Women's Center At UVM
The Women's Center works closely with various groups on campus and in the community to honor the intersecting identities in women's lives. One way we do this is through collaborative programs on several awareness months and weeks. We also work hard to make sure many identities are explored in Women's HerStory Month, Sexual Violence Awareness Month and the other events we lead on campus. More information about these events is available on to the left. Click below to learn about the other awareness months/weeks with which we work.
- Latino/a Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15)
- Domestic Violence Awareness Month (October)
- Deaf & Disability Awareness Month (October)
- Native American Heritage Month (November)
- Black History Month (February)
- LGBTQApril (April)
- Asian American Heritage Month (April)
- Holocaust Remembrance Week
Latino heritage days, weeks and months have been celebrated in the United States for over 30 years. In more recent years, the US Congress has officially recognized a mid-September to Mid-October period as Latino Heritage Month.
Led by the student group Alianza Latina, UVM honors Latino/a Heritage Month with speakers, festivals, movie nights, plays, & many other great events. The Women's Center collaborates on these events to honor the Latina women who help make this country and this world better. For more information, click here.
Click here for bios of Latina Women to remember during all months of the year.
While educational programming and information are always available, October offers increased programming on relationship violence in our communities and the world. Traditionally, October has offered an awareness campaign (Such as the Thursdays in Black campaign, or ribbon campaigns: purple for domestic violence awareness, teal for sexual violence), speakers, and poetry slams. We collaborate with several community anti-violence agencies to help make these events happen.
Deaf and Disability Awareness Month began in 1996 when President Clinton declared October a month to raise awareness about accessible employment opportunities. It has expanded over the past several years to include a variety of awareness raising activities. Celebrations at UVM began in 1996 as a Day, became a week in 1997 and a month in 1998.
UVM celebrations are led by the Accommodation, Consultation, Collaboration & Educational Support Services (ACCESS) Office. Past events have included speakers, trainings, debates, films, legal and employment information, a speak-out and book readings. For more information, click here.
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The first American Indian Day in a state was declared on the second Saturday in May 1916 by the governor of N.Y. Several states celebrate the fourth Friday in September. In Illinois, for example, legislators enacted such a day in 1919. This tradition continued and expanded on the state level for decades. It wasn't until 1990 that President George H. W. Bush approved a joint resolution designating November 1990 "National American Indian Heritage Month." Similar proclamations have been issued each year since.
UVM's first observation of Native American Heritage Month was in 2005 and intiated by a collaborative group of students, staff and faculty.
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African American activist Carter G Woodson initiated Black History Week, February 12, 1926. For many years the 2nd week of February (chosen so as to coincide with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln) was celebrated by Black people in the United States. In 1976, as part of the nation's Bicentennial, it was expanded and became established as Black History Month, and is now celebrated all over North America. (Info from: http://creativefolk.com/blackhistory.html)
UVM events honoring Black History Month include a Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration, speakers, community dinners and many other events. Click here for more information.
Click here for bios of African American Women to remember during all months of the year.
LGBTQApril began as Queer Visability Week many years ago and in 2003 expanded into a month long celebration known as Gaypril. In 2004 we have changed the name to be more inclusive. It is a time for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, and questioning individuals and their allies to celebrate their contributions to the university and the world. Headed by the LGBTQA Center and Free To Be (the GLBTA Student Organization), with the collaboration of many campus and community agencies, LGBTQApril is a fun filled educational month of activities.
Past activities have included speakers and films as well as the Translating Identities Conference, musical events, the LGBTQA Community Awards Celebration, Alumni events and more. For more information, contact the LGBTQA Center.
In October 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed a Joint Resolution designating the first ten days of May to be Asian & Pacific American Heritage Week. In May 1990, the holiday was expanded further when President George H. W. Bush designated May to be Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. 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.
However, on many college campuses, events are held in April since classes end and finals and commencement take place in mid-May. The month has been observed sporadically over the years at UVM. For more information about UVM events, click here.
Click here for bios of Asian/Pacific Islander Women to remember during all months of the year.
Yom Hashoah, the Holocaust Day of Remembrance has been observed internationally since 1951 when Knesset (Israel's parliament) declared the 27th of Nissan in the Jewish calendar a day to remember the atrocities perpetrated during WWII by the Nazis. The date falls during the time span of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising, an important act of resistance by Jews in during the Holocaust. Because it is set on the Jewish calendar, the exact date on the Gregorian calendar, used by most Western people, changes yearly but generally falls between mid April and early May. UVM Hillel, in collaboration with other groups on campus, plans a week of events around Yom HaShoah which has included a Field of Flags, the Litany of the Martyrs (reading of the names of those who perished), speakers and a remembrance ceremony. For more information, click here.
For more information call us at 802-656-7892 or fill out our interest form!
If you need any accomodation in order to fully participate in any Women's Center event, please contact us by email or at 656.4637.
Last modified September 20 2010 06:58 AM