National Arab American and Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) American Heritage Month celebrates the culture, traditions, contributions, and history of the more than 3.5 million Arab Americans and MENA Americans in the United States. Arab Americans have ancestry from the world’s 22 Arab nations (Algeria, Bahrain, the Comoro Islands, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Morocco,…
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National Volunteer Month is a month dedicated to recognizing volunteering and the importance to make significant contributions to worthy causes. Many organizations in small towns, rural counties, and the largest cities would not function without volunteers. Volunteerism is encouraged throughout the month of April.
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Ramadan is a holy month of fasting, introspection, and prayer for Muslims. It celebrates the month during which Muhammad received the initial revelations of the Quran, the holy book for Muslims. Fasting is one of the five fundamental principles of Islam. Each day during Ramadan, Muslims do not eat or drink from dawn to sunset. Fasting is seen as a way to cleanse the soul and have empathy for…
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Each April, Scottish-American Heritage Month highlights Scottish heritage and remembers the Scottish-Americans who have had an impact on U.S. society. The influence of Scottish ancestry is woven deeply into the fabric of America. Many of the founding fathers of our country were of Scottish ancestry. The Scots fled political oppression, poverty, and starvation to come to the new world of America.…
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Laylat al-Qadr (also known as Lailat al Qadr or Laylatul Qadr) is the holiest night of the year for Muslims and falls within Ramadan’s final 10 days. The name translates to “Night of Power.” On this night, a single act of kindness gives the blessings of 1,000 months. Muslims observe this night with prayer and devotional readings of the Quran.
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Autism Acceptance Month is a month dedicated to promoting inclusion and to breaking down the harmful misconceptions that are associated with autism. In contrast to Autism Awareness Month, which is also widely recognized, Autism Acceptance Month was created by and for the autistic community to change the conversation surrounding autism and to move it from stigmatic “autism awareness” language that…, What is Autism?, According to the Autism Self Advocacy Network, "Autism is a developmental disability that affects how we experience the world around us. Autistic people are an important part of the world. Autism is a normal part of life, and makes us who we are. Autism has always existed. Autistic people are born autistic and we will be autistic our whole lives. Autism can be diagnosed by a doctor, but you can…, "We think differently", "We process our senses differently", "We move differently", "We communicate differently", "We socialize differently", "We might need help with daily living", However, the most important thing that they note is that not every autistic person will relate to all of these. As they say in the article linked below, “There are lots of different ways to be autistic.” Learn more about Autism by visiting ASAN’s “ About Autism ” page., What is Neurodiversity?, Neurodiversity refers to the diversity of all people, but is frequently used in the context of autism and other neurological or developmental conditions. The neurodiversity movement emerged during the 90s and is aimed at increasing acceptance and inclusion of all people by embracing neurological differences. Learn more about how you can make the workplace more inclusive for neurodiverse people by…, Interested in learning more about Autism?, Visit the Autistic Self Advocacy Network’s website to learn more. The ASAN is a nonprofit organization run by and for autistic people that fights for disability rights, inclusion and policy.
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The GLSEN Day of Silence 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. Started in the mid 90’s by two college students, the Day of Silence has expanded to reach hundreds of thousands of students each year. Every April,…
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Eid al-Fitr is the earlier of the two official holidays celebrated within Islam. The religious holiday is celebrated by Muslims worldwide because it marks the end of the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadan. It falls on the first day of Shawwal in the Islamic calendar; this does not always fall on the same Gregorian day, as the start of any lunar Hijri month varies based on when the new…
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Disability History Month is an annual, month-long observance of the history of the disability rights movement, and commemoration of the achievements of disabled people, that is recognized officially in four states: Idaho, Massachusetts, Missouri, and Washington. People with disabilities have played a huge role in our history, including Founding Father Stephen Hopkins, who had cerebral palsy, and…
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Parinirvana Day, or Nirvana Day, is an annual Buddhist festival that remembers the death of the Buddha when he reached Nirvana at the age of 80. Most Buddhists celebrate Nirvana Day on February 15. Others celebrate it on February 8. The day is used as an opportunity to reflect on one’s own future death and on people whom one has known who have recently died. Meditations are done for the recently…
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