Heritage and Awareness Months

The Aulbani J. Beauregard Center for Equity, Justice, and Freedom undertook significant organization development efforts starting Fall of 2022. We engaged our stakeholders in a needs and opportunities assessment and conducted an internal review and a national benchmarking assessment. These efforts helped us assess the current state of the Beauregard Center, develop a scope of work, and identify strategic priorities. One of the Center’s strategic priorities is to coordinate heritage and awareness month celebrations on behalf of the University of New Hampshire. Heritage and awareness months are designated to recognize, celebrate, and honor the histories, experiences, and contributions of historically excluded populations.   

Prior to each observed month, the Beauregard Center sends out calls for proposals to folx in our UNH community (students, faculty, and staff) who have interest in offering an educational/celebratory program and/or resource(s). We compile the programs and resources into a Celebration Schedule that is disseminated to the community. Additionally, in consultation with the Diversity Support Coalition, the Beauregard Center offers at least one signature event each heritage and awareness month.

For more information, please contact Nada Alasmi at Nada.Alasmi@UNH.edu

2024 - 2025 UNH Heritage and Awareness Month Celebrations

Latinx Heritage Month - September 15-October 15

Latinx Heritage Month, also known as National Hispanic Heritage Month, takes place every year from September 15 to October 15. It celebrates the histories, cultures, and contributions of people with ancestors from Mexico, the Caribbean, Spain, and Central and South America. This observance began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was extended to a 30-day period by President Ronald Reagan in 1988. It became law on August 17, 1988, with the approval of Public Law. The date of September 15 is important because it marks the independence anniversaries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, while Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence on September 16 and 18, respectively. 

The University of New Hampshire Latinx Month Heritage Month is coordinated by the Aulbani J. Beauregard Center for Equity, Justice, and Freedom in collaboration with students, faculty, and staff from across the university. The 2024 collaborators include MOSAICO and College of Liberal Arts. 

Latinx Heritage Month Calendar

2024 First Annual UNH Latinx Heritage Month Celebration Schedule: 


Kickoff and Community Gathering 

Monday 09/16/2024 | 4 pm to 5 pm EST | Beauregard Center (MUB 120). 

Join the Beauregard Center, Diversity Support Coalition, and MOSAICO for a community gathering to kick off the 2024 UNH Latinx Heritage Month celebration! Light refreshments will be provided.  Open to students faculty, and staff. Contact: Yashwant.Vyas@UNH.edu


Film and Discussion: Flamin’ Hot (2023)  

Wednesday 09/18/2024 | 5 pm to 7 pm EST | Murkland Hall Room G17  

Film screening (Flamin’ Hot, 2023, directed by Eva Longoria) followed by a discussion of how Latinx communities are portrayed in movies. Film synopsis: Richard Montañez, the son of a Mexican immigrant, was working as a janitor at Frito-Lay when he conceived the idea for Flamin' Hot Cheetos. Drawing inspiration from the flavors of his culture, his creation revitalized Frito-Lay and made a significant impact on the food industry. Open to students, faculty, and staff. Contact: Daniel.Chavez@UNH.edu


ThirsTea Thursday: Café con Leche  

Thursday 09/19/2024 | 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm EST | Beauregard Center (MUB 120)  

Join the Aulbani J. Beauregard Center for Equity, Justice, and Freedom for a drop-in-style event featuring DIY fair trade coffee and tea. Open to students-- faculty and staff are invited to stop by. Contact: Beauregard.Center@UNH.edu


Cultural Exploration Trip: Boston Museum of Fine Arts 

Thursday 09/26/2024 | 11:30 am to 9:30 pm EST | Boston, Massachusetts  

Students will visit the Boston Museum of Fine Arts during their Latinx Heritage Night and enjoy a traditional meal to engage in an immersive experience that celebrates the vibrant and diverse contributions of Latinx artists and cultures. This trip is open to all undergraduate, and graduate and professional students at UNH. There is no cost to participate, however the trip can accommodate only 50 spots. To register and learn more, please visit tinyurl.com/latinxTRIP. The deadline to register is September 16th at 11:59 pm EST. Open to students-- advance registration required. Contact: Nada.Alasmi@UNH.edu


MOSAICO Latinx Heritage Dinner  

Saturday 10/05/2024 | 6 pm to 9 pm EST | Granite State Room, MUB 2nd floor 

Audience: students, faculty, staff, and community. Tickets will be available on MUB Tickets. Contact: unhMOSAICO@gmail.com

LGBTQ+ History Month - October 2024

Founded by a Missouri high-school history teacher Rodney Wilson, LGBTQ+ History Month was first celebrated in October 1994 in the United States of America. It is celebrated in October to overlap with the National Coming Out Day on October 11. Today the LGBTQ+ History Month is also celebrated in other countries and is a yearly celebration that highlights role models, fosters a sense of union, and recognizes the histories and contributions of the LGBTQ+ Community.

The University of New Hampshire LGBTQ+ History Month Celebration is coordinated by the Aulbani J. Beauregard Center for Equity, Justice, and Freedom in collaboration with students, faculty, and staff from across the university. This year's collaborators include Diversity Support Coalition's Alliance, Psychological & Counseling Services, Health & Wellness, SHARPP Center for Interpersonal Violence Awareness, Prevention, and Advocacy, Residential Life, and Housing. 

LGBTQ+ History Month Calendar of Events (details included below in text)

2024 First Annual UNH LGBTQ+ History Month Celebration Schedule: 


Kickoff and Community Gathering

Tuesday 10/1/2024 | 4 pm to 5 pm EST | Beauregard Center (MUB 120) 

Join the Beauregard Center, Diversity Support Coalition's Alliance, and UNH LGBTQIA+ Alumni Affinity Group for a community gathering to kick off the first annual 2024 UNH LGBTQ+ History Month Celebration! Light refreshments will be served. Open to students, faculty, and staff. Contact: Yashwant.Vyas@UNH.edu


"Happy Together" Movie Night with Alliance

Tuesday 10/8/2024 | 7:30 pm to 9 pm EST | Beauregard Center (MUB 120)

Showing of the 1997 movie "Happy Together" featuring Tony Leung Chiu Wai and Leslie Cheung. Food and drinks will be provided, and pajamas are highly encouraged! Open to all students. Contact: Arin.Henderson@UNH.edu


Walk-In STI Testing for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea

Tuesday 10/8/2024 and Tuesday 10/22/2024 | 11 am to 3 pm EST | Thrive, 2nd Floor, Hamel Rec Center (HRC)

Chlamydia and gonorrhea are the two most common STIs among young adults, including UNH students. Start the year off right by getting tested to know your STI status. If you have symptoms and/or want to inquire about getting tested for other STIs including HIV, please make an appointment. Please bring your insurance card (testing is not free) so that we can bill your health insurance, or we can bill you ($37.80). Learn about all our sexual health/well-being services. Open to students, staff, and faculty. 


ThirsTEA Thursday: Taste the Rainbow

Thursday 10/10/2024 | 12 pm to 2 pm EST | Beauregard Center (MUB 120)

Join the Aulbani J. Beauregard Center for Equity, Justice, and Freedom for a drop-in-style event featuring DIY fresh fruit bowls. Open to all students-- faculty and staff are invited to stop by. Contact: Beauregard.Center@UNH.edu


Coming Out Monologues and LGBTQ+ Resource Fair

Friday 10/11/2024 | 12 pm to 2 pm EST | Beauregard Center (MUB 120) 

Join us for the first annual Coming Out Monologues and LGBTQ+ Resource Fair. Coming Out Monologues provide a safe space for LGBTQIA+ students at the University of New Hampshire to share their stories and experiences amidst friends and allies. This storytelling event acknowledges, highlights, and celebrates the experiences of participating students. We will also have various on-campus departments and community-based organizations hosting tables to highlight resources during the event. Snacks will be provided. Open to all students-- faculty and staff are invited to stop by. Contact: Yashwant.Vyas@UNH.edu


Love and Laugh, Live! 

Friday 10/11/2024 | 7 pm to 10 pm EST | Granite State Room

Comedy night hosted by Diversity Support Coalition’s Alliance. (Free) tickets for students will be available on the MUB ticketing website in the weeks leading up to the event. Open to all students. Contact: Arin.Henderson@UNH.edu


Speed Friending with Alliance 

Tuesday 10/22/2024 | 7:30 pm to 9 pm EST | MUB 162

A friend-making event in the style of speed-dating. Snacks and drinks will be provided. Open to all students. Contact: Arin.Henderson@UNH.edu


You History of Personal Gender Expression / Sexual Orientation 

Monday 10/28/2024 | 1 pm to 2 pm EST | Beauregard Center (MUB 120) 

Join PACS for an exploration of personal and societal influences on individual's gender expression and sexual orientation. Information about assumptions, definitions, pronouns, and common mistakes with suggestions on how to address them. Open to students, faculty, and staff. Contact: Jaana.Lehtinen@UNH.edu

Native American Heritage Month - November 2024

Work to recognize Native Americans began in the early 1900s, when Dr. Arthur Caswell, a Cattaraugus Seneca and director of the Rochester Museum in New York, partnered with the Boy Scouts of America to commemorate “First Americans Days”. Around the same period, the Society of American Indians and the National Congress of American Indians worked to promote unity and to dedicate the second Saturday of May as “American Indian Day”. In 1924, the United States Congress passed the Indian Citizenship Act, granting citizenship to all American Indians born in the U.S. who were not already recognized through treaties or other federal agreements. The act was later expanded to include Alaska Natives. On November 24, 1986, President Ronald Reagan declared the week of November 23 “American Indian Week.” This was later expanded on November 14, 1990, when President George H.W. Bush proclaimed November as “National American Indian Heritage Month”.

The University of New Hampshire Native American Heritage Month Celebration is coordinated by the Aulbani J. Beauregard Center for Equity, Justice, and Freedom in collaboration with students, faculty, and staff from across the university. 

Call for Proposals! 


Call for proposals to folx in our UNH community (students, faculty, and staff) who have an interest in offering an educational/celebratory program and/or resource(s) to be included in the second annual 2024 University of New Hampshire Native American Heritage Month Celebration Schedule. 

Please fill out this **Online Proposal Form** to submit educational/celebratory programs and/or resources on behalf of your department/college/organization by 11:59 pm EST on Friday, October 18, 2024.

If submitting multiple programs, please submit one proposal per program/event/resource.

Please direct any questions you have to Dr. Nada Alasmi at Nada.Alasmi@UNH.edu

Native American Heritage Month Call for Proposals Poster image. Deadline to submit is October 18th @11:59pm. Call for proposals, submit a proposal today! Website link: tinyurl.com/24NativeAmerican, Black design with orange and blue flower designs

Year in Preview: Heritage and Awareness Events

The Beauregard Center coordinates and announces the celebration schedules as follows: 

Call for Proposals Announced Submission Deadline Celebration Schedule Announced

Latinx Heritage Month 
September 15 - October 15, 2024

August 8, 2024 August 30, 2024 September 9, 2024

LGBTQ+ History Month
October 2024

August 19, 2024 September 13, 2024 September 23, 2024

Native American Heritage Month 
November 2024

September 24, 2024 October 18, 2024 October 28, 2024

Black History Month
February 2025

November 4, 2024 January 16, 2025 January 27, 2025

Women's History Month
March 2025

January 13, 2025 February 13, 2025 February 24, 2025

UNH Pride Month
April 2025

February 18, 2025 March 13, 2025 March 24, 2025

Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month
April 15 - May 15, 2025

March 3, 2025 April 3, 2025 April 7, 2025

Please note that we understand this is not a comprehensive list of observed months. Following this first year, we will continue to coordinate additional heritage months.