Heritage month celebrations
APRIL
To coincide with the Arab American Heritage Month, which is observed in April, the SDSU Center for Intercultural Relations (CIR) is hosting its inaugural Southwest Asian and North African (SWANA) Heritage Series. The goal of the series is to increase awareness about the vibrant history, cultures, experiences, contributions, and resiliency of the SWANA community. All members of the SDSU community are invited to participate in our virtual events.
MARCH
Women's History Month is celebrated every March in recognition of women's rights and the ongoing efforts for intersectional gender justice. During Women's History Month, students, staff, and faculty are invited to attend a wide variety of programming that highlights feminist activism, centers folks who face multiple, intersecting forms of oppression, and offers spaces to celebrate our resilience.
MARCH (observed)
SDSU celebrates Jewish American Heritage Month in March by paying tribute to the generations of Jewish people who have helped create the fabric of our history, culture and society. Nationally, Jewish Heritage Month was officially designated in 2006, though U.S. presidents have been observing the legacy and impact of members of our Jewish community since at least 1981. SDSU honors this Heritage Month in March each year, although it is nationally recognized in May, toward the start of summer.
MARCH 2023
In March, San Diego State University is commemorating Disability Celebration Month through a series of community events. As we engage in these celebrations and conversations, it's important to recognize that the language we use around disability continuously evolves, reflecting personal choice and connections to community. While 'person-first' language was once common, many now prefer 'identity-first' language, asserting disability as part of identity. Disability, like other identities, holds political, societal, and economic implications. In a recent study, 49% preferred identity-first, 33% person-first, and 18% had no preference (Sharif et al., 2022).
FEBRUARY
February is the designated month to celebrate and honor African Americans. Blacks have significantly impacted the development of the social, political, and economic structures of the United States and the world. Credit for the evolving awareness of blacks' proper place in history, in large part, be bestowed on one man, Carter G. Woodson.
NOVEMBER
November marks National Native American Indian Heritage Month, which provides a platform
for Native people to share their culture, traditions, music, crafts, dance, and ways
and concepts of life.
San Diego State has established a longstanding commitment to respectfully acknowledging,
celebrating, and serving the Kumeyaay communities and all tribal nations. The past
few years of strategic initiatives have shown a focus on strengthening support and
presence for the growing Native American/Indigenous body of students at SDSU.
OCTOBER
Filipinx History Month is acknowledged during the month of October to recognize the
important presence of Filipinos in the United States and celebrate the group's heritage
and culture. October was designated Filipinx History Month because the earliest documented
proof of Filipino presence in the contintental United States was on Oct. 18, 1587
when the first "Luzones Indios" set foot in Morro Bay, Ca.
MORE ABOUT FILIPINX HISTORY MONTH
SEPT-OCT
National Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month dates back to 1968, when it was established as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon B. Johnson. The week was expanded in 1988 to the now full month of observation. Sept. 15 marks the anniversary of independence for several Latin American countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, while Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18, respectively.
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH KICKOFF
VISIT THE LATINX RESOURCE CENTER
JULY
San Diego State University invites alumni to join the upcoming celebration of San Diego Pride, including an annual mixer and happy hour for SDSU alumni and friends. SDSU is recognized as one of the top 25 colleges and universities in the country for LGBTQ+ students by the Campus Pride Index, and we are honored to host and participate in this year’s events.
MAY
May is Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month, which serves as a national celebration of the history, contributions, and achievements of APIDA communities. This month was designated to commemorate the first Japanese immigration to the United States on May 7, 1853, while also honoring the Chinese immigrants who worked to complete the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869.
2023 Welcome back mixers
See below for the 2023 list of Welcome Back Mixers!
All Centers Reception
Aug. 25, 12 - 1:30 p.m.
Scripps Cottage Patio
APIDA Center Open House
Aug 21, 12 - 2 p.m.
Student Union 210
Black Welcome Back Open House
Aug 23, 12 - 4 p.m.
BRC Backyard
Center for Intercultural Relations Open House: Aug 23, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Jewish Student Mixer: Aug 24, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Muslim Student Mixer: Aug 29, 3 - 4:30 p.m.
SWANA Student Mixer: Aug 30, 3 - 4:30 p.m.
Young Men of Color Luncheon: Aug 24, 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Student Union 250
Latinx Resource Center Open House
Aug 23, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Aug 24, 3 - 5 p.m.
Love Library 182 (First Floor, next to the Chicana/o Collections)
Native Resource Center Community Reception
Aug 24, 12 - 4 p.m.
Ellen Ochoa Pavillion, First Floor Room 115
Pride Center Welcome Mixer
Aug 23 & Aug 24, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
5141 Campanile Drive
Uncodumented Resource Center Open House
Aug 23, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Arts & Letters 202 (Behind Starbucks)
Women's Resource Center Open House
Aug 22 & Aug 23, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
5121 Campanile Drive
Welcome Week Tailgates & Transformations
Aug 24, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
SSE-2109
Community-specific commencements
- American Indian Grad
- APIDA Grad
- Black Baccalaureate
- Latinx Grad
- EOP Grad
- Lavender Grad
