Monday, Oct. 7th 7:00-8:15pm (75 mins)
Indigenous Peoples Day 2025 approaches and yet the Baystate still has not established the day state-wide. Join us to hear from co-founders of Italian-Americans for Indigenous Peoples Day Danielle DeLuca and Heather Leavell. They will speak about their personal journeys as proud Italian-Americans and their organization. Join us to learn more about how Euro-heritage Americans can be active for Indigenous justice.
Danielle DeLuca (she/her) is a co-founder of Italian-Americans for Indigenous Peoples Day, where she has been organizing for the removal of Columbus as a symbol of Italian heritage alongside dedicated Italian-Americans and Indigenous advisors since 2016. She has helped to organize Indigenous People's Day events in Cambridge, MA and Dedham MA, where she resides with her husband, who is Indigenous to Guatemala, and their three kids. Danielle is a senior development manager at Cultural Survival, an Indigenous-led non-profit based in Cambridge.
Heather Leavell (she/her/hers) is a second generation Italian American and co-founder of Italian Americans for Indigenous Peoples Day, a Massachusetts-based group supporting Indigenous-led efforts to rename Columbus Day and eradicate Columbus statues and place names. She is a co-founder of two successful Indigenous Peoples Day campaigns, first in her former city of Melrose, Mass., and more recently in Bedford, Mass. where she currently resides. Heather is also a member of Massachusetts Indigenous Legislative Agenda Coalition steering committee. She is a museum director and curator in the Boston area.
We invite you to gather with the UU Mass Action Indigenous Solidarity Team. We organize with the MA Indigenous Legislative Agenda (a statewide grassroots Indigenous led coalition) to win collective political victories for Indigenous justice while also connecting and building community.