umassp.edu .
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Filipino American History Month, Filipino American History Month (FAHM) celebrates Filipino heritage and culture, and recognizes the contributions of Filipino Americans to American history. The Filipino American National Historical Society introduced FAHM in 1992, and Congress officially recognized FAHM in 2009. FAHM is celebrated in October to commemorate the arrival of the first Filipinos to America (California) on October 18…, Italian American Heritage Month, Italian American Heritage Month is celebrated in October to recognize the contributions and achievements of Italian immigrants and their descendants living in the United States, and reflect on their histories, traditions and culture. More than five million Italians immigrated to the United States between 1820 and 2000, and there currently are over 26 million Americans of Italian descent residing…, Polish American Heritage Month, Polish American Heritage month celebrates the positive impact Polish Americans have had and continue to have on the United States, as well as Polish history and culture. Originally celebrated in August, Polish American Heritage Month is now observed in October to commemorate the arrival of the first Polish settlers in Jamestown, VA in October 1608 as well as the death of Casimir Pulaski, the…
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Participate in Our Anonymous Ancestry Survey for Family History Month, Family History Month is held in October each year. Recognized by libraries and genealogists across the country, it’s a great opportunity to talk about family history and make sure your family story is remembered for decades (and centuries) to come. While it’s not an official national holiday, Family History Month began with a resolution by the Senate in 2001. In honor of Family History Month, we…, All responses are due by Friday, October 14., Complete the Ancestry Survey, Share Family Recipes and Stories for Immigrants Day, In 1987, on the 101st anniversary of the unveiling of the Statue of Liberty, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed October 28 as “National Immigrants Day.” It was celebrated as a moving reminder of what makes America unique among other nations. While it is not an official U.S. Holiday, Immigrants Day is an acknowledgement that the United States has more immigrants than any other nation. Whether your…, please submit a recipe by Friday, October 21, . You’ll also have the option to submit a family story about that recipe. Submit a Family Recipe, All are Welcome to Participate in the Tell Your Story Series, We’ve been honored to have three great Tell Your Story events over the last year and a half. Thank you to Ismael Carreras, Shahriar Panahi, and Chanda Wolf for participating in the series. If you are interested in sharing your story, contact Cheryl Millett at cmillett@umassp.edu .
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What is Indigenous Peoples’ Day?, Indigenous Peoples’ Day is celebrated on the second Monday in October. The holiday honors the past, present, and future of Native peoples throughout the United States by recognizing the legacy and impact of colonialism on Native communities and celebrating the cultures, contributions, and resilience of contemporary Native peoples. The idea was born as a counter-celebration to Columbus Day in 1977…, Why is the Holiday Important? , Currently, there are over 600 Native Nations in the US, and 6.8 million Americans identify as Native American (about 2% of the country’s total population). Yet representation for Native peoples (especially contemporary Native peoples) is seriously lacking, and Native communities still experience a legacy of discrimination as a result. Indigenous Peoples’ Day pushes back on this invisibility. It…, Resources, To learn more about Indigenous Peoples Day, visit the National Museum of the American Indian or the official proclamation .
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Several religious observances occur during the month of October. Note that we will send a communication for , Diwali , on Monday, October 24., Yom Kippur (Jewish), Tuesday, October 4 – Wednesday, October 5, Yom Kippur, also known as the Jewish Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the year in Judaism. Yom Kippur begins at sundown on Tuesday, Oct. 4 and ends in the evening on Wednesday, Oct. 5. Many Jewish families and communities will spend the day fasting, attending synagogue or observing the holiday in other meaningful ways. This offers a time for Jews to reflect on sins or wrongdoings from the…, Eid Milad ul-Nabi (Muslim), Sunday, October 9, This day is observed as a public holiday in many countries with a large Muslim population as it commemorates the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday. In 2022, it falls on Sunday, Oct. 9. The popular Islamic festival is celebrated around the world in the third month of the Muslim lunar calendar with activities that include night-long prayer sessions, marches and parades, and meetings to listen to stories…, Sukkot (Jewish), Sunday, October 9 – Sunday, October 16, Every fall, Jews around the world celebrate the festival of the Sukkot by constructing a temporary dwelling called a sukkah. Beginning five days after Yom Kippur, Sukkot is named after the booths or huts (sukkot in Hebrew) in which Jews are supposed to dwell in during this week-long celebration. The holiday commemorates the forty-year period during which the children of Israel were wandering…, Birth of Bab and Birth of Baha’u’llah – Twin Holy Birthdays (Bahá’í), Wednesday, October 26 and Thursday, October 27, There are two Bahá’í holy days that are celebrated in October this year: Birth of the Bab (October 26) and Birth of Baha’u’llah (October 27). The holy days begin at sunset the first day and end at sundown the second day. Note that these holy days land on different days every year based on lunar calculations or the solar calendar starting with the Spring Equinox. The Festivals of the Twin…
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The event recording for last week's DEIA event is now live on the Unspeakable Truths event page. The recording includes both captions and a downloadable transcript. Access the Recording, Event Resources, You can access both the PowerPoint presentation and the Cambodian-American data visualizations through the Unspeakable Truths event page .
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