Women’s History Month honors the achievements and contributions of women throughout history while recognizing the ongoing work toward gender equity. It began as a local celebration in Santa Rosa, California in 1978, organized by the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women. After continued advocacy from historians and women’s organizations, Congress officially designated March as Women’s History Month in 1987. This month also includes Inter

Lunar New Year 2026 begins on February 17th and is celebrated by millions of people around the world. The holiday marks the start of the lunar calendar and is observed in many countries and communities, including China, Vietnam (where it is known as Tết), Korea (Seollal), Singapore, Malaysia, and across the global Asian diaspora. While traditions vary by culture, Lunar New Year is generally a time for family gatherings, honoring ancestors, sharing meals, and welcoming renewal

Black History Month is  celebrated in February to recognize the significant contributions and sacrifices of African Americans that have often been neglected in U.S. history. Officially recognized in 1976, it honors achievements in areas like science, politics, and culture, while encouraging reflection on the ongoing movements for racial equity and social justice. Here are some things you can do to honor this month: Visit & Support the Northwest African American Museum Buy a B

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is on Monday, January 19th. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (King Center), established by Coretta Scott King in 1968, is a great resource for commemorating this day. They are holding a teach-in for educators which you can register for here , as well other virtual events such as the  2026 Beloved Community Children's Book Reading  and MLK Day Service Project . If you're local to the Puget Sound area, here are some

Most of us grew up learning about Thanksgiving as the celebration of a 1621 feast shared between English colonists ("pilgrims") and the Wampanoag people. This narrative is typically portrayed as a harmonious relationship and sanitized of its history of violence. Today, we recognize these stories as over-simplified and inaccurately framed from a colonist point of view so for many Native Americans, Thanksgiving is considered the Day of Mourning. Watch the video below to learn a

National Native American Heritage Month, which is also referred to as American Indian or Alaska Native Heritage Month, was established in 1990 to recognize the significant contributions of Indigenous people. This originates back to 1915 when Episcopal priest and Native rights activist Rev. Sherman Coolidge , an Arapahoe, called on the country to observe American Indian Day the second Saturday of each May. Thanksgiving, one of the biggest U.S. holidays of the year, also falls

There is a lot to think about in October with four awareness months: LGBTQ+ History, National Disability Employment Awareness, Filipino American History, and Global Diversity Awareness. Here is a little history we featured in last year's newsletter with links to resources. LGBTQ+ History Month This month is dedicated to celebrating the achievements of LGBTQ+ icons and role models and was founded by Missouri high school teacher Rodney Wilson. The day has been endorsed by GLAAD

National Hispanic Heritage Month starts today and last through October 15th. This month was established to celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of Spanish, Mexican, Caribbean, and people of Central and South American ancestry. Starting as Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968, it was later expanded to include an entire month in 1988. While "Hispanic" is the official term used to describe heritage, it has a problematic history rooted in mislabeling, cultural erasure,

Did you know that August is National Black Philanthropy Month (NBP)? We realized we missed this last month. NBP is a month long, global...

We released the print version of our 2025-2026 Diversity Calendar spanning August to July in our last newsletter. In case you missed it,...

July is Disability Pride and BIPOC Mental Health Month! Disability Pride Month coincides with the anniversary of the Americans with...

Juneteenth was first established on June 19, 1865 when news of the Emancipation Proclamation reached Galveston, TX two and a half years...

June is National Immigrant Heritage, LGBTQ+ Pride, and Caribbean American Heritage Month! We've shared before about these months but this...

May is Asian American & Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Month! AANHPIs encompass a vast and diverse diaspora of people who have...

Language is a reflection of our societal norms, cultural beliefs, values, and even identities. As a result, language is ever evolving....

In honor of Native American and Indigenous Heritage Month in November, I sat down with Cynthia Masterson, Teaching Artist and owner of...

With racist anti-immigrant rhetoric sentiment growing in the past few years, we felt it was important to acknowledge National Immigrants...

National Hispanic Heritage Month commences on September 15th through October 15th and celebrates the histories, cultures and...

Did you know that August is National Black Business Month? There are approximately 3.12 million Black-owned businesses in the U.S. that...

I recently attended a Zoom panel discussion hosted by our colleague Lindsey T.H. Jackson featuring Avery Church , Teddy Cosmo , and Rach...