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 2023

Month-long observances:

Military Appreciation Month

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

Jewish American Heritage Month

Week-long observances:

Week of May 8 – Teacher Appreciation

May 1 – May Day

May 1 – Law Day

May 2 – National Teacher Appreciation Day

May 4 – National Day of Prayer

May 5 – Cinco de Mayo

May 6 – National Nurses Day

May 9 – Lag BaOmer

May 12 – Military Spouse Appreciation Day

May 14 – Mother’s Day

May 18 – Ascension Day

May 20 – Armed Forces Day

May 25 – National Missing Children’s Day

May 26 – Shavuot

May 29 – Whit Monday

May 29 – Memorial Day

Source: https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/2023

NATIONAL TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK/DAY

In 1953, the former first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, pleaded with Congress and informed them that there needs to be a day when teachers are regularly recognized for their efforts. Though she received congressional support, the first National Teacher Day did not occur until March 7, 1980. While this was certainly a win for the world of education, the National Education Association knew that they could do more, so they extended this occasion to last for a week four years later.

Since 1984, Teacher Appreciation Week has occurred during the first full week of May each year, with National Teacher Day occurring on the Tuesday of that week. However, this year, Teacher Appreciation Week will be celebrated from May 8, 2023 - May 12, 2023, with National Teacher's Day occurring on May 2, 2023.

Here are a few ideas on how to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week:

• Set up a grab and go snack table
• Encourage other parents to celebrate
• Host a “Thank You” breakfast
• Take teacher out to lunch
• Create a video including parents, teachers, and administrators expressing their gratitude
• Give a heartfelt card from the students
• Purchase coffee for your teachers
• Give a gift card
• Fundraise for classroom supplies

Source: https://www.learninga-z.com/site/resources/breakroom-blog/celebrating-teacher-appreciation-week-2023

MILITARY APPRECIATION MONTH & MEMORIAL DAY

May, marked officially as Military Appreciation Month, is a special month for both those in and out of the military.

Not only do we pause on Memorial Day to remember the sacrifice and service of those who gave all, but the month also holds several other military anniversaries and events, including Military Spouse Appreciation Day and Armed Forces day.

Congress designated May as National Military Appreciation Month in 1999 to ensure the nation was given the chance to publicly show their appreciation for troops past and present.

We honor the service and sacrifice of members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marines, Space Force and National Guard as well as the contribution of their spouses.

Source: https://www.military.com/military-appreciation-month

Ways to Celebrate:

2023 Dearborn Memorial Day Parade Monday May 29^th at 9:30 a.m. – Michigan’s oldest Memorial Day Parade will return for its 97th year on Monday, May 29, 2023. Hosted by the City of Dearborn and the Dearborn Allied War Veterans Council, the parade honors veterans and those who lost their lives while serving their country.

As one of the largest Memorial Day parades in the United States, the event features over 80 regional officials, marching bands, and community groups and concludes with a Remembrance Ceremony in honor of the fallen.



The parade route will be moving westward on Michigan Ave, beginning at Nowlin St. and ending at S Brady St.

Click here for more information.



Gross Ile Memorial Day Run – The Grosse Ile Memorial Day Run will be held on Monday, May 29th in the morning at the High School. The run is hosted by the Island Road Runners and features a 5K, 8K, and 1 Mile Fun Run.

Click for here more information.

SHAVUOT

Shavuot—or the Feast of Weeks—is a Jewish holiday, celebrated between May 25–27 on the Gregorian calendar. The holiday has both an agricultural and biblical significance. Agriculturally, it marks the wheat harvest in Israel. Biblically, it commemorates the day God gave the nation of Israel the Torah on Mount Sinai.

The holiday also book-ends the Counting of the Omer, a ritualized counting of each of the 49 days between Passover and Shavuot. The tradition represents the anticipation around God’s gift of the Torah.

5 Traditions of Shavuot:

1. Shine a light. Women light candles on both evenings of the holiday to welcome the blessings and wisdom.
2. The reading of the Ten Commandments. Everyone goes to the synagogue to hear the recital of the Ten Commandments on day one of Shavuot.
3. The night watch. It is customary to stay up all night reading the Torah intently and with meaning.
4. Consuming dairy products. Milk is considered as ‘cleansing’ so menu items for Shavuot include cheese blintzes, casseroles, quiche, and more.
5. Decorating homes and synagogues. Flowers and sweet incense is used to bring a more colorful ‘spring-y’ feel to homes and other indoor places.

Source: https://nationaltoday.com/shavout/

MOTHER’S DAY

Mother's Day in the United States exists in its current form thanks to a Philadelphia woman named Anna Jarvis. Jarvis was the daughter of Ann Reeves Jarvis, a West Virginia woman known for creating the “Mothers’ Day Work Clubs," which provided a place for women to learn about childcare strategies. During the Civil War, these clubs became a force of reconciliation as wives of both confederate and union soldiers came together. 

In May of 1908, Anna Jarvis held a service at her late mother's church in West Virginia, meant to honor all mothers' sacrifices. It marked the first official celebration of "Mother's Day." In the years that followed, Jarvis helped to elevate the holiday to national attention through a letter-writing campaign that pushed other states to adopt the observance. By 1914, President Woodrow Wilson had designated it a national holiday. 

Source: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2023/02/13/when-is-mothers-day-2023/11067581002/

Ways to Celebrate:

Salute to Mother’s Day – Mix 92.3 presents “Salute to Mother’s Day” featuring Gladys Knight and Pattie LaBelle on Sunday, May 14^th at 6:00 p.m. at the Fox Theatre.

Click for here more information.

“Mommy Gras” Mother’s Day Brunch – Come and Celebrate Mother’s Day Mardi Gras style with live music, comedy, and poetry, along with games and giveaways. This event will be held on Sunday, May 14^th at 13871 Woodward Ave. in Highland Park at 1:00 p.m.

Click here for more information.