Celebrate Diversity Month April is Celebrate Diversity Month, a time to appreciate and celebrate the myriad cultures and traditions surrounding us. It is also an opportunity to seek a better understanding of the experiences, lifestyles, and beliefs systems of people who are different from us. Established in 2004, the observance encourages us to connect with, support, and learn from our rich diversity. We encourage you to take the opportunity to do so with agency employees through emails, newsletters, or other internal communications. As coworkers and individuals, we can recognize the diversity in our workplace, community, neighborhood, social settings, and family. Find value in these differences and create and embrace new opportunities for inclusion and respect for others, especially where they may not exist. Also, as part of our effort to recognize those who celebrate diversity throughout the year, OSHR will periodically feature a photo of a university’s or agency’s Diversity and Inclusion Team or Department with their statement on how they collectively honor diversity. Watch for our first spotlight for this month featuring NC State University’s Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity. Below are a few suggestions for how you can celebrate our rich diversity this month and all year long by fostering inclusion and belonging in North Carolina government and beyond. 15 Ways You Can Celebrate Diversity Talk to someone from a different culture about the customs, traditions, values, and practices they observe—and share yours with them. Ask colleagues to share examples of music, food, and traditions from their culture or heritage during your next meeting. Watch a movie or documentary that explores different cultures, topics, and lifestyles and offers a glimpse of life through a multicultural lens. Consider hosting a multicultural movie night with family and friends. Read a book about a culture that is not your own or by a writer of an ethnicity different from yours. Need suggestions? Try these: 14 of the Best Books for Exploring New Countries and Cultures; 7 Novels About Multicultural Families; 25 Must-Read Books by Asian and Asian American Authors Check out a cultural art exhibit, performance, or activity at your area's cultural or heritage center. Amp it up by making it a family outing! Consider these: Museum of the Cherokee Indian; Jewish Heritage North Carolina; Hayti Heritage Center Take a virtual tour of a museum. The NC Museum of History is a great place to start. Consider their YouTube channel that features adult programs, videos from the African American Cultural Celebration, American Indian Heritage Celebration, and much more. Visit art museums around the world. Here are 12 famous museums you can visit virtually. Visit Google Art and Culture to explore the art of the world. Explore local ethnic restaurants and markets to sample food from a different culture or… Cook! Step into the kitchen to try a recipe from a culture you are exploring. Invite friends or family to do the same and make it a global potluck. Take an online course on a topic related to diversity. There are many options, including brief micro-courses, available through the NC Learning Center. Listen to music from around the world. Start here: Best Music Streaming Service for 2022 Support diverse businesses, especially those that have been impacted by the pandemic. Learn a new language—or perhaps a few friendly phrases--via an app! Best language learning apps for 2022 Financially support, volunteer at, or arrange a volunteer event for a nonprofit organization that works to lessen multicultural issues or supports disadvantaged ethnic communities. Visit VolunteerNC or Great Nonprofits to get started. Diversity Features OSHR will be highlighting universities' or agencies’ Diversity and Inclusion Team or Department in order to spread awareness for their efforts and show how organizations can honor diversity all year long. Visit Diversity Features to see who we celebrate first!
Celebrate Diversity Month April is Celebrate Diversity Month, a time to appreciate and celebrate the myriad cultures and traditions surrounding us. It is also an opportunity to seek a better understanding of the experiences, lifestyles, and beliefs systems of people who are different from us. Established in 2004, the observance encourages us to connect with, support, and learn from our rich diversity. We encourage you to take the opportunity to do so with agency employees through emails, newsletters, or other internal communications. As coworkers and individuals, we can recognize the diversity in our workplace, community, neighborhood, social settings, and family. Find value in these differences and create and embrace new opportunities for inclusion and respect for others, especially where they may not exist. Also, as part of our effort to recognize those who celebrate diversity throughout the year, OSHR will periodically feature a photo of a university’s or agency’s Diversity and Inclusion Team or Department with their statement on how they collectively honor diversity. Watch for our first spotlight for this month featuring NC State University’s Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity. Below are a few suggestions for how you can celebrate our rich diversity this month and all year long by fostering inclusion and belonging in North Carolina government and beyond. 15 Ways You Can Celebrate Diversity Talk to someone from a different culture about the customs, traditions, values, and practices they observe—and share yours with them. Ask colleagues to share examples of music, food, and traditions from their culture or heritage during your next meeting. Watch a movie or documentary that explores different cultures, topics, and lifestyles and offers a glimpse of life through a multicultural lens. Consider hosting a multicultural movie night with family and friends. Read a book about a culture that is not your own or by a writer of an ethnicity different from yours. Need suggestions? Try these: 14 of the Best Books for Exploring New Countries and Cultures; 7 Novels About Multicultural Families; 25 Must-Read Books by Asian and Asian American Authors Check out a cultural art exhibit, performance, or activity at your area's cultural or heritage center. Amp it up by making it a family outing! Consider these: Museum of the Cherokee Indian; Jewish Heritage North Carolina; Hayti Heritage Center Take a virtual tour of a museum. The NC Museum of History is a great place to start. Consider their YouTube channel that features adult programs, videos from the African American Cultural Celebration, American Indian Heritage Celebration, and much more. Visit art museums around the world. Here are 12 famous museums you can visit virtually. Visit Google Art and Culture to explore the art of the world. Explore local ethnic restaurants and markets to sample food from a different culture or… Cook! Step into the kitchen to try a recipe from a culture you are exploring. Invite friends or family to do the same and make it a global potluck. Take an online course on a topic related to diversity. There are many options, including brief micro-courses, available through the NC Learning Center. Listen to music from around the world. Start here: Best Music Streaming Service for 2022 Support diverse businesses, especially those that have been impacted by the pandemic. Learn a new language—or perhaps a few friendly phrases--via an app! Best language learning apps for 2022 Financially support, volunteer at, or arrange a volunteer event for a nonprofit organization that works to lessen multicultural issues or supports disadvantaged ethnic communities. Visit VolunteerNC or Great Nonprofits to get started. Diversity Features OSHR will be highlighting universities' or agencies’ Diversity and Inclusion Team or Department in order to spread awareness for their efforts and show how organizations can honor diversity all year long. Visit Diversity Features to see who we celebrate first!