April 2026 Issue 1
- Cultures Connecting
- 16 hours ago
- 6 min read
Arab American Heritage, Autism Acceptance, and Celebrate Diversity Month
Arab American Heritage Month is celebrated to recognize the diverse culture, history, and contributions of Arab Americans to the United States. While grassroots efforts to mark the occasion began in the 1990s, it gained significant momentum in 2017 through the efforts of ArabAmerica.com and the Arab America Foundation. The initiative was driven by a desire to combat stereotypes and provide a dedicated time for education and cultural pride. It reached a major milestone in 2021 when it was officially recognized from the U.S. State Department and Congress. Arab Americans represent roots from 22 different countries from Africa and Asia and represent many different racial and ethnic backgrounds. The Diversity Movement has a guest blog on Arab American Heritage Month and ways to take actions to create a more inclusive workplace.
Autism Acceptance Month was established to foster understanding and support for the millions of people on the autism spectrum. The observance has its roots in the grassroots efforts of the Autism Society, which launched the first National Autistic Children’s Week in 1970. It gained formal national status in 1988. While it initially focused on increasing public knowledge and research funding, recent years have seen a significant shift toward Autism Acceptance Month—a movement led by self-advocates to move beyond mere "awareness" and prioritize true inclusion, respect, and the celebration of neurodiversity. This month's celebration also includes World Autism Day on April 2nd. Visit the Autistic Self Advocacy Network to learn more!
Celebrate Diversity Month recognizes and honors the diverse backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives that enrich our communities and workplaces. It was officially established in 2004 by two diversity-focused organizations, ProGroup Inc. and Diversity Best Practices, who created a proclamation to designate the month. The goal was to move beyond simply acknowledging differences in race, gender, religion, and sexual orientation, and instead foster deeper understanding and authentic inclusion. By dedicating a full month to education and open dialogue, the initiative aims to break down stereotypes and highlight how a wide variety of viewpoints drives innovation and creates a more harmonious society. Read this guide on ways you can celebrate this month!
Only 1 More Week Until Advanced Microaggressions for Leaders Workshop
There's only 1 week left until our Advanced Microaggressions for Leaders workshop on April 9th & 10th at 8:30-12:00pm PT / 11:30-3:00pm ET on Zoom.
Facilitated by Dr. Caprice Hollins, this strategy-based workshop is designed for supervisors, managers, and leaders who want to improve their ability to lead their staff through difficult conversations. Participants learn eight strategies for engaging staff when tension exists due to microaggressions and other types of comments that cause tension.
To take full advantage of this workshop, we encourage participants who have limited understanding of what microaggressions are to complete our included e-course Microaggressions: What are they and Why are they Harmful prior to the workshop. Visit the link below to learn more and register!
Register for Equity Leaders Workshop
Leading Equity Work in Shifting Times (formerly Equity Leaders) workshop, brings together equity leaders, formal and informal, who are committed to sustaining belonging-centered organizational change even in shifting political and institutional climates. Participants will learn directly from Cultures Connecting’s seventeen-plus years of experience supporting hundreds of organizations through multicultural organizational development, resistance, and long-term culture change.
This workshop is facilitated by Dr. Caprice Hollins and Ilsa Govan and will take place on May 7th & 8th at 8:30-12:00pm PT /11:30-3:00pm ET on Zoom. Visit the button below to learn more and register!
Who is Paradise For? A Conversation with Multimedia Artist Jo Cosme
Yolanda Cosme grew up in Borikén, the indigenous name for the island the Spanish renamed Puerto Rico, absorbing a story about herself that wasn't hers. It was the story colonialism tells: that North Americans are more educated, more intellectual, more worthy. That to be from the Caribbean is to be lesser. "We grew up with this shame of being savages," she says. "That's what they tell us and we grow up having that internalized."
Jo, as she goes by, makes art to bring awareness about Puerto Rico, its peoples, and the impact of colonization. Puerto Rico has been marketed as paradise for as long as Jo can remember. The beaches, the sunsets, the warmth, all packaged and sold to tourists as backdrop. Her work asks who that framing actually serves and at whose expense. "Who is it for? Why does the native population of a place never get to call or see it that way?"
Read our latest interview with Jo on our blog to learn more about her work, including images and videos of her art, and ways you can travel to places like Puerto Rico in more responsible and sensitive ways.
Unspoken Truths: We STILL Dream a Future Exhibit at King Street Station
Our colleague, Delbert Richardson of The Unspoken Truths, has an art and history exhibit titled We STILL Dream a Future: Reclaiming Our Humanity at King Street Station. Using a multi-sensory, interdisciplinary approach with artifacts and storyboards, the exhibit walks visitors through four segments: Mother Africa, U.S. Chattel Slavery, the Jim Crow Era, and Still, We Rise.
King Street Station is located on 303 S. Jackson St. in Seattle and has gallery hours on Wednesdays through Saturdays at 11-5pm and first Thursdays during Pioneer Square Artwalk at 11-8pm. This is an incredibly thought provoking exhibit and we encourage everyone to attend. The exhibit will run through May 9th.
When Women Lead Conference 2026
The 4th annual When Women Lead (WWL) 2026 Conference is taking place on June 18-20th in Vancouver, WA. WWL is a national event for women leading equity and social justice in public education with a focus on policy. WWL provides a space for intentional leadership development and collective action for superintendents, assistant superintendents, district administrators, and school leaders.
Our co-Founder Ilsa Govan, along with her colleague Whitney White of PSESD, will be presenting on White Women Supervisors. WWL are currently accepting presentation proposals which you can submit here. If you an educator, register today!
White Privilege Conference Coming Soon
We shared about the White Privilege Conference (WPC) in an earlier issue of this newsletter but wanted to remind you that it's coming up on April 22-25 in Seattle!
The conference welcomes everyone and aims to provide a rich range of perspectives. WPC creates space for meaningful dialogue on how White privilege, White supremacy, and systems of oppression shape our daily lives. Register today!
Ways to Take Action for Change
Postcards4Democracy in West Seattle Postcards4Democracy is an ongoing event in West Seattle where people get together for conversation, coffee, and writing postcards in support of democracy. They meet every Tuesday, the first Saturday, and third Thursday of each month at C& P Coffee. They ask that you bring supplies, addresses (the have resources for where to find them), and stamps if possible. Visit their website for event details.
La Resistencia Solidarity Day with Jewish Voices for Peace
La Resistencia will be joined by Jewish Voices for Peace for solidarity day at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma. The day aims to amplify the call to shut down the detention center and deportations. You can join them on April 4th from 1-3pm.
Come As You Are: Mindfulness on the Spot
This virtual drop-in class is for people who are new to mindfulness and want to refresh their practice. The meetings are a space to "show up with all your imperfections and longing and joy." They meet weekly on Wednesdays from April 1st to the 22nd from 5:30-6:30pm PT and offer sliding scale rates. You can register for the Zoom workshops here.
It's a new month which means taking a look at our Diversity Calendar to look at significant dates to consider when planning meetings or events to create greater inclusion. Click on the name of the day to learn more.
2/18-4/02: Lenten Season (Christian)
3/29-4/05: Holy Week (Christian)
4/01-09: Passover (Pesach) (Jewish)
4/02: Maundy Thursday (Christian)
4/03: Good Friday (Christian)
4/05: Easter (Christian)
4/06: National Tartan Day (Scottish American)
4/10: National Day of Silence (United States)
4/10: Orthodox Good Friday (Christian Orthodox)
4/12: Orthodox Easter (Christian Orthodox)
4/13-14: Yom HaSho’ah (Jewish)
4/01: Vaisakhi (Sikh)
4/14-16: Cambodian New Year (Cambodian)
4/14-16: Bun Pi Mai (New Year) (Laotian)
4/20-21: First Day of Ridván (Bahá'i)
4/22: Earth Day (International)
4/28-29: Ninth Day of Ridván (Bahá'i)
If you'd like to add our Diversity Calendar dates to your Google calendar, you can add it using this link.
Upcoming DEIB/Social Justice Events
For details on these and other events, workshops and conferences happening in the social justice space, visit our Events Calendar. If you have an event you would like us to share, please reach out to us!
4/01: Come As You Are: Mindfulness on the Spot
4/01: Healing Doesn't Have to Happen in Silence
4/02: NAMI LGBTQ+ Support Group
4/04: Tea for Sovereignty at Duwamish Longhouse
4/04: La Resistencia Solidarity Day with Jewish Voices for Peace
4/13: Resistance Fridays at Common Power
4/03: Between Borders & Belonging: Art Opening at The Fishbowl
4/07: NAMI BIPOC Support Group
4/09: Advanced Microaggressions for Leaders (Cultures Connecting)
4/13: People's Institute Northwest Organizing Meeting
4/15: BIPOC Leaders Lab
...and so much more! Visit our Events Calendar to see the most up-to-date full schedule.
*Cultures Connecting workshop.
