Below is a list of Cultural, History, Heritage, or Awareness celebrations/months/days. This list is not comprehensive. We welcome your feedback, including additions to the list. If you're thinking about organizing an event and are interested in a consultation or requesting logistical support, please contact Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging.
Upcoming Events
April - May
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have played vital roles in shaping the nation. They constitute a diverse component of the Cal State LA community.
April 1 - April 30
The Office for Students with Disabilities, in partnership with the Neurodivergent Collective student organization, invite you to celebrate Neurodivergent Acceptance Month (NDAM). Join us for interactive activities, workshops, and events that foster understanding and inclusivity for our neurodivergent community.
Cultural Graduation Celebrations
Cultural ceremonies are great opportunities to acknowledge your academic achievements and celebrate the cultural influences that have contributed to your academic success. The APIDA, Black, Native American, Nuestra, and Pride ceremonies are open to all students.
Past Events
September 15 - October 15
Chicanx Latinx Heritage Month celebrates the contributions of Latinx Americans and the cultural history of those with ancestries from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.
October 2 - 27
Ability Awareness Week spreads awareness of the limitations faced by people with disabilities through engaging and informative programs that acknowledge their abilities and strengths.
October 1 -31
Filipinx American History Month brings awareness to the role Filipinx Americans have played in U.S. history. October 1587 was when “Luzones Indios,” Filipinx sailors, landed at Morro Bay.
October 1 – 31 LGBTQ+
LGBTQ+ History Month celebrates the history and achievements of the LGBTQ+ community, including National Coming out Day, the first march on Washington for gay and lesbian rights.
November 14 – 18
The College of Professional and Global Education’s International Office invites all students, faculty and staff to celebrate International Education Week (IEW) at Cal State LA.
November
November is Native American Heritage Month (NAHM). Also known as American Indian Heritage Month and American and Alaskan Heritage Month, NAHM celebrates the histories, cultures, and contributions of Native American communities.
First-Gen Week
Cal State LA is excited to recognize First-Generation College Celebration (FGCC). Join us from November 2 – 9 for programs highlighting the unique experiences of first-generation college students.
November 10
The Cal State LA Veterans Day ceremony recognizes the sacrifices and contributions of our military veterans. Hear from Cal State LA student veterans share their experiences.
June
Celebrate love, diversity, and equality during Pride Month events in the community.
Juneteenth
This Juneteenth event at Cal State LA will feature a keynote address by Dr. David B. Green Jr., assistant professor in the Department of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. President William A. Covino and Interim Vice President for Administration and CFO Queen King will offer opening remarks.
February
Celebrate the spectacular lives, amazing accomplishments, and historic contributions of Black people in the United States.
March
Women’s History Month became an official annual celebration when Congress signed the resolution in 1987 to draw attention to and improve the focus on women in historical studies.
September
The Latinx Heritage Month celebrates the contributions of Latinx Americans and the richness of the cultural history of those with ancestries typically from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. The period encompasses the dates on which several countries in the South and central America celebrate their respective Independence days. Read about the contributions of the Latinx community and access educational resources.
October
Cal State LA honors Indigenous Peoples Day! Join us in a procession led by Xipe Tote of Lazaro Arvisu to celebrate shared history and culture. A blessing, songs and spoken word will follow.
Filipino American History Month is celebrated in October to bring awareness to the role Filipinos have played in American history. The month was chosen as it was in October 1587 when “Luzones In dios” landed at Morro Bay, California, with a number of the first known Filipino sailors. In 2009, U.S. Congress recognized October as Filipino American History Month in the United States.
For more information, visit the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) website.
LGBTQ+ History Month celebrates the history and achievements of the LGBTQ+ community. The observance began as a call to action for the movement. Over the years, LGBTQ+ History Month has evolved into a national collaborative effort to bring extraordinary figures from the LGBTQ+ community into the spotlight.
Equality Forum
November
The joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Education promote and celebrate programs that prepare Americans for the global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences.
Learn more about International Week.
In November we celebrate American Indian Heritage month, which has been observed since the approved joint resolution in 1990. The month recognizes the contributions of the first Americans to the establishment of the US as we know today. The proclamations vary (e.g., “Native American Heritage Month”, “National American and Alaskan Heritage Month” etc.)
November 11 is observed as Veterans Day to honor America's veterans. Historically November 11 marks the day when fighting ceased between the Allied nations and Germany. For more information, please review the VA website.
January
“MLK Day” is a national holiday marking the birthday of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. King was a leading spokesperson for nonviolent activism in the Civil Rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968. He protested racial discrimination in state and federal law and helped advance civil rights for people of color in the United States.
February
Black History Month in February is is dedicated to celebrating the achievements and history of African Americans. The celebration pays tribute to African Americans who struggled and advocated to achieve full citizenship in the U.S. Key people and events in the history of African diaspora are honored.
The Library Resource Guide on Black History Month is a great resource for additional information.
March
César Chávez Day (March 31) is observed in the United States on March 31 each year. The holiday celebrates the birthday of César Chávez, a migrant farmworker who became a leading activist in the fight against racial and economic injustices toward Chicanxs communities. Chávez co-founded the National Farm Workers Association in the early 1960s and gained support to have his organization be the first successful farm workers’ union in the United States.
The Irish-American Heritage Month was first celebrated in 1991. It honors the contributions of Irish immigrants and their descendants in the U.S. Saint Patrick’s Day (March 17), the Irish national holiday and a cultural and religious celebration of the patron saint of Ireland also falls during this heritage month.
National Deaf History Month, March 13 - April 15, commemorates the achievements of people who are deaf and hard of hearing. The history month is spread across March and April, which recognizes a series of important historical events in deaf history dating back to the 1800s.
Women's History Month was previously a week-long event in Sonoma, California. Women’s History Month became an official annual celebration when Congress signed the resolution in 1987. It was originally established to draw attention to and improve the focus on women in historical studies. International Women’s Day (March 8) also falls during this month.
Consult the Library Resource Guide on Women’s History Month for additional information.
June
The LGBTQIA+ Pride Month is celebrated in June to mark the Stonewall Uprising in 1969.
The Library Resource Guide on Pride Month has additional information.
Information on the annual LA Pride Parade and Festival
Juneteenth is a federal holiday on June 19 that honors the end of slavery and the emancipation of enslaved African American in the United States. This holiday is often observed for celebrating African American culture. In June 2021, Congress passed a resolution establishing Juneteenth as a federal holiday, and it was soon after signed into law by President Biden.
May
The Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is celebrated in May as it commemorates the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843, and marks 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.
The Jewish American Heritage Month in May honors the celebration of the 350th Anniversary of American Jewish History that took place May 2004. The Jewish American Heritage Month celebrates American Jews’ achievements and contributions to the United States.
Memorial Day is a federal holiday that honors the United States military personnel who have died while serving in the armed forces. Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday of May.