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10-05-2026 4:21pm
Rockland Community College Celebrates Italian Heritage and LGBTQIA+ History Month
This October, Rockland Community College (RCC) will celebrate both Italian Heritage Month and LGBTQIA+ History Month, recognizing the diverse cultures and histories within the community. RCC’s celebrations will feature opportunities for the campus community and the public to learn, experience and celebrate. Events will run from October 1 through October 22 and are open to the public on the main campus at 145 College Rd., Suffern, NY.
LGBTQIA+ History Month will recognize the history and contributions of LGBTQIA+ people. Events will provide opportunities to learn, reflect and celebrate while exploring topics including identity, inclusion, advocacy and belonging.
Month of October
Location: Library
Celebrate LGBTQIA+ History Month by exploring a special collection of books highlighting LGBTQIA+ voices, histories, identities, and experiences. Stop by the display to discover new authors, stories, and perspectives that celebrate the diversity and resilience of the LGBTQIA+ community.
October 12, 12:30 p.m.
Location: Cultural Arts Center Atrium
Join Rockland Community College in recognizing National Coming Out Day with an interactive celebration. Students are invited to walk through our symbolic “Coming Out” door and proudly step forward with an identity that reflects who they are.
Whether you are coming out as LGBTQIA+, celebrating another part of your identity, showing support as an ally, or simply participating in the spirit of authenticity and belonging, all are welcome. This event is designed to celebrate self-expression, visibility, pride, and the courage it can take to live openly as yourself.
October 15, 12:30 p.m.
Location: Hawks Nest, Student Union
Stop by to pick up a pronoun button, learn more about the importance of respecting and using correct pronouns, and help promote a campus community where everyone’s identity is recognized and respected.
October 20, 12:30 p.m.
Location: Connection Center, Room 8372
Join us for a Queer Conversation focused on Understanding Gender-Based Violence in LGBTQIA+ Communities, facilitated by the Center for Safety & Change. This discussion will explore how gender-based violence can uniquely impact LGBTQIA+ individuals, while highlighting resources, support, prevention, and ways to foster safer and more inclusive communities.
International Pronoun Day- Read Between the Pronouns
October 21, 12:30 p.m.
Location: Nelson Mandela Room, Student Union
Celebrate International Pronoun Day with RCC! Join us for Reading Between the Pronouns, an engaging and interactive workshop presented by Mx. Jake Kelley, founder of Mx. Kelley Queer Education and creator of Juicy with Jake. Mx. Kelley is a nonbinary queer educator whose work focuses on making conversations about gender identity, sexuality, relationships, inclusion, and the human experience approachable and engaging. They have presented educational programs for colleges, universities, conferences, and community organizations on LGBTQIA+ inclusion, affirming language, pronouns, and identity.
During this workshop, participants will explore the meaning and importance of pronouns, how language evolves, and how using affirming language can help create more welcoming and inclusive spaces. Come ready to learn, ask questions, challenge assumptions, and better understand how something as simple as a pronoun can have a meaningful impact on belonging and respect.
HIV/AIDS Documentary & Panel: “One Foot on a Banana Peel, the Other Foot in the Grave”
October 22, 12:30 p.m.
Location: Cultural Arts Center Theater
Join us for a screening of One Foot on a Banana Peel, the Other Foot in the Grave, a powerful documentary exploring the lived experiences of people affected by HIV/AIDS. Following the film, a panel discussion will provide space for reflection, conversation, and greater understanding of the history, impact, and ongoing realities of HIV/AIDS within the LGBTQIA+ community.
Italian Heritage Month will celebrate the history, culture and contributions of Italian Americans. Events will highlight Italian heritage and its influence in areas including art, music, food, architecture, history, science and medicine.
Aliens, Cryptids & Ancient Roman Folklore
October 6, 11:00 a.m.
Location: Academic I, Room 1106
Ancient Roman folklore was filled with mysterious lights, creatures, supernatural beings, and unexplained encounters. This presentation explores the strange stories Romans recorded about their world and beyond. Were these myths, misunderstood events, or something more mysterious.
The Duke's Deck: Power, Politics & Painting in 15th-Century Tarot
October 7, 11:00 a.m.
Location: Academic I, Room 1106
In 15th-century Renaissance Italy, tarot cards were luxury playing cards and status symbols, not tools for fortune-telling. Explore their mysterious imagery and history, along with student artwork from the Constructed Image course.
Venetian Mask Making event with SGA
October 8, 12:30 p.m.
Location: SGA Office, Student Union, Room 3215
In 15th-century Renaissance Italy, tarot cards were luxury playing cards and status symbols, not tools for fortune-telling. Explore their mysterious imagery and history, along with student artwork from the Constructed Image course.
October 13, 9:00 a.m.
Location: Nelson Mandela Room, Room 3214
Are you a mastermind on all things Italian? Here’s your chance to test your knowledge on Italian history and culture and to win fun prizes.
From Aqueducts to Surgery: Empire of Healing
October 13, 11:00 a.m.
Location: Academic I, Room 1106
Discover what healthcare was really like in Ancient Rome, from aqueducts, public baths, sanitation, and herbal remedies to early surgery. Influenced by Greek medicine and religious beliefs, Roman healthcare was surprisingly advanced and helped shape medicine and public health for centuries.
October 13, 1:30 p.m.
Location: Academic I, Room 1106
Explore how artificial intelligence and digital media were integrated into a contemporary production of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. See how film, radio, and live performance brought new tension and a modern perspective to the play.
Italian Automotive Excellence: Heritage, Innovation and Design
October 15, 11:00 a.m.
Location: Academic I, Room 1106
Join us for a slide-illustrated lecture and a celebration of the marques, designers and racers that shaped automotive history.
October 15, 12:30 p.m.
Location: Fieldhouse, Outside Lot
Get ready to roll! Whether you are a seasoned pro or trying it for the first time, this is all about friendly competition and campus bragging rights. Grab a friend to join a team of two or sign up solo, and we will pair you up. Free snacks and prizes awarded for the top teams.
Gino Bartali: Cycling Champion, Individual of Courage
October 20, 12:30 p.m.
Location: Holocaust Museum
Illustrated with film excerpts this program explores the heroic life of cyclist Gino Bartali, the two-time Tour de France champion, who protected Italian Jews during the German occupation of Italy.
* Co-sponsored by the Antisemitism & Islamophobia Task Force
October 22, 10:00 a.m.
Location: Hawk’s Nest, Room 3112
Discover the history and traditional art of hand-stretched mozzarella from Campania, Italy. Learn how this centuries-old craft has been preserved across generations.
Limited to 10 participants
The Mediterranean Mosaic: The Architecture of Islamic and Norman Sicily
October 22, 3:00 p.m.
Location: Academic I, Room 1106
How did the Byzantines, Muslims, and Normans shape Sicily? Explore Sicily’s Islamic and Norman heritage through the architectural remnants of Palermo, Messina, and beyond.
* Co-sponsored by the Antisemitism & Islamophobia Task Force
For more information about LGBTQIA+ History Month at RCC, visit RCC’s LGBTQIA+ History Month. To learn more about Italian Heritage Month at RCC, visit RCC’s Italian Heritage Month.
About Rockland Community College, State University of New York
Founded in 1959, Rockland Community College (RCC) provides students with a high-quality education that is both affordable and accessible. The College offers 35 degree and 3 certificate programs, supported by a faculty that includes Fulbright scholars and SUNY Distinguished Professors. In addition to its main campus in Suffern, RCC operates a Hospitality and Culinary Arts Center in Nyack, and its Automotive Technology Center in Orangeburg. For more information about RCC, visit sunyrockland.edu.
