October is a Busy Month!

You may not know this, but October is:

• National Disability Employment Awareness Month:  Declared in 1988 to raise awareness of the employment needs and contributions of people with disabilities
• Persons with Disabilities History and Awareness Month (Texas):  Declared in 2011 to celebrate the achievements of those with disabilities, throughout history
• White Cane Safety Day is observed Tuesday, October 15:  Since 1964, this day celebrates the achievements of people who are blind and/or visually impaired

We'd also like to share with you the link below, where you may view and/or print the Fall 2013 Calendar of Events related to the support, education, partnership, and awareness of disabilities in the Austin area:

http://governor.state.tx.us/disabilities/committees/calendar/

You’ll find a wide variety of events, from Information to Parents, Caregivers and Professionals on Special Education and Services for Students with Disabilities through the ARC on 10/8, to the White Cane Day Celebration walk at The Capitol on 10/15, to Disability Mentoring Day at Goodwill on Norwood Park on 10/16.

To further celebrate and recognize these observations, October 17^th is AHRMA’s Annual Diversity and Inclusion Day and Event.

Our lunch speaker, Zach Anner, has cerebral palsy and will speak to our attendees about his life struggles resulting from his disability, and how he’s overcome obstacles and attained success through his powerful work ethic and sense of humor (just to name a few!).

A second disability-minded session happening on the 17th will be presented by employment lawyer and AHRMA D&I Committee volunteer Wilson Stoker. He will speak to the current EEOC and DOL disability directives and how they impact HR professionals, as well as a session

Registration for October 17th is open now – for members, all day is just $85 – we’ll see you there!
www.austinhumanresource.org

June is LGBT Pride Month!

Submitted by AHRMA Diversity and Inclusion Committee

Just days ago, President Barack Obama once again officially recognized the month of June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month in the United States. This is only the 5th time a Pride Month has been officially declared by a President: the first came from President Bill Clinton (declared June of 2000 “Gay and Lesbian Pride Month”). The next declaration didn’t come until 2009, when President Obama proclaimed June to be LGBT Pride Month; President Obama went on to officially recognize June as LGBT Pride Month for each consecutive year since: 2010, 2011, 2012, and now 2013.

LGBT Pride Month is currently celebrated each year in the month of June. LGBT Pride Month was established to recognize the impact that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals have on the world. The month of June was chosen in commemoration of the Stonewall riots (June 28, 1969 at the Stonewall Inn, Greenwich Village NYC: a series of violent riots put on by members of the LGBT community in response to a police raid of the Inn. Openly gay and lesbian people were not often welcome in many establishments in the 1950s and 1960s, and random police raids aimed at gay and lesbian patrons were common. The raid at Stonewall Inn drew a crowd who had had enough of the discrimination based on their sexual orientation, and a riot ensued).

Gay, lesbian, and bisexual groups celebrate this special month with pride parades, picnics, parties, group gatherings, workshops, symposia and concerts, and LGBT Pride Month events attract millions of participants around the world. Memorials are also held during this month for those members of the community who have been lost to hate crimes or HIV/AIDS. The last Sunday in June is Gay Pride Day.On May 31, 2011, President Obama stated in his proclamation: “I call upon all Americans to observe this month by fighting prejudice and discrimination in their own lives and everywhere it exists.” 

How will you observe and celebrate LGBT Pride Month?


Resources for additional information: 

PFLAG Austin (PFLAG is Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays): a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that was established in 1994, this is a local chapter of the National PFLAG organization supporting Central Texas. In addition to monthly meetings, the group participates in several events throughout the year to help drive awareness and community focus.  Their primary focuses include: Support for the families, friends, and individuals; Education on various resources to help inform their members and/or visitors. Resources include a book & video library, guest speakers, and booklets on specific topics; and Advocacy for equality, striving to make Central Texas a better place, with an offer for scholarship programs to help with financial aid for qualified LGBTQ students trying to further their education. 


Austin Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce: AGLCC, Central Texas' home for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) supportive businesses and organizations.  According to their website: The Chamber is the best resource for places to shop, things to do, arts and entertainment, organizations to support, and all manner of gay-friendly businesses.

May is Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebrates the culture, traditions, and history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the U.S.

First observed in 1978 as a week-long celebration, the first week of May was chosen to commemorate two significant anniversaries: The arrival of the first Japanese immigrants on May 7, 1843, and the completion of the transcontinental railroad (which many Chinese laborers contributed to) on May 10, 1869. It was designated as a month-long celebration May 1992.

You can also read more on IWD here: http://asianpacificheritage.gov/index.html

*ACTION! How does your company celebrate the various national holidays, national ____month, and other celebrations throughout the year? We want to know! Please share with us how your company celebrates (no minimum or maximum length, just your own words), at vpdiversity@austinhumanresource.org. Send pictures, links, videos, a written summary - anything you'd like to share.We look forward to hearing from you, and we are excited for what the year will bring!Your AHRMA Diversity and Inclusion Committee

-submitted by AHRMA Diversity & Inclusion committee member, Jami Mozaffari

International Women's Day - Today, March 8th

AHRMA's Diversity and Inclusion Committee is in the midst of planning and implementing our initiatives for 2013. One of our ideas is to survey AHRMA's membership to discover how their companies celebrate the various national holidays, national ____month, and other celebrations occurring each month of the year.*

To kick off this initiative, Monica Verma (AHRMA's CoVP of Diversity and Inclusion) has submitted the following excerpt from her company, Sodexo, as they celebrate International Women's Day!

First celebrated in 1911, International Women's Day (IWD) is a global day honoring the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. In honor of IWD, Sodexo is launching a new website dedicated to profiling women’s perspectives on Quality of Life.  Please visit www.womensinsight.sodexo.com to discover the insights of Sodexo employees, partners and clients from around the world on Quality of Life.

  You can also read more on IWD here: http://www.internationalwomensday.com/


*How does your company celebrate the various national holidays, national ____month, and other celebrations throughout the year? We want to know! Please share with us how your company celebrates (no minimum or maximum length, just your own words), at vpdiversity@austinhumanresource.org. Send pictures, links, videos, a written summary - anything goes.

We look forward to hearing from you, and we are excited for what the year will bring!

Your AHRMA Diversity and Inclusion Committee