The Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) works to bring awareness to cultural and historic observances celebrated by our campus community.

For more information or to get involved, contact the office by email: Multicultural_Affairs@uml.edu.

Latinx Heritage Month

September 15 - October 15

About

Latinx Heritage Month, recognized annually from September 15 through October 15, honors the history, cultural diversity, and unique contributions of individuals and communities whose ancestry can be traced back to Spain, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period and enacted into law on August 17, 1988. September 15 coincides with the Independence Day celebrations of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, followed shortly thereafter by Mexico (September 16) and Chile (September 18). Día de la Raza and Indigenous Peoples Day, recognized on the second Monday of October, also fall within this period. The term “Latinx” relates to people of Latin American origin or descent and is used as a gender-neutral or non-binary alternative to Latino or Latina. The term Latinx grew in usage in late 2014 and became more widely used following the Orlando nightclub shooting of June 2016.

Latinx Heritage Month 2025 Events

  • Latin film festival: Sponsored by the department of world languages and culture on October 3, November 7 and December 12 at 7:30 p.m. at the Luna Theater in Lowell. All films are free to attend and include English subtitles.
  • Zumba: Location Campus Recreation Center on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. and Fridays at 3 p.m.
  • Liberty Mutual: Una Tarde Con Liberty - Network and hear from Liberty representatives about their unique stories on the power of cultural identity in the workplace. Students are encouraged to attend the event which is being held in Boston on October 2 from 2-4 p.m. EST. To signup, email: stephanie_garcia@uml.edu.
  • Visit Virtually The National Museum of the American Latino: On October 9 at 4 p.m. at Meehan Student Center 370. A virtual visit to the national museum of the American Latino to explore different art work together

Native American Heritage Month

The first American Indian Day was declared on the second Saturday in May 1916 by the governor of New York. In 1990, President George H. W. Bush approved a joint resolution designating November 1990 “National American Indian Heritage Month.” NAHM celebrates the unique, rich, and diverse cultures, traditions, histories and important contributions of Native peoples while raising awareness about the unique challenges Native people have faced both historically and in the present, and the ways in which tribal citizens have worked to overcome these challenges. Inherent in celebrating Native American Heritage Month, is acknowledging the historical legacies and acknowledging the land that our institutions, hometowns, counties and states are on.

UMass Lowell celebrates, honors, and recognizes Indigenous People's Day and Heritage Month. Coordinated with partners across the UMass Lowell campus such as the History Department, Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA), and the Native American Cultural Organization.

UMass Lowell LibGuides: Native American History:

  • Native American Heritage Lib Guide - a collection of different education resources and items detailing the history of this month and its importance.
  • Pawtucket and Wamesit History: Markers, Plaques and Statues - a collection of artifacts, documents, images and writings from Native American settlements in the Greater Lowell. Artifacts found in Lowell in the collection of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology.
  • The 50th Anniversary of the Occupation of Alcatraz - exploring the history and agents of the Occupation as well as the larger history of the Red Power Movement within the context of Native American and American history. A collection of educational resources dealing with Native American history and the arts.

OMA Land Acknowledgement

The Office of Multicultural Affairs would like to acknowledge that the land we live, work, learn and commune on is the original homelands of the Pennacook communities with the Pawtucket Village and Wamesit Village. We acknowledge the painful history of genocide and forced removal from this territory, and we honor and respect the many diverse Indigenous peoples still connected to this land on which we gather. Read more about this on our land acknowledgement page.

International Education Week

Celebrated from November 16 to November 20, International Education Week (IEW) is a national week created by the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Education that celebrates the benefits of exchange and international education worldwide. All information and events regarding this can be found on the International Student Support page.

Black History Month

Since 1976, the month of February has been designated to remember the contributions of people of the African diaspora. The precursor to Black History Month was created in 1926 in the United States, when historian Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History announced the second week of February to be "Negro History Week." This week was chosen because it coincided with the birthday of Abraham Lincoln on February 12 and of Frederick Douglass on February 14, dates celebrated by black communities since the late 19th century. Negro History Week was the center of the equation. The thought-process behind the week was never recorded, but scholars acknowledge two reasons for its birth: recognition and importance. Woodson felt deeply that at least one week would allow for the general movement to become something annually celebrated.

UMass Lowell Libguide - Black History and Resources on Racism in the United States

During the month of February, the UMass Lowell (UML) Library will have a Libguide that highlights ebooks, video and films from the library collection, as well as feature Films on Demand on the history of racism in the United States. View the Black History and Racism resources libguide.

Black History Month Events

Virtual Black History Museum
2/9 4-6 p.m.
Meehan Student Center, Room 370
Sponsored by: Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA)

BHM Trivia Table
2/11 5-7 p.m.
Campus Recreation Center, Lobby
Sponsored by: OMA

Black Jeopardy 
2/19 7 p.m.
Meehan Student Center, Club Hub
Sponsored by: Black Student Union

Guest Speaker Dr. Harvey Armani Whitfield 
From Slavery in America to Slavery in Canada: Ca. 1760s to 1810.”
2/23 at 6:3 p.m.
O’Leary Library, Room 222
Sponsored by: Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Dean's Speaker Series and is co-sponsored by the UMass Lowell History Department & UMass Amherst Slavery North

Masquerade
2/28 6 p.m.
Moloney Performing Arts Center
Sponsored by:Association of Students of African Origin (ASAO)
Free with UML student ID

In Lowell: Visit the Black History Trail Markers 

Virtual Field Trips

Here are some third party virtual field trips you can take to get some more information about this heritage month!

Women's History Month

Women's History Month started in 1987, recognizing their valuable contributions to events in history and society. It is celebrated during March in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia, corresponding with International Women's Day (IWD) on March 8.

International Women's Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women's equality. This year's theme: "Give to Gain." In the words of IWD organization: "Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women's equality."

Celebrate women's achievement. Raise awareness against bias. Take action for equality.

Women's History Month Events

  • Check back later for event dates

Virtual Field Trips

Here are some third party virtual field trips you can take to get some more information about this heritage month!

  • National Women's History Museum Online Exhibits - This Women's Museum offers many different online exhibits for people to explore such as Outdoor Adventures, Standing up for Change, the Women of NASA, Breaking In: Women in STEM and many other things as well! They also offer bookings done via Zoom about different topics such as Women Pioneers of Computer Programming, Katherine Johnson and the Mathematics of the Space Race The Second Wave of Feminism: The Lavender Menace and many more.

Resources: