Southwest Asian & North African Heritage Month

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! Check out the full calendar at stamp.umd.edu/SWANAHM

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.