The Committee on Institutional Equity and Diversity (CIED) is committed to providing equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) related resources on monthly observances and significant dates. Please check back often as our resources are continually updated.
Resources for Monthly Observances and Significant Dates
January
- International Holocaust Remembrance Day
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Museum of Jewish Heritage: A Living Memorial to the Holocaust
United Nations - Outreach Program on the Holocaust - Calendar of Events
The Wiener Holocaust LibraryRecommended Reading:
- Lunar New Year
Useful Links
Local Lunar New Year Events
General Reading and Resources
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Around CUNY
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. has a rich history with CUNY. He historically spoke at two different commencement CUNY celebrations: one at City College in 1963, and one at Queen's College in 1965.
His City College address was given just hours after Medgar Evers had been assassinated on June 12, 1963. Parts of the City College commencement speech were later incorporated into his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, which he delivered in August of that same year on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.
After Dr. King won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, he spoke to CUNY graduates again. At the Queens College Commencement in 1965, Dr. King presented the inaugural speech for the John F. Kennedy Lecture Series. During his speech, Dr. King paid tribute to Andrew Goodman, a Queen's College student who was slain by the Ku Klux Klan in Mississippi. The Queen's College Archives generously provided a digital copy of the speech and write-ups from local newspapers:
An audio clip of the speech is available on the Queens College Facebook page.
Recommended Reading
February
- Black History Month
National Organizations Sponsoring Black History Month Events and Programs
Reading and Movie Resources
Local Cultural Organizations Featuring Black Artists and Events
March
- Women’s History Month
Information:
- https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/womens-history-month
- https://www.womenshistory.org/womens-history/womens-history-month
- https://womenshistorymonth.gov/Events.html
- https://guides.loc.gov/womens-history-month-legal-resources/history-and-overview
Readings:
- https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/173792.Women_s_History_Month_Reads
- https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/childrens-books-to-celebrate-womens-history-month
Events:
- https://engage.metmuseum.org/events/metlivearts/2024-25-season/sarah-cahill-the-future-is-female/
- https://engage.metmuseum.org/events/education/performances/music/public-programs/fy25/fenders-female-workforce/
- https://engage.metmuseum.org/events/education/performances/music/public-programs/fy25/womens-history-month-wagner-college-choir/
- World Day of Muslim Culture Peace Dialogue and Film
Information:
- https://nationaltoday.com/world-day-of-muslim-culture-peace-dialogue-and-film/
- https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/4/a-simple-illustrated-guide-to-ramadan-answers-to-10-common-questions
- https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/11481.Islamic_Fiction
- https://meccainstitute.org/islamic-art/
- https://meccainstitute.org/islamic-music/
- https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/areas/20
Events:
April
- Arab American Heritage Month
Since 2017, April has been celebrated as Arab American Heritage Month to dedicate our collective attention to Arab American cultural and inclusion.
General Readings and Resources
- https://www.history.com/articles/arab-american-heritage-month
- https://arabamericafoundation.org/national-arab-american-heritage-month/
- https://www.history.com/articles/arab-american-heritage-month
- https://www.aaiusa.org/arab-american-heritage-month
- https://m.nypl.org/blog/2024/03/29/reading-list-arab-american-heritage-month
- https://www.metmuseum.org/about-the-met/collection-areas/islamic-art
- https://www.pbs.org/articles/celebrate-arab-american-heritage-month
- https://www.newyorkarabfestival.com/
- CUNY Disability Awareness Month
Every April, CUNY celebrates disability diversity and contributes to disability awareness and acceptance by uplifting disabled voices and promoting inclusivity. The University-wide initiative aims to honor disability culture while advancing disability equity and equality.
CUNY Community
- CUNY Disability and Accessibility Services
- CUNY LEADS: Linking Employment, Academics Disability Services
- CUNY SPS: Disability Access Coalition
- CUNY Hunter: The PossAbilities Club
- CUNY Queensborough: Coalition for Students with Disabilities
- DAPi: Delta Alpha Pi Honors Society
General Readings and Resources
- Disability Visibility Project by Alice Wong
- Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century by Alice Wong (Editor)
- Care Work: Dreaming Disability Justice by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha
- The Pretty One by Keah Brown
- Virtual Museum of Disability
- Disability History Museum
- National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled: General Resources of Disabilities
- Sins Invalid – Disability Justice Performance Project
- The Abolition and Disability Justice Coalition
- Rebirth Garments – Queercrip Dress Reform Movement
- Disability After Dark Podcast with Andrew Gurza
- Power Not Pity Podcast with Bri M.
- Emily Landau's Demystifying Disability
May
June
- Juneteenth
Juneteenth History
- Juneteenth: What You Need to Know | History - Marcia Chatelain, Professor of History and African American Studies at Georgetown University. Professor Chatelain, a historian of African American life and culture, talks about the history of Juneteenth and common misconceptions
- National Museum of African American History and Culture (Smithsonian)
- The White House Proclamation - Recognizing Juneteenth as a national holiday
- New-York Historical Society - Juneteenth Legacy of Frederick Douglas (video)
- New-York Historical Society - In-person, family-friendly event Living History: Celebrate Juneteenth the origins of the celebration, how it has changed over time, and the many local traditions connected with the holiday (free with museum admission)
Around CUNY
- The Importance of Juneteenth in Higher Education - 2021 Recorded discussion between Ted Widmer, professor and historian at Macaulay Honors College, and Dara N. Byrne, associate provost and dean at John Jay College
- Bronx Community College - Historic information, links to resources, and videos on why we celebrate Juneteenth and its importance
Around NYC
- NYC Parks - Events throughout the city, including a Soul of Food: A Juneteenth Jubilee and guided parks tours with the Urban Park Rangers
- NY Public Library Juneteenth Storytimes - Videos of kid's stories being read
- Pride Month
Language and communication are more than just using requested pronouns. Although this is important as well, learn the definitions for some common terms relating to the LGBTQIA+ community and guidance on how and where to use them.
- LGBTQ Heritage Theme Study - A free online collection of LGBTQ+ studies, written by experts, peer reviewed, and published by the National Park Foundation
- It Gets Better Project
CUNY Resources
- CUNY LGBTQ Resources
- CLAGS: The Center for LGBTQ Studies - The Graduate Center
LGBTQ Communities
- The Center for Black Equity
- National Black Justice Coalition
- Black Trans Advocacy Coalition
- NativeOUT
- We R Native
- Galaei Facebook
- TransLatin@ Coalition
- Unity Coalition
- Familia: Trans Queer Liberation Movement
- NQAPIA (National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance)
- The Visibility Project
- DeQH Desi LGBTQ Hotline for South Asians
- Muslims for Progressive Values
- Coming Home to Islam and to Self
Mental Health and Wellness
- CUNY SPS Counseling Services
- The Trevor Project
- National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network
- Trans Lifeline - Crisis support for and by the trans community
Parents
Educators
Additional Resources
- Everyday Feminism - Racism, privilege, homophobia, and disability through the lens of modern feminism
- American Institute of Bisexuality
- Bi-inclusivity
- Transwhat - Transgender community and how to be a better ally
July
- Disability Pride Month
After decades of grassroots activism, protests, and lobbying by disabled people around the country, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law by President George H. W. Bush on July 26, 1990. Over the next few years, several cities celebrated with annual Disability Independence Day parades at the end of July. July is an opportunity to reflect on this landmark legislative achievement and to contemplate the vital work that remains to be done.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- ADA website maintained by Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice features legal information, design standards, technical assistance materials, and information about enforcement
- Virtual exhibits on ADA 30, at the NYC Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities
- U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission website includes information about the Americans with Disability Act Amendments Act of 2008
History of the Disability Rights Movement
- The Museum of disABILITY History features a virtual wing on the history of disability advocacy in the United States and New York State
- Disability History NYC profiles the individuals and organizations that made up the disability rights movement in New York City
- Disability justice based performance project Sins Invalid offers a range of disability justice resources, including a multimedia curriculum
Disability Pride Month
Disability Diversity
- Emily Ladau's book, Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say, and How to be an Ally
- The Disability Visibility Podcast with Alice Wong
- Black, Disabled, and Proud: College Students with Disabilities website offers resources on the intersection of race and disability
- What comes first for you, your race, gender, or disability?
- LGBTQ+ People with Disabilities
- Life at the Intersection of Disability and Multiple Identities
September
- National Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month
Join us in celebrating National Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15 to commemorate the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors originated from Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402.
In the month of September several Latin American countries celebrate their Independence Day and Día de la Raza, or Day of the Race, which falls on October 12.
Read about Hispanic Heritage Month
- Hispanic Heritage Month History
- National Endowment for the Humanities: Hispanic and Latino Heritage and History in the United States
- Key facts about U.S. Latinos for National Hispanic Heritage Month
- National Archives: Hispanic Heritage Month
- Afro-Latino: A deeply rooted identity among U.S. Hispanics
- Does Hispanic Heritage Month Need a Rebrand?
- Hispanics are celebrating Black History Month. Here’s why
- The Difference Between the Terms Latino and Hispanic, and How They Overlap
- Read more about Hispanic and Heritage Month - NYPL
CUNY
Events
- Smithsonian Heritage Calendar
- Mexican Independence Day Parade
- Carnaval de la Cultura Latina
- Hispanic Day Parade
- NYC Parks Events
Podcasts
October
- LGBT History Month
LGBTQ+ History Month is celebrated in October to observe the history of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community. It coincides with the National Coming Out Day, that is observed on October 11.
The observance of LGBTQ+ History Month began in 1994, which was created by Rodney Wilson, a history teacher at a Missouri high school. The commemorative month originally honored gay and lesbian history, but over the years, "additional acronyms were added to increase inclusivity of LGBTQ+ communities." (LGBTQ History Month, IOWA Multicultural & International Student Support & Engagement)
- Groundbreaking: The American LGBTQ+ Museum at the New-York Historical Society
- About LGBT History Month
- Library of Congress Lesbian: Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Pride Month — Resources
History
- LGBTQ History Month Timeline
- LGBTQ Rights Milestones Fast Facts
- Stonewall then and now
- Do you know the history behind LGBT History Month?
- 11 black LGBTQ trailblazers who made history
- 11 Hispanic people who had an impact on LGBTQ rights in America
Celebrate LGBT History Month
- National Disability Employment Awareness Month
About NDEAM
National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) highlights the vital contributions of workers with disabilities and promotes inclusive employment practices and workplace cultures.
Resources
- U.S. Department of Labor
- Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN)
- Disability Visibility Podcast, "Ep 42: Employment"
Events
- NDEAM Exhibit, New York State Capitol
- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Office of Developmental Programs
Books
- Care Work: Dreaming Disability Justice by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha
- No Right to Be Idle: The Invention of Disability, 1840s–1930s, by Sarah F. Rose
November
- National Native American Heritage Month
History and Resources
- National Archives - comprehensive library on Native American history
- National Congress of American Indians - multiple resources, events, news, and policy issues
- National Park Service - lists of featured resources, stories, and events
- Native Americans in Philanthropy - examines intersectionality of Afro-Indigenous and Black Indigenous peoples
- Congressional Research Services - Native American Heritage Month: Fact Sheet
- Minority Business Development Agency - details interesting fact about Indigenous people in business
Events
- National Park Service - a list of events hosted on the Official Website of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation
- Smithsonian - a list of the museum's sponsored events
Maps
- Native Land - an app to help map Indigenous territories, treaties, and languages
- National Public Radio (NPR) - invites us to learn which Native lands we live on via a map that conveys more than borders
Reflections for Allies
- CNN - 5 ways to honor Native Americans during National Native American Heritage Month- including decolonizing your Thanksgiving dinner
- Smithsonian - offers a thought-provoking essay on Native Americans' Thanksgiving reflections
- Women and the American Story - invite you to meet the proud and powerful writer, Zitkala-Sa
For Kids
- PBS Learning Media (PBS13) - a curated look at Indigenous art, history, and culture from multiple resources for teachers and their students
- Teen Vogue - gives guidelines for young people on avoiding offensive stereotypes and how to be a better ally to Native nations