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October

​Global Diversity Awareness Month – October 2024

This October, celebrate Global Diversity Awareness Month and pay tribute to the diverse minds and beliefs held by all cultures around the world. We live in a multicultural society and embracing the values of various cultures only strengthens our understanding and appreciation of the world. Open your mind to new views and ideas, appreciate cultural differences, and enjoy a fresh perspective you may have been missing. It helps you become a true citizen of the world. Also remember how being a student made you friends with people from around the world who you wouldn’t have known otherwise? Student need resources to reach schools Scholaroo is a platform providing information on diversified scholarships to many students around the world.

History of ​Global Diversity Awareness Month

After the Second World War, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly at the Palais de Chaillot, in Paris. The Declaration represents the first global expression of rights to which all human beings are inherently entitled. It is essentially an acknowledgment that we should remember and understand the value of each human being, regardless of their nationality, color, race, sex, gender, country of origin, language, or otherwise.

As the world becomes more and more connected and globalized, it’s important to remember that a ‘global monoculture’, or a homogenization of cultures, kills off traditional cultures and unique traits of people. Embracing cultural diversity – in all aspects of life – is the answer to avoiding a global monoculture. The phrase ‘cultural diversity’ can also refer to having different cultures respect each other’s differences. 

Although its origins are difficult to trace, Global Diversity Awareness Month represents the perfect opportunity for you to learn more about new cultures, and explore some of the diversity that makes the world such a wonderful place.

​Global Diversity Awareness Month timeline

2014
Human Rights Campaign launched its viral #LoveConquersHate campaign

Prior to and throughout the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi Russia, this campaign successfully encouraged numerous people from around the world to act in solidarity with LGBTQ Russians by posting photos of themselves in HRC’s Russian-language Love Conquers Hate shirt.

2008
Barack Obama became President

He was the first African American to win a presidential election, and the first African American to serve as president of the United States.

2004
The United States began issuing licenses for same-sex marriage.

Minus the federal benefits, licenses for same-sex marriage were introduced. Same-sex marriage was officially legalized within the United States in 2015.

1980
Vigdís Finnbogadóttir was the first democratically elected female President of Iceland

Serving in a presidency of exactly sixteen years, she also remains the longest-serving elected female head of state of any country to date.

1972
Congress passed the Equal Employment Opportunity Act

This act gives the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) authority to sue in federal courts when it finds reasonable cause to believe that there has been employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

​Global Diversity Awareness Month FAQs

What is Global Diversity Month?

Global Diversity Awareness Month every October is a reminder of the positive impact a diverse culture of people can have on society as a whole.

What is Global Diversity?

‘Global diversity’ refers to the range of differences that describe the composition of a group of two or more people, in a cross-cultural and multi-national context. Many organizations and people believe that positively viewing and appreciating global diversity will allow us to adopt more inclusive practices around the world.

How do we celebrate Global Diversity Month?

There are many ways to celebrate diversity. You can make your own, or use one of these ideas: Host a multicultural movie night with foreign films (For example: “Parasite”), attend a cultural art exhibit, enjoy music from different parts of the world, or support minority-owned businesses, like your local Lebanese or Indian restaurant. The most important thing is to respect people of all origins and ethnicities and remember how diversity positively enhances our lives.

HOW TO CELEBRATE

  1. Connect with people

    Make a friend on the other side of the world - Modern technology allows us to learn almost anything we want to learn about people’s lives through social media, and other online channels.

  2. Learn about another culture

    If you can’t experience the ‘real thing’ through travel or another person, indulge in listening to international music, or watching international movies (‘Nollywood’, or Nigeria’s film industry, produces approximately 50 new movies per week).

  3. Make an effort to stay informed.

    Keeping up with global happenings and events may be emotionally tragic at times, but it can also be extremely informative in daily life, as we are all connected in one form or another.

5 Ways We’re All Better Because Of Diversity

  1. ​Diversity prepares you for work in a global society

    ​No matter what profession you enter, you'll find yourself working with employers, coworkers, and clients from diverse backgrounds. By experiencing diversity, you are laying the groundwork to be comfortable working and interacting with a variety of individuals of all nationalities.

  2. ​Diversity increases your knowledge

    Research consistently shows that we learn more from people who are different from us than we do from people who are similar to us.

  3. ​Diversity prepares you for career success

    ​America's workforce is more diverse than ever. Learning to relate to people from different cultural backgrounds will increase your ability to work cohesively.

  4. ​​Diversity enhances social development

    Interacting with people from a variety of groups widens your social circle by expanding the pool of people with whom you can associate and develop relationships.

  5. ​Diversity enhances self-awareness

    Learning from people whose backgrounds and experiences differ from your own allows you to compare and contrast your life experiences with others.

WHY GLOBAL DIVERSITY MONTH IS IMPORTANT

  1. Our differences make us unique.

    If one person knows how to make the best pancakes and another knows the knowledge to make maple syrup, wouldn’t it be beneficial to combine the knowledge of both parties? This is also how diversity in cultures, languages, and nations can help society become the strongest. Sometimes it’s easy to forget where recipes, knowledge, and things we take for granted, originally came from. We can benefit from learning more about people and cultures we aren’t familiar with, even if it scares us to venture into new territory.

  2. Experiencing other cultures is exciting, eye-opening, and enjoyable.

    Some people say that world travel ‘changed’ them and it’s hard to know exactly what that means unless you’ve met people on the other side of the world that you found similarities to. While the simple act of hopping on a plane or train does not make one culturally knowledgeable, taking the time to get to know another culture’s traditions and history, especially if you can bond with people who are familiar with their ancestral heritage, is a gift in itself.

  3. Differing opinions, and new cultural traditions and ideas, expand our mind.

    Listening is a key component of learning. You likely live in a town, city, or area with people who don’t share exactly the same cultural, religious, political, or general world views that you do. Asking questions and listening to different perspectives makes us all more well-rounded humans. In doing so, you never know how your personal perspectives may change.

​Global Diversity Awareness Month dates

YearDateDay
2024October 1Tuesday
2025October 1Wednesday
2026October 1Thursday
2027October 1Friday
2028October 1Sunday
Elderly Filipino Week
Fungal Disease Awareness Week
National Walk Your Dog Week
Ancestors' Day
Balloons Around the World Day
Balloons Around the World Day
CD Player Day
CD Player Day
China National Day
Cyprus Independence Day
Filipino American Month
Filipino American History Month
International Coffee Day
​International Day of Older Persons
International Music Day
International Music Day
Investiture Ceremony of the Captains Regent
Model T Day
Model T Day
National Black Dog Day
National Day of China
National Fire Pup Day
National Fruit at Work Day
National Hair Day
National Homemade Cookie Day
National Lace Day
National Poetry Day
National Raccoon Day
Nigeria Independence Day
Pchum Ben
ROK Alliance Day
Teacher's Day in Uzbekistan
Tuvalu Independence Day
World Sake Day
World Vegetarian Day
ADHD Awareness Month
Adopt a Shelter Dog Month
AIDS Awareness Month
American Pharmacists Month
American Pharmacists Month
Bat Appreciation Month
Bat Appreciation Month
Black Speculative Fiction Month
Blindness Awareness Month
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Caffeine Addiction Recovery Month
Celebrate The Bilingual Child Month
Celebrate The Bilingual Child Month
Church-Library
Church Library Month
Contact Lens Safety Month
Country Music Month
Critical Illness Awareness Month
Dental Hygiene Month
Down Syndrome Awareness Month
Dyslexia Awareness Month
Eat Better, Eat Together Month
Emotional Wellness Month
Eye Injury Prevention Month
Fair Trade Month
Family History Month
Financial Planning Month
Financial Planning Month
German-American Heritage Month
​Global Diversity Awareness Month
Go-Sober-For-October
Go Sober For October — October
Halloween-Safety-Month
Halloween Safety Month
Head Start Awareness Month
Health Literacy Month
Healthy Lung Month
Hog Out Month
International School Libraries Month
International Walk To School Month
International Walk To School Month
Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month
Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month
​Italian-American Heritage Month
LGBTQ+ History Month
LGBTQ+ History Month
Liver Awareness Month
Long Term Care Planning Month
Menopause Month
Museums and Galleries Month
National Animal Safety and Protection Month
National Apple Month
National Apple Month
National Arts & Humanities Month
National Audiology Awareness Month
National Book Month
​National Bullying Prevention Month
National Caramel Month
National Chili Month
National Chiropractic Month
National Church Safety and Security Month
National Cookbook Month
National Cookie Month
National Cookie Month
National-Crime-Prevention-Month
National Crime Prevention Month
National Cybersecurity Awareness Month - October
National Depression Education and Awareness Month
National Dessert Month
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
​National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
National Ergonomics Month
National Indigenous Peoples Month
National Learning and Development Month
National LGBT History Month
National Medical Librarians Month
National Medical Librarians Month
National Non-GMO Month
National Orthodontic Health Month
National Pasta Month
National Pescatarian Month
National Pet Wellness Month
National Pickled Peppers Month
National Pizza Month
National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month
National Pretzel Month
National Protect Your Hearing Month
National Sausage Month
National Work and Family Month
Physical Therapy Month
Pitbull Awareness Month
Polish American Heritage Month
Prenatal-onset GBS Disease Recognition Month
Rett Syndrome Awareness Month
Spina Bifida Awareness Month
SQUIRREL AWARENESS MONTH
The Big Draw
Ultrasound Awareness Month
Unblocktober
Vegetarian Month
World Animal Month
World Habitat Awareness Month

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