Immigrant Appreciation Day

Mark your calendars for Friday, May 1st for Immigrant Appreciation Day! Join us for this dedicated day to honor the voices, contributions, and vibrant cultures of our immigrant community members who make UMBC feel like home.

Morning Kickoff

Breakfast: 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM 

Start the day by showing appreciation for our custodial staff, many of whom are immigrants, for their essential role in creating a welcoming and thriving campus environment.

Keynote Speaker: Voice of Impact - Anna Lapera

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Library Gallery

Join us in the AOK Library Gallery for our keynote speaker to learn more about their inspiring story and impact for immigrant communities and stories. We will be joined by Anna Lapera, a pushcart prize-nominated author and educator in the DC area. She comes from a Guatemalan mother and Hawaiian-Filipino-German father, and was raised all over the world. To learn more about Anna, please visit her site. 

"Share Your Story" Artwork Activity

12:00 PM - 2:00 PM | Commons Terrace

Contribute to our community storytelling project! Students, faculty, and staff are invited to showcase where they're from and reflect on their own or their family's journeys. Help us build a visual "global tapestry" of UMBC.

Let's come together to recognize, uplift, and celebrate the vibrant, diverse experiences that make up our UMBC community. No matter where you're from or what language you speak, you belong here.

Thank you to our committee members and sponsors: The Mosaic: Center for Cultural Diversity, Student Affairs Success Initiatives, PROMISE, COEIT, and the Latinx and Hispanic Faculty Association.

This event is open for full participation by all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected category under applicable federal law, state law, and the University's nondiscrimination policy.