Programming

Latinx Heritage Month (September 15-October 15)
Each year, Americans observe National Latinx Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, to lift up, celebrate, and promote education about individuals who are from or have ancestry from Latin America and the Caribbean. During Latinx Heritage Month, we at Duke strive to increase awareness about Latinx and Latin American histories, identities, cultures, accomplishments and address issues that affect Latinx and Latin Americans internationally, within the United States and on campus. For more information, email dcma@duke.edu.

For more information on Latinx Heritage Month visit: http://www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov/about/

Native American Heritage Month (November)
What started at the turn of the twentieth century as an effort to gain a day of recognition for the significant contributions the Native Americans made to the establishment and growth of the U.S. has resulted in a whole month being designated for that purpose. This commemorative month aims to provide a platform for native people to share their culture, traditions, music, crafts, dance, and ways and concepts of life. This gives Native people the opportunity to express to their community and state officials their concerns and solutions for building bridges of understanding and friendship in their local area. Past programs have included public lectures, film screenings, and storytelling.For more information, email dcma@duke.edu.

For more information on Native American Heritage Month visit: http://nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov/about/

 Black History Month (February)
Black history month expanded from Negro History Week (February 1926) founded by historian Carter G. Woodson and his organization the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) to a month in 1976, the nation’s bicentennial. That year, fifty years after the first celebration, the association held the first African American History Month (Excerpt from an essay by Daryl Michael Scott, Howard University, for the Association for the Study of African American Life and History). The Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture centralizes the efforts of student Black affinity organizations during the month of February for celebrating the history and culture of Black people in America. Throughout the month, discussions will be held addressing relevant issues of the day. For more information, mlwc@duke.edu.

For more information on Black History Month visit: http://africanamericanhistorymonth.gov 

Asian/American Pacific Islander Heritage Month (Celebrated at Duke during April)
May is Asian American/Pacific Islander Heritage Month – a celebration of Asians, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders in the United States. A broad term, AAPI encompasses all of the Asian continent and the Pacific islands of Melanesia (New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Solomon Islands), Micronesia (Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru and the Federated States of Micronesia) and Polynesia (New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands, Rotuma, Midway Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, French Polynesia and Easter Island). Typically celebrated in May, we at Duke choose to honor it in April to allow a full month of festivities and events on campus, reflecting on the histories, accomplishments, and diversity of the AAPI community. Student organizations, offices, and academic departments are all encouraged to host events and contribute to our annual calendar of events for A/APIHM! For more information, email maij.mai@duke.edu.

For more information on Asian/American Pacific Islander Heritage Month visit: http://asianpacificheritage.gov

The Multicultural Connections Luncheon is an annual welcome luncheon for incoming first-year students of color/multicultural-identified students at Duke University- which may include Black/African American, Native American/Indigenous, Asian/Asian-American & Pacific Islander, Latinx/Hispanic, Multiracial/Multiethnic identified community members and more. The luncheon offers a welcome space where incoming first years can learn about the CMA, supportive campus resources and programs for students of color/multicultural communities, and foster campus connections with faculty, staff, and current Duke students. Swing by for lunch on us and to build intentional relationships with community members all across campus!

Community mixers provide an opportunity for undergraduate, graduate and professional students to interact with faculty and staff of color to establish meaningful connections. These programs do not operate on a particular schedule throughout the year; however, if you're interested in making connections within your community/ies, email maij.mai@duke.edu.

Purpose
To bring together all facets of our community in honoring and celebrating Native American culture from various tribes and traditions.

About the Event
The Native American & Indigenous Student Alliance hosts the annual Duke Powwow. Dancers, drummers and audiences come from across North Carolina to participate in this visual and artistic representation of the strength and vitality of the Native American culture. 

Please email dukepowwow@duke.edu for more information.

Day-Of Information

Join the Native American & Indigenous Student Alliance for Duke's annual Powwow. Grand entry starts at 12pm. There will be a food, craft vendors, dancers, drum groups, and giveaways!

Participant Info

To participate as a dancer or vendor, please contact dukepowwow@duke.edu for more information.

Duke SPARC, formerly known as Common Ground, is a newly envisioned retreat for Duke students to commit to transforming our campus community. We aim for participants to reimagine what an equitable and just society could look like. Using a framework of liberation to address different forms of systemic oppression (racism, imperialism, cis- and heterosexism, patriarchy, neoliberalism, etc.), we will reflect on who we are, how we engage with others, and awaken ourselves to the possibility for a liberated future where all people can thrive who have historically been marginalized. We welcome people in all stages of their journey to liberation: our liberation is interconnected.   

The retreat began in 2003, originating as a student project for the undergraduate course Social Entrepreneurship in Action.  The course was taught by Tony Brown, Professor of the Practice at the Sanford School of Public Policy from 1993 to 2018.  He also served as Co-Director of the Hart Leadership Program from 2010 to 2018.   

Duke SPARC is hosted by the Center for Multicultural Affairs (CMA). The advisors for SPARC work closely with the SPARC co-directors to coordinate the Fall retreat. 

The retreat is open to all undergraduate students. Duke SPARC is completely free of charge to all participants.  

Additional information about this program will be added at a later date.

Check back in for content on our Multicultural Graduation and Awards! In the meantime visit @dukecma on Instagram for information on all CMA programs.

The SHE Luncheon is an annual gathering of female-identified undergraduate, graduate/professional students and professionals in the Triangle Area. SHE stands for Share, Hear, and Empower. Our goal is to create space where female-identified students of color are validated in their experiences, create new connections, learn about various topics and community is fostered between students and professionals. 

Each year, the SHE Luncheon chooses a different focus. Past luncheons have included a panel of women of color in social entrepreneurship, STEM fields and a keynote by Valerie Ashby, PhD., Dean of Trinity College of Arts & Sciences. The SHE Luncheon is hosted by the Center for Multicultural Affairs and The Bridge. Please be on the lookout for more information on this year’s luncheon! 

For more information, email maij.mai@duke.edu.

Unity Through Diversity (UTD) is an annual campus-wide event highlighting distinct histories, needs and priorities shared by student cultural communities of color.

Historically,  UTD which held its first forum in 2000 has been the impetus for positive institutional change on campus and has sparked important dialogues about race, multiculturalism, and equality. The Center for Multicultural Affairs wants to ensure that this event will continue to contribute to the development of an equitable and inclusive campus climate. In 2017, CMA celebrated the 18th annual UTD forum in conjunction with the Center’s 45th anniversary. The Center for Multicultural Affairs was born as the Office of Black Affairs in 1972. As of 2022, the Center celebrates 50 years of existence. A celebratory event will occur during Spring 2023. Stay tuned for additional information. 

To see the archives of the first-ever Unity Through Diversity forum’s proceedings, please see the documents below .

• 1st UTD Part1
• 1st UTD Part 2
• 1st UTD Part 3
• 2nd UTD Part 1
• 2nd UTD Part 2

For more information, contact Linda Capers at lfc@duke.edu.