Workplace Diversity & Inclusion Calendar
The Capital Region Chamber is committed to serving as a resource to organizations in their efforts to foster more diverse, inclusive and equitable places to work. Being an inclusive leader, means taking the time and effort to make your employees, clients and customers feel valued, appreciated and that they belong. This can be a year-round initiative and the Capital Region Chamber has developed resources to help better understand the various Heritage Month celebrations and holidays, to aid in enhancing your workplace DEI efforts.
As we schedule important meetings and events this year, we offer the following diversity and inclusion calendar. We encourage you to use this tool in raising awareness and being cognizant of different holidays and important dates that honor the rich diversity of our region and world and how these observances are celebrated by various cultures, religions and populations.
If you believe we may have mistakenly left off a holiday or date that is important to you, please do not hesitate to reach out to Jason Benitez, Vice President, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at jbenitez@capitalregionchamber.com
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January 2022
Month-long observances:
National Mentoring Month
Poverty in America Awareness MonthImportant Dates:
January 1 – New Year’s Day
January 4 – National Braille Day
January 6 – The Feast of the Epiphany, also known as Three Kings Day or Dia de los Reyes
January 7 – Christmas (Eastern Orthodox)
January 16 – World Religion Day
January 17 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day
January 18 – Mahayana New Year (Buddhist)
January 26 – Republic Day of India
January 27 – International Holocaust Remembrance Day
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February 2022
Month-long observances:
Black History Month
American Heart MonthImportant Dates:
February 1 – Lunar New Year (or Chinese New Year)
February 1 – National Freedom Day
February 5 – Vasant Panchami (Hindu)
February 14 – Valentine’s Day
February 15 – Parinirvana Day or Nirvana Day (Buddhist)
February 21 – President’s Day
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March 2022
Month-long observances:
National Women’s History Month
Greek-American Heritage Month
Irish-American Heritage Month
National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
National Multiple Sclerosis Education and Awareness MonthImportant Dates:
March 1 – Mardi Gras
March 1 – Maha Shivarati (Hindu)
March 1 – Lailat al Miraj (Muslim)
March 2 – Ash Wednesday
March 8 – International Women’s Day
March 16-17 – Purim (Jewish)
March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day
March 18 – Holi (Hindu)
March 20-21 – Naw-Ruz, (Baha’i New Year)
March 25 – International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
March 31 – International Transgender Day of Visibility
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April 2022
Month-long observances:
Autism Awareness Month
Arab-American Heritage Month
Earth Month
Celebrate Diversity Month
National Volunteer MonthImportant Dates:
April 2 – Ramadan Begins (Muslim)
April 2 – World Autism Awareness Day
April 10 – Palm Sunday
April 14 – Vaisakhi (Sikh New Year)
April 15 – Good Friday
April 15-23 – Passover
April 17 – Easter
April 21 – Start of Rivdan (Baha’i)
April 22 – Earth Day
April 23 – National Day of Silence (LGBTQIA+)
April 27-28 – Yom HaShoah (Jewish)
April 29 – Laylat al-Qadr (Muslim)
April 30 – Ramadan Ends (Muslim)
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May 2022
Month-long observances:
National Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Haitian Heritage Month
Indian Heritage Month
Jewish-American Heritage Month
Older American Month
Mental Health Awareness Month
ALS Awareness MonthImportant Dates:
May 1 – Beltane (Celtic)
May 2-3 – Eid al-Fitr (Muslim)
May 5 – Cinco De Mayo
May 9 – Mother’s Day
May 17 – International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia
May 21 – World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
May 24 – Declaration of the Bab (Baha’i)
May 26 – Ascension Day
May 29 – Ascension of Baha’u’llah (Baha’i)
May 30 – Memorial Day
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June 2022
Month-long observances:
LGBTQIA+ PRIDE Month
AIDS Awareness Month
Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month
National Caribbean American Heritage Month
Immigrant Heritage MonthImportant Dates:
June 4-6 – Shavuot (Jewish)
June 5 – Pentecost
June 12 – Loving Day
June 12 – Trinity Sunday
June 14 – Flag Day
June 15 – Native American Citizenship Day
June 16 – Corpus Christi
June 19 – Juneteenth
June 19 – Father’s Day
June 20 – World Refugee Day
June 20 – National Indigenous People’s Day (Canada)
June 24 – Litha (Pagan)
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July 2022
Month-long observances:
French-American Heritage Month
Important Dates:
July 1 – Canada Day (Canada)
July 4 – Independence Day
July 9 – Eid al-Adha (Muslim)
July 9 – The Martyrdom of the Bab (Baha’i)
July 11 – World Population Day
July 14 – Bastille Day
July 14 – International Nonbinary People’s Day
July 18 – Nelson Mandela International Day
July 24 – Pioneer Day (Mormon)
July 26 – Disability Independence Day
July 29-30 – Al-Hijra (Muslim)
July 30 – International Day of Friendship
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August 2022
Month-long observances:
National Civility Month
Important Dates:
August 7 – Purple Heart Day
August 9 – International Day of World’s Indigenous People
August 17 – Marcus Garvey Day
August 18-19 – Krishna Janmashtami (Hindu)
August 19 – World Humanitarian Day
August 21 – Senior Citizens Day
August 26 – Women’s Equality Day
August 31 – Ganesh Chaturthi (Hindu)
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September 2022
Month-long observances:
Hispanic Heritage Month
Suicide Prevention Month
National Guide Dog MonthImportant Dates:
September 5 – Labor Day
September 11 – Patriot Day
September 15 – International Day of Democracy
September 16 – Mexican Independence Day
September 21 – International Day of Peace
September 23 – Native American Day
September 25-27 Rosh Hashanah (Jewish)
September 26 – European Day of Languages
September 26-Oct. 5 – Navratri (Hindu)
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October 2022
Month-long observances:
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Disability Employment Awareness Month
Bullying Prevention Month
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Down Syndrome Awareness Month
Filipino-American Heritage Month
German-American Heritage Month
Italian-American Heritage Month
LGBTQIA+ History Month
National Work and Family Month
Polish-American Heritage Month
Family History MonthImportant Dates:
October 2- International Day of Nonviolence
October 4-5 – Yom Kippur (Jewish)
October 9 – Sukkot Begins (Jewish)
October 9 – Eid Milad un-Nabi (Muslim)
October 10 – World Mental Health Day
October 11 – National Coming Out Day (LGBTQIA+)
October 11 – National Indigenous Peoples’ Day
October 16 – Bosses’ Day
October 20 – Sikh Holy Day (Sikh)
October 24 – Diwali (Hindu)
October 25 – Birth of Bab (Baha’i)
October 26 – Birth of Baha’u’llah (Baha’i)
October 31 – Halloween
October 31-Nov. 2 – Dia De Los Muertos (Mexico)
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November 2022
Month-long observances:
National Native American, American Indian and Alaskan Native Heritage Month
Diabetes Awareness Month
Movember (Men’s Health Awareness)Important Dates:
November 1 – All Saintes Day
November 2 – All Souls Day
November 11 – Veteran’s Day
November 13-19 – Transgender Awareness Week
November 19 – International Men’s Day
November 20 – Transgender Day of Remembrance
November 24 – Thanksgiving
November 25 – Native American Heritage Day
November 25-26 – Day of the Covenant (Baha’i)
November 28-29 – Ascension of Abdu’l-Baha (Baha’i)
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December 2022
Month-long observances:
HIV/AIDS Awareness Month
Universal Human Rights MonthImportant Dates:
December 1 – World AIDS Day
December 3 – International Day for People with Disabilities
December 10 – International Human Rights Day
December 12 – Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Mexico)
December 18-26 – Hanukkah (Jewish)
December 21 – Yule Winter Solstice (Pagan)
December 25 – Christmas
December 26 – Jan. 1 – Kwanzaa
December 26 – Boxing Day (Great Britain and Commonwealth countries)
December 31 – New Year’s Eve