Olivia Rodrigo
Singer & actress
A Filipino American singer and actress known for songs like 'drivers license' and 'good 4 u.' She began performing young and inspires kids to follow their creative dreams.
This month we celebrate
Filipino American History & LGBT+ History Month
All of October
October honors more than one community. This month we showcase both — Filipino American history, Italian American heritage, and LGBT History Month — so families can explore any or all of them. Everyone belongs.
1
People to meet
Real people whose lives are worth knowing.
Bruno Mars
Singer & performer
A singer, songwriter, and performer with Filipino heritage. He started performing when he was very young and has won many awards for his music.
Lea Salonga
Singer & actress
A Filipino singer and actress famous for her beautiful voice — the singing voice of Princess Jasmine in Aladdin and of Mulan.
Manny Pacquiao
Boxing champion
A famous Filipino boxer who became a world champion in many weight divisions. He worked hard from a young age.
Larry Itliong
Labor leader
A Filipino American labor leader who fought for fair pay and better treatment for farmworkers and helped lead the Delano grape strike.
Dr. Fe del Mundo
Children's doctor
A Filipino doctor who devoted her life to helping children stay healthy and helped create the first children's hospital in the Philippines.
Manila Luzon
Drag performer & TV host
A Filipino American drag performer and TV host known for creativity, fashion, and humor, who celebrates self-expression and Filipino and LGBTQ+ representation.
Geena Rocero
Model & advocate
A Filipina American model who speaks up for transgender people and human rights, encouraging everyone to be proud of who they are and kind to others.
Rachel DePass
Washington PTO community leader
A Filipino American member of our community, Chair of IT for the Washington PTO, and an active Wildcat for six years. “I love being part of the diverse community at Washington.”
Maria Ressa
Journalist & Nobel Peace Prize winner
A Filipino journalist and co-founder of Rappler who shared the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize for defending freedom of expression and a free press.
Josie Natori
Designer & founder
A Filipina American who built a well-known fashion company from the ground up.
Enrico Fermi
Scientist
An Italian-born physicist who won the Nobel Prize and did groundbreaking work in the United States.
Marsha P. Johnson
Activist & pioneer
A Black transgender activist and performer who co-founded STAR to help trans youth and people without homes. She is remembered for her courage, joy, and care for others.
Sylvia Rivera
Community organizer
A Latina trans rights pioneer who co-founded STAR with Marsha P. Johnson and stood up for young people who had nowhere to live.
James Baldwin
Writer & thinker
A brilliant writer whose books explored love, identity, and fairness. He spoke honestly about being a Black gay man in America.
Harvey Milk
Leader & trailblazer
One of the first openly gay people elected to office in the U.S., in San Francisco. He showed that courage and speaking up can change history.
Bayard Rustin
Civil rights strategist
Helped organize the 1963 March on Washington and worked for peace and fairness, even when he was treated unfairly for being gay.
Audre Lorde
Poet & activist
A poet who wrote powerfully about being yourself and speaking up for Black, women, and LGBTQ+ communities.
Alan Turing
Math & science
A mathematician and codebreaker who helped win World War II. His ideas helped invent the modern computer.
Frida Kahlo
Artist & icon
A Mexican artist famous for bold, colorful self-portraits. She is remembered as a bisexual icon whose art celebrates being honest about who you are.
2
Try it together
Recipes, crafts, and games to do as a family.
Rainbow 'everyone belongs' chain
- 1Cut strips of paper in every color of the rainbow.
- 2On each strip, write something that makes your family special.
- 3Loop and tape the strips into a chain.
- 4Hang it up and talk about how every family is different — and every family belongs.
Family story time
- 1Borrow a picture book about different kinds of families from the library (try 'And Tango Makes Three' or 'Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag').
- 2Read it together.
- 3Ask: How did the characters show kindness? How can we?
Kindness self-portrait
- 1Look at a Frida Kahlo self-portrait together.
- 2Draw your own self-portrait with things you love around you.
- 3Add one word that describes the real you.
Make a parol
- 1A parol is a bright Filipino star lantern.
- 2Cut two identical star shapes from cardstock.
- 3Decorate with colored tissue, then glue them together leaving a small gap.
- 4Add a paper streamer tail and hang it in a window.
No-cook caprese bites
- 1Skewer a cherry tomato, a small mozzarella ball, and a basil leaf.
- 2Drizzle with a little olive oil.
- 3A simple taste of Italy — with a grown-up's help.
3
Right here in Santa Barbara
Places our Wildcat families can visit to experience this culture in person.
Santa Barbara Historical Museum
136 E. De la Guerra St · free admission
Exhibits on the many cultures and immigrant communities that built Santa Barbara.
Santa Barbara has no dedicated Filipino or Italian heritage site, so this is a good general stop.
Santa Barbara Public Library
40 E. Anapamu St
Hosts cultural talks, story times, and heritage programs throughout the year.