The University of Illinois Chicago is facilitating a Disability Cultural Center (DCC) Symposium on Friday, July 8 and Saturday, July 9. There are currently only eleven Disability Cultural Centers at higher education institutions across the country. This virtual symposium will bring together already-established disability cultural centers to share stories about how they came into existence. During…
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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 July. , Month-Long Observances, Note that Disability Pride Month is covered under the "Additional Awareness Events this Month" section below. , French-American Heritage Month, July is designated as French-American Heritage Month and is dedicated to celebrating and honoring the influences and the contributions that the French have had on the United States in art, culture, language, etiquette, and more. There are many ways to celebrate the month and recognize the shared culture and partnership with France. You may choose to enjoy French cuisine with friends, contribute…, Week and Day Observances, Note that Disability Independence Day is covered under the “Additional Awareness Events this Month” section below., Martyrdom of the Bab (Baha’i), Saturday, July 9, The Martyrdom of the Bab is a holiday commemorating the July 9, 1850 execution of the co-founder of the Baha’i faith, the Báb, in Persia. On this day, the Báb was charged with apostasy and shot by order of the Prime Minister of the Persian Empire. The Martyrdom is commemorated with prayers and scripture., Eid al-Adha (Muslim) , Saturday, July 9 – Sunday, July 10, Eid al-Adha marks the culmination of the hajj (pilgrimage) rites at Minā, Saudi Arabia, near Mecca, but is celebrated by Muslims throughout the world. It is distinguished by the performance of communal prayer (ṣalāt) at daybreak on its first day. Usually lasting three to four days, the holiday begins on the 10th day of the Muslim calendar lunar month of Dhul-Hijja. During the festival, families…, Bastille Day, Thursday, July 14, Bastille Day is a French national holiday. It marks the fall of Bastille, a military fortress and prison, on July 14, 1789, when an angry mob stormed into it, signaling the beginning of the French Revolution. In addition, it marks the Fête de la Fédération (Festival of the Federation) that celebrated the unity of the French people on July 14, 1790. It is celebrated with a day of leisurely family…, Nelson Mandela International Day, Monday, July 18, On July 18, 2009, the UN General Assembly made a unanimous decision to recognize Nelson Mandela’s birthday as Nelson Mandela International Day. This decision was made with Mandela’s wish to be honored after his passing by working in communities rather than celebrating his birthday. The day is dedicated to Nelson Mandela’s life and work and is used as inspiration for people around the world to act…, Pioneer Day (Mormon), Sunday, July 24, Pioneer Day commemorates the entry of Brigham Young and the first group of Mormon pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847. It’s a state holiday in Utah and is considered a special occasion by many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints., Hijri New Year (Muslim), Friday, July 29 – Saturday, July 30, The Islamic calendar begins in the year 622 C.E., and is known as the Hijri calendar. It is a lunar rather than a solar calendar, and therefore depends on the sighting of the new moon or crescent to determine the start of each month. As such, Islamic observances are not tied to any season or time of the year, but rather to the event itself. This also assures that with the variations in…, Additional Awareness Events this Month, The DEIA Communications team will send out email campaigns around the following awareness events this month: Disability Pride Month Disability Independence Day – July 26, Questions?, Please contact the DEIA Communications team with any questions or feedback.
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Tuesday, July 26, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time (ET), In honor of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in July of 1990, Disability Pride Month is celebrated each July to highlight disabled ways of being, knowing, and thriving in the past, present, and future. Disability Pride Month serves as an opportunity for organizations to celebrate disability culture, draw attention to the expertise and lived experience of disabled…, What is Disability Independence Day?, Disability Independence Day recognizes July 26, 1990, the day that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush. Modeled after the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the ADA is one of America's most comprehensive pieces of civil rights legislation that prohibits discrimination and guarantees that disabled people/people with disabilities have the same…
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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 August. , Week and Day Observances, International Day of the World’s Indigenous People, Tuesday, August 9, On December 23, 1994, the United Nations General Assembly announced that going forward, August 9th will be recognized as “International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.” There are an estimated 476 million indigenous peoples living across 90 countries all around the world, making up less than 5% of the global population but 15% of the poorest. According to the United Nations, “Indigenous…, Obon (Buddhism), Saturday, August 13 – Monday, August 15, Obon (お盆) is a Japanese Buddhist festival to honor and commemorate the spirits of one’s ancestors. During Obon, it is believed that ancestor spirits return to this world to visit their relatives. In traditional celebration, lanterns are hung on houses to guide the spirits, obon dances (bon odori) are performed, and graves are visited with food offerings. Obon will be observed in 2022 from…, Krishna Janmashtami (Hindu), Thursday, August 18 – Friday, August 19, Krishna Janmashtami is a Hindu religious festival, celebrating the birthday of Lord Krishna. It is celebrated by people all around the world. The holiday sits in the Hindu calendar month of Bhadrapada (August or September), the eighth day in the dark fortnight, and lasts for two days. The celebrations begin at midnight, the time when Krishna is thought to have been born in 3228 BC in Mathura.…, Women’s Equality Day, Friday, August 26, In 1973, U.S. Congress designated August 26 as “Women’s Equality Day” to commemorate the day in 1920 when female citizens of the U.S. were constitutionally granted the right to vote through the certification of the 19th Amendment. This right was a long time in the making; the first women’s rights convention was held more than 70 years earlier – July 1848 - at Seneca Falls when women declared the…, Questions?, Please contact the DEIA Communications team with any questions or feedback.
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The captioned video and transcript are now posted on the Disability Pride and Culture in Higher Ed and the Workplace event page . The event page is public so feel free to share the video recording with anyone interested., Questions?, Please contact the DEIA Communications team with any questions or feedback.
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Inclusive Design 24 (#id24) is a free 24-hour online event for the global community. It celebrates inclusive design and shares knowledge and ideas from analogue to digital, from design to development, from planners to practitioners, and everything and everyone in between. There is no sign up or registration. Check out this year's schedule and add sessions of interest to your calendar.
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Chanda Wolf, who works as Special Assistant to the President and General Counsel for the UMass System Office, will share her story on Friday, September 23, 2022, noon to 1:00 pm— Unspeakable Truths: One Family’s Survival from Cambodia’s Killing Fields. President Meehan opened the event with a short introduction. The 1984 movie “The Killing Fields” provides historical and political context for…
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What is Bodhi Day?, Celebrated annually on December 8, Bodhi Day (pronounced Bow-dee) commemorates the day that the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama (Shakyamuni), experienced enlightenment, which is also known as bodhi in Sanskrit and Pali. According to tradition, Siddhartha had recently forsaken years of extreme ascetic practices and resolved to sit under a peepal tree, also known as a Bodhi tree, and simply…, How is Bodhi Day observed?, Services and traditions vary amongst Buddhist sects, but all such services commemorate the Buddha's achievement of Nirvana, and what this means for Buddhism today. Individuals may choose to commemorate the event through additional meditation, study of the Dharma, chanting of Buddhist texts (sutras), or performing kind acts towards other beings. Some Buddhists celebrate with a traditional meal of…, Learn more about Buddhist Holidays, Want to learn more about Bodhi Day and other Buddhist holidays? Check out this Buddhist Holidays slide deck by Tricycle: The Buddhist Review .
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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…
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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…
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