February 2025
Perspectives on Belonging Newsletter
Global CampusBlack History Month
Cultural Expressions for Black History Month
The Cultural Expressions exhibition at the National Museum of African American History and Culture offers a powerful view of the diverse ways African Americans have expressed themselves creatively and artistically. This exhibit showcases the rich legacy of African American art, music, fashion, and language, highlighting the ways these cultural forms have influenced mainstream American culture. Celebrate Black History Month by exploring https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/exhibitions/cultural-expressions.
Some holidays that coincide with Black History Month include:
- African Heritage and Health Week (Feb. 1-7)
- National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (Feb. 7)
- International Day of Black Women in the Arts (Feb. 7-15)
- National Black Literacy Day (Feb. 14)
- African American Scientist and Inventor Day (Feb. 25)
- NAACP Day (Feb. 12)
A 360 degree look at Cultural Expressions, an exhibit at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
World Interfaith Harmony Week
Feb. 1-7
World Interfaith Harmony Week is a United Nations observance that celebrates cooperation and understanding among all religions and beliefs. It promotes the idea that mutual understanding and interfaith dialogue constitute important dimensions of a culture of peace.
Random Acts of Kindness Week
Feb. 14-20
Think about it for a second…how good do you feel when, from out of nowhere, someone does something kind for you? You receive a letter or flowers, a ride to work when your car won’t start, or even an umbrella from a total stranger on a rainy day? Random Acts of Kindness Week reminds us all how precious these simple, uplifting moments of life truly are.
Daisy Gatson Bates Day (Arkansas) – Feb. 17
Newspaper publisher and civil rights activist Daisy Lee Gatson Bates was influential in the integration of the Little Rock Nine into Little Rock, Arkansas’ Central High School in 1957. When the Supreme Court ruled that segregated schools were unconstitutional, Bates gathered African American students to enroll in Arkansas all-white schools. Bates also worked with civil rights organizations and served as the president of the Arkansas chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). To honor her, the state of Arkansas proclaimed the third Monday in February, Daisy Gatson Bates Day. She was posthumously awarded the Medal of Freedom in 1999. In 2024, a statue of Bates was added to the U.S. Capitol.
Imbolc – Feb. 1
Imbolc is a traditional Celtic holiday marking the midpoint between winter solstice and spring equinox, celebrating the gradual return of light and warmth. This festival, which has connections to both ancient Celtic spirituality and Christian traditions (where it’s known as St. Brigid’s Day), honors themes of purification, renewal, and the early stirrings of spring.
Tu B’Shevat – Feb. 12-13
Tu B’Shevat is the Jewish “New Year for the Trees,” marking the season when the earliest-blooming trees in Israel emerge from winter. This holiday has evolved to become a celebration of nature and environmental awareness, often celebrated by planting trees and eating fruits and nuts associated with the Holy Land.
Mahashivratri – Feb. 25-26
Mahashivratri (“The Great Night of Shiva”) is one of the largest and most significant festivals in Hinduism, honoring Lord Shiva. During this nightlong festival, devotees fast, meditate, and pray, celebrating the marriage of Shiva and Parvati as well as the night when Shiva performed the cosmic dance of creation and destruction.
First Day of Ramadan – Feb. 28 (or Mar. 1)
Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, during which Muslims fast from dawn to sunset and focus on spiritual reflection, prayer, and charity. This month commemorates the time when the Quran was first revealed to Prophet Muhammad. It emphasizes community, compassion, and spiritual growth through self-discipline.
American Heart Month
Some holidays that coincide with American Heart Month include:
- Women’s Heart Week (Feb. 1-7)
- National Wear Red Day (Feb. 2)
- Heart Failure Awareness Week (Feb. 9-15)
- World Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day (Feb. 14)
Events & Things To Do
International Boost Self Esteem Month
Natl Freedom Day
Groundhog Day – Feb. 2
National Cancer Prevention Month and World Cancer Day – Feb. 4
World Day of Social Justice – Feb. 20
National Walking the Dog Day – Feb. 22
GC-Belonging February 2025
You can also play this word search online at: https://thewordsearch.com/puzzle/7992514
This newsletter is intended to align with the University of Arkansas campus initiative: Belonging. Messages are intended to nurture a positive working environment at the Global Campus, where all individuals can feel welcome and valued.
“Belonging is defined by each of us and connects us all as Razorbacks. … Belonging is a feeling we all desire and long for, regardless of life experiences. We all want to find a connection with others in our community. Some of the key components to belonging are: mutuality, open-mindedness, willingness to change, shared purpose, acceptance, acknowledging differences, authenticity, honest curiosity, respect, safety, self-reflection, trust, and mattering.”
~ the University of Arkansas’ “Our Belonging Framework”
This newsletter also supports the Global Campus core values of Excellence, People, Innovation, Empowerment, and Access and Reach.
All employees are welcome to provide feedback and suggestions for this newsletter to gccomm@uark.edu or ksmurphy@uark.edu.