April is SWANA Heritage Month
The office of Multicultural Involvement and Community Advocacy (MICA) of the Adele H. Stamp Student Union and a dedicated committee of students and staff is excited to announce the University of Maryland's campus-wide celebration of Southwest Asian and North African (SWANA) Heritage Month every April!
If you have any questions regarding SWANA Heritage Month or how your organization can be involved, please contact our office at mica-office@umd.edu. We are looking forward to a wonderful month of programming and engagement with the community!
"Stories of Our Home"
Stories of Our Home is this year’s SWANA Heritage Month theme, inviting our community to share personal narratives that connect us to our roots, identities, and each other. Storytelling has always been a central aspect of SWANA culture, from the oral traditions of Hakawatis to the literary works of respected and celebrated writers like Naguib Mahfouz and Gibran Khalil Gibran. Whether represented through literature, music, food, or art, our stories carry the richness of our cultures and traditions. Yet, in mainstream media, our community’s stories are often misrepresented or ignored. It is time we change that. This theme is a call to reclaim our voices and celebrate the diversity of our experiences within the SWANA community.
“Home,” a word that holds multiple meanings. What represents home to you? Is it your country of origin, the home you have created for yourself while living in the diaspora, your favorite cultural dish, or is it the people who make you feel a sense of belonging? Stories of Our Home is an opportunity to reflect on what home means to each of us and the role it plays in our lives. Whether through food, music, art, or film, home manifests itself through many different avenues. By sharing these stories, we aim to create a space where SWANA community members feel seen, heard, and valued. Through this month’s activities, we hope to foster a sense of belonging, connection, and empowerment as we celebrate our heritage together.
Check out MICA's signature events and the campus-wide calendar below!
When: Thursday, April 3, Noon-4:00pm
Where: MICA Lounge (Suite 1120), Stamp
Take a break and get your creative juices flowing! Drop in any time Noon - 4:00pm to create a collage or vision board in celebration of Southwest Asian & North African Heritage Month. What does home mean to you, and how do you carry the stories of home through diaspora? What does it mean to be who you are and who are the people and what are the places that made you? Take home a pieces of art or vision board that represents these parts of you. See you there!
When: Monday, April 7, 7:30pm
Where: Grand Ballroom Lounge, Stamp
RSVP: https://go.umd.edu/Dabke25
Ever wanted to learn the traditional Levantine folk dance of Dabke? Now’s your chance! This free workshop by the Malikat al Dabke (“Queens of Dabke”) dance troupe is open to all genders and abilities - no experience required. This is brought to you by MICA and AWARE. RSVP required as spots are limited!
When: Wednesday, April 16, 6:30 - 7:30pm
Where: MICA Conference Room
When: Thursday, April 17, 4:00pm
Where: Studio A, Stamp
RSVP: https://go.umd.edu/Tatreeze25
Learn the art of Tatreeze from dress historian, researcher, author, archivist, curator, educator and embroideress Wafa Ghnaim! Wafa was the first-ever Palestinian and Syrian embroidery instructor for the Smithsonian Museum, and the current Curator for the Museum of the Palestinian People. In this workshop you’ll get hands-on experience with the basics of Tatreeze, as well as its history and significance. No supplies or experience needed to participate. RSVP required as spots are limited! Thank you to our sponsor, Arts for All.
When: Thursday, April 24, 2:00 - 4:00pm
Where: Campus Pantry (South Campus Dining Hall)
RSVP Link: https://go.umd.edu/LetsCook25
Let’s Cook! Join MICA for a student-led cook-along workshop, sponsored by Z&Z Bakery! Walk away with new skills and a full belly. RSVP required as spots are limited!
Date: Monday, April 28
Time: 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Location: Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center
Tickets are free at: go.umd.edu/SWANA25Keynote
Dress Code: Cultural or formal attire encouraged but not required
Music, delicious food, celebration and more! Join the office of Multicultural Involvement and Community Advocacy for the second annual SWANA Heritage Month Gala and Dinner, featuring alumni keynote speaker Andy Shallal - founder and CEO of Busboys & Poets. Show out in cultural or formal attire, celebrate our community, and maybe even win some cool prizes!
Thank you to our sponsors: The Robert H. Smith School of Business, the A. James Clark School of Engineering, and Transfer and Off-Campus Student Life!
"Home Through My Eyes" is a student zine project by Southwest Asian & North African student involvement for SWANA Heritage Month.
Students will be given a free disposable camera to take with them for a week, documenting the things that invoke the meaning of "home" to them (images, places, people, foods, etc.). Film will be developed by MICA and assembled into a zine that will be shared physically and digitally. Participants will also have the opportunity to write about the images they captured and craft how they would like the story of their home to be told.
Sign up: go.umd.edu/myeyes