Mesa Community College is proud to offer this calendar of diversity, awareness, and heritage events as a resource to our community. The months, days, and events listed are reminders of our diverse community, shared identities, and individual experiences. Click or tap on an event to learn more about its history and purpose.2024 Calendar
January
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Jan. 1 |
The first day of the calendar year in the United States.
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| Jan. 4 |
The birthday of Louis Braille, inventor of the Braille writing system.
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| Jan. 15 |
Celebrates the life of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on his birthday.
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| Jan. 24 |
Recognizes understanding and unity among religions.
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| Jan. 27 |
Honors victims of the Holocaust and highlights the need to prevent future genocide.
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February
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| All Month |
Celebrates the contributions and culture of the African diaspora.
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| Feb. 14 |
The first day of Christian Lent, a 40-day period of prayer and fasting.
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March
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| All Month |
Established in 1987 to highlight the challenges and accomplishments of women.
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| All Month |
Promotes awareness, equity, and inclusion for people with developmental disabilities.
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| All Month |
Celebrates the contributions of Irish Americans.
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| All Month |
Also known as Hellenic History Month, this is a celebration of the core components of Greek culture and ideals.
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| All Month |
Raises public awareness of multiple sclerosis, a chronic nervous system disease.
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| March 11 |
The ninth month of the Islamic calendar is the holy month of dawn-to-sunset fasting.
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| March 20 |
Naw Rúz, also known as No Rouz, Nowruz, or Noruz, is celebrated on the vernal equinox and is one of nine Bahá'í holy days.
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| March 31 |
Celebrates and increases awareness of transgender people and their identities.
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| March 31 |
Celebrated by Christians to recognize the resurrection of Jesus Christ after crucifixion.
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April
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| All Month |
Honors the beauty of diversity around us.
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| All Month |
Promotes the acceptance and inclusion of individuals with autism.
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| All Month |
Celebrates the culture and heritage of Arab Americans and Arabic-speaking Americans.
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| All Month |
Highlights Scottish heritage and how Scottish Americans have impacted society.
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| April 2 |
Provides international recognition to raise awareness and acceptance.
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| April 9 |
The end of the dawn-to-dusk fasting for Ramadan.
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| April 12 |
A daylong vow of silence to shed light on the experiences of students in the LGBTQIA+ community.
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| April 21 |
A 12-day event celebrated in the Bahá'í faith, marking the time Baha'u'llah, who founded the faith, spent in the garden of Ridván.
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| April 22-30 |
An eight-day Jewish holiday that commemorates the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt.
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| April 28 |
This day celebrates the reunification of Baha'u'llah's family in the Bahá'i faith.
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May
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| All Month |
Celebrates the contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
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| All Month |
Brings awareness and education to help end the stigma of mental illness.
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| All Month |
Celebrates the vibrant culture, distinctive art, cuisine, and people of Haitian origin.
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| All Month |
Honors the Jewish community's culture and achievements.
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| May 1 |
Celebrates the beginning of the Bahá'í faith.
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| May 5 |
Marks the victory of Mexico's army over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.
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| May 27 |
Honors those who died serving in the United States Armed Forces.
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June
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| All Month |
Honors and celebrates the achievements and contributions of Caribbean Americans.
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| All Month |
Celebrated each year to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States.
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| All Month |
Celebrates immigrants' diverse heritage and their contributions to America.
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| June 19 |
Commemorates the day in 1865 when the last enslaved African Americans in the Confederate state of Texas received word they had been freed from bondage under the Emancipation Proclamation.
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July
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| All Month |
Recognizes the history of French American culture, the influence it has, and the impact it continues to have on society.
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| July 14 |
Raises awareness around issues facing nonbinary people around the world while celebrating their contributions.
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| July 18 |
Honors, recognizes, and appreciates South Asian history and culture.
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| July 24 |
Pays homage to the arrival of the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints pioneers in Salt Lake Valley.
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| July 26 |
Commemorates the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990.
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August
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Aug. 17 |
Honors, recognizes, and appreciates South Asian history and culture.
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| Aug. 18 |
Celebrated on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month in East Asia to honor the spirits of the dead. Some prepare food as an offering to hungry, wandering spirits.
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| Aug. 26 |
Celebrates the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that gave women the right to vote.
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September
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Sept. 2 |
Annual celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers.
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| Sept. 15 |
Promotes the history, culture, and contributions of Hispanic Americans — specifically, those whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
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| Sept. 16 |
Commemorates this important event in the country’s history when a brave priest in the village of Dolores rang his church bell and delivered a powerful speech that set the War of Independence from Spain in motion.
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| Sept. 27 |
Honors the Native American tribes by celebrating their culture, traditions, and history across the country.
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October
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| All Month |
Celebrates the history of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. Founded by a Missouri high school teacher, the observance takes place in October because school is in session and other LGBT traditions take place then.
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| All Month |
Honors the contributions of people with disabilities to the U.S. workforce and economy.
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| All Month |
Commemorates the first Polish settlers and the deaths of General Kazimierz Pułaski and Tadeusz Kościuszko (military leaders who fought in the American Revolution).
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| All Month |
Celebrates the culture and contributions of Filipino Americans.
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| All Month |
Provides increased awareness of Down syndrome, as it occurs across the human spectrum, being the most common chromosomal condition.
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| All Month |
Supports educational campaigns that disseminate science-based, factual, and clear information to youths, at-risk people, and the general public about AIDS.
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| All Month |
The National Breast Cancer Foundation reports that a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every two minutes. During this month, awareness emphasizes that breast self-exams are critical to early detection.
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| All Month |
Provides education, events, community gatherings, and support groups about domestic and intimate partner abuse and violence.
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| All Month |
Gives an opportunity to enhance your genealogy abilities, learn about new resources, and meet people who share your interest in the past.
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| Oct. 2-4 |
Translating to "head of the year," the Jewish New Year starts on the first day of Tishrei — the Jewish calendar's first month.
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| Oct. 6 |
Commemorates German Americans' contributions to the United States.
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| Oct. 10 |
Raises awareness of mental health issues worldwide.
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| Oct. 11 |
Raises awareness for individuals in the LGBTQ community. It celebrates living openly and authentically.
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| Oct. 11 |
Otherwise known as the Day of Atonement, this day is considered the holiest day in Judaism, lasting approximately 25 hours and is typically observed with fasting and prayer in alignment with the themes of atonement and repentance.
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| Oct. 15 |
Promotes the history, culture, and contributions of Hispanic Americans — specifically, those whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
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| Oct. 16-23 |
Also known as the Feast of Booths, this Torah-commanded holiday is celebrated by building temporary dwellings — or sukkahs — from wood, canvas, or aluminum, and praying inside of them.
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| Oct. 17 |
Honors the women who gave their lives serving in the United States military.
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November
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| All Month |
Celebrates the history, culture, and traditions of Native Americans. It is also known as American Indian and Alaska Native Native Heritage Month.
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| Nov. 1-2 |
A traditional Mexican holiday on which it is believed that the souls of the dead return to visit their surviving family.
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| Nov. 1 |
Diwali, or Deepawali, known as the “festival of lights,” is observed by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and some Buddhists.
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| Nov. 11 |
Honors those who served in the United States military.
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| Nov. 17 |
Promotes education around the world. It commemorates the bravery of thousands of students in Prague who fought for national pride and the right to higher education in 1939.
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| Nov. 18-24 |
An opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide.
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| Nov. 19 |
Focuses on the challenges faced by men and their contributions to society.
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| Nov. 20 |
Honors transgender people who have lost their lives to hate and violence.
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December
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Dec. 1 |
Dedicated to spreading awareness globally for those living with HIV and those who have died of AIDS-related illness.
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| Dec. 1-24 |
Celebrated in Christianity leading up to the Christmas holiday. It is a time of anticipation and preparation for celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.
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| Dec. 3 |
Focuses on the challenges faced by people living with disabilities.
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| Dec. 25 |
Celebrated in Christianity to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ.
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| Dec. 25 |
A Jewish holiday that is celebrated for eight days and nights. Known as the Jewish festival of lights, candles on a menorah are traditionally lit to mark each night of Hanukkah.
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| Dec. 26 |
An African American and Pan-African holiday. First observed in 1966, Kwanzaa celebrates African American culture, family, and history.
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