Monday, June 02, 2025

June Diversity Month Themes

This month, we celebrate the following Diversity Holidays in the United States and Canada. We can never forget that our two countries were built on immigration.  Except for Native Americans and in Canada, referred to as "First Nations", we are all ancestors of immigrants. Everyone one of the groups below contributed to our great nations. However, we must also acknowledge that we have done terrible things in the past.  We need to learn from our past and build on our strengths 

Caribbean American Heritage Month honors and celebrates the rich and diverse culture of the Caribbean American population.

Immigrant Heritage Month gives people across the United States an opportunity to explore their heritages and celebrate the shared diversity that forms the unique story of their country.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Pride Month was established to recognize the impact that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals have had on the world.

National Indigenous History Month in Canada is a time to recognize the rich history, heritage, resilience, and diversity of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis.

Wednesday, May 07, 2025

Celebrating Moses & Zippora

This month, we celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month, which recognizes the diverse contributions of the Jewish people to American culture. It is also celebrated as Jewish Heritage Month in Canada, and I am celebrating a Jewish Orthodox Couple I follow on Instagram.

Moses and Zippora share regular Q&As about their beliefs, which are quite enlightening. Moses is a Rabbi and definitely the quirky one in the relationship.I really love their explanations of why they do things in their beliefs. I have engaged several times on some of their posts and have felt very welcomed by the community they engage with. Their followers are quick to show resources for further education and understanding.  

I think they lead by example and show why having a spiritual background is essential. 

https://www.instagram.com/mosesandzippora/

Thursday, May 01, 2025

Diversity Month Themes

This month, we celebrate the following Diversity Holidays(1)

Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AANHPI) honors the rich and diverse contributions of Asian Americans in US history and culture. Celebrated as Asian Heritage Month in Canada.

Jewish American Heritage Month recognizes the diverse contributions of the Jewish people to American culture. Celebrated as Jewish Heritage Month in Canada.

Mental Health Awareness Month (or Mental Health Month) in the US aims to raise awareness and educate the public about mental illnesses and reduce the stigma that surrounds mental illnesses.

National Military Appreciation Month is observed in the US to honor the service and sacrifice of the men and women of the United States Armed Forces, as well as their families.

Older Americans Month honors the legacies and contributions of older Americans and supports them as they enter their next stage of life.

We are not all created the same, nor do we all come from the same ethnic background, but that is what makes the United States so unique. We are a land of immigrants from all walks of life. We must celebrate our differences and build each other up to make us stronger.  When groups don't all think alike, more progress occurs as we see things from different perspectives, and innovations are more likely to occur.

1. Seramount.com

Friday, April 18, 2025

Celebrating Autism Foundation

This month, Autism Acceptance Month, was established in the US to raise awareness about and acceptance of the developmental disability that impacts an individual’s experience of the world around them. (1)

I am celebrating the Autism Foundation this week. They aim to create a more inclusive and supportive world for autistic individuals and their families. (2) I love these organisations that strive to be inclusive for those who are different. They have many programs to help people understand how to engage with those on the spectrum and to help families and individuals with this disorder (3). We lose a lot when we don't allow different people to have a voice at the table.

As I stated in an earlier blog, there are a lot of people who have impacted our lives who have been diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum. I have worked with people who have been diagnosed, and yes, they are different, but  I have enjoyed my experience with them.

One of my work partners, whom I won't name for privacy reasons, has a son diagnosed, and I have worked with his son on several community outreach projects and found that he is the most caring and hard-working person I have ever met. He never stopped working to support others when break time was called during our projects.  He always took on the most challenging jobs and excelled at everything he has taken on. Whenever he attended our community outreach projects, I would try to get paired up with him as I knew he would push me to work much harder at the event, trying to keep up with him.

Because someone is different, please don't shy away from them. You may find you are meeting an angel in disguise.

(1) Source Seramount.com

(2) Our Mission — Autism Foundation

(3) Services — Autism Foundation

Wednesday, April 09, 2025

Celebrating Diversity

This month, in the United States, the following Diversity Holidays are recognized;

• Autism Acceptance Month was established in the US to raise awareness about and acceptance of the developmental disability that impacts an individual’s experience of the world around them.
• Celebrate Diversity Month in the US recognizes and honors the diversity surrounding us all.
• Deaf History Month celebrates key events in deaf history in the US.
• National Arab American Heritage Month celebrates the Arab American heritage and culture and pays tribute to the contributions of Arab Americans and Arabic-speaking Americans.

* source Seramount.com

Why should we celebrate diversity? I think we grow more as a human race by allowing different perspectives to be considered. For example, here is some homework for you to understand how people of diversity enrich your life

1. Search for famous autistic people, and you will be surprised to see how many people there are out there who have enriched our lives through entertainment, science, and technology. 
2. If you search for Deaf Inventors, you will find Thomas Edison, Ludwig Van Beethoven, and many others. 
3. Reviewing the list of Arab Americans on Wikipedia will show you how much these individuals have impacted our United States Society.

We are a land of immigrants, except for our Native Americans. Diversity is our strength, which binds all together. Our culture is dictated by our absorption of all the different cultures that have come to America.

I can personally attest that being open-minded and allowing other perspectives to have a voice at the table will make you much more successful.

In my last assignment with UPS, I was responsible for a Global call center team based in Salt Lake City, the Philippines, Mexico, Guatemala, and Jamaica. What this team accomplished in my 1 1/2 years was terrific. How they pulled together their different views and worked together made our team very successful in quickly improving service within the Preferred customer network.