Our Master's Program in Applied Sociology is still accepting applications for the Fall Semester. Prospective students are welcome to contact us for more information. If you are a UMBC student, ask us about our BA/MA program!
From all of us at The Mosaic, we wish you a happy and prosperous new year!
Also known as the Spring Festival (春节) / Chinese New Year (新年) in China, Tết in Vietnam, and Seollal (설날) in Korea, Lunar New Year celebrates the start of the new year on the lunisolar calendar, observed through a range of traditions extending over several days. Beginning on Saturday, February 10th, 2024 and celebrated for multiple days, this meaningful and significant holiday is considered one of the most important holidays across cultures. Businesses, schools, and government offices are closed during this time across the world in observance of Lunar New Year. A time for familial gathering and engaging in longstanding traditions. For individuals celebrating the Lunar New Year spiritually, these festive days hold significance, honoring ancestors and those departed through various ritual celebrations.
During this festive period, family, friends, and loved ones come together to prepare traditional and customary dishes, each carrying symbolic meaning. Foods like Tangyuan (sweet rice balls, China), Tteokguk (rice cake soup, Korea), and Banh Chung (square glutinous rice cake, Vietnam) embody cherished values and beliefs such as family unity, longevity, and reverence for the Earth.
In addition to observing the lunisolar calendar, each year is designated by a specific Zodiac animal. The significance and symbolism linked to each Zodiac animal differ across various cultures due to their distinct beliefs and customs. In 2024, it is recognized as the Year of the Dragon, a highly auspicious zodiac sign representing qualities like cleverness, charm, and even wealth. Different cultures may associate various types of dragons with the zodiac belief. According to the Chinese zodiac, 2024 is designated as the year of the Wood Dragon, while for those observing Seollal, it is considered the year of the Blue Dragon, or gabjinnyeon (갑진년).
Want to learn more about Lunar New Year festivities in the Maryland and Washington D.C. area? Click here!
Our Asian cultural and ethnic organizations at UMBC are also celebrating Lunar New Year! Check out their myUMBC pages to learn more.
The Mosaic & Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion, & Belonging (i3b) join in honoring, celebrating, and bringing awareness to our Black and African American community. We recognize the incredible impact and influence on our history and country while celebrating the culture, families, love, and service of all Black and African American folx. We honor and celebrate the continued existence, representation, community, creative arts and expressions of all Black and African Americans.
Per the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), the 2024 theme for Black History Month is African Americans and the Arts.
“In celebrating the entire history of African Americans and the arts, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) puts into the national spotlight the richness of the past and present with an eye towards what the rest of the twenty-first century will bring. ASALH dedicates its 98th Annual Black History Theme to African Americans and the arts.”
For more information about ASALH and the 2024 Black History Month theme, click here.
Officially and nationally recognized as of 1976, Black History Month honors these great contributions while acknowledging all that has happened both past and present to the Black and African American community. The lives, culture, joy, and impact of Black history can be seen within all of our spaces and this celebration is not confined to only February but in special tribute.
Throughout the month of February, join our UMBC community in celebrating with events and programs.
Black Excellence Summit
Saturday, February 10, 2024
The goal of the conference is to promote unity and celebrate Black culture. At UMBC, we believe in the importance of building community. UMBC’s community is especially appreciated for its diversity among the students, staff, and faculty. However, minority students, mostly those who are Black, often don’t feel a sense of community among those who share the same culture or racial identity as them. It’s time to change that. With America’s current political and social climate, it’s become increasingly important to make sure that our community is actively pursuing racial equity as well as cultivating an environment where Black students and staff feel heard and comfortable. Furthermore, we want to redefine the idea of Black Excellence, so that it is more focused on the authenticity of the Black experience, rather than appealing to societal norms.
Continue to check back for updates on programs and events.
To further connect with our Black and Africana student organizations please check out https://my.umbc.edu/.
Looking for a new read? Here are some recommendations by Black authors suggested by Mosaic and i3b staff members!
African American Folk Tales by Roger D. Abrahams
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
If Beal Street Could Talk by James Baldwin
Notes of Native Sun by James Baldwin
Abolition Feminism Now by Angela Davis, Gina Dent, Erica R. Meiners, Beth E. Richie
They Poured Fire On Us From the Sky by Alephonsion Deng, Benson Deng, Benjamin Ajak
All About Love by bell hooks
Women of the Nation: Between Black Protest and Sunni Islam by Dawn-Marie Gibson & Jamillah Karim
The Rise of the Beautiful Eccentric by madison moore
Beloved by Toni Morrison
Black Food Geographies: Race, Self-Reliance, and Food Access in Washington, D.C. by Ashanté M. Reese
Black Disability Politics by Sami Schalk
Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman
Native Son by Richard Wright
For additional information about “Art as Resistance”, check out these initiatives from the National Museum of African American History & Culture. ]]>
We are currently asking our community members to provide us feedback in regard to our collective programs, initiatives, and spaces. Although our work is primarily geared toward our students, we hope to have some staff responses to let us know how we can better support our collective work for our student community. As a member of the Mosaic and i3b community, we would really appreciate your honest feedback!
As a thank you, the first 100 participants to complete this survey will receive their choice of an i3b swag bag and t-shirt! Your responses will not impact your chances of receiving a prize. To respect your privacy, please note that you will need to complete the Google Form at the conclusion of the Climate Survey to claim your giveaway(s).
If you have any questions or experience any issues during the survey, please reach out to us at i3b@umbc.edu. Thank you for taking the time to provide us with the necessary feedback to inform our work!
Follow this link to the Survey:
Take the Survey
Or copy and paste the URL below into your internet browser:
https://umbc.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3mDHxz2rKglA30q
You can find the Prize Formhere.
Or copy and paste the URL below into your internet browser:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd0d0tKPASKKAkZuh3naBSfVXMEHr948aLwWYYJRh3Ys5qU8Q/viewform
Registration closes, TODAY, January 29, 2024 at 11:59pm.
Applications for the Spring '24 MLE Cohort can be found HERE.
The Multicultural Leadership Experience (MLE) is a collaboration between Campus Life and Initiatives for Identity Inclusion & Belonging (i3B), that seeks to:
Engage participants in a multicultural development and leadership learning program;
Enhance participants' understanding of their social identities, leader identity, as well as their capacity to lead;
And enable participants' development through authenticity, self-awareness, relationships, and capitalizing on difference.
The i3b team is so excited to invite you to join us as we celebrate 20 Years of The Mosaic: Center for Cultural Diversity. While The Mosaic officially celebrates 20 Years on February 2, 2024, we will be celebrating with events and programs throughout the Spring 2024 semester!
In the last 20 years, the UMBC community has seen great growth with many moments of celebration demonstrating the true bloom of our learning, passion, and commitment to cultural awareness and diversity. The Mosaic has been a proud partner in this journey.
Throughout the spring semester, we will be highlighting the past, present, and future of The Mosaic through events, interactive programs, social media and on-campus exhibits. See below for our February 2024 events including our kick-off to the Spring semester. Continue to check myUMBC for coming updates and information regarding The Mosaic 20th events.
February 2024 Mosaic 20th Events
Mosaic 20th Welcome Back Open House
Wednesday, January 31, 2024 | 12pm - 4pm
The Mosaic, The Commons 2B23
Join us as we celebrate the start of the spring semester and the official unveiling of the new Mosaic icon! You may have seen the new icon in the Fall 2023 semester. We are excited to share our inspiration and symbolism for the lotus, our Mosaic 20th theme, and connect with community members post-winter break.
Mosaic 20th Anniversary Celebration
Monday, February 5, 2024 | 6pm - 7:30pm
The Skylight Lounge, The Commons
We invite you to join us for this evening celebration to honor and express our gratitude for the students, staff, faculty, alumni, and community partners who have supported The Mosaic for the last 20 years. We extend our appreciation to all who have been instrumental in creating an environment of cross-cultural education, celebration, awareness, and collaboration. This event is open to all. Please follow this link to RSVP. Hors-d’oeuvres, desserts, and light refreshments will be served. We look forward to celebrating 20 Years of The Mosaic together! Please see our myUMBC events post for more information.
Black Excellence Summit
Saturday, February 10, 2024 | 9am - 3:30pm
The Skylight Lounge, The Commons
The UMBC Black Excellence Summit celebrates the richness of diversity and embraces the essence of unity. The Black Excellence Summit aims to foster an inclusive space where the brilliance of Black identity flourishes, empowering individuals to find the delicate balance between excellence and notoriety. Through profound discussions, inspiring narratives, and transformative experiences, we explore the complexities of Being, Empowering, and Thriving in the context of the Black experience. To learn more about the Black Excellence Summit, please follow this link to find registration information, more about the mission, and committee information.
We Bloom as We Grow: Mosaic 20th Lotus Art Piece
In honor of and as a callback to The Mosaic 15 celebration, join us in this collaborative community art piece commemorating the 20 Years of The Mosaic. We invite all of our UMBC community to take part in this event by decorating and placing a lotus in our "pond", a decorative frame. Each lotus represents our students, faculty, staff, and community members that make up our culturally diverse community. This will be an ongoing event throughout the Spring 2024 semester, please look for our upcoming dates to participate!
History and Mission of The Mosaic
Originally named UMBC's Multicultural Center which opened on February 2, 2004, The Mosaic is dedicated to creating an environment that supports cross-cultural education and collaboration at UMBC. This space was created out of the work of students, staff, faculty, alumni, and community partners who saw the need for a student-centered space for cultural learning and identity development after the disbandment of The Office of Multicultural Affairs. The Mosaic's commitment is to empower all UMBC to be culturally conscious and informed members of our community. Serving as a lounge, office space, and programming space, The Mosaic is rarely empty! Guest frequently have discussions about their hot topics in pop culture, media, or sharing their personal experiences. Opportunities to attend programs in our space such as Mixed Up: The Multiracial/Cultural Series, The Multicultural Leadership Experience (MLE), our So You Want to Be an Ally Series, and our soon to launch peer mentoring program, LOTUS (Leading Others to Thriving and Ultimate Success) allow all in attendance to gather, build community, share knowledge, and learn more about themselves and others. A safe and inclusive space for all UMBC community members of all backgrounds, The Mosaic strives to develop innovative programs and initiatives that celebrate cultural diversity, equality, and social justice. This space is open and staffed year-round. The Mosaic is reservable upon request after hours of operations.
Continue to check The Mosaic’s myUMBC page for more information about the 20 Years of The Mosaic events and programs.
