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Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Health Equity

 

Cultural Materials

Diversity Resources

Heritage Months
Religious and Cultural Observances
Religious and Cultural Toolkit
 
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Heritage Months

Throughout the year, the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Health Equity celebrates national heritage months with the release of a heritage guide and Spotlights focusing on diverse employees at Johns Hopkins Medicine and in the greater Johns Hopkins community.

Heritage Months to Celebrate

  • National Black History Month was first observed in 1926, when Carter G. Woodson proposed celebrating what he called Negro History Week to recognize the tremendous contributions of African Americans throughout U.S. history.

  • National Women’s History Month was first observed as National Women’s Day on Feb. 28, 1909. Later, in 1987, Congress designated March as Women’s History Month to recognize all American women and the role they play in our nation’s life.

  • National Asian and Pacific Islander Month began as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week, first observed under President Jimmy Carter in 1979 and later expanded to cover the whole month of May by President George Bush in 1990.

  • Pride Month began as a commemoration of the 1969 Stonewall riots, when members of the LGBTQ+ community took a stance against discrimination and violence toward the community. In 1999, President Bill Clinton issued a proclamation in which Gay Pride Day was expanded to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month.

  • Since 1968, Americans all over the nation have observed National Hispanic Heritage Month by celebrating the vast histories, cultures and contributions of Americans whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

  • National Disability Employment Awareness Month aims to educate about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities.

  • National Native American Heritage Month, also referred to as National American Indian Heritage Month, began as Native American Awareness Week, authorized by Congress in 1976 after six decades of efforts to achieve official federal recognition of the contributions of Native Americans.

 

Religious and Cultural Observances

Expanding our knowledge of the diverse cultural and faith traditions of our patients, faculty members, staff members and students helps strengthen our relationships with one another and positively impacts the quality of patient care.

The Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Health Equity and the Department of Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy have created a Religious and Cultural Observances Toolkit to provide general information about cultural and religious observances, and how they may impact interactions with colleagues, students, and patients and their family members.

Use these fact sheets as guides for supporting our patients, staff members, faculty members and students. Please keep in mind that they are intended to provide a general overview, and the information may not apply to all individuals in any given culture or faith.

For More Information

For additional information, or to recommend additional religious or cultural observances we should highlight, please contact the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Health Equity at [email protected] or Paula Teague, senior director of the Department of Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy, at [email protected].

Download the 2023 Multicultural Calendar

 

2023 Religious & Cultural Observances

 

Religious and Cultural Toolkit

The Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Health Equity and the Department of Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy have created a Religious and Cultural Observances Toolkit to provide general education and information about cultural and religious observances, and how they may impact interactions with colleagues, students, and patients and their family members.

  • Multicultural Calendar

    Keep track of holidays and paydays at Johns Hopkins Medicine by downloading the Multicultural Calendar. The calendar notes the holidays and observances celebrated by our rich community. You can also pick up a calendar from your organization's human resources office.

  • Add Your Event to the Calendar

    Do you know of an event that promotes diversity, inclusion, and cultural competency at and within Johns Hopkins Medicine? If so, please click on the link below to provide information about the event.

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