Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Resource Library

In order to fulfill our commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, we must confront our biases and actively pursue the goals of equity and inclusion for all. This page offers resources to help you learn, grow and change.

Embracing holidays and culture with care

We encourage our community to review resources that may help you navigate holidays, religious observances and celebrations with care and inclusivity. 

Explore information about various holidays and celebrations below. For additional information on religious observances, see the Office of Equity and Diversity’s list of annual observances.

Expand all

Black History Month

Celebrated each year in February, Black History Month celebrates the accomplishments and achievements of Black americans throughout US history.  
Where it Starts

Each year, the University of Minnesota shares the stories of Black students, faculty, staff and alumni and how they have made Black history at the school and beyond. 

Events on campus

See the University of Minnesota Events page for a non-comprehensive list of systemwide events taking place throughout the month. 

Enjoy Black-owned restaurants in the Twin Cities

The Twin Cities are home to countless Black-owned restaurants and businesses for every tastes and style. The recommendations listed below are just the beginning; we encourage you to explore your neighborhood and support your local community.

Explore and learn more

Many eLibrary Minnesota databases offer information, articles, images and other resources in their collections.

Black History Month in our community

Read a reflection from Dean Keith Mays, DDS, MS, PhD, on Earl S. Weber, the first Black graduate of the School of Dentistry.

Women's History Month

Celebrated in March, Women’s History Month is dedicated to reflections on the contributions of women to United States history. March 8th also honors International Women’s Day. Both celebrations are dedicated to remembering the glass-ceiling shattering suffragists, visionaries and trailblazing women who have fought for equality on behalf of women today and of the future.

Learn more and explore

Learn about Women’s History Month.
Explore the National Women’s History Museum. 
Review eLibrary resources.

Women’s History Month in our community

Read a reflection from Dean Keith Mays, DDS, MS, PhD, on Women’s History Month and the legacy of Dr. Anna Hampel.

Read the story of a learner who’s making waves in oral surgery.

Ramadan

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. For the two billion Muslims around the world, it is considered a holy month. 

The months of the Islamic calendar begin with the sighting of the crescent moon on the last day of the previous month. Today, some Muslims still go by physical moon sightings, while others refer to astronomical calculations. Both are acceptable calculations and may cause different people to begin and end Ramadan on different days.

Ramadan practices

From dawn to dusk, Muslims abstain from food and water for this month of spiritual cleaning—complete with increased prayer, acts of charity, forgiveness, patience and deep reflection. Many Muslims also attend special night prayers called “tarawih.” These are just like normal prayers, but longer. 

Children, travelers and those with acute and chronic conditions that prevent them from fasting are exempt. Menstruating, pregnant and nursing women are also exempt, though some pregnant or nursing Muslims can fast if they are able. 

The last 10 nights of Ramadan are considered particularly holy, with one of these nights being the holiest night of the year. It is common for Muslims to take time off during this time to focus on worship. It is also common for Muslims to take off work on Eid al-Fitr, the celebration held the day after Ramadan.

Supporting our Muslim colleagues

Fasting people will grow more fatigued and quieter as the day progresses. 

Many Muslims spend a portion of the night praying, so meetings later in the day are preferable. 

If possible, consider postponing lunch and dinner meetings until the month is over. It is not considered rude or disrespectful if you happen to be eating or drinking in front of a fasting person, but fasting colleagues would appreciate the courtesy of avoiding it.

Ramadan and your patients 

If your patient is unsure of whether they can fast, or if you have medical concerns as their provider, you should encourage them to consult with their healthcare team. Every patient is different. For example, a patient with diabetes may or may not be able to fast depending on the type of diabetes, as well as its severity and the treatment they receive.

Many patients will postpone elective care until after Ramadan. Patients who need urgent or emergent care should be encouraged to not postpone appointments. 

The following procedures will not break the fast:

  • Local anesthetics
  • Dental extractions
    • Taking pain medications WILL break the fast. Consider long-acting anesthesia or referring patients to evening clinics.
    • Patients should control bleeding with gauze as much as possible to avoid swallowing excess blood. 
  • Pre-procedural rinses
  • Dental impressions
    • In the case of severe gag reflex, where the patient vomiting is a strong possibility, consider using salt to lightly coat the tongue prior to taking the impression. If this isn’t enough, consider postponing the appointment
  • Bleeding during dental treatments, such as prophy, SRP, operative, prosthodontics procedures, endo
    • A large amount of bleeding needs to occur to break your fast, and these result in minimal bleeding 
  • Brushing teeth, as long as nothing is swallowed 

Adult prophylaxis or scaling and root planning produces a lot of water in the patient’s mouth. Be diligent with suction and take your time to respect the patient’s fasting.

Despite these guidelines, some patients may feel uncomfortable receiving treatment during Ramadan. If that is the case, you should reschedule their elective appointments for after the month is over. 

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Celebrated annually in the month of May, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month celebrates the historical and cultural contributions of people of Asian American and Pacific Islander descent in the US. The term AAPI includes cultures from the entire Asian continent, including East, Southeast and Southeast Asia, as well as the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia.

Visit the Asian American Pacific Islander Resource Center

The APARC is a community committed to affirming the experiences of Asian American and Pacific Islander students and their diverse communities. 

Visit the AAPI Resource Library

A resource library filled with fiction, nonfiction, poetries, biographies, graphic novels, children’s literature, academic research, documentaries and movies surrounding Asian American identity, the APARC Library is located in Appleby Hall, room 331. Learn more.

Explore and learn more

See the Asian American Student Union on Instagram at @asu.minnesota
Learn about Asian Pacific American Heritage Month  
Read the history of AAPI Heritage Month
Learn about AAPI Women Lead

AAPI Heritage Month in our community

DDS learners shared their experiences and what being Asian American and Pacific Islander means to them.

Pride

Observed in June, Pride Month celebrates the LGBTQ+ community and commemorates the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York City. More than 50 years later, the fight for equal rights continues. As we celebrate the progress that has been made, we are particularly aware of struggles and harm experienced by transgender, Black, Indigenous and community members of color. Pride month calls on us to recommit to the work of ensuring the protection of all members of our community, and recognizing with appreciation the important contributions of the university’s LGBTQ+ community. 

University resources

Visit the Gender and Sexuality Center for Queer and Trans Life.
Learn more about on-campus and off-campus resources.

Learn more and explore

Learn about Pride from the Library of Congress.
Attend Twin Cities Pride.

Pride in our community

Join the LGBTQ+ Community Meetup on the third Thursday of every month at 12:15pm.
Join Pride@Work, the University of Minnesota’s affinity group for LGBTQIA employees.
Read how School of Dentistry researchers are enhancing treatment for transgender patients.

Juneteenth

On June 19, 1865, in Galveston, TX, Major General Gordon Granger read General Order No. 3, declaring that all enslaved people were free. This was more than two years after the formal issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation, but slavery was still rampant, especially in Texas, where few Union troops resided. When Granger read the order, there were more than 250,000 enslaved people in the state. The long-delayed news of freedom invited wide-ranging celebrations. Today, we honor that freedom with a Federal holiday. 

Learn more and explore

Learn more about Juneteenth and the historical legacy of the holiday.
Celebrate Juneteenth with Minneapolis Parks.

Juneteenth in our community

Each year, the School of Dentistry participates in the University of Minnesota’s annual Juneteenth celebration. To volunteer to join our booth, contact Joel Mixon. 
 

Hispanic Heritage Month

Celebrated from September 15 to October 15, Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the contributions made to US society and culture by Americans with roots in Latin American countries. The celebration began as a one-week event in 1968, and expanded to a month in 1988. The timing aligns with the independence anniversaries of several Latin American Countries, many of which fall between September 15 and 18. 

Explore Latinx food in the Twin Cities

Read Amalia’s Mesoamerican Table, a cookbook from local author Amalia Moreno-Damgaard.
Visit Nixta Tortilleria, and read this NPR article on its adherence to tradition.
The Twin Cities are home to countless Black-owned restaurants and businesses for every tastes and style. The recommendations listed below are just the beginning; we encourage you to explore your neighborhood and support your local community.

Learn more and explore

Read more on National Hispanic Heritage Month.
Learn about Hispanic Heritage Month from the Smithsonian Latino Center.
Visit Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio.

Hispanic History Month in our community

Learn how to get involved with the Hispanic and Latino Student Dentistry Association.
Read the story of one learner’s experience with the immigration system, and how it inspired his future in dental therapy. 

Native American Heritage Month

Each November, we recognize the Native peoples on whose land we reside and honor their rich history, culture and traditions. We aim to understand and remember the injustices wrought on the original inhabitants of our land by early colonizers and individuals throughout history. 

Learn more and explore

Read about Native American Heritage Month.
Learn about the native land on which you reside.
Visit the Society of American Indian Dentists.
Visit Owanmi, the award-winning Indigenous restaurant created by The Sioux Chef, with a fully decolonized menu.

Native American Heritage in our community

Explore the Circle of Indigenous Nations. 
Learn about IHS Outreach experiences.
Read the story of a DDS learner who returned to her reservation to work after graduation.

These videos have been curated by the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee to guide you along the journey of creating a better and more just School of Dentistry.

What is Antiracism? In this video, the University of Minnesota School of Public Health explores what antiracism is an how we can apply it to our work.

The differences between Equality, Equity, and Justice. In this video we highlight some key differences between equality, equity, and justice, and how we can utilize these three concepts in our pursuit toward antiracism.

How do we make health data more equitable? In this video, we talk about what makes data WEIRD, how how ensuring that health data is non-WEIRD can lead to more accurate and equitable health outcomes.

Anthony Peterson, an educator and diversity consultant, gives a frank talk about race and how we discuss it in "What I am learning from my white grandchildren - truths about race." Peterson researches, designs and facilitates workshops on diversity and inclusion.

In this TED Talk, Vernā Myers, VP of Inclusion Strategy for Netflix and author of “Moving Diversity Forward,” makes a plea in this funny and poignant video "How to come overcome our biases? Walk boldly toward them."

The University of Minnesota Office of Academic Clinical Affairs assembled four experts in the fields of public health, policy, global health, and law to discuss racism as a public health crisis in the United States in "Addressing Racial Inequities in Health Outcomes During COVID and Beyond."