Sept 15-Oct 15: Latin American and Hispanic Heritage Month
Latin American & Hispanic Heritage Month (LAHHM) is the official celebration honoring the history, cultural diversity, and unique contributions of individuals and communities whose ancestry can be traced back to Spain, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402. September 15th coincides with the Independence Day celebrations of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, followed shortly thereafter by Mexico (Sept. 16) and Chile (Sept. 18). Día de la Raza and Indigenous Peoples Day, recognized on the second Monday of October, also fall within this 30-day period.
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LAHHM Events
Check back during the observed month for a full list of events or visit Anchor Link!
El Grito CelebrationJoin the Mexican American Student Association (MASA) for the "El Grito Celebration," a cultural event honoring Mexico's independence and traditions. The celebration will feature music, food, and community spirit! Through this event, we would like to honor the rich history and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities. Come and experience an evening of culture and pride.
Date: Wednesday, September 17
Time: 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Location: The K.C. Potter Center
LAHHM KickoffJoin the Student Center for Belonging and Communities (SCBC) for a kickoff event in celebration of Latin American and Hispanic Heritage Month.
Date: Monday, September 22
Time: 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Location: MCS
Café con Leche Show & Dinner
Join the Association of Latin American Students (ALAS) for its biggest event of the year: the Café con Leche Showcase! We will have various Latino dances represented as well as various guest acts, a showcase to remember!
Date: Saturday, November 1
October: Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Heritage Month
While Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Heritage Month (APIDAHM) is officially celebrated in the month of May, Vanderbilt celebrates APIDAHM in the fall semester from October to early November. It is the official celebration that honors the history, cultural diversity, and unique contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and Desi Americans (APIDA).
A rather broad term, Asian/Pacific/Desi encompasses all of the Asian continent, India, and the Pacific Islands of Melanesia (New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Solomon Islands), Micronesia (Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru and the Federated States of Micronesia) and Polynesia (New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands, Rotuma, Midway Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, French Polynesia and Easter Island).
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APIDA Events
See more events for this month on Anchor Link!
AASA APIDAM Night MarketAASA is kicking off a month of celebration and exploration with one of our signature events: the Night Market! APIDAM stands for Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Month. At the Night Market, you’ll find booths hosted by multiple cultural organizations from Vanderbilt, each showcasing the unique traditions and stories of the Asian Diaspora. Dive into vibrant displays, engage in meaningful conversations, and enjoy Asian snacks as you experience the richness of our community’s narratives. Come out for a night of culture, connection, and celebration.
Date: Saturday, October 4
Time: 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Location: Commons Lawn
SACE GarbaThe South Asian Cultural Exchange is hosting Garba. Come out for good food, good vibes, and a whole lot of fun!
Date: Saturday, October 4
Time: 5:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Location: Student Life Center Ballroom
APAMSA Mochi and Mooncakes Mid-Autumn Festival
Come celebrate the Mid-autumn festival with the Asian-Pacific American Medical Student Association by making and eating some mooncakes and mochi.
Date: Sunday, October 5
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Location: The Broadview at Vanderbilt 120 20th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203
Peabody APIDA Mid-Autumn Festival
Celebrate the beauty of the full moon with community, culture, and joy. Join the Peabody Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Organization for mooncakes, popcorn, fun games, and a cultural celebration under the glowing moonlight!
Date: Monday, October 6
Time: 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Location: Mayborn 117
130 Magnolia Circle, Nashville, Tennessee
Diwali with VUSN APIDA and VUSN Graduate Council!
Celebrate Diwali with VUSN APIDA and Graduate Council! Come out for food from Sitar, arts and crafts, and socializing!
Date: Tuesday, October 7
Time: 12:00 - 1:30 p.m.
Location: Vanderbilt University School of Nursing
AASA APIDAM Trivia Night
For APIDAM, the Asian American Student Association is going to be hosting a TRIVIA NIGHT on October 18th from 1-3 PM in the MCS. Bring your friends to play on a team and win some cool prizes! We hope to see you there! Here's what to expect:
📚Trivia about APIDA spanning across US history
🎥Trivia over various Ghibli Films
🏆Ghibli themed prizes
🧋BOBA
🍿Whole lot of snacksDate: Saturday, October 18
Time: 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Location: Multicultural Community Space
AASA APIDAM Taste Of Asia
Taste of Asia invites you to experience a culinary journey through the diverse and flavorful cuisines of Asia. This event offers a wide range of options to satisfy your cravings. As you enjoy the food, take part in the vibrant atmosphere with live performances and capture the fun at our photo booth. Whether you're a foodie or just looking to experience a taste of Asian culture, this event has something for everyone. Don't miss your chance to join AASA for an evening of food, entertainment, and community! Tickets are $5, and Experience Vanderbilt is accepted. Be sure to get your tickets soon—space is limited!
Date: Sunday, October 26
Time: 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Location: SLC Ballroom
October: LGBTQI+ History Month
LGBTQI+ History Month was first established in the United States in 1994 by Rodney Wilson, a high school history teacher, to honor and celebrate the contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and other identities in the LGBTQI+ community. Observed annually in October, the month was chosen to coincide with National Coming Out Day on October 11 and to commemorate the first and second Marches on Washington for LGBTQI+ Rights in 1979 and 1987. It serves as a time to reflect on the progress made toward equality, recognize key figures in LGBTQI+ history, and raise awareness of the ongoing challenges faced by the community.
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LGBTQI+ History Events
See more events for this month on Anchor Link!
Grow With Your CommunityAll are welcome to meet the K.C. Potter Center on west side row to connect with your local Nashville and Vandy community, eat good food and learn about local resources. Check out mini workshops in all the west side row centers, dance with us in the courtyards, or make some crafts!
Date: Thursday, October 2
Time: 11:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Location: KC Potter Center & West Side Row Centers
"No Straight Lines" film screening
A lively look at five LGBTQ+ comic book artists whose careers go from the underground scene to the cover of Time Magazine and the international stage. This film showcases the evolution of the comic book alongside the history of the LGBTQ+ rights movement. A mash-up of art, comedy, and politics that is sure to make you laugh, while also making you think about the milestones of queer representation and the challenges the community has encountered and overcome along the way. It is a warm-hearted tribute to all the artists among us, those who paint the world so that we can better understand it. English. 78 min.
Screening in association with the 2025 Nashville Comic Arts Festival.
Date: Thursday, October 2
Time: 7:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Location: Sarratt Cinema
Pride Serve Fall 2025 GBM
Join Vanderbilt Pride Serve to learn about Pride Serve, and enjoy some ice cream!
Date: Thursday, October 2
Time: 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Location: Buttrick Hall 202
Lambda's Annual BiBQ!
Vanderbilt Lambda Association holds this event every year to celebrate Bisexuality, as this event takes place on or around Bisexual Awareness day!
Be prepared to connect with community, play some games, and eat amazing food all while celebrating queerness!
EVERYONE IS WELCOME (including allies)!
Date: Saturday, October 4
Time: 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Location: KC Potter Center
LGBTQ+ Farmers Market!
In celebration of LGBTQ+ history month, come join Pride in Medicine for Music City Prep's LGBTQ+ farmers market! Support local queer vendors and artists while enjoying some tasty eats! The market runs from 11-3 and is located in the parking lot of Music City Prep Clinic. Hope to see you there!
Date: Sunday, October 12
Time: 11:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Location: 225 South 11th St., Suite #101 A Nashville, TN 37206
Vintage QueerMeet and learn from local queer & trans elders, ask questions, hear stories, and eat good food. Dinner provided by Tio Fun & Besitas!
Date: Thursday, October 16
Time: 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Location: The Divinity School Reading Room (Mural)
Pumpkins and PronounsThis social and learning event will foster a welcoming, inclusive environment for participants to learn about the use of pronouns and LGBTQI+ history. Complimentary food and crafts will be provided. All are welcome!
Date: Monday, October 20
Time: 11:30 - 1:00 p.m.
Location: K.C. Potter Center
Camp Out Conference by The K.C. Potter Center (18+)
This overnight summer camp-style conference, centering the LGBTQIA+ experience, is packed with curated learning spaces + all the camp classics! This conference pinky promises a transformative space to nurture a reconnection to nature, and summer camp bliss.
Attendees will pick two one-hour small group workshops + collective learning sessions, canoeing, ziplining, nature walks & more.
*This event is open to all 18+ Vanderbilt students, staff, and faculty + with limited spaces available to community members and professionals.
*Free transportation to and from Vandy to Cedar Crest is provided!
DEADLINE TO REGISTER IS 10/10!
Date: Saturday, October 25 - Sunday, October 26
Location: Cedar Crest Camp
November: Native American and Indigenous Heritage Month
The first American Indian Day in a state was declared on the second Saturday in May 1916 by the governor of New York. In 1990 President George H. W. Bush approved a joint resolution designating November 1990 “National American Indian Heritage Month.” Similar proclamations, under variants on the name (including “Native American Heritage Month”) have been issued each year since 1994.
Native American and Indigenous Heritage Month is a time to intentionally celebrate the unique, rich, and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories of Native peoples while acknowledging the important contributions of Native and Indigenous people. NAIHM is also an opportune time to educate the general public about tribes, to raise a general awareness about the unique challenges Native people have faced both historically and in the present, and the ways in which tribal citizens have worked to overcome these challenges.
February: Black History Month
Black History Month originated in 1926 as “Negro History Week,” created by historian Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH). Woodson chose the second week of February to honor the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, key figures in Black history. The week-long observance evolved into Black History Month in 1976, during the U.S. Bicentennial, when it was officially recognized by President Gerald Ford. Celebrated every February in the U.S., and later in Canada and the U.K., Black History Month honors the achievements and contributions of African Americans, while also acknowledging the ongoing struggle for racial equality. It serves as a time for reflection, education, and the celebration of Black culture and history.
March: Women's History Month
Women’s History Month was first observed in March to coincide with International Women’s Day on March 8. In 1987, after growing support and advocacy from the National Women’s History Project, Congress expanded the observance to the entire month of March. Women’s History Month is now an annual celebration of women’s achievements, highlighting their roles in shaping history and advancing gender equality, while also raising awareness of the ongoing struggles women face around the world. It is widely celebrated in schools, institutions, and communities throughout the U.S. and beyond.
March: International Student Month
International Student Month (ISM) is the official celebration honoring and appreciating the history, cultural diversity, and unique contributions of international students at Vanderbilt. Throughout the month of March, the Student Center for Belonging and Communities (SCBC), the International Students & Scholar Services (ISSS), the University Counseling Center (UCC), Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies, the Multicultural Leadership Council (MLC), International Student Council (ISC), the Association of Latin American Students (ALAS), the Vanderbilt Nepali Student Association (VNSA), and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) curate intentional programs designed to foster and build community within the international student community, educate the non-international community about the lived experiences of international students, and celebrate the various cultures that make up the international student community at Vanderbilt.
June: Pride Month
Pride Month is celebrated every June to honor the LGBTQI+ community and commemorate the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York City, a pivotal event in the fight for LGBTQI+ rights. The Stonewall riots began as a response to police raids targeting LGBTQI+ individuals and sparked a nationwide movement for equality and liberation. The first official Pride marches took place in June 1970, marking the anniversary of the Stonewall protests. Over the years, June became recognized as Pride Month, a time to celebrate LGBTQI+ identities, raise awareness about issues affecting the community, and advocate for equal rights. Today, Pride Month is marked by parades, events, and activism worldwide, reflecting both the progress made and the challenges that remain in the fight for LGBTQI+ justice and inclusion.