September
Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month
September 15 - October 15, 2026
The observance started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon B. Johnson, as a way to pay tribute to the Hispanic and Latinx communities’ contributions to the nation, and was enacted into law by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 as an entire month. September 15 was chosen to begin HHM because it coincides with the independence days of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, while Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence on the 16th and 18th, respectively.
Events:
- September 22: Rolling with Resistance: Chicanismo & Lowrider Culture, 10 AM - 11:30 AM, Applied Science Center 150
- September 29: Latinx Celebration & Car Show, 5 PM - 8 PM, MCE/MCW Quad
- September 30: Latinx Heritage Celebration @ Ventura College East Campus, 6 PM - 8 PM, Ventura College East Campus
- October 7: Latinx Student STEM Panel & Lowrider 3D Print Activity (Postponed)
- October 8: Library Reading Room with Lorna Dee Cervantes, 5 PM - 6:30 PM, Library
October
National Coming Out Day
October 11, 2026
First observed in the United States in 1988, National Coming Out Day is an annual LGBTQ awareness day observed on October 11 to support members of the LGBTQ community in “coming out.”
Indigenous Peoples’ Day
October 12, 2026
Officially recognized by President Joe Biden in 2021, Indigenous Peoples’ Day is observed on the second Monday of October each year. It is an opportunity to celebrate the vibrant and diverse cultures, communities, and histories of Indigenous Peoples of the Americas, and to reflect on the ongoing work needed to support them.
Events:
To be announced
November
Indigenous People's Heritage Month
Indigenous Peoples’ Heritage Month, also called National Native American Heritage Month (or American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month), is recognized in November to honor Native communities, their cultures and traditions, and to raise awareness of the unique historical and present-day struggles of Indigenous people in the US.
November was designated “National Native American Heritage Month,” in 1990 by President George H.W. Bush. American Indians and Alaska Natives make up about 2 percent of the total US population, totaling approximately 6.9 million in 2019. The states with the highest populations of Indigenous persons are Arizona, California, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas, North Carolina, and Alaska, in that order.
National First-Generation Day
November 8, 2026
National First-Generation Day is observed annually on November 8 to honor the signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965 that expanded college opportunities for low-income and first-generation populations. The day promotes the visibility of first-generation students and recognizes the strengths they bring to campuses nationwide.
Events:
To be announced
February
Black History Month
Every February, the United States celebrates Black History Month. The month commemorates Black people's contributions and achievements in the United States. The annual celebration grew out of a 1926 event hosted by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) called Negro History Week. The honorary week was held the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. In 1976, President Gerald Ford officially recognized the month of February as Black History Month.
Events:
To be announced
March
Women's History Month
Women’s History Month first began on March 7, 1982, as Women’s History Week to acknowledge women’s contributions to American society. In 1987, Congress passed the first joint resolution to designate March as Women’s History Month, which includes International Women’s Day, celebrated globally on March 8.
Events:
To be announced
May
Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AANHPIHM), observed annually in May, celebrates and pays tribute to the contributions generations of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have made to American history, society, and culture.
Events:
To be announced
June
LGBTQ+ Pride Month
LGBTQIA+ Pride Month happens every June to commemorate the anniversary of the Stonewall Uprisings. On June 28, 1969, police in Lower Manhattan, NYC, raided the popular gay bar, The Stonewall Inn, and conflict erupted between LGBTQIA+ protesters and police, lasting the next six days. The first Pride marches took place a year after the Stonewall Uprisings, and every year since, LGBTQIA+ communities and allies have honored June. The month-long observance is an opportunity to acknowledge the progress of LGBTQ+ history and civil rights, amplify queer stories, and affirm the ongoing work needed to support LGBTQ+ communities.
Events:
To be announced