Merry Christmas to all who celebrate!, The Origins of Christmas, From a religious standpoint, Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ. In addition, Christmas has become a cultural holiday for many over the years with the evolution of St. Nicholas into Santa Claus., When Christmas is Observed, The Christmas season begins for Western Christianity and some of the Eastern Churches on December 24 with Christmas Eve followed by Christmas Day on December 25 and runs through either the Epiphany or the Baptism. The Armenian Apostolic Church, the Armenian Evangelical Church, and some Anabaptists recognize January 6 as Christmas. Most Oriental Orthodox and some of the Eastern Orthodox churches…, How Christmas is Celebrated, Christmas Day is celebrated as a major festival and public holiday in countries around the world, including many whose populations are mostly non-Christian. Popular traditions include exchanging gifts, decorating Christmas trees, attending church, sharing meals with family and friends, and waiting for Santa Claus to arrive.
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Happy Kwanzaa to all who celebrate! Kwanzaa is an annual African American and pan-African holiday which celebrates family, community and culture. It is held from December 26 to January 1, and culminates in a communal feast called Karamu., Origins of Kwanzaa, Kwanzaa was first created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966 during the aftermath of the Watts riots (alternatively known as the Watts Rebellion or Watts Uprising). Karenga created Kwanzaa as a specifically African American holiday which provided an “opportunity to celebrate themselves and their history.” It is loosely based on fruit harvest festival traditions from various parts of Africa, including…
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Happy New Year! Starting this year, the DEIA Communications team will be sending 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 January. , National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. The significance of January originates from the Emancipation Proclamation, which President Abraham Lincoln issued on January 1, 1863, declaring 3.1 million slaves free. The month is dedicated to raising awareness about the different forms of human trafficking and educating people about this crime and how to spot it. For more…, Poverty in America Awareness Month, Poverty is a complex social issue that affects people at a national and international scale. During the month of January, Poverty Awareness Month aims to raise awareness and shine a light on the growing levels of poverty in America. Through a variety of organizations and advocates, Poverty Awareness Month’s goal is to analyze, understand, and support solutions to ending poverty. You can make a…, World Braille Day, January 4 is World Braille Day. It is celebrated on this day to honor the birth of Louis Braille, the inventor of the touch reading and writing system. Recognizing World Braille Day reminds us of the importance of Braille as a means of communication in the full realization of the human rights for the blind, deafblind, and partially sighted communities. For more information, visit the United…, The Significance of Makar Sankranti, Makar Sankranti is celebrated on January 14. Makar Sankranti is the first major harvest festival to be celebrated in India because it is recognized as both a religious as well as seasonal observance dedicated to Lord Surya, the Sun God. Makar Sankranti marks the close of the Winter season and the beginning of a new harvest season. Social activities include colorful decorations, children singing…, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day/Civil Rights Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a federal holiday and day of service in the United States created to honor the life and legacy of the renowned civil rights leader, who advocated the use of nonviolent means to protest segregation and other forms of racial injustice. The most influential of African American civil rights leaders during the 1960s, he was instrumental in securing the passage of the…, International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Every year on January 27, International Holocaust Remembrance Day takes place to pay tribute to the memory of the victims of the Holocaust and reaffirm the commitment to fighting antisemitism, racism, and other forms of hatred and violence. January 27th marks the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau by Soviet troops in 1945. As of…, Upcoming Awareness Communications, The DEIA Communications team will send out the following awareness communications this month: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day/Civil Rights Day International Holocaust Remembrance Day
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a federal holiday and day of service in the United States created to honor the life and legacy of the renowned civil rights leader, Martin Luther King, Jr. who advocated the use of nonviolent means to protest segregation and other forms of racial injustice. The most influential of African American civil rights leaders during the 1960s, he was instrumental in…, About Martin Luther King, Jr., The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a Baptist minister and activist who became a leading figure in the Civil Rights movement. King’s advocacy was distinguished by his strict adherence to nonviolence and civil disobedience. King led the 1955 Montgomery bus boycott and later became the first president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). In 1963, he helped lead a coalition…, National Day of Service, The national Martin Luther King Day of Service was established by Congressman and fellow civil rights leader John Lewis and U.S. Senator Harris Wofford who together co-authored the King Holiday and Service Act. The act challenges Americans to transform the King Holiday into a day of citizen action volunteer service in honor of King. Since the legislation was signed in 1994, the day of service has…
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January 27, 2022 In November 2005, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution to assign January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day . January 27 marks the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau , one of the most infamous and deadliest concentration camps of the Holocaust. The UN General Assembly designated International Holocaust Remembrance Day with the mission to serve as a date to…, Commemoration, Every year since 2010, the UN Headquarters’ commemorations are focused on a new educational theme. The specific themes focus on topics such as collective experiences and universal human rights. The 2022 theme is “Memory, Dignity, and Justice,” which is focusing on preserving historical records and challenging distortion in order to claim justice., Wednesday, January 26 at 6:00 PM EST, If you are interested in participating in activities honoring those lost from the horrible and unnecessary events of the Holocaust, you can attend the virtual 2022 International Holocaust Remembrance Day Commemoration where Holocaust survivors and other victims of Nazi persecution will speak on their experiences., Resources, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum United Nations: 2022 Holocaust Remembrance
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Dear President’s Office Colleagues, As many of you are aware, President Meehan recently established an expanded UMass President’s Office Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Team. This 13-member committee includes representation from across the UMPO workforce and is staffed by members of the Human Resources team. The Team is actively working to identify and help implement best…
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Happy Chinese New Year to all who celebrate!, About Chinese New Year, Chinese New Year, often called the Spring Festival or Lunar New Year, is the most important holiday in China and Chinese communities around the world. This year, Chinese New Year falls on February 1, although celebrations will typically last 16 days, starting from Chinese New Year's Eve (January 31) until February 15., Chinese New Year Traditions, Prior to the Chinese New Year, households are thoroughly cleaned to rid the house of the bad luck from the previous year and to make the house a welcoming place for good luck. In addition, houses are decorated with fresh red paint, red cut-out decorations, and red lanterns, as red symbolizes joy and good fortune. The Chinese New Year’s Eve meal is the most important dinner of the year. Families…, The Year of the Tiger, 2022 is the Year of the Tiger. The Tiger is known as the king of all beasts in China. The zodiac sign is a symbol of strength, exorcising evils, and braveness. You are considered a tiger if you were born after the Chinese New Year in 2022, 2010, 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962, 1950, or 1938. Additionally, if you were born before the Chinese New Year in one of the years immediately following those above (…
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February is Black History Month!, In February, we take the time to honor the achievements and contributions of African Americans to our country. Originally founded as Negro History Week in 1926 by American Historian Carter G. Woodson, this is the time we reflect and recognize the prominent role of African Americans in U.S. history. Starting in 1976, every U.S. President has officially designated the month of February as Black…, "Health and Wellness" Leaders, While the contributions of African Americans are too many to name, we thought we’d take a look at some who have positively impacted our society in recent years through the lens of this year's theme, "Health and Wellness.", Immunologist Kizzmekia Corbett - , Kizzmekia Corbett, PhD, is a research fellow and the scientific lead for the Coronavirus Vaccines & Immunopathogenesis Team at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Vaccine Research Center (VRC). Her work proved critical to developing vaccines in record times, and Corbett led the team that designed the highly effective coronavirus…, Olympic Gymnast Simone Biles, - Widely recognized as being the best gymnast of all time, Simone Biles made headlines again in 2020 when she made the courageous decision to withdraw from the team final competition at the Tokyo Olympics to prioritize her mental health. , American Nursing Association President Ernest Grant, - Ernest Grant, PhD, RN, FAAN, is the 36th president of the American Nurses Association, the nation's largest nurses organization which represents the interests of the nation's 4 million registered nurses. He is the first African American man to hold that role ., UMass President's Office DEIA Team to Host Book Discussions, The UMass President's Office DEIA Team will be hosting a book discussion to celebrate Black History Month. Please join us on February 18th and March 1st as we discuss Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates . The discussions will be led by UMass Boston Professor Joseph N. Cooper. Keep an eye on your inbox for more information! We have attached a link above in case anyone would like to…, National Freedom Day, Major Richard Robert Wright Senior, a former slave, advocated February 1 as National Freedom Day because it was the day in 1865 that President Lincoln signed the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. This amendment, an important change to our written law, outlawed slavery in the United States. After Wright was freed from slavery as a youth, he went on to become a successful businessman and…
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Please join us for UMass President's Office’s first virtual book discussion event, in honor of Black History Month. Hosted by UMPO’s DEIA Team, this is a great opportunity to meet and connect with colleagues and learn through different perspectives. The book is Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates, which is narrated by the author as a letter to his teenage son. It’s a manageable 150…, Register to Attend, We are extremely pleased to announce that Professor Joseph N. Cooper , PhD, Endowed Chair, Associate Professor, and Special Assistant for Black Life to UMass Boston Chancellor Suárez-Orozco has agreed to facilitate both discussions for UMPO employees. , Friday, February 18, from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. for the book discussion with Prof. Cooper. February 18 Discussion Zoom Registration, Tuesday, March 1 , from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. for the broader discussion with Prof. Cooper with no need to have read the book. March 1 Discussion Zoom Registration, Questions?, Contact the Black History Month Program Committee, Meeta Gill and Sandra Torres.
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The DEIA Communications team sends 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 February., Parinirvana Day, Tuesday, February 15 , Parinirvana Day, or Nirvana Day, is an annual Buddhist festival that remembers the death of the Buddha when he reached Nirvana at the age of 80. Most Buddhists celebrate Nirvana Day on February 15. Others celebrate it on February 8. The day is used as an opportunity to reflect on the fact of one’s own future death and on people whom one has known who have recently died. Meditations are done for…, Susan B. Anthony Day, Tuesday, February 15 , Susan B. Anthony Day is a commemorative holiday to celebrate the birth of Susan B. Anthony. It is currently recognized by four states (California, Florida, New York, and Wisconsin). Susan B. Anthony is known for her leadership in the long campaign for women's right to vote in the United States and abroad. She was born in Adams, Massachusetts. Her birthplace is a museum and the town also unveiled…, World Day of Social Justice, Sunday, February 20 , World Day of Social Justice is an international day where we collectively recognize the need to promote social justice, which includes efforts to address global issues like poverty, exclusion, gender inequality, unemployment, human rights, and social protections. This day of observance was established by the United Nations General Assembly on November 26, 2007, and is celebrated annually on…, Awareness Events Previously Covered this Month, The DEIA Communications team sent the following awareness communications this month: Chinese New Year Black History Month and National Freedom Day
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