To the UConn Community:
The Office for Diversity and Inclusion and the Provost’s Office would like to remind you of several celebrations, commemorations, and moments of raising awareness for members of our community during the month of May:
Heritage and Awareness Months:
ALS Awareness Month: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known as ALS, is a nervous system disease that impacts nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. May is designated as ALS awareness month to increase public understanding through storytelling of those impacted by the disease, highlighting the progress made in the race to find a cure, and to raise funds in support of ongoing research endeavors. Researchers at UConn are actively engaged in demystifying ALS and recently showed evidence that linked dysfunction in blood vessels in the brain to the disease. More information on how to get involved in Connecticut can be found here.
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month: May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. This national heritage celebration began in 1978 when Congress established a week to honor the contributions Asians, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders have made to the United States. Congress selected the first ten days of May for this celebration to commemorate two important milestones in U.S. history: the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants (May 7, 1843) and the completion of the trans-continental railroad (May 10, 1869), which was built primarily by Chinese workers. This celebration was extended to a full month in 1992. UConn celebrates this heritage month in April, so students, faculty, and staff can participate in events and celebrations.
Foster Care Awareness Month: May is National Foster Care Awareness Month. Initiated by the Children’s Bureau, National Foster Care Awareness Month honors and recognizes the unique experiences of over 365,000 children and youth in foster care in the United States. This year’s theme, “Engaging Youth, Building Supports, Strengthening Opportunities,” advocates for a strong child welfare system designed to equip and support the young people preparing to leave foster care. The Children’s Bureau offers a variety of resources specific to the young people and children in foster care, which can be found here.
Haitian Heritage Month: This national heritage month celebrates Haitian culture and traditions. It is an expansion of Haitian Flag Day (May 18th), which commemorates Haiti’s revolution from France and the formation of the world’s first Black republic. Haitian Flag Day is honored both in Haiti and by Haitians living in the diaspora, especially in the U.S., home to the largest Haitian diaspora in the world. Haitian Heritage Month was first celebrated in Boston in 1998 and became a national celebration after President George W. Bush honored it in 2005. Events include parades, flag raisings, and exhibits honoring Haitian culture, art, food, and traditions. UConn has two organizations for Haitian and Haitian American students: Aiding in Haitian Education, Advancement, and Development (AHEAD) and the Haitian Student Association.
Jewish American Heritage Month: This national heritage month recognizes more than 350 years of Jewish contributions to the United States, paying tribute to generations of Jewish Americans who helped form the fabric of American history, culture, and society. Though first recognized in April 2006, this month is commemorated in May to honor the first Jewish migrants to North America, who arrived in New York (then called New Amsterdam) after fleeing persecution in May of 1654. There are several organizations for Jewish students, staff, and faculty at UConn, including Hillel, Chabad, and the Center for Judaic Studies and Contemporary Life (Storrs and Stamford), which sponsors the American Jewish Year Book to provide the most up-to-date information about Jewish life in North America. The Center has several educational resources and lectures that are available for free and sponsors a 1-credit course on Confronting Antisemitism.
Mental Health Awareness Month: Mental Health Awareness month aims to increase awareness about our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Since 1949, it has been a driving force to address the challenges impacting millions of Americans living with mental health conditions. Whatever you may be going through, UConn has tools, resources, and programs to support you: Student Health and Wellness (SHaW)’s resources for mental health at Storrs and at the regional campuses; student wellness resources at UConn Health (access to UConn Health network required); HR’s mental health resources (password required); resources for suicide prevention; the Student Care Team, which responds to concerns about individual student health and wellness; Holistic Huskies, a podcast on student mental health experiences; and UConn’s Wellness Coalition, a space for students to come together and develop innovative solutions to health and wellness issues on campus. The Office of Veterans Affairs and Military Programs (VAMP) also has on-campus and off-campus resources specifically for military veterans.
Military Appreciation Month: Congress began recognizing Military Appreciation month in 1999 to honor all service members past and present, as well as those associated with them including children of fallen soldiers, spouses, caregivers, and others who served and sacrificed along with military members. Military Appreciation Month includes:
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- Month of the Military Caregiver
- Military Spouse Appreciation Day (5/9),
- Children of Fallen Patriots Day (5/13),
- Armed Forces Day (5/17), and
- Memorial Day (5/26).
UConn recognizes that veterans and service members face unique challenges in higher education. VAMP provides student support services specifically for veterans, active service members, and their families who are attending UConn. Their services include certifying VA educational benefits, assisting students in their transition to life at UConn, and providing supplemental programs and activities to student veterans. VAMP works closely with the Center for Students for Disabilities (CSD), which has a wealth of resources for veterans regardless of ability status.
Older Americans Month: This heritage month was established by President John F. Kennedy in 1963 to acknowledge the contributions of older persons and raise awareness about this population’s growing needs and concerns. Ageism is a systematic issue in the United States, despite a rapidly aging population. This year celebrates the 58th anniversary of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) of 1967, which prohibits discrimination against workers over the age of 40 during all stages of employment. This year’s Older Americans Month theme is “Flip the Script on Aging,” encouraging us to dispel misconceptions and challenge stereotypes. UConn supports senior citizens through free educational initiatives, including Senior Citizen Audits for learners over 62, UConn Extension’s Center for Learning in Retirement (CLIR) for retirees and adults from all walks of life, and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) offering learners 50 and over opportunities to engage socially and intellectually with their peers.
Teacher Appreciation Week (May 5 – May 9): National Teacher Appreciation Week is a time for communities, schools, and individuals to express gratitude to teachers for their positive impact on students and their influence in shaping future generations. The influence of teachers extends far beyond the walls of the classroom. They forge strong partnerships with families, engage passionately with communities, and provide mentorship that profoundly shapes the lives of their students for years to come. Through their guidance, teachers ignite curiosity and instill confidence, nurturing a passion in their students to pursue their dreams wholeheartedly. Since 1985, the official celebration of teachers has taken place during the first full week of May every year, with National Teacher Day on the Tuesday of that week.
Cultural and Federal Holidays:
Cinco de Mayo (May 5): Cinco de Mayo is an annual celebration of the Mexican military’s defeat of the Second French Empire in the Battle of Puebla in 1862. This holiday is not widely celebrated in Mexico. Mexican Independence Day is celebrated each year on September 16th. Cinco de Mayo is often misconstrued in the U.S. as a drinking holiday celebrating Mexican Independence Day. Referring to Cinco de Mayo as a drinking holiday often results in rampant cultural appropriation and negative stereotypes about Mexicans and Mexican Americans. A more meaningful and respectful approach to commemorating Cinco de Mayo should involve reading the real story about the holiday and supporting Mexican-owned businesses in your community.
Mother’s Day (May 11): In the United States, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May. The American celebration of Mother’s Day was created in 1905 to honor the sacrifices mothers make for their children. Though originally a day of celebration for individuals and families, it became heavily commercialized after President Woodrow Wilson declared it a federal holiday in 1914. The Women’s Center offers an ongoing affinity group for mothers employed or enrolled at UConn, Moms4Moms. This group works to enlighten, empower, engage, and educate members. It also provides opportunities to network and build community through cultivating an inclusive space to talk about the joys and hardships of motherhood. For all the mothers and the mothers-at-heart, thank you for your care and kindness. For those who have lost a child, lost a mother, or are yearning to be a mother, we see you and honor you.
National Nurses Week (May 6 – 12) and International Nurses Day (May 12): International Nurses Day is celebrated globally every May 12th, the birthday of Florence Nightingale. In the United States, the week leading up to International Nurses Day is National Nurses Week. This week aims to celebrate the profession and promote understanding and appreciation of the invaluable contributions nurses make to our society. This year’s theme is “The Power of Nurses” shining a national spotlight on nurses as the driving force behind compassionate care, innovation, and transformative changes in healthcare. We especially appreciate the nurses who work to meet the healthcare needs of the UConn campus communities. We honor the Registered Nurses and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses at Student Health and Wellness and UConn Health, who work on the frontlines of advocating for patient and student-centered care. At UConn Health, nurses are an integral part of care, research, and continuing education. We thank you for all you do!
Memorial Day (May 26): Memorial Day began as a day for families and friends to visit and decorate the graves of loved ones lost during the American Civil War. Congress made Memorial Day an official holiday in 1971, designating the last Monday in May to honor all who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the United States.
UConn honors members of the military and their families. Because Memorial Day falls after the spring semester has ended, The Office of Veterans Affairs and Military Programs (VAMP) will not be holding a UConn specific event. The office would like to encourage everyone to attend an event to remember and mourn the U.S. military members who have died while serving our country. A list of some events happening throughout Connecticut can be found here: Memorial Day Weekend 2025 in Connecticut – (May 24-26).
Religious Holidays:
Twelfth Day of Ridván (April 30 – May 1): Ridván translates to “paradise” in the Arabic language. The Twelfth Day of Ridván is the last day Baha’u’llah spent in the Garden of Ridván in Baghdad in 1863. It was during this time that Bahá’í declared His Prophetic Mission to His followers. Ridván is a joyous occasion, but the twelfth day was one of sadness. The Twelfth Day of Ridván is one of nine holy days in the Bahá’í calendar.
Beltane (May 1): Beltane, also known as May Day, is one of the eight sabbats celebrated by Pagans, Wiccans and Witchcraft practitioners. It marks the beginning of summer and is celebrated on May 1st in the Northern Hemisphere. Beltane is a time to celebrate the abundance of life. It’s a time to honor the fertility of the earth, the growth of new life, and the renewal of the natural world. Beltane honors the union of the god and goddess, which brings new life to the Earth.
Vesak | Buddha Day (May 12): Buddha Day, also known as Buddha Jayanti, celebrates the birth of the founder of Buddhism, Prince Siddhartha Gautama, who later became the Gautama Buddha. Buddha Day is a lunar holiday and usually falls during the first full moon of May. Buddha’s birth is celebrated as part of the Vesak festival, which honors the three major events in his life: his birth, his enlightenment, and his death. Buddhists celebrate Vesak by decorating temples with flowers, singing hymns, and “bathing of the Buddha,” a ritual in which water is poured over small statues of the Buddha. Water cleanses bad karma and reenacts the events following his birth, when devas and spirits showered him with sacred waters from the sky. Buddhists are encouraged to do small acts of kindness, to refrain from any kind of killing, and to eat vegetarian food.
Lag B’Omer (May 15 – May 16): Celebrates the anniversary of the passing of the great sage and mystic Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, author of the Zohar. It is a festive day on the Jewish calendar that honors Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, author of the Zohar. It is celebrated with outings, bonfires, parades, and other joyous events. In some communities, playing with bows and arrows is a prevalent custom. Many visit the resting place of Rabbi Shimon; the anniversary of whose passing is on this day.
Declaration of the Báb (May 22 – May 23): The anniversary of the Báb’s announcement of His mission in 1844. The actual event took place on May 23, 1844, but the observation begins two hours and 11 minutes after sunset on the 22nd. A Shi’a Muslim named Mulla Husayn was on a quest to search for the Promised One — a messiah described in the holy scriptures. This led to the formation of the Bahá’í faith, which quickly spread from Shiraz to every country and territory around the world. The principles of the Bahá’í belief are based on the writings of the Báb.
Ascension of Bahá’u’llah (May 28): This day commemorates the passing of Bahá’u’lláh, the prophet and founder of the Bahá’í Faith—a religion centered on the spiritual unity of all humankind. Bahá’u’lláh passed away on May 29, 1892. While this anniversary is traditionally observed on May 29th, this year it will be observed on May 28th according to the Gregorian calendar. This solemn occasion is a day of rest and reflection for Bahá’ís around the world. It is often observed in the early hours of the morning, beginning at 3:00 a.m., through the reading or chanting of sacred writings to honor his life, teachings, and enduring spiritual legacy.
Feast of the Ascension of Jesus (May 29): Ascension Day, also known as the Feast of the Ascension, is a Christian holiday that commemorates Jesus Christ’s ascension into heaven. According to Christian belief, this event took place in the presence of his eleven apostles, 40 days after the resurrection. It is mentioned in the New Testament of the Bible in both the Gospel of Mark and the Acts of the Apostles, providing a foundational scriptural basis for the observance.
We welcome the celebration of each of these holidays on our campuses and encourage support for those requiring accommodations. You can find information and guidance about academic accommodations for religious observations on the Provost Office’s webpage.
To see more information about resources and events happening this month and throughout the semester, please visit our events page at www.diversity.uconn.edu/events. ODI writes these letters in collaboration with our partners across the UConn system. If we inadvertently omitted a cultural or religious holiday, please let us know by emailing us at diversity@uconn.edu.
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Sincerely,
Jeff and Anne
Jeffrey F. Hines, M.D.
Vice President, Office for Diversity and Inclusion, UConn | UConn Health
Anne D’Alleva, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs