Dates: September 15 - October 15

History: Latine Heritage Month has its beginnings from 1968, where it was originally observed as “Hispanic Heritage Week”, but it was later extended to a month in 1988. Since then, LHM has been celebrated nationwide via festivals, art shows, conferences, community gatherings, and much more. The month starts on September 15th and ends on October 15th as it encapsulates the independence days of several Latin American countries, including: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua on September 15th, Mexico on September 16th, and Chile on September 18th. It also includes holidays such as the Virgin Islands-Puerto Rico Friendship Day on October 9th and Día de la Raza on October 12th. (sources: U.S. Dept. of Education, Hispanic Heritage Month, )

**We are adopting the use of "Latine" as opposed to "Latinx" or "Hispanic" after Latine student organizations hosted conversations around how they'd like to self-identify as a community. The use of the term "Latine" came about as a way to still honor the original inclusive intentions of "Latinx" in including gender-expansive and gender non-conforming individuals while also sounding more fluid in pronunciation in Spanish. The community of course continues to honor the different ways individuals personally choose to identify as well. Any usage of the term "Latinx" henceforth is due to that presently still being the title/naming of the program or organization. 

USF events to look forward to:

• Alumni Engagement - Latinx Alumni Society
  • Hear Latine alumni speak about their stories and what this time of month means to them! 
• Bon Appétit

  • They will be featuring a locally roasted coffee from Guatemala. The coffee is grown and produced by indigenous women in Cuchumatan, Huehuetenango. 

  • Latine Heritage Dinners! Every Thursday of September, the cafeteria will feature Latin cuisine from a different region:
    • Sept 7 - Mexico
    • Sept 14 - El Salvador
    • Sept 21 - Colombia
    • Sept 28 - Guatemala
• Gleeson Library - "Latinx's: Driving Prosperity, Power, and Progress in America." Display
  • Come see the display, located in the Gleeson Library Labyrinth Nook, where you can find a variety of books related to the Latinx culture and community!
• The Lane Center - Instituto Hispano: Walking with Latinx Youth in an Age of Mixed-Status Families Workshop
  • The Lane Center is co-sponsoring an event with the Jesuit School of Theology on Sept 11th.  The virtual workshop will feature Jesica Fernandez and Victor Carmona engaging in a dialogue and theological reflection on her book Growing Up Latinx.
• Thatcher Gallery - Yolanda M. López: Women’s Work is Never Done
  • View the Exhibit from Aug. 31st to Nov. 12, 2023
  • Sept 19 - Exhibit Community Tour
• Latinas Unidas & L.U.N.A - Latine Heritage Celebration 
  • Sept 22 from 6-10pm in McLaren Complex
  • Celebrate Latine culture and heritage with music, food, performances, and more!
• School of Management Spotlight - Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
  • Sept 26 from 4:30-6:00pm in McLaren 250 
  • Panel discussion + networking happy hour!
  • RSVP no later than 5 pm, Wednesday, 9/20, as they will need an accurate headcount for catering**
• L.U.N.A - Molcajete
  • Sept 28 from 11:30-12:45pm in Privett Plaza
• Critical Diversity Studies - Humanizing Education: Storytelling for Collective Liberation Forum
  • Oct 5 from 2:40–4:25pm in the McLaren Complex
  • Both featured guest speakers are Latine
    • Maya Gonzalez
      • Award-winning children's book artist, author, activist and progressive educator 
    • Per Sia
      • Latinx non-binary youth educator, Drag Queen and storyteller
• Latinx/e Faculty, Librarian, & Staff Social
  • Oct 10 from 5:00-7:00pm in Koret Lodge (1st floor of Lone Mountain Main)
  • Enjoy refreshments & appetizers as we build Latinx/e connections at USF!
  • Sponsored by the Latinx Excellence & Belonging Initiative and the Office of Antiracism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI)
• Cultural Centers - Pozole Cooking Class
  • Oct 11 from 6:30-8:00pm in the UC 4 Lounge
  • Join the Cultural Centers to learn how to make a yummy bowl of pozole for Latine Heritage Month! We'll provide all the supplies and teach two different recipes. Connect with community and enjoy some comforting soup for the season.
  • RSVP Here!
• Latin Horror Film Festival
  • Oct 19 from 5-8 pm in the Education Building Room 110

  • ¡Mucho miedo!

    Enjoy this unique event on campus with a great selection of short and feature films from the Spanish-speaking world. Be creative and participate in the Scary Makeup Contest!

    Pizza and treats will be available.

  • Sponsored by the Languages, Literatures and Cultures Department and Chicanx.Latinx Studies Program

Local Bay Area resources:

• Attend Latin Bay Area events
  • East Bay LHM events for kids & families
• Support Bay Area Latine businesses
• Get connected with Latine organizations
  • La Raza Community Resource Center
  • La Madre Tierra's list of Latine community based organizations working in conservation

Date: October 

History: While we celebrate Pride Month in June, we also celebrate LGBTQ+ Heritage Month in October, which was first observed in the U.S. in 1994. As Pride Month is in June, and USF's academic calendar ends in May, we are excited to announce our very own inaugural "Out-tober" LGBT+ Heritage Month as a way for our campus community to recognize, honor, and celebrate the queer identities, history, and culture of our community members.  "Out-tober" is named as such to recognize National Coming Out Day on October 11th. This year's theme draws inspiration from 1980's queer punk.

USF events to look forward to:

• Milk Film Screening & LGBTQ+ Activist Discussion
  • Oct 5 at 6:30pm at the Castro Theater
  • Discussion with Cleve Jones, LGBT rights activist and founder of The NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt moderated by Honey Mahogany followed by screening of "Milk". **RSVP REQUIRED**
• Sukkot with Breaking Bread and the Binary
  • Oct 6 from 11:30am - 12:30pm in Welch Field
  • Celebrate the Jewish festival of Sukkot! All are welcome to honor our queer ancestors as part of our weekly lunch.
• Queering Culture: Dungeons & Dragons
  • Oct 13 & 27 from 5:30-7:30pm in the Intercultural Center (UC 411/412)
  • Learn and play D&D while exploring the ways people can express gender in fantasy and table-top role playing games. Prior RSVPs ARE REQUIRED!
• Living LGBTQI+ and the Catholic/Christian Identity at USF
  • October 17th at 12pm in Kalmanovitz 163
  • Meet with Fr. Donal Godfrey, SJ, University Chaplain and author of "Gays and Grays" in a conversation on the specific issues of those who identify as both Catholic and other Christians, and LGBTQI+.
• "What's the (Milk) Tea?" LGBTQ+ Social
  • Oct 20 at 11:30am in the Gender & Sexuality Center (UC 413)
  • Come by the Gender & Sexuality Center to meet new people, talk about how you're doing, and drink milk tea with boba!
• LGBTQ+ Murder Mystery Night
  • Oct 31 at 6:30pm on the University Center 4th Floor Lounge
  • Join the Culturl Centers for a role playing Murder Mystery Night! No experience with murder mysteries necessary.
• Pride Night with the Golden State Warriors  
  • Nov 1 at 3:30pm
  • Join members of the USF Community at the Warrior's Pride Night as they play against the Kings. Attend Heritage Month Events for raffle entries for a free ticket!

Local Bay Area resources:

• USF's LGBTQ Caucus Resource Guide
  • A thorough, albeit non-exhaustive, compilation of LGBTQ resources related to:
    • USF
    • The Bay Area
    • African American, Asian-Pacific Islander & Latino LGBTQ Organizations
    • Online
    • Magazines
    • Blogs, Etc.

Date: October

History: Pilipinx American History Month is celebrated in October to commemorate the arrival of the first Filipinos in modern-day Morro Bay, California in the United States on October 18, 1587. "Following years of campaigning and advocacy by both the civil society and organizations, the Filipino American National Historical Society established Filipino American History Month in 1992. In  2009, Congress recognized the month of October officially as Filipino American History Month in the U.S." (source: National Today)

USF events to look forward to:

• “‘There Are So Many Filipinos In Here’: Rap Music and Writing Lives in the Filipinx Diaspora”

  • Oct 2 from 6-8pm in McLaren 250

  • Keynote by Dr. Roderick Labrador, Professor & Chair of Ethnic Studies, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa

  • What can rappers (like Kiwi, Bambu, Rocky Rivera, Prometheus Brown, Nomi, and Ruby Ibarra) tell us about race, ethnicity, gender, culture, history, and politics in the Filipinx diaspora? In this talk, Dr. Labrador explores the ways that rappers produce, create, innovate, and self-stage Filipinx American selves at the individual and collective levels. He suggests that the music created by these rappers are not just biographical but a type of self-referential life writing, as hip hop musical autobiographies. As such, these rappers creatively and artistically help us to define and be Filipinx in diaspora.

  • Hosted by the Yuchengco Philippine Studies Program (YPSP)

  • For more info, contact philippine.studies@usfca.edu 

• Pamayanan Part 2
  • Oct 7 from 6:30-8:30pm in McLaren 252
  • It's Kasamahan's second Pamayanan celebration! Swing by for food and games to commemorate PAHM as a community.
• Batuk Workshop: The Legacies of Philippine Tattoo
  • Oct 19 from 6-8pm in the Intercultural Center (UC 411/412)
  • Have you ever received backlash from family by getting a tattoo or by even suggesting you wanted one? Tattoo in the Philippines is a longstanding practice and tradition that has persisted despite years of colonialism and cultural transformation. This workshop highlights the beauty and resilience of traditional Philippine tattoos. Come join us to learn more about its rich history and significance!
  • Hosted by Kasamahan
• Marahuyo Festival 
  • Oct 28 from 3-5pm on Privett Plaza and UC 3
  • To close out PAHM as a community, we invite you to enjoy traditional Filipino games, popular kakanin/merienda (Filipino sweets and snacks), and activities while getting to know (and buy products from!) local Filipina/o/x-owned businesses, including a few owned by USF alumni.
  • Hosted by Kasamahan and the Cultural Centers
  • Sponsored by YPSP

Local Bay Area resources:

• USF Yuchengco Philippine Studies Program (YPSP)
• USF Kasamahan Community Resources List
• Filipino American Development Foundation
  • Bayanihan Community Center
• Lead Filipino
• Pilipino Association of Workers and Immigrants
• San Francisco Filipino Community Center

Date: The second Monday in October = Oct. 9, 2023

History: Indigenous Peoples Day began as a counter-celebration to Columbus Day. This stems from the rejection of the notion of honoring Christopher Columbus, someone who represents the violence of colonization and the genocide of Indigenous communities. Indigenous Peoples' Day is centered in the recognition, reflection, celebration, and education of Indigeneity. It is a time for learning and unlearning. (source: NPR) 

USF and Local events to look forward to:

• "Contemporary Indigenous Voices of California’s South Coast Range" at the deYoung Museum
  • Oct 7 at 11:00am 
  • Join the Opening day of the exhibit, which includes Ramaytush and other Bay Area Ohlone groups.
• Trip to San Francisco’s Indigenous Peoples Day at Yerba Buena Gardens
  • Oct 9 from 12:00-2:00pm 
    • **The official event ends at 3:30pm and attendees may choose to stay longer
  • Join us in celebration of San Francisco Indigenous Peoples Day at Yerba Buena Gardens with Native American art, music and vendors. The program highlights the vastly diverse and talented community of Indigenous artists in the Bay Area, California and beyond. The event is free and open to the public.
  • The Cultural Centers is organizing group travel together from USF. 
  • RSVP Here!
• USF Indigenous Peoples Day Social
  • Oct 9 from 5:00-6:30pm in the Intercultural Center (UC 411/412)
  • Stop by the Cultural Centers to socialize, eat, and create. We’re welcoming USF’s Native American students, their friends, and our students, faculty and staff who want to be in solidarity!
  • Co-sponsored by The Office Antiracism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI)

Local Bay Area resources:

• USF Indigenous Peoples Day Resource Guide 2022
  • Extensive guide with links to learning more, Native content (music, social media, podcasts, films & TV, books), activism, and ways to support
• A Year of Discernment: Indigenous Engagement at USF White Paper
• USF  Pacific Islander Collective
• The Ramaytush Ohlone
• The Muwekma Ohlone
• The Amah Mutsun

Date: November 1-2

History: Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a holiday traditionally celebrated on November 1 and 2, though depending on the locality, is also sometimes celebrated on October 31 or November 6 too. Family and friends gather to pay honor and celebrate the lives of friends and family members who have died. This is a time of celebration and joy rather than mourning. Typically altars are built at home and filled with the favorite food and drinks of those being remembered. Sugar skulls are decorated and given to friends and family along with pan de muerto as a part of the festivities. (source: Wikipedia)

USF events to look forward to:

• Sugar Skull Decorating (UC 411/412)
  • Weds, 10/18 at 6:00 pm
  • Thurs, 10/26 at 1:30 pm
  • Mon, 10/30 at 6:30 pm
• Altar Building (Kalmanovitz Hall 1st Floor Atrium) 
  • Fri, 10/20 at 11:45 am
  • Photo Submission Form (Oct 17-31)
• Papel Picado Workshop (UC 411/412) 
  • Thurs, 10/19 at 2:30pm
  • Thurs, 10/26 at 6:30pm
• Día de los Muertos Celebration (UC 1st Floor)
  • Weds, Nov 1 at 6-7pm
  • In collaboration with L.U.N.A
• University Ministry Interfaith Prayer Service
  • Thurs, Nov 2 at 11:45am-12:45pm
  • Privett Plaza
• Trip to the San Francisco Day of the Dead Festival of Altars -
  • Thurs, Nov 2 at 5-8pm
  • Sign up by completing the waiver. Follow these instructions: 

    • Log in to myUSF

    • Go to:  https://lf.usfca.edu/Forms/LiabilityWaiver

    • Select: "Day of the Dead SF Altars Field Trip"

    • Complete the waiver and submit
      
      **Note: If you are under the age of 18 years, you will not be able to access the e-waiver form and will need to complete a hard copy form with your parent/guardian's signature.

Local Bay Area resources:

• Day of the Dead SF
• SOMArts’ annual Día de Los Muertos exhibition

Date: November

History: On August 3, 1990, November was declared as National American Indian Heritage Month, also referred to as Native American Heritage Month. Numerous advocates and initiatives took place since the early 1900s for a time to honor Native Americans. "The month is a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native people. Heritage Month is also an opportune time to educate the general public about tribes, to raise a general awareness about the unique challenges Native people have faced both historically and in the present, and the ways in which tribal citizens have worked to conquer these challenges." (source: National Congress of American Indians)

USF and Local events to look forward to:

• Adam Piron & Hitchcock's Vertigo
  • Oct 23 from 6:30-7:30 pm in Cowell 106

  • Adam Piron will be presenting a reading of Hitchcock's Vertigo and its representation of the Missions and California history.

    Adam Piron (Kiowa/Mohawk) is the current director of Sundance Institute's Indigenous Program.

• Jotos, Joteras, and Hybrid Storytelling: Gender & Sexuality in California Missions
  • Nov 2 from 5:30-7:00 pm in LM 100 - Handlery Room
  • The Tracy Seeley Center for Teaching Excellence and the Office of Antiracism, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are delighted to welcome the award-winning poet, memoirist, and scholar Dr. Deborah A. Miranda  (Ohlone-Costanoan Esselen Nation, Santa Ynez Chumash) to USF during Native American Heritage Month. 
  • Please join us for Dr. Miranda’s poetry reading exploring themes of gender and sexuality within the context of the California Missions. Dr. Miranda’s presentation will be followed by discussion and Q&A. Light refreshments will be served. 
  • Register Here
• American Indian Film Festival
  • Nov 3 - Nov 11 
  • Save The Date for the upcoming 48th annual American Indian Film Festival in San Francisco! The world’s longest running film exposition showcasing independent films of and about Native Peoples. Screening schedule and ticket information available in the link above.
  • AIFI is looking for volunteers! To sign up visit: https://www.aifisf.com/2023-volunteer

Local Bay Area resources:

• Official Native American Heritage Month website
• USF Land Acknowledgement Statement
• The Ramaytush Ohlone
• The Muwekma Ohlone
• The Amah Mutsun
• Support local Lisjan Ohlone territory through The Sogorea Te Land Trust
• Buy from Native Businesses
• USF Indigenous Peoples Day Resource Guide 2022
  • Extensive guide with links to learning more, Native content (music, social media, podcasts, films & TV, books), activism, and ways to support

Date: November 13-18

History: Starting since November 2000, International Education Week (IEW) is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. This joint initiative of the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of State is part of our efforts to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and to attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences (source: U.S. Dept. of Education).

USF events to look forward to:

• USF (ISSS) International Education Week 2023 - Schedule of Events

Resources:

• International Student and Scholar Services
• Culturally Focused Clubs Council

Dates: Feb 1-29

History: Carter G. Woodson, Black American historian, had a goal of raising awareness of African American's contributions to civilization. From the beginnings of his initiative in February 1926 as a singular week to the eventual expansion of a month long celebration in 1976, the very first Black History Month was held 50 years later. Since then, it's been a nation-wide recognition of the importance of recognizing and celebrating both Black achievements and culture (sources: Black History Month ).

USF events to look forward to:

*The Office of the Provost also has a dedicated page listing USF BHM events, with imagery included. Visit that page here: Black History Month 2024

Below, you'll find events listed as Campus-Wide and For Students By Students.

CAMPUS-WIDE

• Bon Appétit
  • For Black History Month, there will be weekly menus inspired famous Black chefs and culture as well as Bon Appétit's very own Chef Richards and Chef Holland. 
  • Feb. 1st - Edna Lewis
    • Smothered Chicken
    • Warm Butternut Squash, Lentil, and Quinoa Salad(Veg. option)
    • Potato Casserole
    • Garlicky Greens
    • Corn Bread 
    • Warm Black Berry Cobbler  with Chantilly Cream
  • Feb 7th - Tanya Holland
    • Jerk Ribs with Pineapple Salsa
    • Jerk Tofu with Pineapple Salsa
    • Dirty Rice with Red Beans
    • Tanya's Mustard Greens with Pearl Onions
    • Bacon Cheddar Bisquit
  • Feb 8th - Tanya Holland Day 2 (Chef Holland's Recipe)
    • Buttermilk Fried Chicken
    • Buttermilk Fried Tofu(Veg. option)
    • Spicy Green Coleslaw
    • Macaroni and cheese
    • Sauteed Greens
    • Cornbread
  • Feb 13th - Mardi Gras
    • Cajun Fried Turkey
    • Savory Cajun Tart
    • Mashed candied yams with Marshmallows
    • Creole Braised Cabbage
    • Brioche Dinner Rolls
    • King Cake on Display
  • Feb 14th - Mardi Gras After Glow
    • Shrimp Po' Boy
    • Plant Base Po'boy
    • Pimentón House Fried Potato Chips
    • Creamy Creole Cole Slaw
  • Feb 20th - Marcus Samuelson
    • Helga’s meatballs with lingonberry preserves, pickled cucumbers and braised cabbage
    • Plant Base meatballs with lingonberry preserves, pickled cucumbers and braised cabbage
    • Pumpernickel dinner rolls
  • Feb 21st - Marcus Samuelson Day 2
    • Tea Glazed Grilled Salmon   
    • Tea Glazed Grilled Tofu
    • Hoe Cakes
    • Caramelized Brussel Sprouts
  • Feb. 27th - Chef Richard Dawkins
    • Jamaican Curried Chicken  
    • Jamaican Curried Tofu
    • Rice and Peas
    • Plantains
    • Escabeche Cauliflower
  • Feb. 28th - Chef Richard's Street Food  
    • Aunt Paulines Pulled Pork Sandwich
    • Black Bean Burgers with Jerk Sauce
    • Jerk Sauce
    • Traditional Panamanian Green Salad
• Silk Speaker Series  Dr. Clarence Jones and Sterling K. Brown in conversation
  • Feb 6th from 7-8 PM in the Sobrato Center
  • Sponsored by: Silk, Student Engagement, Institute for Nonviolence and Social Justice, Office of Antiracism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

  • The Silk Speaker Series at University of San Francisco is proud to present "Leadership and Legacy: An Evening with Dr. Clarence B. Jones and Sterling K. Brown," in partnership with the USF Institute for Nonviolence and Social Justice.

    Sterling K. Brown, Emmy-winning actor, will take to the stage with Dr. Clarence B. Jones, former lawyer, political advisor and draft speechwriter for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Co-Founder and Director Emeritus of the USF Institute for Nonviolence and Social Justice. The two will discuss Dr. Jones’ book, Last of the Lions: An African American Journey in Memoir, and their personal journeys in social justice advocacy.

  • All guests will receive a free copy of Dr. Jones' book.
• "Engineered Conflict: School Closings, Public Housing, Law Enforcement and the Future of Black Life" David Stovall in Conversation with David Philoxene
  • Feb 8th from 6:00-7:30 PM in Fromm Hall, Maraschi Room or Zoom
  • Sponsored by: USF School of Education's Center for Humanizing Education & Research (C-HER)
  • Join us for an enlightening and thought-provoking evening as the USF School of Education's Center for Humanizing Education & Research (C-HER)proudly presents "Engineered Conflict: School Closings, Public Housing, Law Enforcement, and the Future of Black Life." In this dynamic event, esteemed scholar David Stovall engages in a compelling conversation with David Philoxene, delving into critical issues that intersect at the crossroads of education, housing, law enforcement, and the Black experience.
• Pop-Up Art Exhibition: Being Black at USF

  • Feb 15th from 11:45 AM - 12:45 PM in Thacher Gallery, Gleeson Library

  • Join the African American Studies Program and Thacher Gallery for a Pop-Up Exhibition celebrating USF’s diverse Black community. The celebration will include presentations by the artists and an opening performance by artist Tossie Long.

  • Black-identified USF students, faculty, and staff are invited to share all art mediums (visual, digital, 2D, 3D, poetry, photography, etc.) for this pop-up art exhibit.

• The Forgotten Occupation - Film Screening
  • Feb 22nd from 10:00 AM - 12:45 PM in McLaren 250
  • Sponsored by: African American Studies cosponsored by Office of Antiracism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Office of the Provost

  • “Brunel Martin came of age during Haiti’s brutal occupation at the hands of United States Marines. Yet, he went on to become a fierce advocate of the country that destroyed his. A decade after his death, his grandson writes him a letter trying to reconcile the contradictions.”

    Includes screening of the film, "The Forgotten Occupation," a remembrance of the U.S. invasion of Haiti. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the director, Alain Martin.

• Spill Tea with BE
  • Feb 24th 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
  • Sponsored by: School of Education
  • The producers of the USF Black Educology Mixtape educational journal are hosting a mixer and invite all who are interested to join them for a sneak peak of Vol. 2 of the journal, which will feature guest editor Dr. Bettina Love, New York Times bestselling author of Punished for Dreaming. Learn how you can play a role in future volumes, as a contributor or part of the production team.
• Black Joy Parade
  • Feb 25th from 12:00-7:30 PM in downtown Oakland near the 12th Street BART stop
  • Sponsored by: USF Black Alumni Society
  • The USF Black Alumni Society will have a booth at the parade this year. Students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends are invited to stop by and connect with BAS for games, swag, and celebration. If you'd like to volunteer with BAS at the booth, email alumni@usfca.edu.
• Melanated Mental Health Mondays: Continuing the Rebellion
  • Feb 26th from 3:30-4:30 PM in Toler Room 122 (Romero Room)
  • Sponsored by: Counseling and Psychological Services, Black Achievement Success and Engagement 
  • Melanated Mental Health Mondays is a monthly workshop series for USF Students from Black and African-diaspora communities. This workshop series focuses on topics impacting the mental health of Black-identified students at USF. Series supported by CAPS and BASE. Discussions will be led by Dr. Jevon Rice on the final Monday of each month.
• Alumni Night: Celebrating the Legacy of Black Graduate Students at USF 
  • March 8th from 5-8 PM in McLaren 
  • Sponsored by: Black Graduate Student Association at USF
  • Join the BGSA for an evening celebrating Black Women’s Herstory at USF where we engage with a panel of USF Black Women Alumni across multiple colleges and decades. We will also honor USF staff and faculty and thank them for their tremendous impact on graduate students at USF. We will then have a reception directly following the panel with food and refreshments for alumni, staff, faculty, and current graduate students to network with one another. To strengthen the undergraduate-to-graduate student pipeline at USF, we will also be holding some spots for undergraduate students interested in graduate school to attend as well.
• One Community, One Book
  • Spring 2024
  • Sponsored by:  Office of Antiracism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Office of the Provost
  • Register to receive a copy of the book for yourself or your class.

  • One Community, One Book supports the education of the whole person and a commitment to faith that works for justice. The shared reading experience and facilitated discussions around the topic of anti-racism calls on the participants to reflect on their experiences in the context of our larger community, helping them to understand and respond to racial injustice in their lives and in the world around them.

    The readings and discussions guided students to examine their own experiences and values, and expanded their understanding of racism and systemic oppression in the United States. With this foundational knowledge, participants continued the process of transforming words into actions to change the world from here.

By Students For Students

• Finding BLK Intersections: Mixed Meet-Up
  • Feb 8th from 5-6 PM in the Intercultural Center (UC 411/412)
  • Sponsored by: The Cultural Centers
  • Join us in a celebration of diversity and unity as we bond and make connections within our multiracial and multiethnic community. This event will serve as a mixer of black intersectionalities, with activities centered around community building.
• Finding BLK Voices: Lyricist Lounge
  • Feb 9th from 7-9 PM in the UC 4 Lounge
  • Sponsored by: The Cultural Centers
  • For this month's Lyricist Lounge we’re repping Black voices like never before! Step into an evening dedicated to the depth of Black voices, and immerse yourself in the aura of good people & performances. For Black History Month let’s come together and share our stories! Open mic sign ups start at 6:45 PM.
• Finding BLK Community: Field Day
  • Feb 10th from 3-7 PM on James-Lang Soccer Fields
  • Sponsored by: USF African Student Association, UC Berkeley Nigerian Students Association
  • An event filled with games, community building, conversation, and African cultural celebration. In collaboration with Berkeley's Nigerian Student Association, our goal is to build a bridge between Black and African students all across the bay in order to unite within our Blackness and our cultural heritage and upbringings during this sacred month of Black history.
• Finding BLK Love: Let's Talk About Love
  • Feb 13th from 6:00-7:30 PM in McLaren 250
  • Sponsored by: Black Student Union and African Student Association
  • Join us for hot topics surrounding love, dating and relationship in college. 
• Finding BLK Love: Speed Dating
  • Feb 13th from 7:30-9:00 PM in McLaren 250
  • Sponsored by: Black Student Union, African Student Association, and Brother Connection
  • Join us in a community discussion on the idea of Black love at a PWI. Those who are interested are invited to stay after the discussion for a speed dating event.
• Finding BLK Sisterhood: Shades of Sisterhood
  • Feb 14th from 6-8 PM in Lone Mountain 100 (Handley Room)
  • Sponsored by: Sister Connection
  • A vibrant evening celebrating the essence of Black sisterhood—where we come together for meaningful talks, collaborative activities, and shared experiences that resonate with each of us.
• Finding BLK Love: Silent Disco 
  • Feb 16th from 9-11 PM in McLaren 250
  • Sponsored by: Black Student Union
  • Join BSU for a Lovers and Friends edition, a unique musical experience you won't want to miss! The beats will be pulsating, but the catch is, we will provide you with a pair of headphones to groove to the rhythm.
• Finding BLK Culture: Cultural Cuisine Night
  • Feb 20th from 7-9 PM in the UC 4 Lounge
  • Sponsored by: African Student Association x Ethiopian-Eritrean Students Association in partnership with Cultural Centers
  • A night filled with the sweet and flavorful aroma of cultural dishes rooted in African heritage and community gathering. Come cook an amazing cultural dish with us and enjoy conversation about the role that food and cuisine plays within our cultural upbringing and where we come from.
• Finding BLK Dialogue: Barbershop Talk
  • Feb 21st from 6-8 PM in the UC 4 Lounge
  • Sponsored by: Brother Connection
  • Get chopped and chop it up with Brother Connection! We will recreate the universal safe space for Black men that is the barbershop with services provided by our on campus barbers.
• Finding BLK Joy: Black Joy Event
  • Feb 23rd from 6-8 PM in McLaren 250
  • Sponsored by: University Ministry, Black Achievement Success and Engagement, and Black Alumni Society
  • The 3rd Annual Black Joy Event invites all students from the Black Diaspora to join us in a evening of joy. There will be performances, a talent show, a fashion show, and games to unite students to celebrate what blackness means to them.

Dates: Starts Feb 10, 2024 (Year of the Dragon)

History: The Lunar New Year is a time of celebration for the arrival of spring and the beginning of a new year based on the lunisolar calendar. It's a holiday celebrated in China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea, Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, Tibet, and other countries with large populations of cultures that celebrate the Lunar New Year. The holiday is often centered around traditions involving family, luck and prosperity, and the holiday can last as long as 16 days. Each year correlates with a zodiac sign. 

Lunisolar New Year celebrations of other cultures such as Burmese, Cambodian, Lao, Sri Lankan, and Thai people are based on the Buddhist calendar and occur in mid-April. (sources: Smithsonian and Wikipedia ).

USF events to look forward to:

• Chinese New Year Celebration
  • Feb 8th from 5-6 PM on 5th floor Agora 
  • Sponsored by: The Office of Graduate Student Success and Engagement and Masagung School of Management
  • Lion dance performance at 5:15 PM with light refreshments to be served.
• Lunar New Year Celebration
  • Feb 15th from 11:45 AM - 12:45 PM in Privett Plaza
  • Co-sponsors: Asian Studies, Asian Pacific American Studies, MA in Asia Pacific Studies, MA- International Studies, BA - International Studies, International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS), Center for Global Education, Chinese Studies, Cultural Centers, Japanese Studies, Yuchengco Philippine Studies Program

  • Join the Center for Asia Pacific Studies and other Asia-focused programs and units on campus as we ring in the year of the dragon! Meet us at Privett Plaza for music, games, prizes, food, and a traditional lion dance performance by Leung’s White Crane Association.

• VSA's Lunar New Year Celebration

  • March 1st from 5-7 PM in Fromm Hall

  • Sponsored by: Vietnamese Student Association and The Cultural Centers

  • Join us for a night of food, games, and performances in celebration of the new year!

Dates: March 2024

History: "Every year, March is designated Women’s History Month by presidential proclamation. The month is set aside to honor women’s contributions in American history...Women’s History Month began as a local celebration in Santa Rosa, California. The Education Task Force of the Sonoma County (California) Commission on the Status of Women planned and executed a “Women’s History Week” celebration in 1978. The organizers selected the week of March 8 to correspond with International Women’s Day. The movement spread across the country as other communities initiated their own Women’s History Week celebrations the following year.

In 1980, a consortium of women’s groups and historians—led by the National Women’s History Project (now the National Women's History Alliance)—successfully lobbied for national recognition. In February 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the Week of March 8th 1980 as National Women’s History Week.

Subsequent Presidents continued to proclaim a National Women’s History Week in March until 1987 when Congress passed Public Law 100-9, designating March as “Women’s History Month.” Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women’s History Month. Since 1995, each president has issued an annual proclamations designating the month of March as 'Women’s History Month.' "(Source: Women's History Month). 

The National Women’s History Alliance selects and publishes the yearly theme. The theme for 2024 is “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion”.

USF events to look forward to:

• Global Feminist Forum
  • March 4-6 
  • The Global Feminist Forum, formerly the Global Women's Rights Forum, joins the celebrations and legacies of resistance centered on International Women’s Day. This annual event was founded in the Spring of 2002 by a multi-ethnic and multi-disciplinary group of professors, namely, Dorothy Kidd, Cecília Santos, Aránzazu Borrachero, Susana Kaiser, and Karen Bouwer.
  • Check out the link above for a full week's list of events to engage in!
• Alumni Night: Celebrating the Legacy of Black Graduate Students at USF 
  • March 8th from 5-8 PM in McLaren 
  • Sponsored by: Black Graduate Student Association at USF
  • Join the BGSA for an evening celebrating Black Women’s Herstory at USF where we engage with a panel of USF Black Women Alumni across multiple colleges and decades. We will also honor USF staff and faculty and thank them for their tremendous impact on graduate students at USF. We will then have a reception directly following the panel with food and refreshments for alumni, staff, faculty, and current graduate students to network with one another. To strengthen the undergraduate-to-graduate student pipeline at USF, we will also be holding some spots for undergraduate students interested in graduate school to attend as well.
• Women of Color Leadership Conference
  • March 23 from 10:00 AM - 3:15 PM in McLaren Conference Center (with Zoom option)
  • 2024 Theme: Living Unapologetically
    • From a young age, women of color have been socialized to be small, feel shame, and apologize if we ever tried to defend ourselves. At this year’s conference, we invite women of color to stand firm in our collective strength, and refuse to fade into the ether any longer. Together we will be bold, take risks, and send a message that we are not afraid, and we are not sorry. By embracing this year’s theme of Living Unapologetically, we hope to create a cross-cultural space for sharing and building with and for each other. We aim to cultivate an inclusive environment where we can collaborate, empower, and uplift future women of color leaders.
  • Please check the link above for registration details and conference sessions!
• Grow & Glow
  • Tuesdays starting March 26 from 11:45 AM-12:40 PM in Gillson Hall – Lower Level
  • Glow and Grow is a healing space for womxn and womxn-aligned students who are members of the global majority (alternatively Black, Indigenous, and Womxn of Color). In this space, we focus on building community and empowerment.
  • Topics can include: addressing aggressions targeting our identities, balancing life with academic challenges, relationships and family conflicts, difficulties prioritizing ourselves, and reclaiming our power. Group members aim to support each other’s strengths and vulnerabilities, encourage each other to enhance our self-care and compassion, as well as find validation and connection through our shared experiences. 
  • Complete the CAPS interest form to sign up!

Date: March 25-28, 2024

Please join us in celebrating disability pride, visibility and awareness at USF. All events are open to the entire USF community.

History: Disability Awareness campaigns may take place at different times of the year depending on the institution. October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) and celebrates the contributions of America’s workers with disabilities past and present and showcases supportive, inclusive employment policies and practices that benefit employers and employees. Meanwhile, March is the Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month as highlighted by the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD). No matter what time of year you choose to celebrate Disability Awareness, its goal is to increase awareness, respect, and acceptance for disabled people, and to bring a greater sense of pride to disabled people. 

At USF, the Office of Student Disability Services celebrates Disability Awareness Week in March!

USF events to look forward to:

• Disability Resource Fair
  • Mar 25th from 11 am - 1 pm in Gleeson Plaza
• Crip Camp Film Screening & Discussion
  • Mar 25th from 5-8 pm in Toler Lounge
  • Sponsored by SDS and the Office of Residential Life
• Exploring Disability Activity
  • Mar 26th from 11:00-12:30 pm in Cowell 212
  • Join Graduate Disability Pride Group members as they lead participants through interactive activities designed to expose them to various aspects of the lived experience of people with disabilities and promote conversations about disability identity. 
• Executive Functioning Workshop
  • Mar 26th from 11:50-12:50 pm in UC 503
  • Come to this one-hour workshop to build skills related to executive functioning, organization and academic success. If you tend to have challenges with homework, studying, meeting deadlines, or staying on-task, this event is for you! All are welcome, no registration required.
  • Hosted by the Learning, Writing and Speaking Center
• Mural & Mixer
  • Mar 27th from 3-5 pm in the Intercultural Center (UC 411/412)
  • Join the Disabled Student Union in creating a mural for the Student Disability Services office! It will be a unique opportunity to make a lasting mark on the school and learn about the disability rights movement through art. Anyone curious about the movement is welcome.
• Disability Art Exhibit 
  • Mar 28th from 11:00-12:30 pm in Kalmanovitz Atrium
  • Please come by to view a gallery of student-created artwork centered around the theme of disability in education. If you are interested in submitting a piece for inclusion in the exhibit, please email Alisha Hodges ahodges3@usfca.edu by Wednesday 3/20 for details. 
  • ACCESS INFORMATION FOR THE DISABILITY ART EXHIBIT
    • USF accommodates individuals with disabilities. If you need a disability-related accommodation or wheelchair access information for any Disability Awareness Week events, please contact Rocelyn Evens at rdevens@usfca.edu.

USF resources:

• Student Disability Services

Date: May

History: "May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month – 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 (New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Solomon Islands), Micronesia (Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru and the Federated States of Micronesia) and Polynesia (New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands, Rotuma, Midway Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, French Polynesia and Easter Island). 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." (Source: Asian Pacific Heritage Website)

**At USF, due to the demands of the academic calendar in May, we opted to celebrate Pacific Islander heritage in April. We also chose to have separate celebrations of Pacific Islander heritage from Asian & Asian American heritage in recognition of the unique customs and traditions that make up Pacific Islander culture and as to not homogenize cultures. 

USF events to look forward to:

• Merrie Monarch Watch Party and Candy Lei Making
  • April 4 from 6-8 PM in the Intercultural Center  
  • Join the Pacific Islander Collective and Cultural Centers as we watch the 61st Annual Merrie Monarch Festival and make candy leis for the graduates of the 2024 Indigenous Peoples of Oceania Ceremony. Snacks and beverages will be provided!
  • The Merrie Monarch Festival honors the legacy of King David Kalākaua, who inspired the perpetuation of hula, ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, and native arts. Pacific Islander and non-Pacific Islander identifying students are welcome!

UndocuWeek is a weeklong series of events for undocumented students and allies from April 8th - 12th! We will have several workshops, fairs, and discussions in order to support undocumented students at USF. UndocuWeek is planned and hosted by the Latine Undergrad Network of Activists (L.U.N.A.). Please contact them for more information on any of these events.

USF events to look forward to:

• UndocuWeek: Opening Discussion
  • April 8 from 7-8 PM in the UC 4 Lounge  
  • Panel discussion with Profesora Genevieve Negon-Gonzales and the co-authors of the book We Are Not DREAMers: Undocumented Scholars Theorize Undocumented Life in the United States and its findings, led by Metzli Lemus.
• UndocuWeek: Community Resource Fair
  • April 9 from 11 AM - 1 PM in Privett Plaza
  • Resource fair with SF community organizations, USF departments, and USF student organizations to showcase resources for students who identify as undocumented, immigrants, and US citizens.
• UndocuWeek: Empoderandonos Workshops
  • April 10 from 6-7 PM in UC 502 & 503
  • Simultaneous workshops:
    • How to Market Yourself
    • Navigating Advanced Parole
• UndocuWeek: DACA Lecture
  • April 11 from 11:45 AM - 12:45 PM in Kendrick Hall Moot Courtroom
  • Lecture on the possible termination of DACA and steps to take if you are a DACA recipient.  With J.D. Bill Hing, the founder of the Immigration Legal Resource Center and a nationally recognized immigration attorney.
• UndocuWeek Celebration
  • April 12 from 7-8:30 PM in Kalmanovitz Hall Atrium
  • A final celebration to commemorate all our events, hear from guest speakers Val Suarez and Yosimar Reyes, provide a networking opportunity, and share a moment in community.

Date: April

History: "National Arab American Heritage Month (NAAHM) takes place in April. It celebrates the Arab American heritage and culture and pays tribute to the contributions of Arab Americans and Arabic-speaking Americans. Beginning in the 1990s, Arab American heritage was celebrated sporadically in various states at different times of the year, primarily in school districts. It wasn't until 2017 when Arab America began a national initiative to coordinate all states under National Arab American Heritage Month. On April 30, 2019, Arab American organizations asked Congresswoman Debbie Dingell to issue a congressional resolution proclaiming National Arab American Heritage Month.[4] It was then introduced to the house on April 30, 2019, and then referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.[5] The largest and most promising achievement towards federal recognition of the month of April as the National Arab American Heritage Month was the proclamation published by the U.S. Department of State, which was accomplished on April 1, 2021, by the efforts of independent Syrian-American advocate and author, Pierre Subeh." (Source: National Arab American Heritage Month)

USF events to look forward to:

• Eid Celebration
  • April 18 at 6:30 PM in McLaren 251
  • The Muslim Student Association, Arab Student Union, and the Middle Eastern Studies department warmly invite you to a celebration of Eid-Al-Fitr! Join us for an evening with delicious food and amazing company. Don’t miss out on this wonderful opportunity to connect and celebrate together :) Dress to impress!!
  • RSVP HERE
• More events to come! Come back later to see updates.

Date: May

History: "May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month – 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 (New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Solomon Islands), Micronesia (Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru and the Federated States of Micronesia) and Polynesia (New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands, Rotuma, Midway Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, French Polynesia and Easter Island). 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." (Source: Asian Pacific Heritage Website)

At USF, due to the demands of the academic calendar in May, we opted to celebrate Asian & Asian American heritage in April. 

USF events to look forward to:

• Kasamahan's Philippine Cultural Night
  • April 12 & 13 from 7-10 PM in SFSU McKenna Theatre  
  • Kasamahan's Philippine Culture Night (PCN) is a celebration of Filipino culture, taking place Friday, April 12 & Saturday, April 13 at 7:00 p.m. in McKenna Theatre at San Francisco State University (SFSU), featuring live music performances that showcases the traditions found throughout the Philippines and highlights the stories within the diaspora, funded by the ASUSF Student Activity Fee. Get your tickets »
• AAPI Heritage Poetry Night: Creative Solidarities
  • April 16 from 5:30-7:00 PM in McLaren 250
  • Please join us for AAPI Solidarities: A Night of Poetry, Conversations, and Community with poets Isa Borgeson and Drew Va’i. The event will include poetry performances by Isa and Drew with a Q&A portion and a reception of light bites to follow. The event is co-sponsored by the AAPI Center and the Cultural Centers. All are welcome.
• Hui O Hawai'i 50th Anniversary Lū'au: Kūlike Kākou (Stand Together)
  • April 20 from 5-8 PM in McLaren Complex
  • Celebrate the 50th-anniversary of Hui O Hawai'i's dedication and appreciation of the arts of Hula and Ori Tahiti. A food buffet will be provided with ticket purchases»
• Rediscover Pre-Philippine Script: Baybayin Workshop with Kristian Kabuay

  • April 23 from 6-8 PM in the Intercultural Center (UC 411/412

  • Join Kasamahan for a very special Baybayin workshop in collaboration with YPSP and led by pre-Philippine script practitioner Kristian Kabuay! Kristian views this ancient script as more than a masterpiece. He uses this art form to reconnect and rediscover his own roots. Come join us to learn all about Baybayin and even learn how to write in Baybayin yourself by the end!

  • For any questions or concerns please email usfkaculturalrelations@gmail.com