Recognizing Cultural Events in the Workplace

Have you ever planned a meeting, a retreat, or all-staff event only to learn later that it was a special religious or cultural holiday?  To be a more inclusive organization it’s helpful to be mindful of those special days and cultural events that some of your employees might be observing.  Here’s a few examples coming up in February, March and April:

February

February is Black History Month in the United States and Canada. Since 1976, the month has been designated to remember the contributions of people of the African Diaspora.

February 1: National Freedom Day. Celebrates the signing of the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery in 1865.

February 20: World Day of Social Justice. Social Justice Day is meant to remind people that advocacy and activism is what love and justice look like. It is to uphold the principles of social justice by promoting gender equality, and the rights of indigenous peoples and migrants; it is meant to advance social justice by dismantling and removing barriers that people face because of gender, age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture or disability.

February 21: International Mother Language Day. It is a worldwide annual observance to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and promote multilingualism. Linguistic diversity is increasingly threatened as more and more languages disappear. According to The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), “One language disappears on average every two weeks, taking with it an entire cultural and intellectual heritage.” Thus, this day is about preserving and celebrating one’s native tongue and learned tongues.

March

March is Women’s History Month. Started in 1987, Women’s History Month recognizes all women for their valuable contributions to history and society.

March is also National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, which was established to increase awareness and understanding of issues affecting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

March 1: Zero Discrimination Day. Zero Discrimination Day was first celebrated by the United Nations' HIV/AIDS Program (UNAIDS) in December of 2013. The following year, the UN and other global organizations officially celebrated the day on March 1st, 2014, to promote everyone’s right to live a full life with dignity regardless of age, gender, sexuality, nationality, ethnicity, skin color, height, weight, profession, education, and beliefs.

March 8: International Women’s Day. First observed in 1911 in Germany, it has now become a major global celebration honoring women’s economic, political, and social achievements.

March 25: Remembrance Day of the Victims of the Transatlantic Slave Trade. For over 400 years, more than 15 million men, women and children were the victims of the tragic transatlantic slave trade, one of the most horrific chapters in human history. Every year on March 25th the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade offers the opportunity to honor and remember those who suffered and died at the hands of the brutal slavery system. The International Day also aims to raise awareness about the dangers of racism and prejudice today.

March 31: International Day of Trans Visibility. A time to celebrate transgender people around the globe and the courage it takes to live openly and authentically, while also raising awareness around the discrimination trans people still face.

April

April is Celebrate Diversity Month, started in 2004 to recognize and honor the diversity surrounding us all. By celebrating differences and similarities during this month, organizers hope that people will get a deeper understanding of each other.

April 2: World Autism Awareness Day. Encourages Member States of the United Nations to take measures to raise awareness about people within the Autism Spectrum and celebrate and recognize people living with Autism. Autism-friendly events and educational activities take place all month to increase understanding and acceptance and foster worldwide support.

April 7: World Health Day. Part of the World Health Organization’s mission to advocate for “Health for All” - it is a wide-drive to support countries in moving toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

April 22: Earth Day promotes peace and sustainability of planet Earth.  Worldwide events are held to show support of environmental protection of the earth.

April 14: The Day of Silence on which students take a daylong vow of silence to protest the actual silencing of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students and their straight allies due to bias and harassment.