Diversity and Inclusion Holiday and Observance Calendar

September 2025

Holiday/Observance Religious Affiliation Date
Labor Day    September 1, 2025
Mawlid al Nabi (birthday of Mohammad)  Islamic September 4-5, 2025
Feast of the Nativity  Orthodox Christian  September 8, 2025
World Suicide Prevention Day    September 10, 2025
Hispanic Heritage Month (September)   September15 - October 15, 2025
International Day of Peace    September 21, 2025
Rosh Hashanah (New Year)    September 22-24, 2025
Navaratri/Dussehra  Hindu September 22 - October 2, 2025

Where to go:    

Simone Bolivar Statue   

Repetorio Espanol 

El Taller Latino Americano 

 

Virtual Tours:   

Museum of Latin American Art   

National Museum of the American Latino   

National History Museum of Chile   

Juan Manuel Blanes Museum   

 

What to Read:   

Hispanic Heritage Month - LibGuides at Empire State University   

Recognizing the Borinqueneers   

Disability Justice and U.S. Latinx Art   

The Voices of Intersectionality: Life as a Disabled Latinx   

NPR Latinos Share Their American Immigration Stories   

Latino, Hispanic, Latinx, Chicano: The History Behind the Terms   

 

What to listen to:   

Oral Histories   

Hispanics in Service   

Hispanic Communities Documentation Project records    

Bracero Oral History Project    

StoryCorps Historias    

 

Music  

Hispanic Heritage Month Playlist    

Viva Latino | Spotify Playlist   

‎Radio Chart: Latin - Playlist - Apple Music   

 

Podcasts  

¿Qué Me Cuentas?: Latinx Storytelling 

Latino USA   

Latinos Who Lunch   

AFROSAYA The Afrolatino Podcast   

Tamarindo   

 

What to Watch:    

America's Diversity Gives Us Strength: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month      

Bienvenidos a Fleischmanns - An Immigrant Community in Rural America   

Dolores    

15 Latinx Movies About Our History and Culture You Need to Watch   

What Being Hispanic and Latinx Means in the United States    

Register to Vote!   

Hispanic Heritage Month (September) 
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month  

 

What to Read: 

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 

Cancer in Children and Adolescents - NCI 

Hope, Support and the Power of Community During Childhood Cancer Awareness Month 

Childhood Cancer Facts Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer 

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month Spotlights Barriers That Persist in Care 

IARC marks Childhood Cancer Awareness Month 2025 

 

What to Listen to: 

Help and Hope Happen Here Podcast on Spotify 

Caregivers SHARE Podcast St. Jude Care & Treatment 

The Childhood Cancer Perspective Apple Podcasts 

Why We Do The Work Podcast Beyond Toxics 

Navigating Childhood Cancer Podcast Podcast on Spotify 

 

What to Watch: 

Facing the Unthinkable: Stories From the Children's Cancer Ward Full Documentary 

Fighting Childhood Cancer 

Our Story The Truth 365 

The Life Of 3 Children Who Are Battling Cancer  

 

 

October 2025

Holiday/Observance Religious Affiliation Date
Global Diversity Awareness Month (October)    October 1-31, 2025
Yom Kipper Jewish October 1-2, 2025
Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) Jewish October 6-13, 2025
Indigenous Peoples’ Day   October 13, 2025
Columbus Day    October 13, 2025
Shemini Atzeret Jewish  October 14, 2025
Simchat Torah Jewish  October 14-15, 2025
Kathin Theravada Buddhist  October 7 - November 5, 2025
Diwali  Hindu, Sikh  October 18-23, 2025

Where to go:  

Utica, NY Polish Community Club 

Old Fort Niagara  

Polish American Museum 

Virtual Tours:  

Polonia Trail 

The Polish Museum of America 

 

What to Read: 

Greenpoint Tales 

The Nation of Polonia 

The Rich History of the Polish Diaspora in the United States  

Polonia: The Polish Legacy on the East Side 

11 Great Polish Books You Have to Read 
 

What to listen to: 

Oral Histories  

A Collection of Polish-American Oral Histories 

Polish American Oral History 

 

Music  

Polish Music 2024 - Best Polish Hits 2024 Playlist- Spotify 

‎All-time: Polish Hits – Apple Music 

Polish Folk Music- YouTube Music 

Most Popular Songs From Poland 

 

Podcasts  

POLcast 

The History of Poland Podcast 

The Polkast 

Polish Studies Center Podcast 

 

What to Watch:  

Spark Among the Ashes 

Polonia: Western New York's Polish - American Legacy 

Polish American Historical Association 

Polish Americans Documentary 

Register to Vote! 

 

National Disability Employment Awareness Month 

Where to Go: 

Best Wheelchair Friendly hiking trails in NYS 

Access Pass NYS Parks Accessibility Information 

NYS Trail Designed for Neurodivergent Adventurers 

12 Wheelchair Accessible Tours in NYC 

Travel for All Travel Planning for Individuals with Disabilities 

 

To Read: 

National Disability Employment Awareness Month: Fact Sheet Library of Congress 

A Guide for People with Disabilities Seeking Employment ADA.gov 

Job training and employment programs for people with disabilities USAGov 

Association of People Supporting Employment First 

Employment Rights of People with Disabilities Division of Human Rights 

Our Ability, Inc. – AI Powered Employment for People with Disabilities 

 

To Listen to: 

Podcasts 

Podcast Disability Visibility Project 

The Accessible Stall 

Disability Matters 

Barrier Free Futures 

AXSChat Podcast Apple Podcasts 

Oral Histories 

Disability Rights and Independent Living Movement 

Visionary Voices Oral Histories 

The Intersection of Race and Disability Project 

Osnat Katz Moon 

Here. Stories from Selinsgrove Center 

To Watch: 

Disability and work: Let’s stop wasting talent  

How to Help Employees With Disabilities Thrive  

Jobs for employees with disabilities  

IRR: Disability Employment Awareness 

How Does The ADA Impact Employment For People With Disabilities? 

 

Filipino American Heritage Month 

Where to go: 

Community Little Manila Queens Bayanihan Arts 

Filipinos in New York City : Nadal, Kevin L. 

 

What to read: 

Filipino American History Month 2025 FANHS National Website 

Filipino American History Month Asia Pacific Cultural Center  

Filipino American Heritage Month Arts & Culture  

National Filipino American History Month, explained  

Celebrate Filipino American History Month  

 

To Listen to: 

This Filipino American Life - Podcast 

Sapphire Sandalo 

Pinoys vs. The World Podcast on Spotify 

The Filipino American Woman Project - Podcast  

Growing Up Filipino East Coast Podcast on Spotify 

Oral Histories: 

Filipino American Oral History Project – Asias Americas 

 

To Watch: 

A Filipino American Story Since 1587 

Filipino Americans #FilipinoVeterans  

The First Filipinos in America: Long Before the Pilgrims 

How "Filipino American History Month" Came to Be 

 

LGBTQIA+ History Month 

To Visit: 

Pride Tours in NYC 

LGBTQ History Tour Greenwich Village NYC 

Where to Celebrate Pride 2024 in NYS 

LGBTQIA+ Museum Tour Virtual Reality 

 

To Read: 

LGBTQ Rights Timeline in American History Teaching LGBTQ History 

Gay Rights - Movement, Marriage & Flag  

LGBTQ+ History National Museum of American History 

GLBT Historical Society 

THE LGBTQ HISTORY PROJECT QUEER LIBERATION 

 

To Listen to: 

Podcasts: 

The Podcast | Making Gay History 

One From the Vaults Apple Podcasts 

History is Gay 

Queerology Matthias Roberts 

Oral Histories: 

The LGBTQ Oral History Project 

Princeton LGBTQIA Oral History Project 

“Breaking the Silence: Our Military Stories” 

“Serving in Silence”   

 

To Watch: 

Beyond Stonewall: Exploring LGBTQ+ History Through the Smithsonian Archives  

Change in the Family LGBTQ Documentary  

Coming Out The LGBT Cultural Revolution before Stonewall 

 

Global Diversity Awareness Month: 

To Watch: 

The history of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in America 

Diversity, Inclusion, & Equity in Science 

The Importance of Diversity Equity & Inclusion in the Workplace 

 

To Listen to: 

Diversity: Beyond the Checkbox  

The Will to Change: Where Leadership Meets the Courage to Evolve  

Code Switch Podcast on Spotify 

Conversations on A More Beautiful Way Podcast on Spotify 

 

To Read: 

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion 

Global Diversity Awareness Month  

Lily Zheng 

A New Framework for DEI 

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion  

 

November 2025

Holiday/Observance Religious Affiliation Date
Native American Heritage Month   November 1-30, 2025
All Saints Day Christian November 1, 2025
All Souls Day Christian November 2, 2025
Veterans Day   November 11, 2025
Thanksgiving Day   November 27, 2025
Native American Heritage Day 45 November 28, 2025

National Native American Heritage Month

Maps: 

Dispossession of Indigenous Lands Map  

Native Land Interactive Digital Map 

 

Where to Go: 

Virtual Tours:  

National Museum of the American Indian 

Native American Stories 

In New York State:  

National Museum of the American Indian- New York, NY 

Iroquois Museum- Howes Cave, NY 

Ganondagan Seneca Historic Site- Victor, NY 

Akwesasne Cultural Center – Akwesasne, NY 

Seneca-Iroquois National Museum- Salamanca, NY 

American Indian Community House- New York, NY   

 

To Read : 

Understanding Disabilities in American Indian & Alaska Native Communities Toolkit 

Why We Serve 

Must-Read Books by Indigenous Authors 

Honoring Indigenous Peoples: 20 Recommended Reads 

Indigenous Peoples - LibGuides at Empire State University 

Native American & American Indian Heritage Month - LibGuides at Empire State University    

 

What to Listen To: 

Oral Histories:  

Archive of Native American Recorded History 

Oklahoma Native Artists 

Native People of the Americas 

Legacies of Service: Celebrating Native Americans 

Podcasts:  

All My Relations 

National Native News 

This Land 

Unreserved with Rosanna Deerchild 

Pow Wow Life Podcast 

The Red Nation Podcast 

Music:  

‎Indigenous Now - Apple Music 

Indigenous- Spotify Playlist 

Dreamcatcher- Spotify Playlist 

 

To Watch: 

Indigenous People Answer Commonly Googled Questions About Native Americans 

Broken Treaties (Full documentary)   

Our Fires Still Burn: The Native American Experience 

We're Still Here 

The Oneida Speak 

Connect NY Indigenous Issues 

 

Veteran and Military Families Month 

Places to go: 

In New York State:  

New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center- Saratoga Springs, NY  

USS Slater- Albany, NY 

Fort Ticonderoga- Ticonderoga, NY 

Fort Stanwix National Monument- Rome, NY 

Old Fort Niagara- Youngstown, NY 

Buffalo Naval and Military Park- Buffalo, NY 

Virtual Tours:  

Exhibitions | National WWI Museum and Memorial (theworldwar.org) 

Virtual Tour of United States Veterans and War Memorials — Google Arts & Culture 

 

To Read: 

Military Appreciation Month - LibGuides at Empire State University 

National Archives Veterans Oral Histories | National Archives 

About this Collection | Veterans History Project Collection | Digital Collections | Library of Congress (loc.gov) 

Native Americans in the Military: From Service to Civilian Life (syr.edu) 

Understanding Veterans in New York: A Needs Assessment of Veterans Recently Separated from the Military (nyhealthfoundation.org) 

2022 Women Infographics (defense.gov)   

 

To Listen To: 

Oral Histories:  

Witness to War: Preserving The Oral Histories of Combat Veterans 

Women in Military Service for American Memorial Foundation, Inc. (preservica.com) 

Veterans Interviews :: New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center (ny.gov) 

Veterans Oral Histories | American Veterans Center 

Serving: Our Voices | Veterans History Project Collection | Digital Collections | Library of Congress (loc.gov) 

Podcasts:  

Women of the Military | Podcast on Spotify 

Episodes | Veteran Transitions Podcast (wordpress.com) 

Veteran’s PATH | Podcast on Spotify 

Veteran Resource Podcast Podcast Series - Apple Podcasts 

Milspouse Matters | Podcast on Spotify 

 

To Watch: 

War's Secret Shame: Shell Shock - Video - Films On Demand (infobase.com) 

Debt of Honor: Disabled Veterans in American History - Video - Films On Demand (infobase.com) 

Journal: Veterans Day: African American Vets - Alexander Street, a ProQuest Company 

Veterans' Stories: Honoring those who served (youtube.com) 

Veterans and war stories | 60 Minutes Full Episodes (youtube.com) 

 

December 2025

Holiday/Observance Religious Affiliation Date
Feast of the Immaculate Conception Christian December 8, 2025
Bodhi Day Buddhism December 8, 2025
Hanukkah Jewish December 14-22, 2025
Christmas Christian December 25, 2025
Kwanzaa African American and Pan-African December 26, 2025 - January 1, 2026

 

January 2026

Holiday/Observance Religious Affiliation Date
New Years Day    January 1, 2026
Feast of the Epiphany (Three Kings Day)  Christian January 6, 2026
Feast of the Nativity (Nativity of Christ)  Orthodox Christian January 7, 2026
Lailat al-Mi’raj Islamic January 16, 2026
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day    January 19, 2026
Vasant Panchami Hindu January 23, 2026
International Holocaust Remembrance Day     January 27, 2026

Videos:  

Why is it so hard to escape poverty?   

Growing Up Poor In America  

Why The U.S. Can’t End Poverty 

Poverty, Politics and Profit 

Poor Kids  

Give Us the Money: How Do You Change the World?   

Quest for Justice: Legal Services and the Poor  

 

Oral Histories:  

Appalachia: War On Poverty Oral History Project  

UCLA Library Center for Oral History Research 

 

Podcasts:  

Social Impact Pioneers Podcast  

Build Relationships. Break Poverty. Podcast   

Ending Poverty Together Podcast 

Poverty Unpacked Podcast 

 

Articles: 

Poverty in America: Trends and Explanations 

Anti-poverty Policy Innovations: New Proposals for Addressing Poverty in the United States 

The Economic Costs of Poverty in the United States: Subsequent Effects of Children Growing Up Poor 

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Food Insecurity Among Low-Income US Military Veterans 

Poverty and Disability 

Poverty and Opportunity Structure in Rural America 

Disparities in Access to Care and Satisfaction among U.S. Children: The Roles of Race/Ethnicity and Poverty Status   

 

In January we also recognize:  

January 16th- National Religious Freedom Day 

January 20th- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day 

"The time is always right to do what is right.” 

Martin Luther King Jr. (Aug. 28, 1963)  

We encourage the SUNY Empire community to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by “cultivating a beloved community mindset through service” — not just on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, but all year long.  

We’ve put together some online and statewide resources for getting involved in and giving back to your community. We hope you take the time to explore and participate in some of them. We  encourage you to listen to Dr. King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech. This 17-minute speech might just inspire you to start or renew your commitment to Dr. King’s vision of creating a “Beloved Community.” You can also visit The King Center website at www.thekingcenter.org to learn more about Dr. King’s life and legacy.  

We’ve also put together a list of recommended readings, movies, and other resources that encompass everything from racial and social justice and the ongoing struggle for voting rights to equal treatment under the law. Have a recommendation? Let us know at ODEI@sunyempire.edu! 

For questions about Empire State University's participation in the National Day of Service, email advancementevents@sunyempire.edu.  

For more resources, volunteering opportunities and ways to keep the momentum going throughout the year, visit the NYS MLK Day of Service webpage.  

 

Volunteer Opportunities Near You: 

Buffalo Region 

  • Literacy Buffalo Niagara: Literacy Buffalo Niagara aims to ensure that all people in Erie and Niagara counties are literate by providing free tutoring and literacy skills resources. To become a Literacy Buffalo Niagara volunteer, please apply on their website.  
  • Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor: The Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor is a nationally and internationally recognized Buffalo neighborhood that serves as the focal point of residents’ and visitors’ experience for learning about Buffalo’s rich African American history through its vibrant neighborhoods, shops, restaurants, unique structures, historical markers, people and institutions, as well as its significant impact on local, national and international history.  
  • Project Flight: Project Flight is a not-for-profit organization devoted to promoting literacy in children and caregivers, through school and family literacy initiatives. They need new books for children ages 0-12, especially chapter books. Call Melissa Blattner at 716-858-8608 to organize a book drive or donate new books.  

Capital Region 

  • Literacy Volunteers of the Capital Region: Literacy Volunteers of the Capital Region empowers students to advocate for themselves, teaches students to read, write, and speak English, and provides education to the larger community on literacy issues. To volunteer, you must first complete an online orientation which can be found on their website.  
  • Albany County Crime Victim & Sexual Violence Center: Sexual assault hotline advocates provide crisis intervention, support, information and referrals to survivors of sexual assault on the phone or in Albany County hospitals. All advocates must complete 35 hours of training prior to serving on the hotline.  
  • Capital City Rescue Mission: Volunteers needed for a variety of programs at the Mission, including tutoring, maintenance, clothing ministry, preparing meals, or volunteering in the free medical clinic. They are in need of Spanish-speaking interpreters who can translate at the clinic on Tuesdays, Thursday evenings, or Fridays. Contact: Hope Smith, Volunteer Coordinator, at vcoordinator@albanymission.com.  
  • Habitat for Humanity ReStore: The Habitat for Humanity ReStore accepts new and used building materials, furniture, appliances, and other home goods, and sells them to raise money to support affordable homeownership. Sign up for a shift on their website.  
  • MLK Saratoga: A community-based organization, is hosting a series of events in Saratoga Springs to honor and celebrate Dr. King and his legacy. Events include discussions with authors, music and art events, and a panel on restorative justice in schools which our colleague Dr. Heather Reynolds helped put together based on her Imperatore Fellowship work on school safety. Sign up to volunteer on their website.  
  • Things of My Very Own: When a child escapes abuse within their home, they need support to weather the crisis, heal, and move forward. Things of My Very Own, Inc. is a lifeline for children fleeing abuse. From providing basic necessities to teaching life skills that instill confidence and self-worth, our services lift fragile children from a place of harm to one of hope. Apply to volunteer on their website.  

Long Island 

  • Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind: Every volunteer plays an important role in the mission to improve the quality of life for people who are blind, visually impaired or have other special needs. Apply to volunteer on their website.  
  • Long Island Crisis Center: Long Island Crisis Center provides 24/7, free, high-quality, confidential and non-judgmental programs and services to support and empower Long Islanders at critical times in their lives. Apply to volunteer on their website.  

Rochester Region 

  • EquiCenter: This organization is a premier accredited member of the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH), and a 501(c)(3) non-profit facility serving those with disabilities, veterans and at-risk youth. Equine-related programs currently offered include therapeutic horseback riding, horsemanship, and Heroes for Horses, a program that uses a variety of equine-related therapies to help war veterans and their families. To get involved, fill out the volunteer form on their website.  
  • Foodlink: This Rochester-based nonprofit is dedicated to ending hunger and building healthier communities by addressing the symptoms and root causes of food insecurity. They serve as the hub of the emergency food system across a 10-county service area. Volunteers are needed! To volunteer, sign up on their website  

New York City Region 

  • Art Start: Featuring hip-hop, graphic-design, and fine-arts programs, Art Start targets low-income and homeless youth. Volunteers, many of whom are professional artists, lead classes in their area of expertise, from drumming to short-story writing. Call 800-224-0990 for volunteer opportunities, or apply on their website.  
  • Brooklyn Public Library: Brooklyn Public Library, the nation’s largest library systems and among New York City’s most democratic institutions, offers thousands of free programs every day for people from all walks of life. For volunteering opportunities, visit www.bklynlibrary.org/support/volunteer.  
  • Food Bank for New York City: The city’s largest hunger-relief organization, Food Bank for New York City helps low-income New Yorkers overcome their circumstances and achieve greater independence. Volunteers play a central role in powering Food Bank’s mission. They have virtual and on-site volunteer opportunities. For volunteer opportunities, apply on their website.  
  • Henry Street Settlement: This Lower East Side group serves a largely Asian and Hispanic community. Its services include a mental-health clinic, a shelter for battered women, an arts center, and day-care centers. Volunteer as a tutor, a computer programmer, a job coach, or a teacher’s assistant. Apply for volunteer shifts on their website.  
  • International Center: Teach English and American-culture classes at this language-learning center in Chelsea, where students are foreign-born newcomers to New York (a standard commitment is two hours a week for six months). Volunteers are needed for written and conversational instruction. Donations help fund scholarships for the neediest students. Call 212-255-9555 for more information regarding donations. To volunteer, inquire on their website.  

Inspirational Reading 

  • A Child Shall Lead Them: Martin Luther King Jr., Young People, and the Movement, by Rufus Burrow 
  • Martin Luther King Jr.: A Life, by Marshall Frady 
  • Parting the Waters: America in the King Years, 1954-63, by Taylor Branch 
  • The Heavens Might Crack: The Death and Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., by Jason Sokol 
  • The Promise and the Dream: The Untold Story of Martin Luther King, Jr. And Robert F. Kennedy, by David Margolick 
  • Toward the Beloved Community: Martin Luther King, Jr., and South Africa, by Lewis V. Baldwin 
  • We Shall Overcome: Martin Luther King Jr., and the Black Freedom Struggle, by Peter J. Albert and Ronald Hoffman 
  • All the White Friends I Could Not Keep, by Andre Henry 
  • America, Goddam: Violence, Black Women, and the Struggle for Justice, by Treva B. Lindsey 
  • Black Joy: Stories of Resistance, Resilience, and Restoration, by Lewis-Giggetts 
  • Black on Black: On Our Resilience and Brilliance in America, by Daniel Black 
  • Driving the Green Book: A Road Trip Through the Living History of Black Resistance, by Alvin Hall 
  • Healing Justice Lineages: Dreaming at the Crossroads of Liberation, Collective Care and Safety, by Erica Woodland and Cara 
  • How to Know a Person, by David Brooks 
  • I Never Thought of It That Way, by Monica Guzman 
  • Illustrated Black History: Honoring the Iconic and the Unseen, by George McCalman 
  • King: A Life, by Jonathan Eig 
  • Letters to the Sons of Society, by Shaka Senghor 
  • Redeeming Justice, by Jarret Adams 
  • Rest is Resistance, by Tricia Hersey 
  • The Sum of Us, by Heather McGee 
  • Unapologetic: A Black, Queer, and Feminist Mandate for Radical Movements, by Charlene Carruthers 
  • We Want to Do More Than Survive, by Dr. Bettina Love 
  • You are Your Best Thing, by Tarana Burke and Brene Brown 
  • You Belong, by Sebene Selassie  

Recommended Podcasts 

Media Available from the Online Library Collection 

 

February 2026

Holiday/Observance Religious Affiliation Date
Black History Month   February 1-28, 2026
National Freedom Day, commemorating the ratification of the 13th Amendment   February 1, 2026
Tu BiShvat Jewish February 1-2, 2026
Lailat al-Bara’ah Islamic  February 2, 2026
Presentation of our Lord in the Temple Orthodox Christian, Roman Catholic February 2, 2026
Valentine’s Day   February 14, 2026
Nirvana Day (also known as Parinirvana Day) Buddhist, Hindu February 15, 2026
Susan B. Anthony Day (New York)    February 15, 2026
Maha Shivaratri  Hindu February 15, 2026
Presidents Day   February 16, 2026
Lunar New Year Buddhist  February 17, 2026
Ramadan Jewish February 17 - March 19, 2026
Lent Christian February 18 - April 2, 2026
Ash Wednesday Christian, Roman Catholic February 18, 2026
Day of Remembrance (recognizing the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII)   February 19, 2026
Great Lent Orthodox Christian February 23 - April 11, 2026

Where to go: 

Media: Read, Watch, and Hear 

Black History 

Ally Resources 

Understanding Racial/Cultural Impact 

Self-Care Resources 

Toolkits and Trainings 

 

Oral Histories 

Podcasts  

Music  

 

March 2026

Holiday/Observance Religious Affiliation Date
Sunday of Orthodoxy Orthodox Christian March 1, 2026
Purim Jewish March 2-3, 2026
Magha Puja Day Buddhist  March 3, 2026
Holi Hindu March 4, 2026
International Women's Day   March 8, 2026
Lailat al Qadr  Islamic March 16, 2026
Eid al-Fitr Islamic March 20, 2026
World’s Down Syndrome Day   March 21, 2026
International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transnational Slave Trade   March 25, 2026
Rama Navami Hindu March 26, 2026
Palm Sunday Christian March 29, 2026
Cesar Chavez Day   March 31, 2026
Hanuman Jayanti Hindu March 31 - April 1, 2026

HERS: Women Leaders in Higher Education  

Education National Women's History Museum 

Women Leading Ed 

Campaign for Female Education 

Malala Fund 

 

To Read: 

National Women's History Museum 

Women's History Month Smithsonian Institution 

55 Famous Women in History Who Changed the World  

21 Famous Women of World History World History Encyclopedia 

Timeline: Women’s Footprint in History 

 

Oral Histories: 

 Voices of Feminism Oral Histories - Smith College Collection 

Military Women’s Oral History 

Disability Visability Project - Stacey Taught US 

Pembroke Center Oral History Project 

A History of Domestic Work and Worker Organizing 

 

Podcasts: 

Who Holds Up Half the Sky 

All My Relations 

Women at Work with Amy Bernstein, Amy G. Smith College Collection Voices of Feminisimallo and Emily Caulfield    

Woman’s Hour with Emma Barnett and Anita Rani  

The Guilty Feminist with Deborah Frances-White  

Women of the Military   

 

To Watch: 

100 Years of Women's Voting Rights Citizen: Full-Length Documentary 

9 Inspiring Women Who Led the Way to a Better Future Smithsonian Channel 

What Happened at the Seneca Falls Convention? History 

Women in History Documentary 

 

Where to go:  

Monumental Women In NYS Map 

Women's History Walk in Central Park 

Shady Ladies Tour of Greenwich Village  

 

Virtual Gallery Tours: 

National Women’s History Museum 

Pathways to Equality: The U.S. Women’s Rights Movement Emerges

 

April 2026

Holiday/Observance Religious Affiliation Date
Arab American Heritage Month   April 1-30, 2026
Passover (Pesach)  Jewish April 1-9, 2026
Theravada New Year Buddhist  April 2, 2026
Great and Holy Thursday Orthodox Christian April 2, 2026
Maundy Thursday (Protestant), Holy Thursday (Roman Catholic) Christian, Protestant, Roman Catholic April 2, 2026
Good Friday, Great and Holy Friday Christian, Protestant, Roman Catholic April 3, 2026
Great and Holy Friday Orthodox Christian April 3, 2026
Holy Saturday/Easter Vigil Christian, Protestant, Roman Catholic April 4, 2026
Easter Sunday   Christian April 5, 2026
Orthodox Easter/ Pascha Orthodox Christian April 12, 2026
Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah)   April 13-14, 2026
Earth Day   April 22, 2026

Earth Day and Sustainability/Climate Awareness Month   

What is Earth Day?   

What can I do?   

   

What to Read   

SUNY Erie Libguide   

Michigan State Libguide    

 

Books  

Rising | Elizabeth Rush     

The Ends of the World | Peter Brannen   

How to Give Up Plastic | Will McCallum     

Storming the Wall | Todd Miller     

The Uninhabitable Earth | David Wallace-Wells    

Losing Earth | Nathaniel Rich     

 

What to Do   

VR Field Trips from Nat Geo   

NYC Parks Dept Events in NYC   

11 Eco Friendly Places to Visit in NYS   

   

What to Listen To  

Earth Day Playlist from Spotify   

Environmental Issues Podcast   

Theoretical and Creative Ecology Podcast   

Green Dreamer Podcast 

Ted Talks   

Ted Talks on Climate Change and Environment   

   

Autism Acceptance Month   

About   

How can I help?   

SUNY Empire CAARES   

   

What to Read   

Autism Spectrum Disorders a Guide   

The Reason I Jump  

Let Me Hear Your Voice  

AUTISM - Behind The Locked Door: Understanding My Life as an Autistic    

How to Speak Dolphin  

The Autistic Brain: Helping Different Kinds of Minds Succeed 

Thinking in Pictures: My Life with Autism 

 

Places to Go   

Experiences in NYS for Autistic people and people with developmental disabilities   

Autism Friendly Activities in NY   

5 New York State Attractions For Visitors With Autism, Disabilities   

   

What to Watch   

Dr. Temple Grandin: The world needs all types of minds   

TEDTalks about Autism   

   

What to Listen To   

Autism Calming Music   

Autism Calming Music Radio   

Silly Autism Playlist    

   

Arab American Heritage Month  

About   

   

What to Read   

Booklists 

Arab American Heritage Month at New York Public Library 

   

Articles   

Arab American Heritage Month: Facts, Activities & Resources 

Getting to Know 5 Notable Arab Americans   

Arab American Heritage Month — Arab American Institute 

   

Libguides   

SUNY Empire Libguide   

Smithsonian Arab American History   

   

What to Listen To:   

Music   

Podcasts & Poetry   

   

What to Watch:   

Movies   

Other Movies   

A Thousand and One Journeys   

American Arab   

   

Ted Talks   

3 lessons on success from an Arab businesswoman   

Don't Erase Me: The Modern Arab American | Jeremiah Stinnett

 

May 2026

Holiday/Observance Religious Affiliation Date
Haitian Heritage Month   May 1-31, 2026

 Asian Pacific American Heritage Month 

  May 1-31, 2026
Jewish Heritage Month   May 1-31, 2026
Mental Health Awareness Month   May 1-31, 2026
Military Appreciation Month   May 1-31, 2026
May Day/International Worker’s Day   May 1, 2026
Vesak Buddhism May 1, 2026
National Military Spouse Appreciation Day   May 8, 2026
Mother’s Day   May 10, 2026
International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia   May 17, 2026
Shavuot Jewish May 21-23, 2026
Harvey Milk Day   May 22, 2026
Africa Day   May 25, 2026
Memorial Day   May 25, 2026
Eid al-Adha Islamic May 27, 2026
Ascension Thursday Christian, Protestant May 29, 2026

Where to go   

Places to go in NYS Run by AAPI Leaders   

Art Escapes: Virtual Tours Through Asia   

Virtual Asian American Art Museum (VAAAM)   

Unexpected Virtual Tours and Training AAPI Heritage Month   

Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art – Virtual Tour   

New York Public Library: Asian American, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander Heritage Month   

 

What to Watch    

PBS Celebrates AAPINH Month What to Watch and Stream   

Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month: What to Watch on WORLD in May   

Films on Demand AAPINH Heritage Month   

Alexander Street Streaming Video: AAPINH Heritage Month   

Asian Americans (PBS)   

The long history of racism against Asian Americans in the U.S. (PBS)   

 

What to Listen to   

Music   

AAPI Beats   

This is Paula Fuga   

Asian Americans (Original Soundtrack)   

Asian American R&B   

Podcasts   

15 Best Podcasts From AAPI Creators to Add to Your List   

Apple AAPI Podcast   

Deep Pacific Podcast   

Moana Nui Podcast   

Untold Pacific History   

Oral Histories    

Las Vegas Asian American & Pacific Islander Oral History Project   

UCLA Asian American Studies Center Collective Memories   

Stanford AAPI Community Oral Histories   

 

What to Read   

SUNY Empire LibGuide   

UC Berkeley Asian American Lib Guide   

Must-Read Books for AAPINH Heritage Month   

Books about Oceania & Pacific Islands   

NYPL AAPINH Reading List   

The long history of US racism against Asian Americans, from 'yellow peril' to 'model minority' to the 'Chinese virus'(The Conversation)     

 

Haitian Heritage Month  

Where to “go”   

Virtual Tour of Haiti   

Haitian Heritage Museum (Miami)   

Haitian Art Society Virtual Tour   

Haitian American Museum of Chicago  

 

What to Watch    

Alexander Street Streaming Video: Haitian Experiences   

Films on Demand: Haiti   

 

What to Listen to   

Oral Histories – Haitian Stories    

 

Music    

Konpa Essentials   

Haitian Dances   

Old School Haitian Music   

 

Podcasts   

HMI AN DETAY   

Learn Haitian Creole   

Today, Explained   

Boston Public Radio Podcast    

 

What to Read   

Haitian American Alliance Page   

Library of Congress Lib Guide Haiti   

Grinnell College LibGuide   

UAlbany LibGuide:Carribean Studies   

Books by Haitian Authors   

Roxane Gay.   

 

Jewish Heritage Month    

Where to go   

Museum of American Heritage   

Emma Lazarus Project   

National Museum of American Jewish History Tours  

Lower East Side Tours   

Center for Jewish History   

 

What to Watch    

Films on Demand: Jewish American   

Alexander Street Streaming Video: Jewish American Experiences   

PBS The Jewish Americans   

 

What to Listen to   

Oral Histories   

Hidden Voices: Untold Stories in NYC History   

Hidden Voices: LGBTQ+Stories in US History   

Bernice Sandler: Godmother of TitleIX   

American Jewish Committee Oral History Collection   

Aileen H. Clyde 20th Century Women’s Legacy Archive: Jewish American Oral Histories     

 

Podcasts   

American Jewish Music from the Milliken Archive   

Jew Oughta Know   

Judaism Unbound   

History Unplugged   

 

Music   

The Best of Jewish Music and Songs   

Traditional Jewish Music   

Somewhere Over the Rainbow (Jewish American Jazz)   

 

What to Read   

Empire State University LibGuide Jewish American History   

Princeton University LibGuide   

California State University Northridge: Jewish Identity in the US   

Books to read for Jewish American Heritage Month   

Jewish Book Council : American Jewish Experiences   

   

Indian, South Asian/Desi Heritage Month.   

Where to go   

India Heritage Museum in Rochester NY   

Where to explore Indian, South Asian/Desi Culture in NYC   

Ministry of Culture of India: Virtual Tours of Museums   

The Met: Art of South and Southeast Asia   

Hindu Temple Society and Cultural Center Capital District    

 

What to Watch    

Films on Demand: South Asian Experiences   

Alexander Street Streaming: India   

South Asian American Digital Archive   

Documentaries - India, Pakistan and South Asia   

 

What to Listen to   

Music   

Indian Sitar Music   

Desi LoFi   

Indian Playlist   

Banghra Lounge Voices   

Classic Bollywood Music   

 

Podcasts   

The Desi Crime Podcast   

HERStory: Southeast Asia   

11 Amazing Desi Podcasts worth the Listen   

 

Oral Histories   

UC Libraries The Southeast Asian Archive   

Southeast Asian Lives and Stories   

University of Washington: South Asian Oral History Project   

UMass Lowell: Southeast Asian Digital Archive Oral History Project   

 

What to Read   

Northern Illinois University LibGuide   

University of Washington LibGuide   

University of Michigan LibGuide   

University of London South East Asian Studies LibGuide   

South Asian Heritage Month: 10 books to read from the Booker Library 

 

Mental Health Awareness Month: 

Resources: 

Health and Wellness Empire State University 

New York State Office of Mental Health 

Mental Health and Wellness Information 

Mental Health Resources Office of Employee Relations 

Mental Health Services CCRB 

 

What to Read: 

All Mental Health Articles Harvard Health 

9 unexpected things we learned about mental health and our brains in 2024 

Mental health 

Recent Mental Health News American Medical Association 

Mental Health Resources for Military Families: A Support Guide 

 

What to Watch: 

A Critical State of Mind 

Mentality 

What Is Mental Health? 

8 Signs that Someone is Battling Mental Health Problems 

Your Mental Health in College Crash Course 

 

What to Listen to: 

The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos Podcast  

Inside Mental Health Podcast 

Mental Illness Happy Hour Apple Podcasts 

Therapy for Black Girls Apple Podcasts 

Dear Therapists with Lori Gottlieb and Guy Winch Apple Podcasts

 

June 2026

Holiday/Observance Religious Affiliation Date
African American Music Appreciation Month   June 1-30, 2026
LGBTQIA+ Pride Month   June 1-30, 2026
Corpus Christi  Christian June 4, 2026
Muharram ( Al Hijah New Year) Islamic June 16, 2026
Juneteenth   June 19, 2026
Summer Solstice   June 21, 2026
Father’s Day   June 21, 2026

All Month National Caribbean American Heritage Month    

Where to “go”   

Island Imprint Virtual Gallery Tour   

NYC Tenement Museum   

Caribbean American Heritage Month Events The New York Public Library   

Events for May 2025 – Haiti Cultural Exchange 

 

What to Watch    

Sundance: Five Films to Explore the Caribbean American Experience   

On the Town: Celebrating Caribbean American Heritage, PBS   

   

What to Listen to   

Music    

Tidal Caribbean American Heritage Month Music Playlist   

Vevo Celebrates Caribbean American Heritage Month   

Spotify: Carnival Soca Mix   

   

Podcasts   

Carry On Friends: Caribbean American Podcast   

New Books in Caribbean Studies   

Lest We Forget   

Strictly Facts: A Guide on Caribbean History and Culture 

 

Oral Histories 

Caribbean Oral Histories on the Climate  

UMiami Libraries Digital Collections Caribbean Diaspora Oral Histories 

 

What to Read   

New York Public Library Guide   

Caribbean American History and Culture   

Global Diasporas: Contemporary African and Caribbean Migration - Organizations & Resources in Pittsburgh,    

Top 10 Caribbean American Heritage Month Activities   
19 Books to Celebrate Caribbean American Heritage   
Caribbean-American Heritage Month - Guides at Orange County Library System 
   

All Month LGBTQ Pride Month  

Where to “go”   

Pride Tours in NYC   

LGBTQ History Tour Greenwich Village NYC   

Where to Celebrate Pride 2024 in NYS   

LGBTQIA+ Museum Tour Virtual Reality   

   

What to Watch    

The LGBTQ+ Experience   

Library of Congress: Storytelling Panel - Millennium Stage (February 3, 2020) External   

Library of Congress: LGBTQ Changemakers: Seeing Queer History - Millennium Stage (February 10, 2020) External   

Library of Congress: LGBTQ Changemakers "Queering the Visual" - Millennium Stage (February 17, 2020) External   

Audre Lorde reading her poems with comment in the Recording Laboratory, Feb. 23, 1977   

Elizabeth Bishop and James Ingram Merrill reading their poems in the Coolidge Auditorium, Apr. 15, 1974   

Conversation with Author André Aciman     

Stonewall Uprising Interviews External   

   

What to Listen to   

Music    

Spotify: Music for Pride Month   

Pride Party 2024 Playlist   

Youtube: Best LGBT Songs of 2024   

   
Oral Histories   

The LGBTQ Oral History Project   

Princeton LGBTQIA Oral History Project   

“Breaking the Silence: Our Military Stories”   

“Serving in Silence”    

   

Podcasts   

LGBTQIA+ Apple Podcast List   

8 LGBTQ+ Podcast That should be on your Radar   

   

What to Read   

SUNY Empire LibGuide: Pride Month   

University of Chicago – LGBTQIA Studies   

Library Of Congress Resource Page   
Developmentally Appropriate Parenting Series: Gender, Gender Identity, and LGBTQ+ Inclusion   
LGBTQ Resource List   
Being an LGBTQ+ Ally   
Pronoun Guide(GLESEN)   
LGBTQ Glossary   

 

All Month Black/African American Music Month  

What to Watch   

JUNE IS BLACK MUSIC MONTH! HERE ARE 23 FILMS TO REVISIT IN ITS HONOR   

   

What to Listen to   

Music    

Spotify: Black Music Month Playlist    

Black Music Month Playlist 2020   

Black Music Month 2023   

   

Podcasts   

For the Culture: The History of Black Music   

Black Radio Rochester   

Black Music Month QLS Classic: Stokely   

   

What to Read   

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – African American Music Archives   

African American Music Appreciation Month: Multimedia Resources   

NY Public Library : Celebrating African American Music Month

 

July 2026

Holiday/Observance Religious Affiliation Date
Disability Pride Month   July 1-31, 2026
Independence Day   July 4, 2026
Nelson Mandela International Day   July 18, 2026
Indian/South Asian/Desi Heritage Month   July 18 - August 17, 2026
Tisha B’Av  Jewish July 22-23, 2026
Asalha Puja Day Buddhist July 29, 2026

Where to Go   

Best Wheelchair Friendly hiking trails in NYS   

Access Pass NYS Parks Accessibility Information   

NYS Trail Designed for Neurodivergent Adventurers   

12 Wheelchair Accessible Tours in NYC   

Travel for All Travel Planning for Individuals with Disabilities   

   

Virtual Museum Tours   

Pathways to Equality: The U.S. Women’s Rights Movement Emerges   

Standing Up for Change: African American Women and the Civil Rights Movement   

Legislating History: 100 Years of Women in Congress    
One Life: Dolores Huerta   

Bernice Abbott Changing New York    

Museum of disAbility   
   

What to Watch    

Visionary Voices Interviews – Temple University    

Documentaries to Watch during Disability Pride Month   

11 Movies of TV Shows with Authentic Disability Representation   

Crip Camp: A Disability Revolutiona documentary film directed, written, and co-produced by Nicole Newnham and James LeBrecht.    

    

What to Listen to   

Music    

RAMPD – Recording Artist and Music Professionals with Disabilities - Tidal   

Chicago Public Library – Music for Disability Pride Month   

Flame the Band   

Lucas Garrett Music – Empire State University Alum!   

   

Podcasts   

The Accessible Stall   

Ally Rules   

Claiming Disability Inc: You Belong Here   

CripChat   

Disability After Dark   

Disability Crosses Borders   

Disability Matters Podcast   

Your Disabled Joy   

   

Oral Histories   

Disability Rights and Independent Living Movement   

Visionary Voices Oral Histories   

The History of the Sports Wheelchair,    

The Intersection of Race and Disability Project   

Osnat Katz Moon   

Here. Stories from Selinsgrove Center   

   

What to Read   

Websites   

National Disability Rights Network – Accessibility Guidelines     

Intersection of Race and Disability Project   

The Disability Visibility Project - Founder and Director, Alice Wong, disabled activist and writer.   

Job Accommodation Network (JAN)   

CAST (Equitable and Inclusive Learning Services)   

Disability Rights New York   

   

Books   

Books for Disability Pride Month   

Academic Ableism: Disability in Higher Education, by Jay Timothy Dolmage

 

August 2026

Holiday/Observance Religious Affiliation Date
National Civility Month   August 1-31, 2026
International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples   August 9, 2026
International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition    August 23, 2026
Women’s Equality Day   August 26, 2026

Places to visit: 

Capitol Walk-In Tours Visit the Empire State Plaza & New York State Capitol 

Honoring Our Veterans Virtual Veterans Hall of Fame 

Library of Congress Virtual Tours 

Virtual Tours of the U.S. Capitol 

New York City Hall Virtual and In-Person Tours 

Women of Distinction New York State Senate  

 

To read: 

What Is Civil Discourse - Civics For Life 

Setting Ground Rules - Civil Discourse and Difficult Decisions 

8 Strategies To Enhance Civil Discourse In A Divided World 

How to Stay Open and Curious in Hard Conversations 

What Is Active Listening? 

Crucial Conversations by Joseph Grenny, Kerry Patterson, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler, Emily Gregory  

 

To listen to: 

Civil Discourse Podcast - VCU Scholars Compass  

The Democracy Group 

Many Voices, One Call Podcast | SUNY Schenectady 

Civility, conversations on how to regain civility in society 

 

To watch: 

Engaging Differences Video Series 

Divided We Fall Television 

Civil Discourse | All Show Broadcast Times 

Competencies in Civil Discourse | Video Series from Cato Institute 

Constructive Dialogue: Videos - Respectful Conversation 

 

Websites: 

Find My Senator  

Welcome to City of New York 

National Institute For Civil Discourse - Engaging Differences Constructively 

Civil Discourse: An American Legacy Toolkit 

Civil Discourse Toolkit - Center for Civil Dialogue & Civic Engagement