Submitted on behalf of the PLTC DE&I Committee.
The Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee of PLTC respectfully continues our monthly sharing of notable dates and holidays important to diverse groups whom we work with and among.
July Holidays and Important Dates:
July 8-9: The Martyrdom of the Báb is an observation in the Bahá’ís Faith on the anniversary of the 1850 execution of the Báb, a prophet who is considered the forerunner of the religion, in Iran at age 30.
July 14: International Non-Binary People’s Day is observed to celebrate the contributions of non-binary people around the world. Non-Binary Awareness Week is held the week before and is designated to raise awareness and organize around the issues faced by non-binary individuals.
July 18: Nelson Mandela International Day is a celebration of the life’s work of Nelson Mandela in ending apartheid in South Africa and serving as its first post-apartheid president. The commemoration was inspired by a call he made for the next generation to take on the burden of leadership in addressing the world’s social injustices.
July 19-20: Eid al-Adha, or the “Festival of Sacrifice,” is the second of the two great festivals in the Islamic faith. It commemorates the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim to follow Allah’s command to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience.
July 24: Asalha Puja is a Theravada Buddhist celebration in Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Laos, and Myanmar that commemorates the Buddha’s first pivotal teachings that came to him following his enlightenment.
July 24: Pioneer Day is observed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to commemorate the 1847 arrival of Brigham Young and the first group of Latter-day Saint pioneers in the Salt Lake Valley of Utah after their exile from Illinois.
July 26: National Disability Independence Day celebrates the anniversary of the 1990 signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the first comprehensive legislation in the world to prohibited discrimination based on disabilities. The day also calls attention to the barriers to access and opportunity that remain and advocates for areas of reform.
The mission of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee is to promote deeper understanding of, and respect for, the intersections of identity and culture, especially considering age and disabilities, when working with long-term care residents, staff, and colleagues. We strive to build a diverse, inclusive, and empathically minded community that advocates for equity and social justice in long-term care settings.