October 2021
Dear Brooklyn College Community,
With the subtleness of an easy fall, October is upon us and we continue to navigate the challenges and dichotomies of the COVID-19 pandemic. Notwithstanding that, we continue to celebrate the diversity of the Brooklyn College community, and I take this opportunity to highlight three groups that we celebrate this month and continue to celebrate throughout the year.
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, when we celebrate productive employees who overcome obstacles and challenges that are unimaginable for many of us. Here at Brooklyn College, many of our employees are contributing to the mission of the college while living with disabilities, both physical and nonphysical. We celebrate and thank you for your contributions.
CUNY’s Nondiscrimination Policy and federal, state, and local laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability. It is also CUNY’s policy to provide reasonable accommodations when appropriate to individuals with disabilities and employees who have pregnancy or childbirth-related medical conditions. Employees who have questions regarding disability-related accommodations should contact Renita W. Simmons, executive director, Human Resource Services, 1231 Boylan Hall, at 718.951.5137 or via e-mail.
National Italian American Heritage Month
This month we also celebrate Italian Heritage Month, also known as Italian American Heritage and Culture Month, by recognizing the contributions and achievements of Italian Americans. Over 26 million Americans of Italian descent currently reside within the United States, making up America’s seventh largest ethnic group.
Italian American heritage is proudly represented throughout the fabric of CUNY and Brooklyn College, from our faculty and staff to our students. CUNY is also home to the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute, founded in 1979 and presently housed at Queens College. The institute offers a multitude of services, including a speaker’s bureau, conferences, seminars, exhibits, a research library, archives, etc.
LGBT History Month
LGBT History Month is an annual monthlong observance of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender history, and the history of the gay rights and related civil rights movements. In the United States, Canada, and Australia, it is celebrated in October to coincide with National Coming Out Day on October 11 and to commemorate the first and second marches on Washington in 1979 and 1987 for LGBT rights.
Regards,
Anthony Brown, Esq.
Chief Diversity Officer and Special Assistant to the President
Office of Diversity and Equity Programs
Brooklyn College
718.951.4128
Anthony.Brown@brooklyn.cuny.edu
