February 14, 2023
Black History Month 2023
In the United States, the month of February is commemorated as Black History Month. It is a time to celebrate the heritage, history, and achievements of Black US Americans; subjects which are often neglected throughout the rest of the year. Unfortunately, the history of the US has largely been whitewashed and sanitized. The historical oppression and…
January 14, 2023
MLK Day 2023
Monday, January 16, will be a day off for students and workers across UW, in commemoration of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday. It will be the 40th anniversary of this holiday being signed into law. You can read last year’s blog post for a more in-depth overview of this holiday and Dr King’s legacy, but…
November 22, 2022
Native American Heritage Month
November is National Native American Heritage Month in the United States. It is a month to recognize and celebrate the cultures and contributions of the Indigenous peoples in what is now the US. The University of Washington occupies land that is the ancestral homeland of Coast Salish tribes, including the Duwamish (who are still denied federal recognition),…
October 21, 2022
Happy Diwali!
Today marks the start of Diwali, one of the biggest holidays celebrated in India. Diwali (or Deepavali, as it is sometimes spelled) is a festival of lights that symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness. It is a major celebration in Hinduism, Sikhism, and Jainism, and it is also a popular cultural celebration for many…
October 10, 2022
Indigenous Peoples’ Day and National Coming Out Day
October, considered by some to be the best month of the year, hosts a number of important cultural celebrations. This week, Indigenous Peoples’ Day and National Coming Out Day land right next to each other, on October 10 and October 11, respectively. Indigenous Peoples’ Day is generally recognized in the United States on the second Monday…
September 30, 2022
Orange Shirt Day
Today, September 30, is Orange Shirt Day, part of an Indigenous movement to remember and honor the survivors and victims of the residential schools or boarding schools across the US and Canada. These schools are not commonly talked about in the mainstream US, but their effects on Indigenous communities are still felt keenly by survivors…
September 26, 2022
Hispanic Heritage Month and Rosh Hashanah
September marks the end of summer, the beginning of a new academic year, and the first half of Hispanic Heritage Month in the United States. This year, Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, also falls in September. Keep reading below for more information and resources for this month. Hispanic (Latinx?) Heritage Month In the United…
June 16, 2022
Celebrating Pride Month and Juneteenth
June brings with it not only the start of summer but also two important celebrations: LGBTQ+ Pride and Juneteenth. Keep reading below for more information and resources for this month. Pride Month In the United States, the month of June is recognized as Pride Month, a month celebrating the vibrancy and resilience of LGBTQ+ individuals…
June 10, 2022
SAFS DEIJ & Community Service Recognition Awards to Eleni Petrou and Nicole Doran
Every quarter, the SAFS Equity and Inclusion Committee chooses an individual or team from within the School to receive the DEIJ and Community Service Recognition Award in honor of their significant contribution towards advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in community service, academic endeavor, teaching, or research. This year, Eleni Petrou (Winter 2022) and Nicole Doran…
May 4, 2022
Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
In the United States, the month of May is commemorated annually as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month. It is a time to celebrate the cultures, histories, and achievements of US Americans of Asian and/or Pacific Islander descent. Early supporters of this commemorative month followed in the footsteps of Black History Month, fighting to get Asian/Pacific American…