THIRD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COURT
THE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION CALENDAR
 
The Third Circuit Court Diversity and Inclusion Team's Mission: 
"We recognize our common background and respect our unique human experiences. We move forward as an inclusive organization, community and society."
 
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.
   

MARCH 2019
 
Employee Appreciation Day    March 1
World Day of Prayer                 March 1
Fat Tuesday                                March 5
Ash Wednesday                        March 6
International Women's Day      March 8
Plant a Flower Day                    March 12
Nat'l Potato Chip Day               March 14
Freedom of Information Day    March 16
St Patrick's Day                        March 17
Int'l Earth Day                            March 20
Fun facts about March (courtesy of Wikipedia):

Women's History Month - March 1 - 31, 2019

Women's History Month is a month-long celebration of women's contributions to society and history that is observed during the month of March in Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and is observed during the month of October in Canada. In the U.S., it's been officially celebrated since March of 1987.
 
There are several ways to celebrate Women's History Month. For instance, you can buy a book of stamps that commemorates notable women and perhaps use them to write to an old friend. You can also donate some money to your public library and instruct them to buy a book on women's history, or even donate a book on women's history yourself. You can also give your son or daughter the biography of a famous historical woman such as Gertrude Stein, Jane Addams, Susan B. Anthony, Clara Barton or Ella Baker.

National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month - 
March 1 - 31, 2019

National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month has been observed the month of March since 1987.
 
Founder: President Ronald Reagan on February 26, 1987.
 
Hastags: #NationalDevelopmentalDisabilitiesAwarenessMonth and
               #DevelopmentalDisabilitiesAwarenessMonth
 

Irish American Heritage Month

Irish American Heritage Month is celebrated by proclamation of the President and Congress in the US to honor the achievements and contributions of Irish immigrants and their descendants living in the United States. It was first celebrated in 1991.   The heritage month is in March to coincide with St. Patrick's Day. St. Patrick's Day is a Roman Catholic religious holiday that honors the saint, who introduced Christianity to Ireland in the early fifth century. It has developed in the US as a celebration of all things Irish. Each year in March the Irish Prime Minister visits the US for St Patrick's Day. A Shamrock Ceremony takes place in the morning at the White House where a crystal bowl containing shamrock is presented to the President in the Oval Office. This is followed by a Friends of Ireland luncheon hosted by the Host Speaker. In the evening, a St. Patrick's Day Reception takes place at the White House.

Deaf History Month - March 13 - April 15, 2019

Deaf History Month occurs annually. This period of time, observed nationwide every year from March 13 through April 15, celebrates deaf history and, in particular, contributions made by the deaf community and the hearing impaired to American culture and society. Deaf History Month appears to have had its genesis March 13, 1996, when two deaf employees at Washington, D.C.'s Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library taught sign language to their colleagues. This occurrence evolved into a week of deaf awareness created by the library. Quickly, deaf awareness week evolved into a month-long period dedicated to promoting a greater understanding of the deaf community, this period quickly evolved to last a month. 

In 1996, the National Association of the Deaf suggested the week become a full-fledged month, and in 1997, the first annual, nation-wide National Deaf History Month was celebrated from March 13 to April 15. The popularity of Deaf History Month grew over time, and there is currently an effort under way by the American Library Association and the National Association of the Deaf to get the White House to declare it an official national event.

Deaf History Month, by design, spans three key events impacting the deaf community that occurred in American history:
-  March 13, 1988 - Deaf President Now movement succeeds. King Jordan becomes President of Gallaudet University.
-  April 8 - Gallaudet University founded. President Lincoln signed the charter in 1864 establishing a college for the deaf. This event is known as Gallaudet Charter Day and is usually marked with a luncheon and awards program at Gallaudet University.
-  April 15 - American School for the Deaf, the first public school for the deaf opened in 1817.