10.01.23 – October 2023 Recognitions

October 2023 Recognitions

Sunday, October 1, 2023

October is Global Diversity Awareness Month. Whether working on a flight, grabbing a coffee, getting lunch, listening to music, or wherever we go, we recognize and celebrate our diversity. Our country is built from all our rich cultures and diversity is gained by each of our unique heritage, strengths, and talents. The most important thing is to respect people of all origins and ethnicities and remember how diversity positively enhances our lives.

We all come from all over the globe, some arrived in America in this generation while others came in generations past, therefore October is a time to celebrate Filipino-American History Month, German-American Heritage Month, Italian-American Heritage Month, and Polish-American Heritage Month. Over 40 million Americans identify as having German ancestry. Almost 30 million identify as of Italian descent, over 9 million identify as polish, and over 4 million are of Filipino decent. Whether it be at an Oktoberfest, Polish festival, Filipino or an Italian celebration, our communities and our country is a place where culture is valued.

October 2 is International Day of Non-violence, which is on the birthday of Indian leader of the independence movement, Mahatma Gandhi. He inspired the philosophy of non-violence for change in work life, policy, governance, civil rights, and social movements, encouraging and cultivating a culture of standing up to change through persuasion and recognizing the strength in tolerance, understanding, and peace.

October 4 is the Feast of St Francis of Assisi, who is the Catholic Patron Saint of animals and the environment. St. Francis of Assisi is credited with setting up the first live nativity scene in honor of Christmas. To celebrate him and commemorate his journey to the afterlife, the town of Assisi lights oil lamps for two days.

October 9 is Indigenous People’s Day and Columbus Day. Native American Day celebrates and honors Native American history and culture. Columbus Day is a national holiday commemorating Christopher Columbus being the first to explore the Americas. In 1492 he landed on one of the Bahamian islands and later he banked at Hispaniola (now Haiti and the Dominican Republic), where he established a colony of 39 men. This exploration and colonization of North and South America caused brutality, mass killings, enslavement, famine, and deadly disease to the Indigenous people, thus the day is accepted by many as Indigenous People’s Day.

World Mental Health Day is October 10. The theme for 2023 is Mental Health is a Universal Human Right. World Mental Health Day is about raising awareness of mental health and driving positive change for everyone’s mental health. This year’s theme enables us to re-double our efforts to ensure that everybody should receive quality mental health care and that the human rights and well-being of people with mental illness are respected in all parts of the world so that every person with a mental health difficulty has:

• The right to be protected from known harms to mental health.
• The right to access quality and affordable care when a person is struggling with their mental health.
• The right to freedom and dignity, including the right of choice.

October 11 is National Coming Out Day and October is National LGBT History Month, encouraging and honoring one’s own truth about being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. On October 11, 1987, 500,000 people marched on Washington, DC, for gay and lesbian equality, celebrating the lives and contributions of lesbian, gay bisexual, and transgender people in the United States.

October 13 is the Navy’s Birthday, one of 6 branches of the military and one of our largest branches of the military, defending our nations waters, and protecting our country at sea. The Navy SEAL (Sea, Air and Land) are special operations of the Navel Special Warfare Command. Although no women have yet made it through the 24-week SEAL training, 20% of our navy are women.

Navami of Durga Puja will be on October 23, the ninth day of the known Durga Puja festival in India. It reflects their Hindu religion, customs, and the traditions where Goddess Durga is recognized for bringing prosperity, tranquility, and world peace.

October 24 is United Nations Day and the anniversary of its founding at the end of World War II, in 1945. The intention of the United Nations is to deter war by helping to keep peace between countries. The member countries of The UN also come together to solve global issues, such as famine and aid for people who relocate all over the world because of war, terrorism, poverty, or other reasons that demand an improved life situation. Currently the UN is working with many countries as well as helping organize the safety of Ukrainian migrants, which is now 6.6 million.

Halloween is on Tuesday, October 31. Halloween became popular in America in the 19th century, with enthusiasm for the holiday being brought across with the Irish and Scottish immigrants who were arriving at the time. The English word “Halloween” comes from “All Hallows’ Eve”, being the evening before the Christian holy days of All Hallows’ Day (All Saints’ Day) on November 1st and All Souls’ Day on November 2nd. By the 1920’s, Halloween parades and parties became a major part of the festivities and Halloween was celebrated all around the country, regardless of race or religious background.

In Solidarity,

Chaddrian Calhoun and Rhonda Curtright
APFA Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee
[email protected]