Email from Third Judicial Circuit of Michigan

Celebrating Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

The Third Circuit Court Diversity Equity, and Inclusion Team’s Mission is: "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, Equity, and 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. As we enter the month of October, we celebrate the diversity of our staff and our community as the days get shorter and colder.

Check out some of the unique days and weeks of celebration in November below.

It's time for us to be thankful...

Native American Heritage Month

In 1990 President George H. W. Bush approved a joint resolution designating November 1990 “National American Indian Heritage Month.” Similar proclamations, under variants on the name (including “Native American Heritage Month” and “National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month”) have been issued each year since 1994. (Courtesy of https://nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov/about/).

The month is a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native people. Heritage Month is also an opportune time to educate the general public about tribes, to raise a general awareness about the unique challenges Native people have faced both historically and in the present, and the ways in which tribal citizens have worked to conquer these challenges (Facts courtesy of http://www.ncai.org/initiatives/native-american-heritage-month).

Sources: www.ncai.org/initiatives/native-american-heritage-month and www.nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov/about/

Military Family Month

The Armed Services YMCA along with the U.S. Government established Military Family Month in 1996 by expanding Military Family Week. Each year, the President declares the month through a signed proclamation.

Military Family Month dedicates November to military families around the world. The observance recognizes the commitment and dedication these families make to their service members. Their sacrifices make it possible for our military to remain organized and strong.

While their service men and women are actively serving, deployed or training, their families provide a vital foundation at home that allows confidence in the field. Spouses and children are often separated from their service member for long periods of time and over great distances. Communication can be patchy and under stressful conditions. And they frequently move, uprooting children and jobs. But, military families are adaptable.

During November, the country honors the military families who make the U.S. Armed Forces strong.

How to Observe this month and Veterans Day on November 11

Thank a veteran, active duty, reserve or national guard service member or family member for their service by giving back. Ask your military families how you can support them. Many will not ask when they need it. In many cases, through deployments or other circumstances, military families will band together. But even then that may not be enough. Adopt a military family for the holidays. Offer to run errands for military spouses who may have their hands full with their children or even their pets. Volunteer or donate services to military organizations.

Use #MilitaryFamilyMonth to post on social media.

Source: https://nationaldaycalendar.com/military-family-month-november/

Transgender Awareness Week - November 13-19

Each year between November 13 – 19, people and organizations around the country participate in Transgender Awareness Week to help raise the visibility of transgender people and address issues members of the community face.

The week before Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20, people and organizations around the country participate in Transgender Awareness Week to help raise the visibility of transgender people and address issues the community faces.

Transgender Awareness Week is a week when transgender people and their allies take action to bring attention to the community by educating the public about who transgender people are, sharing stories and experiences, and advancing advocacy around the issues of prejudice, discrimination, and violence that affect the transgender community.

Transgender Day of Remembrance is an annual observance on November 20 that honors the memory of the transgender people whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence that year. Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) was founded by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith as a vigil to honor her memory of Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was killed in 1998. The vigil commemorated all the transgender people lost to violence that year and began an important memorial that has become the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance.

Source: www.glaad.org/transweek