LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH

ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI) DIVISION

DEVELOPMENT, ENGAGEMENT AND MOBILIZATION UNIT

DIVERSITY AND MULTICULTURAL CALENDAR BY

MONTH
(These dates are based on CY 2023. Some dates might vary each year.)
MONTH MONTH-LONG CULTURAL EVENT
OBSERVATION
January  Co-dependency  January 1 – New Year’s Day
Awareness Month  January 4 – World Braille Day (Human rights for
(U.S.) blind and partially sighted people, United Nations)
 National Braille  January 6 – Christmas (Armenian Orthodox
Literacy Month Christians)
 January 6 – Feast of the Epiphany and Three
 National Mentoring
Kings Day (Reyes Magos)
Month
 January 6-February 18 – Magh Mela Prayagraj
 Poverty in America (Allahabad), Annual festival along with sacred
Awareness Month bathing rituals (Hindu)
 National Slavery and  January 7 – Christmas (Eastern Orthodox
Human Trafficking Christians)
Prevention Month  January 7 – Mahayana New Year (Buddhist)
 January 11 – National Human Trafficking
Awareness Day
 January 13 – Korean American Day
 January 15 – Makar Sankranti, a major harvest
festival (India)
 January 15 – World Religion Day
 January 16 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
 January 17 – National Day of Racial Healing
 January 22 – Lunar New Year (China, Korea,
Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, and Mongolia,
etc.)
 January 24 – International Day of Education
 January 24 – World Day for African and
Afrodescendant Culture
 January 27 – International Day of
Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the
Holocaust (United Nations)

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 LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH
ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI) DIVISION
DEVELOPMENT, ENGAGEMENT AND MOBILIZATION UNIT

MONTH MONTH-LONG CULTURAL EVENT

OBSERVATION
February  African  February 1 – International Day of Black Women
American/Black in the Arts
History Month  February 1 – National Freedom Day (African
 Ethnic Equality Month American)
 Jewish Disability
 February 3 – National Missing Persons Day
Awareness & Inclusion
Month (U.S.)  February 4 – World Cancer Day (Global)
 National Therapeutic  February 5 – Lantern Festival (China)
Recreation Month  February 5 – Maghi Purnima (Hindu)
 Wise Health Care
 February 7 – National Black HIV/AIDS
Consumer Month
Awareness Day (NBHAAD)
 February 11 – Anniversary of the Black Cat
Tavern Protest on February 11, 1967 (LGBTQ+)
 February 11 – World Day of the Sick (Global)
 February 12 – Autism Sunday (2nd Sunday of
Feb.)
 February 14 – National Donor Day (U.S.)
 February 14 – Valentine’s Day (U.S.)
 February 15 – Nirvana Day (Buddhist)
 February 15 – International Childhood Cancer
Day (Global)
 February 17 – National No One Eats Alone Day
 February 18 – Lailat al Miraj (Celebration of the
Prophet Muhammad’s journey)
 February 18 – Maha Shivarati (Hindu festival in
honor of the deity Shiva)
 February 20 – President’s Day (U.S.)
 February 20 – World Day of Social Justice
 February 21 – International Mother Language
Day
 February 22 – Ash Wednesday (Christian)
 February 27-March 5 – Eating Disorder
Awareness Week (U.S.)

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 LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH
ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI) DIVISION
DEVELOPMENT, ENGAGEMENT AND MOBILIZATION UNIT

MONTH MONTH-LONG CULTURAL EVENT

OBSERVATION
 February 28 – Peace Memorial Day (Taiwan,
Republic of China)
March  Bisexual Health  March 1 – Disability Day of Mourning (U.S.)
Awareness Month  March 1 – Independence Movement Day
 Brain Injury (Korean)
Awareness Month  March 1 – International Wheelchair Day (Global)
 Color Therapy Month  March 1 – Self-Injury Awareness Day (Global)
(U.S.)  March 3 – Employee Appreciation Day
 Deaf History Month  March 5-11 – Celebrate Your Name Week (First
 Developmental full week)
Disabilities Awareness  March 5-11 – Words Matter Week (First full week)
Month (U.S.)
 March 6-7 – Purim (Jewish holiday
 Gender Equality commemorating Jewish people’s salvation from
Month Haman)
 Greek-American  March 8 – International Women’s Day
Heritage Month
 March 8 – Holi (Hindu festival celebrating the
 Irish-American
arrival of Spring)
Heritage Month
 National Nutrition  March 8 – International Women’s Day
Month  March 10 – National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS
 National Women’s Awareness Day (U.S.)
History Month  March 12 – Capitol Crawl Day (People with
 Red Cross Month Disability)
(U.S.)  March 14 – Write Your Story Day
 Self-Injury Awareness  March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day (Irish)
Month  March 19 – Client’s Day
 Social Work Month  March 19 – Mothering Sunday (English Mothers’
 Transgender Month of Day, 4th Sunday in Lent)
Action for Healthcare  March 19 – National Certified Nurses Day
Equality  March 20 – National Wellderly Day (or Well-
Elderly Day, 3rd Monday of March)
 March 20-24 – National LGBTQ+ Health
Awareness Week
 March 21 – Naw-Ruz (Baha’I New Year)
 March 21 – International Day for the Elimination
of Racial Discrimination (United Nations)

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 LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH
ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI) DIVISION
DEVELOPMENT, ENGAGEMENT AND MOBILIZATION UNIT

MONTH MONTH-LONG CULTURAL EVENT

OBSERVATION
 March 21 – International Nowruz Day (Persian
New Year, United Nations)
 March 22 – Hindi New Year (Hindu)
 March 22-April 21 – Ramadan (Annual
observance commemorating the revelation of the
Qur'an in Muslim culture)
 March 23 – National Atheist Day
 March 25 – International Day of Remembrance of
the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave
Trade
 March 30 – World Bi-polar Day
 March 31 – International Transgender Day of
Visibility (Global)
 March 31 – Cesar Chavez Day
 March 31 – Transgender Day of Visibility
(LGBTQ+)

April  Alcohol Awareness  April 2 – World Autism Awareness Day (United

Month Nations)
 Arab-American  April 2 – Sizdah Bedar (Nature’s Day - Iranian
Heritage Month festival)
 Autism Awareness  April 4 – Children’s Day (Taiwan, Republic of
Month yes China)
 Celebrate Diversity  April 5 – Qingming Festival (Commemorating
Month ancestors in Taiwan, Republic of China)
 Couple Appreciation  April 5-13 – Passover (Jewish)
Month  April 6 – International Asexuality Day (LGBTQ+)
 Earth Month  April 7 – World Health Day (Global)
 Emotional Overeating  April 7 – Memorial of Jesus Christ’s Death/ Good
Awareness Month Friday (Christian)
 Genocide and Human  April 7-9 – California’s American Indian &
Rights Awareness Indigenous Film Festival (CAIIFF)
Month  April 9 – Easter (Christian)
 International Black  April 10 – National Youth HIV and AIDS
Women’s History Awareness Day (U.S.)
Month

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Last revised 3-14-23
 LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH
ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI) DIVISION
DEVELOPMENT, ENGAGEMENT AND MOBILIZATION UNIT

MONTH MONTH-LONG CULTURAL EVENT

OBSERVATION
 Limb Loss Awareness  April 10 – Palm Sunday (Christian)
Month (U.S.)  April 10 – Rama Navami (Hindu spring festival
 National African that celebrates the birthday of Shree Rama)
American Women’s  April 11 – Parkinson’s Disease International
Fitness Month Awareness Day (Global)
 National Child Abuse  April 12 – National Equal Pay Day
Prevention Month  April 14 – Day of Silence (LGBTQ+)
 National Donate Life  April 17-18 – Yom Hashoah (Jewish Holocaust
Month (U.S.) Remembrance Day)
 National Minority  April 21-22 – Eid al-Fitr (Muslim holiday marking
Health Month the end of Ramadan)
 National Occupational  April 22 – International Earth Day
Therapy Month  April 24 – Armenian Genocide Remembrance
 National Sexual Day
Assault Awareness &  April 26 – National Lesbian Visibility Day
Prevention Month  April 26 – Administrative Professionals Day
 National Volunteer  April 27 – Show Your Mettle Day (Empowering
Month persons with limb loss, U.S.)
 Paralyzed Veterans  April 27-29 – Gathering of Nations (Native
Across America Month American)
(U.S.)  April 29 – World Wish Day (Global)
 Tartan (Scottish-  April 29 – World Healing Day
American) Heritage  April 30 – Children’s Day (Celebration of children
Month in Mexico)
 Testicular Cancer
Awareness Month
 Women’s Empowering
Month

May  Asian/Pacific Islander  May 2 – World Asthma Day (Global)

American Heritage  May 4 – National Day of Prayer (U.S.)
Month  May 5 – Cinco de Mayo (Mexican American)
 Better Speech and  May 5 – Children’s Day (Korean)
Hearing Month (U.S.)  May 5 – Buddha Day (Buddhist)
 Haitian Heritage  May 8 – World Red Cross & Red Crescent Day
Month (Global)

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 LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH
ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI) DIVISION
DEVELOPMENT, ENGAGEMENT AND MOBILIZATION UNIT

MONTH MONTH-LONG CULTURAL EVENT

OBSERVATION
 Indian Heritage Month  May 11 – National Children’s Mental Health
 Jewish-American Awareness Day (U.S.)
Heritage Month  May 14 – Mother’s Day (U.S.)
 Mental Health Month  May 16 – National LGBTQ+ Elders Day
(U.S.)  May 17 – International Day Against Homophobia,
 Mobility Awareness Transphobia and Biphobia (LGBTQ+)
Month (U.S.)  May 18 – Global Accessibility Awareness Day
 National Nurses Month (GAAD, 3rd Thursday of May)
 Older Americans  May 18 – Mental Health Action Day
Month (U.S.)  May 21 – World Day for Cultural Diversity for
 South Asian-Pacific Dialogue and Development (Global)
American Heritage  May 22 – Harvey Milk Day (LGBTQ+)
Month  May 23-24 – Declaration of the Báb (Baha'i
festival to celebrate the Báb’s announcement in
1844)
 May 24 – National Brothers Day
 May 25-27 – Shavuot (Jewish Holiday)
 May 29 – Ascension of Baha’u’llah (Baha’i)
 May 29 – Memorial Day (U.S.)
June  Alzheimer’s and Brain  June 2 – American Indian Citizenship Day (U.S.)
Awareness Month  June 4 – National Cancer Survivors Day (first
(Global) Sunday in June)
 Black Music Month  June 5 – HIV Long-Term Survivors Day
 Elder Abuse  June 11 – Race Unity Day
Awareness Month  June 11 – National Children’s Day (U.S.)
 Immigrant Heritage  June 12 – Loving Day (Interracial relationship and
Month families)
 Men's Health  June 12 – Remembrance Day of Pulse Nightclub
Awareness Month Shooting (LGBTQ+)
 National Caribbean  June 13 – International Albinism Awareness Day
American Heritage (United Nations)
Month  June 15 – National Elder Abuse Awareness Day
 Pride Month  June 18 – Autistic Pride Day (U.S.)
(LGBTQ+)
 June 19 – Juneteenth (African American)
 June 20 – World Refugee Day

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 LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH
ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI) DIVISION
DEVELOPMENT, ENGAGEMENT AND MOBILIZATION UNIT

MONTH MONTH-LONG CULTURAL EVENT

OBSERVATION
 Post-Traumatic Stress  June 21 – Litha Summer Solstice (Pagan)
Disorder (PTSD)  June 22 – Dragon Boat Festival (Taiwan,
Awareness Month Republic of China)
 June 25 – The Korean War Remembrance Day
(Korean)
 June 25-July 31 – Helen Keller Deaf Blind
Awareness Week (U.S)
 June 27 – The Birthday of Andrew Foster, known
as the father of Deaf Education in Africa (June 27,
1925)
 June 27 – National Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder Day (U.S.)
 June 28 – Pride Day (it might vary by city and
country, LGBTQ+)
 June 28-30 – Eid Al-Adha (Celebrating the Feast
of Sacrifice in Muslim)
July  Disability Pride Month  July 4 – Independence Day (U.S.)
(N.Y., U.S.)  July 4 – Tirgan Festival (A mid-summer
 French American Iranian festival)
Heritage Month  July 7 – World Forgiveness Day
 Muslim American  July 18 – International Nelson Mandela Day
Heritage Month (LA (United Nations)
County)  July 18-19 – Hijri New Year (Muslim)
 National Minority  July 24 – International Self-Care Day
Mental Health  July 24 – National Seasonal Affective Disorder
Awareness Month Day (U.S.)
 Social Wellness Month  July 24 – Pioneer Day (Mormon)
 Bebe Moore Campbell  July 26 – National Disability Independence Day/
National Minority Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Anniversary
Mental Health (U.S.)
Awareness Month  July 27-28 – Ashura (Islamic Holiday that occurs
 BIPOC (Black, on the tenth day of Muharram)
Indigenous, and  July 30 – International Day of Friendship
People of Color)
Mental Health Month

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Last revised 3-14-23
 LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH
ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI) DIVISION
DEVELOPMENT, ENGAGEMENT AND MOBILIZATION UNIT

MONTH MONTH-LONG CULTURAL EVENT

OBSERVATION
August  Don’t be a Bully Month  August 6 – National Salvadoran Day
(U.S.)  August 9 – International Day of the World’s
 National Black Gay Indigenous People (United Nations)
Men's Wellness Month
 August 12 – International Youth Day (United
 National Civility Month
Nations)
 National Wellness
Month  August 15 – National Liberation Day (Korea)
 August 17 – Marcus Garvey Day (Jamaican
African)
 August 19 – World Humanitarian Day
 August 21 – National Senior Citizens Day (U.S.)
 August 23 – International Day for the
Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its
Abolition
 August 26 – National Women’s Equality Day
(U.S.)
 August 28 – 59th Anniversary March on
Washington (MLK - I Have A Dream Speech)
 August 29 – National Faith HIV/AIDS Awareness
Day
 August 30 – National Grief Awareness Day
 August 30 – Raksha Bandhan (Hindu Holiday)
 August 30 – Hungry Ghost Festival (Chinese
Holiday)
 August 31 – International Overdose Awareness
Day

September  Childhood Cancer  September 4 – The Lanterman Act

Awareness Month Commemoration
(U.S.)  September 6 – Labor Day (U.S.)
 Deaf Awareness  September 6-7 – Krishna Janmashtami (Hindu)
Month  September 10 – World Suicide Prevention Day
 Healthy Aging Month  September 10-16 – National Suicide Prevention
 Hispanic/Latino Week
Heritage Month  September 11 – Patriot Day (U.S.)

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Last revised 3-14-23
 LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH
ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI) DIVISION
DEVELOPMENT, ENGAGEMENT AND MOBILIZATION UNIT

MONTH MONTH-LONG CULTURAL EVENT

OBSERVATION
 National Guide Dog  September 12 – Ethiopian New Year (Ethiopian)
Month (U.S.)  September 15 – International Day of Democracy
 National Preparedness (United Nations)
Month  September 15-17 – Rosh Hashanah (Jewish
 National Prostate New Year)
Cancer Awareness  September 16 – Mexican Independence Day
Month  September 18 – International Equal Pay Day
 National Recovery  September 18 – National HIV/AIDS and Aging
Month Awareness Day (U.S.)
 National Suicide  September 18-22 – U.S. Senate’s Malnutrition
Prevention Awareness Awareness Week (usually 3rd week of September)
Month (U.S.)  September 18-24 – International Week of the
 Malnutrition Deaf (Global)
Awareness Month  September 19 – Ganesh Chaturthi (Hindu festival
 Pain Awareness celebrating Lord Ganesh)
Month (U.S.)  September 21 – National Black Women’s Equal
 World Alzheimer’s Pay Day (U.S.)
Disease Awareness  September 21 – International Day of Peace
Month (Global) (United Nations)
 September 21 – World Alzheimer's Awareness
Day (Global)
 September 22 – National Native American Day
(the fourth Friday of September)
 September 23 – Bisexual Visibility Day
 September 23 – International Day of Sign
Language (Global)
 September 24-25 – Yom Kippur (Jewish Day of
Atonement)
 September 26 – World Day of Migrants and
Refugees (WDMR)
 September 26 – European Day of Languages
 September 26 – Anniversary of Rehabilitation Act
 September 27 – National Gay Men’s HIV-AIDS
Awareness Day

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Last revised 3-14-23
 LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH
ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI) DIVISION
DEVELOPMENT, ENGAGEMENT AND MOBILIZATION UNIT

MONTH MONTH-LONG CULTURAL EVENT

OBSERVATION
 September 28-30 – Chuseok (Korean
Thanksgiving)
 September 29 – Mid-Autumn Festival (Taiwan,
Republic of China)
 September 29-October 6 – Sukkot (Jewish
Festival for the Fall Harvest)
October  ADHD Awareness  October 1 – International Day of Older Persons
Month (U.S.) (United Nations)
 Bullying Prevention  October 1-7 – National Mental Illness Awareness
Month Week
 Depression Education  October 2 – International Day of Non-violence
and Awareness Month  October 2 – Mehregan Festival (Persian)
(U.S.)  October 4-5 – Yom Kippur (Jewish Day of
 Domestic Violence Atonement)
Awareness Month  October 3-7 – Malnutrition Awareness Week by
 Down Syndrome American Society of Parenteral and Enteral
Awareness Month Nutrition (ASPEN)
(U.S.)  October 5 – American Veterans Disabled for Life
 Family History Month Awareness Day (U.S.)
 Filipino-American  October 5 – National Depression Screening Day
History Month  October 7-8 – Eid Milad ul-Nabi (Muslim holiday
 German-American celebrating the birthday of the Islamic prophet
Heritage Month Muhammad)
 Global Diversity  October 9 – Canadian Thanksgiving (2nd Monday
Awareness Month of October)
 Islamic History Month  October 9 – Hangul Day (Celebration of Korean
 Italian-American Alphabet, Hangul)
Heritage Month  October 9 – National Indigenous Peoples Day 2nd
 Learning Disability Monday of October, U.S.)
Awareness Month  October 10 – National Day (Taiwan, Republic of
(U.S.) China)
 LGBTQ History Month  October 10 – World Mental Health Day (Global)
 National Disability  October 11 – National Coming Out Day
Employment (LGBTQ+)

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Last revised 3-14-23
 LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH
ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI) DIVISION
DEVELOPMENT, ENGAGEMENT AND MOBILIZATION UNIT

MONTH MONTH-LONG CULTURAL EVENT

OBSERVATION
Awareness Month  October 11 – National Day of Bullying Prevention
(U.S.) (U.S.)
 National Work and  October 12 – World Blind Day/ World Sight Day
Family Month (Global)
 Polish-American  October 15 – Blind Americans Equality Day
Heritage Month (U.S.)
 Selective Mutism  October 15 – White Cane Safety Day (For
Awareness Month Persons with Vision Loss Awareness)
(U.S.)  October 15-24 – Navratri (Hindu Festival)
 October 18 – International Pronouns Day
 October 20 – Spirit Day (LGBTQ+ and anti-
bullying)
 October 20-31 – Disability Mentoring Days
 October 22 – International Stuttering Awareness
Day
 October 23-October 29 – Ace Week (formerly
Asexual Awareness Week, LGBTQ+)
 October 25-26 – Birth of the Bab (Baha’i Holiday)
 October 26 – Intersex Awareness Day (LGBTQ+)
 October 29 – Cyrus the Great Day (Iranian)
 October 29 – World Stroke Awareness Day
 October 31 – Halloween

November  Alzheimer’s  November 1 – All Saints’ Day (Christian)

Awareness Month  November 1 – International Stress Awareness
(U.S.) Day
 National Family  November 1-2 – Day of the Dead (Mexican)
Caregivers Month  November 11 – Veterans Day (U.S.)
 National Native  November 12 – Diwali (Hindu)
American Heritage  November 15 – Roc Your Mocs Day (Native
Month American & Indigenous Peoples)
 Transgender  November 15 – White House Tribal Nations
Awareness Month Summit (AI/AN)
 November 16 – Dutch American Heritage Day
(U.S.)

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Last revised 3-14-23
 LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH
ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI) DIVISION
DEVELOPMENT, ENGAGEMENT AND MOBILIZATION UNIT

MONTH MONTH-LONG CULTURAL EVENT

OBSERVATION
 November 16 – International Day for Tolerance
(United Nations)
 November 19 – International Men’s Day
 November 20 – Transgender Day of
Remembrance
 November 23 – Thanksgiving Day (U.S.)
 November 24 – Native American Heritage Day
 November 25 – International Day for the
Elimination of Violence Against Women (United
Nations)
 November 27 – Anniversary of the Assassination
of Harvey Milk (LGBTQ+)
 November 29 – Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (IDEA)
 November 29 – Sand Creek Massacre
Commemoration (AI/AN)

December  HIV/AIDS Awareness  December 1 – World AIDS Day

Month  December 3 – International Day of Persons with
 National Giving Month Disabilities (United Nations)
 National Impaired  December 3 – Individuals with Disabilities
Driving Prevention Education Act (IDEA) Reauthorization
Month  December 5 – International Volunteer Day
 Universal Human  December 7-15 – Hanukkah (Jewish)
Rights Month  December 10 – International Human Rights Day
(United Nations)
 December 16-24 – Las Posadas (Various Latin
American countries)
 December 21 – Yule Winter Solstice (Pagan)
 December 21 – National Homeless Persons’
Remembrance Day
 December 25 – Christmas (Christian)
 December 26 – Dakota 38 (AI/AN- Honor the
lives of the Dakota people who were executed on
December 26, 1862)

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Last revised 3-14-23
 LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH
ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI) DIVISION
DEVELOPMENT, ENGAGEMENT AND MOBILIZATION UNIT

MONTH MONTH-LONG CULTURAL EVENT

OBSERVATION
 December 26-January 1 – Kwanzaa (Celebration
of African American heritage and culture)
 December 31 – New Year’s Eve

REFERENCES
https://disabilityin.org/resource/2022-calendar-of-disability-related-dates/

https://www.brownielocks.com/month2.html

https://seramount.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Seramount-Holiday-Calendar-2022.pdf

https://www.kazoohr.com/resources/library/inclusive-workplace-calendar

https://www.diversityresources.com/inclusion-diversity-calendar

Feedback from LACDMH Cultural Competency Committee and Underserved Cultural Communities Subcommittees

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