Arab-American Heritage Month

An estimated 3.7 million Americans have Arab roots, according to the Arab American Institute, with ancestries traced to 22 countries in the Middle East and North Africa, including Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Palestine, Morocco, Iraq, Jordan, Yemen, Bahrain, Tunisia, Algeria, Sudan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and others. Arab-American Heritage month celebrates the rich and diverse […]

World Autism Awareness Day

Throughout its history, the United Nations family has celebrated diversity and promoted the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities, including learning differences and developmental disabilities. In 2008, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities entered into force, reaffirming the fundamental principle of universal human rights for all. Its purpose is to promote, […]

World Health Day

April 7th each year celebrates World Health Day.  April 7th marks the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization in 1948.  Each year the Day is used to draw attention to a specific health topic of concern to people all over the world. For more info, visit https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-health-day

National Day of Silence

The National Day of Silence is celebrated in April.  This is a national student-led demonstration where LGBTQ+ students and allies all around the country—and the world—take a vow of silence to protest the harmful effects of harassment and discrimination of LGBTQ+ people in schools. For more info, visit https://www.glsen.org/day-of-silence

Earth Day

First held on April 22nd, 1970, Earth Day is an annual event to show support for environmental protection efforts.  Earth Day is observed internationally in more than 192 countries.  Explore conservation tips at https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/celebrations/article/earth-day  and https://www.earthday.org/

Mental Health Awareness Month

Recognizes the impact of mental illness on families and communities, while also raising awareness for those living with mental and behavioral issues. Mental Health Awareness Month began in the United States in 1949 and was started by the Mental Health America (MHA) organization (then known as the National Association for Mental Health). Each year in […]

Jewish American Heritage Month

On April 20th, 2006, President George W. Bush proclaimed that May would be Jewish American Heritage Month. The announcement was the crowning achievement in an effort by the Jewish Museum of Florida and South Florida Jewish community leaders that resulted in resolutions introduced by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida and Sen. Arlen Specter of […]

Older Americans Month

When Older Americans Month was established in 1963, only 17 million living Americans had reached their 65th birthday. About a third of older Americans lived in poverty and there were few programs to meet their needs. Interest in older Americans and their concerns was growing. A meeting in April 1963 between President John F. Kennedy […]

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month – a celebration of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States. A rather broad term, Asian/Pacific encompasses all of the Asian continent and the Pacific islands of Melanesia (New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Solomon Islands), Micronesia (Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru […]

Haitian Heritage Month

Haitian Heritage Month is a celebration in the United States of Haitian heritage and culture. It was first celebrated in Boston, Massachusetts in 1998 when one of the Boston Haitian Access Television programs celebrated with a series of programs on Haitian history, culture, and contributions to the world. The month-long celebration has continued with such activities as parades, flag raisings, […]

Cinco de Mayo

A yearly celebration held on May 5th which commemorates the anniversary of Mexico’s defeat of the French army at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican war.