Virtual Backgrounds
The virtual backgrounds raise awareness about the diversity of the Californians that we serve, including important cultural celebrations and historical events with great impact. Please click the “Download Background” button to ensure it is the correct size and format.
Featured Background(s) for February
For additional virtual backgrounds visit the Archive.
For the 2026 Diversity and Inclusion calendar click here.
Black History Month
Every February, CalHR celebrates Black History Month. We reflect on the deep history of Black communities in California and their ongoing contributions to supporting our state and nation. As our state continues its pursuit of equity and justice, the leadership, vision and resilience of Black Californians continue to light the way—shaping progress through community advocacy, public service, culture and policy.
Two historic examples include Eloise Westbrook and Mary Ellen Pleasant. Eloise Westbrook was a prominent supporter of housing and health rights of Black communities in San Franscisco in the 1960s and 70s. As one of the “Big Five of Bayview,” Westbrook fought for affordable housing, job opportunities access to education and healthy living conditions in the Bayview–Hunters Point community. Her work underscores the power of local organizing and sustained advocacy in advancing justice.
Mary Ellen Pleasant was widely recognized as a “conductor” on the Underground Railroad. Pleasant used her influence to support enslaved Black Americans seeking freedom. Her advocacy also helped lead to a landmark California Supreme Court decision declaring segregation in San Francisco streetcars unconstitutional.
California has also been shaped by contemporary Black trailblazers. Kamala Harris served as San Francisco’s District Attorney from 2004–2011 and later as California’s 32nd Attorney General from 2011–2017, becoming the first Black woman—and the first woman—to hold that office in the state.
She went on to represent California in the U.S. Senate from 2017–2021, becoming the first South Asian American and the second Black woman elected to the chamber. In 2021, she made history again as the 49th Vice President of the United States, serving through 2025 as the first woman, first Black American and first South Asian American in the role.
In science and exploration, Victor J. Glover Jr. of Pomona, California became the first Black astronaut to live aboard the International Space Station for an extended mission. A graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, he is also set to pilot NASA’s Artemis II lunar mission, scheduled to launch in April 2026.
Black Californians also continue to lead through art, scholarship and activism. Influential voices such as Octavia E. Butler, Amanda Gorman, Angela Davis, Maya Angelou and filmmakers like John Singleton and Ryan Coogler have shaped national conversations on justice, identity and possibility through their work. Past and present, Black Californians have led—and continue to lead—our state toward a more equitable future through courage, creativity, community engagement and public service.
This February, and every year, CalHR proudly celebrates Black History Month and honors the lasting impact of Black leadership in California.
Black History Month Resources:
- Black History Month | California State Parks
- Black History Month | California Natural Resources Agency
- Black history every day | California African American Museum
- Africans and Afro-descendants in California | African Californios
- African-American History at Rancho Los Cerritos and Southern California – Rancho Los Cerritos
- Reading list of Black California-focused literature – California State University, East Bay
- Eloise Westbrook – California Changemakers
- Black History Month – California’s Most Influential Civil Rights Figures
- NASA – Humans in Space
- Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum | Home
Lunar New Year
While Lunar New Year has many names across cultures, the holiday marks the end of winter and the beginning of a new year. On Tuesday, Feb. 17, the new moon will usher in the Year of the Horse. Spring festival traditions often include large family gatherings; decorating doors and homes; and gifting red envelopes of money to younger relatives as symbols of good fortune and success
According to the Smithsonian, the earliest documented Lunar New Year event in the United States was Feb. 1, 1851, in San Franscisco. However, this event was largely political in nature and inaccessible to the local Asian American community. The first true celebrations likely occurred informally among Chinese immigrants who arrived in California during the Gold Rush.
This celebration has been part of life in California for at least 175 years and reflects a long-standing and enduring cultural presence in the state.
Lunar New Year festivities often span several days and are filled with food, family gatherings, games and dancing! Red is a prominent color in decorations and traditional clothing – symbolizing luck, prosperity and renewal along with the love shared during the celebration.
We at CalHR wish everyone a fruitful and rejuvenating Lunar New Year.
Chúc mừng năm mới!
새해 복 많이 받으세요!
新年快乐!
Lunar New Year Resources:
- Governor Newsom proclaims Lunar New Year 2025 | Governor of California
- Lunar New Year in the U.S. | Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center
- First Chinese New Year celebrations in America
- History • Chinese New Year Festival & Parade
- Vietnamese Lunar New Year – Tet Parade | Westminster, CA
- Elk Grove Lunar New Year Tết Festival & Parade
World Day of Social Justice
On Feb. 20, we honor World Day of Social Justice. The United Nations recognized the important role social justice plays in promoting peace and security and formally declared Feb. 20 as World Day of Social Justice on Nov. 26, 2007. The United Nations Research Institute for Social Development reminds us that “social justice is not just an idea—it’s a responsibility.”
We all have a role to play in creating a more just and equitable world. This day encourages us to take action and sustain momentum in the ongoing pursuit of social justice. This commitment is supported by the governor, who has continued to reaffirm California’s dedication to advancing equity and closing disparities in areas such as healthcare, education, pay and more.
Additionally, many departments work to promote social justice through environmental justice and health equity programs. These efforts include:
- Supporting communities most impacted by environmental pollution
- Identifying communities with the highest pollution vulnerabilities
- Reporting on how the health of Californians is connected to housing stability, income, and neighborhood safety
Together, these efforts reflect California’s leadership in advancing social justice.
World Day of Social Justice Resource:
Stay In Touch
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The resources provided on this website are meant to educate the user on various DEIA-related topics; they are not to be interpreted as a directive from or policy of the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). Always consult with your department’s leadership, human resource office, and/or in-house counsel before adopting any of the ideas expressed on this website. Many resources link to third-party websites that are not under the control of CalHR. CalHR is not responsible for the contents of any third-party sites, links in third-party sites, or any changes or updates to third-party sites.
