Cultural and Identity Celebration Months
ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER (AAPI) HERITAGE MONTH – MAY 2024
“Life is not what you alone make it. Life is the input of everyone who touched your life and every experience that entered it. We are all part of one another.”
– Yuri Kochiyama, American Civil Rights Activist
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI Heritage Month) is a yearly observance in May that honors the historical and cultural impact of Asian and Pacific Islander communities on the United States. The term “AAPI” encompasses a wide range of cultures from the entire Asian continent, which includes East, Southeast, and South Asia, as well as the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. According to the 2020 U.S. Census data, approximately 20.6 million people of Asian or Pacific Islander heritage reside in the United States. Research by the Pew Research Center highlights that the AAPI population is a diverse and expanding group, accounting for about 7 percent of the entire U.S. population.
The contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are evident across various sectors of American culture and society. These include advancements in science and medicine, achievements in literature and the arts, notable performances in sports and recreation, leadership in government and politics, and significant efforts in activism and legal reforms.
Learn More:
Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month at USC
Federal Asian Pacific American Council – Advancing Leaders through Innovation
History.com | AAPI Heritage Month
Upcoming Events:
AAPI Heritage Month Virtual Celebration – May 1, 2024 12pm
Join fellow students, faculty and staff in a virtual celebration of Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. Zoom information coming soon.
Registration Link: https://calendar.usc.edu/event/aapi_heritage_month_virtual_celebration
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH – MAY 2024
“Mental health problems don’t define who you are. They are something you experience. You walk in the rain and you feel the rain, but you are not the rain.”
– Matt Haig, English Author and Journalist
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Since its inception in 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month has been a cornerstone of addressing the challenges faced by millions of Americans living with mental health conditions. Throughout the month, NAMI actively participates in this national movement, dedicated to eradicating stigma, extending support, fostering public education and advocating for policies that prioritize the well-being of individuals and families affected by mental illness.
Learn More:
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
National Council for Mental Wellbeing
Upcoming Events:
Mental Health Matters Webinar – May 14, 2024 @12pm
In support of Mental Health Awareness Month, nationally observed in May, the USC Healthy Campus Mental Health Subcommittee invite faculty and staff to attend “Mental Health Matters,” a webinar taking place from 12-1 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14, 2024.
During the webinar, presenters will share techniques for navigating conversations about mental health. They will also provide information on how to access mental health services and resources available at USC, as well as how to provide support to the campus community.
Registration Link: https://calendar.usc.edu/event/mental-health-matters
Mental Health Awareness Month: The Power of Social Connection – May 30, 2024 @12pm
Join us to support our efforts to eradicate stigma, advocate to improve mental health for yourself and others, and increase awareness of the importance of mental health and well-being in everyone’s lives.
Registration Link: https://calendar.usc.edu/event/mental-health-awareness-month-the-power-of-social-connection
NATIONAL FOSTER CARE AWARENESS MONTH – MAY 2024
“Every child deserves a champion — an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best they can possibly be.”
– Rita F. Pierson, U.S. Educator
National Foster Care Month (NFCM) in May is an important opportunity to spread the word about the needs of the more than 391,000 children and young people in foster care. This year’s NFCM theme— “Engaging Youth. Building Supports. Strengthening Opportunities.”—shines a light on how we can best support young people and help them successfully transition to adulthood. This theme mirrors one of the Children’s Bureau’s highest priorities: ensuring young people leave care with strengthened relationships, holistic supports, and opportunities.
Nearly 20,000 young people transition out of the foster care system each year without a permanent family. Giving young people the resources they need to succeed as adults begins during their time in care. It is crucial that we use that time to engage young people in case planning, help them build and nurture important relationships, and gain equitable access to the opportunities that all young people deserve.
Source: Child Welfare Information Gateway
Learn More:
Child Welfare Information Gateway
The White House Statement on National Foster Care Awareness Month
Foster Care Awareness Booklist
SCHOOL EVENTS
Social Justice Book Club
Open to students, staff, faculty and alumni.
June and July Books: TBD
Have a suggestion for our next book? Send your ideas to us at sswodei@usc.edu
Upcoming Events
Volunteer Opportunities at USC
NEWS
Interior Department Completes Removal of “Sq___” from Federal Use
The Department of the Interior last week announced the final replacement names for nearly 650 geographic features featuring the word sq___. A final vote from the Board on Geographic Names completed historic efforts to remove a term from federal use that has historically been used as an offensive ethnic, racial and sexist slur, particularly for Indigenous women. See
The Department of the Interior last week announced the final replacement names for nearly 650 geographic features featuring the word sq___. A final vote from the Board on Geographic Names completed historic efforts to remove a term from federal use that has historically been used as an offensive ethnic, racial and sexist slur, particularly for Indigenous women. One valley in Los Angeles County was renamed .See Replacement Names
Jennifer Jermaine, White Earth Nation: “Changing the names is important to our Native community. It is important to all women to ensure geographic sites do not include defamatory terms meant to degrade and harm women in their names.”
Read More 9/12/2022
Calling all Students, Faculty and Staff Create Social Justice Expressive Art Submit your original artwork to share with our community! |
Share your personal social justice cause, make some art and have fun! We need you to donate your art for display around the school and on our social media.
Scan or take a photo of your artwork and email tit o sswodei@usc.edu . Or post it on social media and tag @uscsocialwork.
Questions? Contact Ann Marie Yamada, Associate Dean of Inclusion and Diversity.