One of the best ways to foster multicultural awareness and inclusion, on a daily basis, is to promote and celebrate diversity events. Our March 2017 diversity calendar provides ample opportunity to celebrate diversity in gender, race, religion, nationality and more.
Women’s History Month
March provide the best opportunity of the year to give a shout out to almost half of the workforce – women! By 2025, women are expected to make up 47% of the US workforce.
March is Women’s History Month, first proclaimed by congress in 1987, and one of the top diversity heritage months. Women are also noted and celebrated internationally on International Women’s Day, March 8.
Hispanics
March provides a terrific opportunity to salute hispanics, the largest minority group in the United States. In 2016, Hispanics comprised 17.6% of the US population.
A few key events include:
Granting of US citizenship to Puerto Ricans – March 2
Emancipation Day: Puerto Rico – March 22
César Chávez, notable Mexican American, birthday – March 31
Octavio Paz, notable Mexican, birthday – March 31
Black Americans
March is also a great month to note the contributions and importance of black Americans, who comprise 13.2% of our population. March birthdays of key black American notables include–
Ralph Ellison – March 1
Harriet Tubman – March 10
Dorothy I. Height – March 24
Henry O. Flipper – March 26
Another way to be more inclusive of black Americans is to note key holidays in African countries. For example, one of the main countries from which Black Americans originate is Ghana, which celebrates its Independence Day on March 6.
Religious Events
The potential for workplace religious conflict is on the rise. Ours is a nation of remarkable religious diversity, and people increasingly expect respect in the workplace for religious events.
Christianity is the #1 US religion, representing 71% of the US population. It’s essential respect key religious holidays in our March 2017 diversity calendar.
Christian Holidays
Ash Wednesday (beginning of Lent) – March 1
Feast of St. Joseph: Roman Catholic – March 19
Jewish Holidays
Purim begins at sundown: March 11
Hindu Holidays
Holi – March 12
National Heritage Holidays
The month of March 2017 provides many opportunities for multicultural awareness, and celebrate those from diverse national backgrounds.
Nearly 11% of the US population is of Irish descent – more than 7 times more people than in Ireland! And of course the biggest Irish holiday of the year is St. Patrick’s Day, falling on March 17 in 2017.
Equinox
And last but not least, is the advent of spring on March 20 – 100% of people love spring! The spring equinox triggers celebrations around the world, from Japan to Mexico, from national holidays to religious observances, and more!
Please see our online diversity calendar, for a complete listing of upcoming diversity events in the workplace.