A group of students holding balloons in front of the large meal VCU letter with the text diversity, equity and inclusion

Diversity, equity and inclusion

Our commitment

Diversity, equity and Inclusion will be the cornerstone of all programs, initiatives and events within the Office of Alumni Relations. We aim to reflect and empower the voices of VCU’s distinctive alumni community. We are committed to creating alumni programming, events and initiatives that recognize, embrace and represent diverse backgrounds, identities, viewpoints and lived experiences. The Office of Alumni Relations provides a safe, trusting and supportive environment to explore, create, learn and serve. We will not tolerate or condone discrimination.

We strive to incorporate the following principles in all that we do:


Cultural observances

In 2024, the Culture, Values and Diversity Committee of the VCU Alumni Council launched the cultural observances effort that raises awareness of the observances celebrated by the various cultures and populations reflected in the VCU community. 

Learn more about the VCU Alumni council. 

January

Jan. 15: Martin Luther King Day

February

Feb. 1-29: Black History Month 
Feb. 7-8: Lailat al Miraj
Feb. 8-10: The Tibetan Buddhist New Year 
Feb. 10: Lunar New Year
Feb. 12: Ash Wednesday 
Feb. 14: Vasant Panchami 
Feb. 20: World Day of Social Justice
Feb. 24: Lantern Festival

March

March 1-31: National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
This monthlong observance highlights how people with and without disabilities come together to form strong communities.

March 1: Zero Discrimination Day
This day spotlights how people can become informed about and promote inclusion, compassion, peace and, above all, a movement for change to end all forms of discrimination.

March 8: International Women’s Day 
On this global day, we celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality.

March 10: Ramadan 
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community.

March 17: St. Patrick's Day 
Also known as the Feast of Saint Patrick, this religious and cultural holiday is held on the traditional death date of Saint Patrick, the foremost patron saint of Ireland.

March 24: Palm Sunday 
Palm Sunday is the Christian moveable feast that falls on the Sunday before Easter and commemorates Christ’s entry into Jerusalem. Its name originates from the palm branches waved by the crowd to greet and honor Jesus as he entered the city.

March 29: Good Friday 
This Christian holiday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary.

March 31: International Transgender Day of Visibility 
This annual day is dedicated to celebrating transgender people and raising awareness of discrimination faced by transgender people worldwide, as well as a celebration of their contributions to society.

April

April 1-30: Celebrate Diversity Month
Celebrate Diversity Month recognizes and honors the diversity of the world around us.

April 1-30: Autism Acceptance Month 
This month long observance raises awareness of autism, promotes acceptance and celebrates each individual's unique differences.

April 1-30: Deaf History Month
Deaf History Month honors the contributions of deaf individuals and the deaf community, while encouraging advocacy for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals.

April 1-30: National Arab American Heritage Month 
This month long observance celebrates Arab Americans and their contributions to our country. It urges people to combat Anti-Arab bigotry and challenge stereotypes and prejudices.

April 9-10: Eid Al-Fitr
This is a Muslim festival marking the end of the fast of Ramadan.

April 15: National American Sign Language Day
This observance celebrates American Sign Language, honors its unique heritage and encourages opportunities for connection. 

April 22-April 30: Passover 
Passover is a Jewish celebration that commemorates the Biblical story of Exodus in the Old Testament of the Bible.

May

May 1-31: Asian Pacific American Heritage Month    
May 1-31: Jewish American Heritage Month    
May 1-31: Mental Health Awareness Month    
May 1-31: National Military Appreciation Month    
May 5: Cinco De Mayo
May 12: Mother's Day    
May 21: World Day for Cultural Diversity Dialogue & Development
May 27: Memorial Day

June

June 1-30: Carribean American Heritage Month    
June 1-30: Immigrant Heritage Month    
June 1-30: LGBTQIA / Pride Month    
June 19: Juneteenth  

July

July 1-31: Disability Pride Month    
July 4: Independence Day 
July 14: International Nonbinary People's Day
July 21: National Indigenous Peoples Day 
July 27: Black Women's Equal Pay Day
July 30: International Day of Friendship

August

August 9: International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples
August 15: India Independence Day  
August 26: Women's Equality Day  

September

Sept. 1-30: Hispanic Heritage Month    
Sept. 1-30: Inter-generational Month    
Sept. 4: Labor Day  
Sept. 15: Latin Heritage Month
Sept. 16: Mexican Independence Day  
Sept. 15: Rosh Hashanah
Sept. 18:  International Equal Pay Day
Sept. 23: International Day of Sign Languages
Sept. 28: Eid Milad un-Nabi  

October

Oct. 1-31: Global Diversity Awareness Month
Oct. 1-31: LGBTQ+ History Month
Oct. 1-31: Filipino American Heritage Month
Oct. 1-31: Down Syndrome Awareness Month
Oct. 1-31: Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Oct. 1-31: Polish American Heritage Month    
Oct. 2: Rosh Hashanah
Oct. 10: World Mental Health Day 
Oct. 11: National Coming Out Day
Oct. 11: Yom Kippur    
Oct. 14: National Indigenous People's Day
Oct.16: International Pronouns Day
Oct. 31: Halloween

November

Nov. 1-30: Native American Heritage Month
Nov. 1-31: National Family Caregivers Month    
Nov. 11: Veterans Day
Nov. 12: Diwali
Nov. 12-19: Transgender Awareness Week
Nov. 29: Transgender Day of Remembrance
Nov. 28: Thanksgiving

December

Dec. 1-31: Aids Awareness Month
Dec. 1: World Aids Day
 Dec. 3: International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Dec. 10: International Human Rights Day
Dec. 20: International Human Solidarity Day
Dec. 25: Christmas
Dec. 25-Jan. 2: Hanukkah
Dec.26-Jan. 1: Kwanzaa

 

 

Your voice

Please share your DEI resources, feedback, comments and experiences with us.

Share now


 

DEI events


 

Programs and resources

Group 1 icon Group 1 description Group 2 icon Group 2 description
A gold outline of three people  Affinity, shared interest and identity-based groups A gold outline of a paper calendar with a check mark in a circle  Webinar archive 
A gold outline of an award ribbon  Recognition  A gold outline of a round table viewed from above with four people sitting around it 

Alumni Council 


 

University initiatives and programs


 

Land acknowledgement

We acknowledge that the land each of us live, learn and thrive are the traditional, ancestral and unceded homelands of Indigenous and tribal nations. Our home and institution is on the original homelands of the Monocan tribal nation(s). We acknowledge the genocide and systems of oppression that have dispossessed Indigenous people of their lands and we honor and respect the diverse and beautiful peoples still connected to this land.

View a map of Indigenous lands.

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