April is Do Good Month at the University of Maryland - a time to come together to do good in your communities and to celebrate the impact that Terps have made throughout the year. Whether you’re a student, alumni, or staff and faculty member there are many ways for you to jump in and make a difference this month. As the nation’s first Do Good campus, the University of Maryland brings together scholars, researchers, and creators, united in purpose to do good. We hope you'll be inspired and get involved this month! Explore additional volunteer opportunities with the Alumni Association.
Signature Event: Do Good Service Challenge
All month long!
This new collaboration between the Do Good Institute, the Alumni Association and the Center for Community Engagement is challenging YOU to get out there and do some good this month! Complete three or more items on our service challenge checklist and receive a custom Do Good Month Totebag! Can be completed locally in College Park or from anywhere. Start the service challenge.
Volunteer with the Campus Arboretum this April
Looking to get your hands dirty and help cultivate our living campus? Check out the numerous opportunities to volunteer with the campus arboretum during their regular volunteer hours on Wednesdays, Fridays, or Saturdays. No experience needed — just show up ready to get your hands dirty and help cultivate our living campus. View all volunteer opportunities with the campus arboretum.
College Park Parkrun
Every Saturday at 9 am, Paint Branch Trail, 4289 Metzerott Road, College Park MD
College Park parkrun is a free, fun, and friendly weekly 5K held every Saturday at 9:00 AM along the Paint Branch Trail (4289 Metzerott Road, College Park, MD). Whether you want to walk, jog, run, volunteer, or just cheer people on — all paces and abilities are welcome. Registration is free and only required once. After the run, the group heads to The Board & Brew for post-run coffee! Register for the run.
America Will Be Exhibition
All April long, Cole Student Activities Bldg, 4095 Union Ln #1214, College Park, MD 20742
This exhibition brings together the works of twenty artists across a range of media, styles, and subjects, weaving them into broader histories and conversations about the role Black workers, activists, and everyday citizens have played in shaping the meaning of the U.S. flag and nation. Learn more and plan your exhibit visit.
Hospital Drive for Survivors at Adventist Healthcare
All April Long | Drop off items March 2–April 30 at the CARE Office (Ground Floor, University Health Center), the LGBTQ+ Equity Center, the Memorial Chapel or the SGA Office in the SORC. Gift cards must be dropped off at the CARE Office only.
When survivors of sexual and domestic violence seek forensic medical care, even small comforts can make a scary, overwhelming experience feel a little less isolating. That’s why the CARE Office has partnered with UMPD and SGA to support survivors receiving care at Adventist Healthcare. Together, we’re collecting: New blankets, new stuffed animals, and $10 gift cards (Panera Bread, Qdoba, Subway, etc.) Donations will support both child and adult survivors. Learn more here.
April 5-11: Bike Week at UMD
Get spoke’d for spring with UMD Bike Week happening April 5–11! Join DOTS and RecWell for a week of fun bike events and activities: exploring local trails, learning new skills and connecting with other Terps (all by bike!). Full details at https://dotsumd.fyi/bike-week.
April 7: Steelpan Experience- Music, Culture, and Community
Tuesday, April 7, 6:00PM
Join us for an engaging Steelband Interactive Workshop as part of Do Good Month and National Public Health Week at UMD. This event is sponsored by the Pepsi Enhancement Fund and UMD Arts for All and celebrates one of the rich musical traditions of Trinidad and Tobago. In this hands-on session, Dr. Josanne Francis and members of the UMD Steelband will introduce participants to the history and cultural significance of the instrument, demonstrate basic playing techniques, and guide attendees in learning a simple tune together. Beyond the music, participants will experience the many health benefits of collective music-making, including stress reduction, improved mood, enhanced cognitive engagement, and a sense of social connection and belonging. Participants of all ages and backgrounds are welcome, and no prior musical experience or UMD affiliation is required. RSVP is required to attend.
April 7: Speaking of Books: The Digital Engagement Model with Ronald Yaros
Tuesday, April 7 | 3:00–4:00 PM 📍 McKeldin Library, Room 4109 — College Park, MD
Why do students disengage so quickly — and what can educators actually do about it? UMD journalism professor Ronald Yaros joins us to discuss his new book, The Digital Engagement Model: How to Capture and Keep Audience Attention, which offers research-backed strategies for building sustained engagement in a world of endless digital distraction. Drawing on over a decade of interdisciplinary research in journalism and educational psychology, Yaros will share practical approaches for structuring content — whether long-form or short-form — that meets students where they are. Faculty across all disciplines are especially encouraged to attend.
Registration required. Register here.
April 10: 8th Annual Social Justice Alliance Symposium
Friday, April 10 | 11 A.M.-1 P.M
Riggs Alumni Center, University of Maryland College Park
Join us us for the UMD-BSU 8th Annual Social Justice Alliance (SJA) Symposium. The 2026 theme is Freedom Dreams and Radical Joy: Youth Voices in the Pursuit of a Just Society. This year’s symposium honors the life and legacy of Lt. Richard W. Collins III while centering the voices and leadership of those reimagining justice through creativity, resistance, and collective joy. Together, we will explore how youth-led movements, radical hope, and community action are shaping a more just and liberated future. Register for this year's symposium.
April 10: Family & Intimate Partner Violence Prevention Symposium
Friday, April 10 | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
📍 UMD School of Public Health, Room 1312 — College Park, MD
The UMD Community THRIVES Lab is hosting its second annual symposium on family and intimate partner violence prevention. Timed with both Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month, the event will feature speakers from on and off campus along with interactive workshops focused on spurring community action. The symposium is open to all — students, faculty, staff, social workers, community health workers, and anyone passionate about prevention. Attendees may also earn up to 5.5 NASW-approved continuing education credits (fee applies). Register on Eventbrite
April 10-11: Community and Resistance: Reclaiming Knowledge Production
April 10–11, Jimenez Hall, Room 1205 College Park, MD
The 16th Annual Graduate Student Conference, hosted by the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (LACS) at UMD, brings together scholars for a transdisciplinary conversation on alternative ways of producing knowledge — particularly those that challenge and resist dominant structures that silence or discredit marginalized communities and ways of knowing. The conference explores questions around territorial resistance, memory, collective care, and how communities reclaim their voices and histories. Register for the conference.
April 11: Come Out and Ride; Environmental Clean-Up
Saturday, April 11, 11-3 PM | DOTS Lawn, Regents Dr. Garage (then onwards to Riverdale Park)
Join us on Saturday, April 11th from 11am-3pm for a beginner-friendly bike ride! Departing from the DOTS Lawn, we’ll take a leisurely ride down the Paint Branch Trail to Call Your Mother cafe in Riverdale Park. Grab coffee or food, then join us at a nearby park to clean up litter and debris. Trash pickup tools will be provided. Need a bike? RecWell rents bicycles for $10 a day. Need a helmet? Let us know when you RSVP and one will be provided for you! We’ll bike the same route back to campus on this fun networking and volunteer opportunity. All are welcome! Come out and ride! RSVP to learn more.
April 13: Race & Place- School Desegregation in PG County
Monday, April 13, 2026, 5pm to 7pm
Join us for a dynamic conversation exploring the history and legacy of school desegregation in Prince George's County. Featured author, Deirdre Mayer Dougherty, will set the stage, sharing insights from her book Race and Place, which traces how race, place, and policy shaped Prince George's County schools from 1945 to 1973. Following her presentation, we welcome special guests Alvin Thornton, former three-term chair of the Prince George's County Board of Education, Kimberley A. Griffin, Dean of the College of Education at UMD, and Shawn Joseph, Interim Superintendent of PGCPS, as they reflect on the lessons of desegregation and the ongoing work toward equitable schools today. Free RSVP includes entry into the event and a light reception. Register for Race & Place
April 13: Do Good Campus Fund Grant Recipients Announced
Monday, April 13
In its third year, the Do Good Campus Fund has awarded more than $415,000 to XX teams of faculty, staff, and students leading innovative, impact-driven projects across nearly every part of campus. From the arts to social change, this latest round of funding showcases the power of collaboration and creativity at Maryland—explore the full list of grant recipients.
April 15: Speaking of Books- Heavyweight with Jordana Moore Saggese
Wednesday, April 15 | 3:30–4:30 PM 📍 McKeldin Library, Room 4109 — College Park, MD
Join UMD Art History Professor and Driskell Center Director Jordana Moore Saggese for a discussion of her latest book, Heavyweight: Black Boxers and the Fight for Representation (2024). The book explores how images of Black heavyweight boxers — from anonymous fighters to champions like Jack Johnson — were used to construct and reinforce racist ideologies around Blackness and masculinity in America. Saggese traces these portrayals across fine art, vernacular imagery, and public media, revealing how visual culture has long served as a vehicle for white supremacist mythology.
Registration required. Register here.
April 16: Black Box Diaries: Japan's Me Too Movement
Thursday, April 16 | 5:15-7:45 PM | Jimenez Hall, Lauretta Clough Community Room (JMZ 1205)
Join us for a movie that documents the powerful Me Too Movement in Japan led by the fearless journalist, Shiori Ito, who challenged Japanese police, law, and society. Watch Ito's documentary film Black Box Diaries and hear her speak about the ongoing legal and social challenges she continues to fight to ensure women are not silenced or stigmatized.
April 16: Queer Zine Exhibition & Workshop
Thursday, April 16, 6 PM to 8 PM | Studio A, Adele H. Stamp Student Union, College Park MD
Join the LGBTQ+ Equity Center, UMD Professor Max Barnewitz, and the Queer Zine Archive Project’s, Milo Miller, on Thursday April 16th, from 6-8pm, in Studio A (Stamp Union) for a fun and educational event about queer zines! Display your own zines and peruse others’ in a zine gallery, swap zines with your peers, learn a bit about the history of zines in LGBTQ+ communities, and create your own zines together. All are welcome to attend! RSVP to attend.
April 18: Bark to the Future - Terps Fur Good
Saturday, Apr. 18 | 10:30-12:30 pm
Watkins Regional Park | 301 Watkins Park Dr, Upper Marlboro, MD 20774
The Alumni Association is partnering with PG Parks & Planning for PGCAN – Terps FUR Good, a feel-good event supporting the Prince George’s Animal Service Division. For one day only, all adoption fees are waived, giving lovable dogs a second chance at finding their FURever homes.
Join us to meet adoptable pets, learn responsible pet care tips, and discover ways to support the shelter year-round. Donations of needed supplies are encouraged and directly benefit shelter operations. Register for Bark to the Future.
April 18: North College Park Clean-Up
Celebrate Earth Month 🌎 Join your neighbors in North College Park for our annual clean up day, April 13 from 9a - 11a! Wear your favorite shade of green! We'll have bags and gloves for you, and together we'll fan out and help pick up litter in the neighborhood. Be sure to wear close-toed shoes and bring yourself a water bottle. Feel free to stay after to support the season opening of the Hollywood Farmers Market.
Collab between College Park Committee for a Better Environment, UMD Office of Community Engagement, North College Park Community Association, and Hollywood Elementary PTO. Sign up to volunteer.
April 20: The Douglass Dialogues: What to Us Now is the Fourth of July?
Monday, April 20 | 1:00–2:30 PM 📍 Cole Student Activities Building, Room 1214 — College Park, MD
As America marks 250 years of independence, what does that celebration actually mean — and for whom? This inaugural event in the new Douglass Dialogues series takes its name from Frederick Douglass's landmark 1852 speech, using it as a lens to examine our national character today. Three scholars from distinct points of view will wrestle with questions of justice, possibility, and what the Constitution means in 2026. Grounded in the spirit of Frederick Douglass's commitment to critical inquiry and democratic exchange, the Douglass Dialogues series values rigorous dialogue across difference — not consensus, but honest, generative disagreement. Learn more at ARHU.
April 23: Attend the Do Good Challenge Finals
Thursday, April 23 | 6:15-9:00p.m.
Riggs Alumni Center, College Park Maryland
The Do Good Institute is thrilled to invite you to the Do Good Challenge Finals on Thursday, April 23 where six student teams will pitch their impact on stage for a chance to win a share of $40,000! The event will take place at the Riggs Alumni Center, with reception starting at 6:15pm and the Finals Showtime kicking off at 7p.m. Let us know you're coming.
April 24: Maryland Mentor Corps Celebration Day
Friday, April 24 | 8 AM to 2 PM
Stamp Student Union Building
For years, Maryland Mentor Corps has hosted two distinct events to celebrate the impact of its literacy and math tutoring programs—Maryland Reading Day and Maryland Math Celebration Day. Both programs are rooted in the University of Maryland’s commitment to supporting youth education, and they have long served as highlights of the academic year. In 2026, these two beloved events will be combined into one Maryland Mentor Corps Celebration Day. This unified event will celebrate both the Maryland Reading and Maryland Math programs, bringing together mentors, volunteers, and students for a day of engagement, learning, and celebration. Volunteers will help with event logistics and will interact with our Maryland Reading and Math 1st, 2nd and 4th graders throughout the day. Register to volunteer with Maryland Mentor Corps.
April 25: Maryland Day
Saturday, April 25 | 10-4:00 p.m.
University of Maryland Campus, College Park Maryland
Join us for the University of Maryland's annual springtime open house! Bring family and friends to enjoy interactive demonstrations, performances and workshops that celebrate community, discovery and Terp pride. Discover all Maryland Day has to offer.
April 26: Pack Meals with Terps Against Hunger
Sunday, April 26 | 10 am-2 pm
Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center, College Park, MD
Join fellow alums, families, and friends for a meaningful Do Good Month service project with Terps Against Hunger! Roll up your sleeves and help pack nutritious meals for individuals and families facing food insecurity in our community. This hands-on volunteer experience is a great way to give back together, connect with other Terps of all ages, and make a tangible impact for those in need. All are welcome—no prior experience required—just bring your Maryland pride and a heart for service. Let’s show the power of Terps helping Terps and our neighbors beyond campus. Register to volunteer with Terps Against Hunger