The Cultural Diversity and International Education Committee exists to:
- promote global education and the acceptance and inclusion of a diverse population,
- develop and promote initiatives and programs for diversity awareness and understanding, and
- identify academic issues of international students, such as English as a Second Language, and develop methods to address the issues.
As part of our charge to promote inclusion and increase diversity awareness and understanding, we will be sharing Diversity Events with you every month via the Daily Bulletin. We hope you find this information informative and inspiring.
Diversity Events August 2012
Information obtained from the National Education Association: http://www.nea.org/grants/42349.htm
August 18
Bon Festival (Feast of Lanterns)
The Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the departed spirits of one's ancestors has evolved into a family reunion holiday, during which people return to ancestral family places to visit and clean their ancestors' graves. Celebrated for over 500 years, the event lasts for three days. (In some regions of Japan, the Bon Festival is celebrated in mid-July.)
August 15
Feast of the Assumption
For Catholics, the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary commemorates the departure of Mary, the mother of Jesus, from this life, and the assumption of her body into heaven. It is the principal feast of the Blessed Virgin.
August 21
Hawaii Admitted to Union
On this day in 1959, Hawaii became the 50th state of the United States of America. It is also the last state to be admitted to the union. Hawaii has the largest percentage of Asian Americans of any U.S. state.
August 26
Women's Equality Day
Introduced by Rep. Bella Abzug (former member of the U.S. House of Representatives, lawyer, writer, news commentator, and feminist) and established in 1971, this day commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment, the Woman Suffrage Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which in 1920 gave women in the United States full voting rights. Visit the National Women's History Museum for education resources.
August 18-19
Eid al-Fitr
This Muslim feast day celebrates the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. The 3-day festival is known as "Eid" or "Eid al-Fitr," which literally means "the feast of the breaking the fast."
