Third Judicial Circuit Court
THE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION CALENDAR
The Third Circuit Court Diversity and Inclusion Team’s Mission: "We appreciate our common connection and respect our diverse and unique human experiences. We move forward as an inclusive organization as we provide accessible and equal justice."

The Court’s Diversity & Inclusion Team strives to ensure the values of its diverse bench, staff, and court users are acknowledged and reflected in our delivery of service as well as our work environment.

In that spirit, the team creates and shares a monthly list of various holidays and observations along with some celebration suggestions. We invite our work community and the community at large to contribute.
 

MAY 2022
 
May Day – May 1
Law Day – May 1
National Infertility Survival Day – May 1
Foster Care Day – May 3
World Press Freedom Day – May 3
Skilled Trades Day – May 4
Cinco De Mayo – May 5
National Day of Prayer – May 5
National Nurses Day – May 6
Military Spouse Appreciation Day – May 6
Birth Mother’s Day – May 7
Birthday of Buddha – May 8
Mother’s Day - May 8
Fibromyalgia Awareness Day – May 12
Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive Day – May 14
National Honor Our LGBT Elders Day – May 16
HIV Vaccine Awareness Day – May 18
Armed Forces Day - May 21
Missing Children’s Day – May 25
Senior Health & Fitness Day – May 25
Multiple Sclerosis Day – May 30
Memorial Day - May 30
 
Small Business Week – First Week in May
Nurses Week – May 6 to May 12
Public Service Recognition Week – Begins first Sunday of May
Teacher Appreciation Week – First Monday through Friday in May
National Police Week – Week of May 15th
National Emergency Medical Services Week – Third Full Week of May
 
ALS Awareness Month
Asian/Pacific Heritage Month
Jewish American Heritage Month
Mental Health Awareness Month
Brain Cancer and Brain Tumor Awareness Month
Foster Care Month
Skin Cancer Awareness Month

Local Activities and Highlights
Many local organizations host activities and play an ongoing role in holidays and observances listed above.
 
Cinco De Mayo – May 5
Celebrate by attending Fiesta Detroit: Annual Cinco De Mayo festival. More information at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fiesta-detroit-annual-cinco-de-mayo-festival-tickets-297304875887.
 
The Mexican Patriotic Committee of Metropolitan Detroit will host the 57th Annual Cinco de Mayo Parade on Sunday, May 1, 2022. The 2.2-mile parade route will start from Springwells Street and will travel east along W. Vernor ending at W. Grand Boulevard. The parade will begin at noon. A cultural and musical fiesta is also planned at Bagley and 21st Streets from noon-7pm on Saturday, April 30th & Sunday, May 1st.
 
Combine your Cinco De Mayo celebration with a Fun Run for Mental Health Awareness by participating in the Cinco de Mile on Sunday, May 1, 2022. More information can be found here: https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/Detroit/DTLpresentsCincodeMile.
 
Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive Day – May 14
Many local letter carriers collect non-perishable foods on this day. Visit https://www.nalc.org/community-service/food-drive for more information or to see if your letter carrier is participating.
 
Memorial Day Weekend – May 28-30
A popular festival over Memorial Day weekend is back in person in 2022. The Movement electronic music festival is back in Hart Plaza this year. More information can be found at: https://www.movementfestival.com/.

Facts about May (courtesy of National Day Calendar and Wikipedia):
Mental Health Awareness Month – May 1 – 31, 2022

Mental Health Awareness Month was first celebrated in 1949. It was commemorated by the Mental Health America organization, which was then known as the National Committee for Mental Hygiene and then later as the National Mental Health Association before it got its current name. The association was founded by Clifford Whittingham Beers. Beers, who was born in 1876 in Connecticut, was one of five children in his family who all suffered from mental illness and psychological distress. All of them also went on to spend time at mental institutions and it was from his hospital admittance that he discovered that the mental health field had a notorious reputation for malpractice, maltreatment, and immense bias.
 
Since 1949, each year, a theme is selected to be highlighted and celebrated throughout May. The 2022 theme is “Back to Basics”, giving people a foundational knowledge about mental health and mental health conditions and information about what people can do if their mental health is a cause for concern
 
Foster Care Month – May 1 – 31, 2022

May is set aside as National Foster Care Month honoring the foster parents, families, and those who support children throughout their journey to find a permanent home.
 
A child’s welfare takes priority every day in the lives of caseworkers, guardians, counselors, advocates, and foster parents. Building meaningful relationships and foundations take time. Every year, National Foster Care Month recognizes the dedicated people who promote compassionate, stable homes for children.
 
These parents and professionals focus not only on the emotional and physical needs of the children but on their long-term educational goals and overall health. Each step along the way, they are aware of the obstacles each child may have already had to overcome in life. Everyone deserves to be surrounded by the love and support of a family and foster care specialists seek to find the safest environment for every child.
 
National Infertility Survival Day – May 1, 2022

Each year on Sunday before Mother’s Day, National Infertility Survival Day remembers those struggling with infertility.
 
This day was intentionally placed before Mother’s Day to finally put those coping with infertility first in the order of things. Many keep their struggle private. However, others choose to bring the issue out in the open and share it with family and friends. The day encourages individuals and couples coping with infertility to share, bond, band together, and celebrate the significant triumphs and small daily efforts.
 
Beverly Barna founded National Infertility Survival Day in 2004. She conceived the day as a way to give those struggling with infertility their own special day.
 
Things to say to those experiencing infertility:
 
1.   Let them know that you’re there for them
2.   Validate their pain
3.   Let them freely express sorrow
4.   Read about infertility so you’re informed when they need to talk
5.   Remember them on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day
6.   Attend difficult appointments with them
7.   Support their decision to stop infertility treatments        
8.   Ask what you can do to help
 
Things not to say:
 
1.   Don’t minimize their grief
2.   Don’ tell them you understand what they’re going through (you don’t)
3.   Don’t say they are just not “meant” to be parents
4.   Don’t push adoption or IVF
5.   Don’t ask whose “fault” it is (but don’t assume it’s the woman)
6.   Don’t imply they’re not trying hard enough (or trying too hard)
7.   Avoid anecdotes like about how your cousin got pregnant on an all-cumquat diet
8.   Don’t grumble about your own pregnancy complaints
 
Sources: https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-infertility-survival-day-sunday-before-mothers-day/; https://www.acaseforwomen.com/blog/national-infertility-survival-day/
Eid al-Fitr - May 1-2, 2022

Eid al-Fitr begins on the evening of Sunday, May 1, 2022 and ends in the evening of Monday, May 2, 2022. It is the “Feast of Breaking the Fast” celebrated by Muslims worldwide as it marks the end of the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadan. The holiday is known under various other names in different languages and countries. It is also known as Lesser Eid or simply Eid.
 
Eid al-Fitr has also gained the names of “Sugar Feast”, “Sweet Eid” and “Festival of Sweets” because of the sweet treats enjoyed on the holiday. The tradition of consuming sweets on Eid al-Fitr likely started from early Muslims in Medina, Saudi Arabia, using available cooking ingredients such as dates and honey for their festivities. The sugar content of both foods are a great energy boost after a month of fasting. Some of the sweet treats that may be enjoyed on Eid al-Fitr include baklava, sweet samosas, kanafeh, stuffed dates, and butter cookies.
The Diversity & Inclusion Plan can be found on the Court’s website or clicking below.