| Month |
Observance |
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| January |
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
(January 18) |
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is celebrated every third Monday in January and Dr. King’s birthday is also celebrated this month on January 15th. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a social activist and Baptist minister who played a key role in the American Civil Rights movement. He led campaigns to end racial segregation and focused his efforts on the vision for a future where all individuals are created equal and are treated with mutual dignity and respect. A bill to establish this observance successfully passed through both houses of Congress in 1983 and President Reagan signed it into law on November 20th of that year. The first Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday was celebrated in 1986 to pay tribute to his life, messages, and achievements. In 1994, President Clinton signed the King Holiday and Service Act, transforming the observance into a day for citizen action and volunteerism. The perennial theme is “Remember! Celebrate! Act! A Day On, Not A Day Off.” Martin Luther King Jr. Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. |
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| February |
African American History Month |
Black History Month is recognized every February and during this time, the nation celebrates the history, accomplishments, and contributions African Americans have made in the U.S. In 1926, historian and author Dr. Carter G. Woodson, instituted the first week long celebration in February to raise awareness to African American contributions to U.S. history and culture. This month was chosen because it includes the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, two key figures in the history of African Americans. In 1976, the week became a month and President Ford issued the first Message on the Observances of Black History Month in that year. Annually, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASAALH), founded by Dr. Woodson, sets the theme for the month. |
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| March |
Women's History Month |
President Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the week of March 8th, 1980 as National Women’s History Week. The next year, U.S. Congress passed public law 97-28 which recognized seven days in March 1982 as “Women’s History Week.” In 1987, the National Women’s History Project successfully petitioned Congress to designate March as Women’s History Month. Since 1995, Presidents have issued annual proclamations designating March as a time for emphasizing women’s contributions to our nation’s history and recognizing their achievements. |
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| May |
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month |
This observance honors the determination of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) and celebrates all they have given to building our great nation along with their rich history and culture. The AANHPI community encompasses more than 50 ethnic/language groups. The observance began in 1979 as Asian Heritage Week which was established by congressional proclamation. President George H.W. Bush designated May 1990 as the first Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month. Two years later in 1992, U.S. Congress officially designated May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
May signifies two important events in AAPI history: the first Japanese immigrant arrived in the U.S. on May 7, 1843, and the transcontinental railroad was completed on May 10, 1869. This initiative involved more than 20,000 Chinese workers.
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| June |
Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Pride Month |
Pride Month pays honor to the legacy of the members of the LGBTQ+ community whose accomplishments and contributions have strengthened our service and our nation.
In June 1969, patrons and supporters of New York City’s Stonewall Inn staged an uprising to protest against harassment and mistreatment that members of the LGBTQ+ community faced. This event marked a tipping point in history when LGBTQ+ members and their allies fought to outlaw a history of discriminatory laws and practices against them. Pride Month commemorates the Stonewall Uprising and acts as a reminder to achieve equal opportunity and representation for the LGBT+ community. President Clinton was the first President to proclaim a National observance of Gay and Lesbian Pride Month in June 1999 and on June 2, 2000, President Clinton issued Proclamation No. 7316 for Gay and Lesbian Pride Month. On June 1, 2009, President Obama issued Proclamation No. 8387 for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month.
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| June |
Juneteenth |
In 2021, President Joseph R. Biden signed the “Juneteenth National Independence Day Act,” which recognized June 19th as a federal holiday. Combining June and Nineteenth, Juneteenth commemorates the ending of slavery in the United States and is historic because it did not occur with President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation of 1863. Rather, nearly two years later, Union soldiers arrived at Galveston, Texas, with a General Order stating that the war had ended and that slaves were free.
The General Order stated: “… in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired laborer.”
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| August |
Women's Equality Day (August 26) |
On August 26, our Nation celebrates Women's Equality Day to commemorate the passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which granted women the right to vote nationally. The observance provides an opportunity to reflect on the role of women in public life and continuing efforts towards full equality. In 1848, the first women’s rights conference was held in New York, known as the Seneca Falls Convention. The meeting launched the women’s suffrage movement and propelled peaceful civil rights movements throughout the nation which later ensured women the right to vote more than 70 years later. In 1971, Representative Bella Abzug advocated for a bill to designate August 26 as “Women’s Equality Day.” In 1972, Richard Nixon issued a Presidential Proclamation designating August 26, as "Women's Rights Day” and the following year, Congress formally adopted the date as "Women's Equality Day."
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| September |
Hispanic American Heritage Month (September 15 to October 15) |
This year’s Hispanic Heritage Month national theme,“Todos Somos, Somos Uno: We Are All, We Are One.” The theme encourages us to ensure that all voices are represented and welcomed to help build stronger workplaces, communities and a stronger nation. Today Hispanic Americans are the largest minority group in the United States. For generations they have consistently shaped the fabric of our country and embody the best of our American values, including commitment to faith, family, and country. At DMA Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity to be in community with one another, celebrate our shared values, learn about culture and vibrant traditions and, more importantly, understand one another’s experiences as we strive to build a better a stronger organization.
From September 15 to October 15, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the heritage, history, traditions, and cultural diversity of Hispanic Americans whose heritage is rooted in 20 countries and territories: Spain, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. This heritage month is celebrated mid-September to mid-October to highlight the independence of several countries. September 15 is the day that five Latin American countries celebrate their independence from Spain: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Honduras. Mexico celebrates its independence on September 16 and Chile on September 18. Also, Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day, or Día de la Raza, in mid-October, falls within this 30-day period.
National Hispanic Heritage Month 2023 Presentation Link
National Hispanic Heritage Month 2023 Poster Link
From food to politics, the influence of the Hispanic community and culture is undeniable. I encourage our employees to set aside moments this month (and throughout the year) to shine a spotlight on the history, customs, and journeys of the Hispanic community.
Theme Educational Video: 2 min. 10 sec. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MP5sA2nCUvs&feature=youtu.be
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| October |
National Disability Employment Awareness Month |
The federal government and employers across the U.S. observe National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) every October. The observance raises awareness of the numerous and varied achievements of people with disabilities to America's workplaces and economy. The observances history begins in 1945 when Congress created a law declaring the first week of October of each year as “National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week.” In 1962, the name was changed and the word “physically” was dropped to be more inclusive of individuals with all types of disabilities. In 1988, Congress extended the week to a month while changing the name once more to National Disability Employment Awareness Month. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act into law which bans discrimination on the basis of disability and guarantees individuals with disabilities the same opportunities as everyone else for equal participation. |
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| November |
American Indian Heritage Month |
Beginning in 1976, Congress designated a week in October “Native American Awareness Week” to recognize the importance of the contributions made to our society by Native Americans. Each year thereafter, legislation was enacted to continue this proclamation until 1990, when President George H.W. Bush moved the observance to November and designated the entire month as National Native American Heritage Month. Currently, the federal government recognizes 574 American Indian and Alaska Native tribes and villages in the United States. National Native American Heritage Month serves as a reminder of the positive impacts which this vibrant community have on the cultural development and growth of the U.S. |
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| November |
National Native American Heritage Month |
Beginning in 1976, Congress designated a week in October “Native American Awareness Week” to recognize the importance of the contributions made to our society by Native Americans. Each year thereafter, legislation was enacted to continue this proclamation until 1990, when President George H.W. Bush moved the observance to November and designated the entire month as National Native American Heritage Month. Currently, the federal government recognizes 574 American Indian and Alaska Native tribes and villages in the United States. National Native American Heritage Month serves as a reminder of the positive impacts which this vibrant community have on the cultural development and growth of the U.S. |