Diversity, equity and inclusion

Our commitment

Diversity, equity and Inclusion will be the cornerstone of all programs, initiatives and events within the Office of Alumni Relations. We aim to reflect and empower the voices of VCU’s distinctive alumni community. We are committed to creating alumni programming, events and initiatives that recognize, embrace and represent diverse backgrounds, identities, viewpoints and lived experiences. The Office of Alumni Relations provides a safe, trusting and supportive environment to explore, create, learn and serve. We will not tolerate or condone discrimination.

We strive to incorporate the following principles in all that we do:

Diversity: The wide variety of shared and different personal and group characteristics among human beings.
Inclusion: Authentic and empowered participation in decision-making processes in ways that lead to equity.
Equity: The state, quality or ideal of being just, impartial and fair.

Cultural observances

In 2024, the Culture, Values and Diversity Committee of the VCU Alumni Council launched the cultural observances effort that raises awareness of the observances celebrated by the various cultures and populations reflected in the VCU community.

Learn more about the VCU Alumni council.

January: Jan. 15: Martin Luther King Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed on the third Monday of January each year to honor Martin Luther King Jr., who advocated for nonviolent activism in the Civil Rights Movement, which protested racial discrimination in law and civil society.

February

Black History Month
Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month, a time to celebrate the achievements of African Americans and their role in U.S. history.

Feb. 8-10: Losar
The Tibetan New Year falls on the first day of the first month of the Tibetan lunar calendar, this year on Feb. 24. The Losar celebration is one the most festive periods observed with religious, cultural and merrymaking events.

Feb. 10: Lunar New Year
The Lunar New Year marks the beginning of the lunar calendar in many East Asian cultures. Celebrated with vibrant parades, traditional performances and family gatherings, it symbolizes the renewal of life and the ushering in of good fortune.

Feb. 20: World Day of Social Justice
This day promotes global awareness and action for social justice, urging individuals and organizations to address issues of inequality, discrimination and poverty through education, advocacy and collaborative efforts.

March

National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
This monthlong observance highlights how people with and without disabilities come together to form strong communities.

March 1: Zero Discrimination Day
This day spotlights how people can become informed about and promote inclusion, compassion, peace and, above all, a movement for change to end all forms of discrimination.

March 8: International Women’s Day
On this global day, we celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality.

March 10: Ramadan
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community.

March 17: St. Patrick's Day
Also known as the Feast of Saint Patrick, this religious and cultural holiday is held on the traditional death date of Saint Patrick, the foremost patron saint of Ireland.

March 24: Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday is the Christian moveable feast that falls on the Sunday before Easter and commemorates Christ’s entry into Jerusalem. Its name originates from the palm branches waved by the crowd to greet and honor Jesus as he entered the city.

March 29: Good Friday
This Christian holiday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary.

March 31: International Transgender Day of Visibility
This annual day is dedicated to celebrating transgender people and raising awareness of discrimination faced by transgender people worldwide, as well as a celebration of their contributions to society.

April

Celebrate Diversity Month
Celebrate Diversity Month recognizes and honors the diversity of the world around us.

Autism Acceptance Month
This month long observance raises awareness of autism, promotes acceptance and celebrates each individual's unique differences.

Deaf History Month
Deaf History Month honors the contributions of deaf individuals and the deaf community, while encouraging advocacy for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals.

National Arab American Heritage Month
This month long observance celebrates Arab Americans and their contributions to our country. It urges people to combat Anti-Arab bigotry and challenge stereotypes and prejudices.

April 9-10: Eid Al-Fitr
This is a Muslim festival marking the end of the fast of Ramadan.

April 15: National American Sign Language Day
This observance celebrates American Sign Language, honors its unique heritage and encourages opportunities for connection.

April 22-April 30: Passover
Passover is a Jewish celebration that commemorates the Biblical story of Exodus in the Old Testament of the Bible.

May

Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month
Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month is a celebration of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States. A rather broad term, Asian/Pacific encompasses all of the Asian continent and the Pacific islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. The month of May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843 and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants.

Jewish American Heritage Month
Jewish American Heritage Month is an annual recognition and celebration of American Jews' achievements and contributions to the United States of America. In 2020 the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia repositioned Jewish American Heritage Month to empower communities across the country to celebrate the inspiring history of Jewish people in America, educate diverse public audiences about Jewish culture and spark crucial conversations about the American Jewish present and future.

Mental Health Awareness Month
Since its inception in 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month has been a cornerstone of addressing the challenges faced by millions of Americans living with mental health conditions.

Military Appreciation Month
Military Appreciation Month is a special time for those in and out of the military. It is a time designated to honor and recognize the contributions, sacrifices and service of the members of the armed forces, past and present. Not only do we pause on Memorial Day to remember the sacrifice and service of those who gave all, but the month also marks several other military anniversaries and events, including Military Spouse Appreciation Day and Armed Forces Day.

May 5: Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo is a yearly celebration held on May 5 to celebrate Mexico's victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, led by General Ignacio Zaragoza.

May 21: World Day for Cultural Diversity Dialogue and Development
Held every year on May 21, UNESCO leads the celebration of World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development highlighting not only the richness of the world’s cultures, but also the essential role of intercultural dialogue for achieving peace and sustainable development.

May 27: Memorial Day
Originally known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for honoring and mourning the U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. From 1868 to 1970, it was observed on May 30. Since 1971, it has been observed on the last Monday of May.

June

Caribbean American Heritage Month
Established in 2006, this observance promotes the rich culture and heritage of the Caribbean American people and their contribution to the U.S.

Immigrant Heritage Month
National Immigrant Heritage Month honors the cultural, historical and social contributions of immigrants to the United States. The month is also a time to recognize the values of diversity, equity and inclusion that our nation of immigrants embodies.

LGBTQIA Pride Month
Pride Month is dedicated to celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, asexual and agender people and their communities. Pride Month began after the Stonewall riots, a series of gay liberation protests in 1969.

June 19: Juneteenth
Juneteenth, officially known as Juneteenth National Independence Day, commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the U.S. The holiday was first celebrated in Texas, the final area in the U.S. where, on June 19, 1865, enslaved people were declared free under the terms of the 1862 Emancipation Proclamation.

July

Disability Pride Month
Disability Pride Month celebrates the achievements, resilience and diversity of people with disabilities. It’s a time to promote inclusion, raise awareness about disability rights and foster pride in identity and accomplishments.

National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month
This observance raises awareness of the challenges that affect the mental health of racial and ethnic minority groups.

French American Month
This month celebrates the contributions of French Americans to society. It is celebrated in July, the same month as Bastille Day (July 14, the French national holiday commemorating a turning point in the French Revolution in 1789).

July 4: Independence Day
Independence Day celebrates the ratification of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. It’s often celebrated with parades, fireworks and gatherings, honoring the spirit of liberty.

August: Aug. 9: International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples
This day recognizes the achievements and contributions of indigenous people around the world and to raise awareness and protect the rights of indigenous populations. Aug. 9 was chosen for this observance in recognition of the first meeting of the U.N. Working Group on Indigenous Populations in Geneva in 1982.

Aug. 15: India Independence Day
This Indian national holiday in India marks the end of British rule in 1947 and the establishment of a free and independent Indian nation.

Aug. 26: Women’s Equality Day
This day commemorates the 1920 certification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution that gave women the right to vote. Congresswoman Bella Abzug introduced the proclamation for Women’s Equality Day in 1971.

September

Hispanic Heritage Month
National Hispanic Heritage Month, observed from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, honors the rich histories, cultures and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

Sept. 2: Labor Day
Labor Day honors the contribution workers have made to the U.S. and is observed on the first Monday of September.

Sept. 16: Eid Milad un-Nabi
This holiday commemorates the birthday of the prophet Muhammad, who founded Islam. The celebration includes decorating homes and mosques, large processions and participating in charity events.

Sept. 16: Mexican Independence Day
El Día de la Independencia commemorates Mexico’s independence from Spain and is one of the country’s most important national holidays.

Sept. 18: International Equal Pay Day
Celebrated for the first time in 2020, this day represents long-standing efforts to achieve equal pay for work of equal value among U.S. workers. It builds on the United Nations’ commitment to human rights and efforts to eliminate all forms of discrimination, including against women and girls.

Sept. 23: International Day of Sign Languages
This day is designed to raise awareness of the importance of sign language in the full realization of the human rights of people who are deaf.

October

Down Syndrome Awareness Month
Observed every October, this month raises awareness and promotes the acceptance and inclusion of individuals with Down syndrome. This month is designed to educate the public about down syndrome, celebrate the abilities and accomplishments of people with the condition and advocate for their rights and inclusion in society.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Since 1989, this month has been observed every October. This month aims to recognize domestic violence survivors and to provide support for survivors.

Filipino American Heritage Month
Filipino American Heritage Month, observed every October, honors the rich histories, cultures and contributions of Filipino Americans in the United States.

Global Diversity Awareness Month
This is a month designed to celebrate and increase awareness about the diversity of cultures and ethnicity around the world.  The month highlights the importance of inclusivity, equity and cross-cultural understanding and appreciation.

LGBTQ+ History Month
LGBTQ+ History Month, first observed in the U.S. in 1994, recognizes the history of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals, as well as the history of the gay rights movement. This month highlights key moments, achievements and contributions of the LGBTQ+ community.

Oct. 2-4: Rosh Hashanah
Rosh Hashanah, also known as the Jewish New Year, is one of the most important holidays in Judaism. This holiday marks the beginning of the Jewish High Holy Days.

Oct. 14: Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Indigenous Peoples' Day, observed on the second Monday in October, honors the histories and contributions of Indigenous peoples in the United States. It serves as a counter-celebration to Columbus Day, highlighting the resilience and significance of Native communities and acknowledging the harm and injustices the communities faced due to colonization.

November: Native American Heritage Month
Nov. 11: Veterans Day
Nov. 13-19: Transgender Awareness Week

December

Dec. 3: International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Dec. 10: International Human Rights Day
Dec. 20: International Human Solidarity Day
Dec. 25: Christmas
Dec. 25-Jan. 2: Hanukkah
Dec. 26-Jan. 1: Kwanzaa

Your voice

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DEI events

Programs and resources

Group 1 icon	Group 1 description	Group 2 icon	Group 2 description
	Affinity, shared interest and identity-based groups		Webinar archive
	Recognition		Alumni Council