Communications from UNC's Vice President of the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

The theme for Earth Day 2023, "Invest in our Planet," highlights the importance of dedicating our time, resources, and energy to solving climate change and other environmental issues. Investing in our planet is necessary to protect it and the best way to pave a path towards a prosperous future. The theme also highlights the need for inclusive and equitable solutions to environmental challenges, ensuring that everyone has an equal voice in protecting our planet.

Spring and the vernal equinox usher in many religious holidays, observances, and celebrations for persons around the world. For those of both Jewish and Christian faiths, this is a time of significant meaning and faith with the celebrations of Passover and Easter. For other cultures, the vernal equinox represents a new beginning, growth, and shedding of negativity of the previous year.

César Chávez, a labor rights activist and civil rights leader, dedicated his life to fighting for the rights of farm workers in the United States. His work has left a lasting impact on American society, and his legacy continues to inspire and empower people today. Chávez's legacy has been felt far beyond the fields of California. His work helped to establish a broader movement for social justice, and his message of nonviolent resistance has inspired countless activists around the world. Chávez also fought for environmental justice, recognizing the connection between the health of the land and the health of the people who work on it.

Introduced in 1997 by The National Association of the Deaf (NAD), National Deaf History Month recognizes the accomplishments of people who are deaf and hard of hearing. In 2022, NAD’s Deaf Culture and History Section (DCHS) and organizations representing marginalized communities, recommended the change in dates of observance to April 1-30 to be inclusive of experiences of BIPOC Deaf People and celebrate all Deaf persons in the US.

One of the primary goals of National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month is to reduce stigma and misconceptions surrounding developmental disabilities. Individuals with disabilities often face discrimination and social exclusion due to negative stereotypes and assumptions. National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month seeks to challenge these stereotypes and promote a more inclusive and accepting society for individuals with disabilities. It also provides an opportunity to highlight the achievements and contributions of individuals with disabilities in various fields, from arts and sports to business and politics.

Shortly after we return from Spring vacation, the Holy month of Ramadan will begin in the United States. Expected to begin on the evening of Wednesday, March 22 and end the evening of Thursday, April 20 in the United States, the dates for the month of Ramadan are determined based on the first sighting of the new moon over Mecca, Saudi Arabia according to the Hijrī (Islamic) calendar.

UNC celebrates DREAMer Awareness Month during March. The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program was established by President Barack Obama in 2012 to provide temporary protection from deportation to individuals who were brought to the United States as children without proper documentation. Since then, DACA has been a highly debated and contested program, with a range of legal challenges and policy changes affecting its status.

Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories, the 2023 theme for Women’s History Month, recognizes all women active in storytelling and media through any number of formats such as stage, screen, print, television, podcasts, and more.

Mardi Gras, Carnival, Shrove Tuesday, and Ash Wednesday are all important cultural and religious events that are celebrated around the world. These festivals have a rich history and cultural significance and are celebrated in different ways by different communities.

Annually recognized during the month of February since 1976, Black Heritage Month is a time to amplify and bring to the forefront issues experienced in the Black community and educate the community about the contributions to history and society Black people and the Black community have contributed to America.

The Holocaust Remembrance Day serves as a reminder of the dangers of extremism and racism and the importance of speaking out against hate and intolerance. Today, Holocaust education and remembrance efforts help ensure that the lessons of the Holocaust are passed on to future generations. It is important to remember the Holocaust and to learn from the past so that we can work to create a more just and compassionate world.