UNCLASSIFIED ROUTINE R 161946Z MAR 18 FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC TO ALNAV INFO SECNAV WASHINGTON DC CNO WASHINGTON DC CMC WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS ALNAV 019/18 MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/-/MAR// SUBJ/REVISED 2018 DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION HERITAGE CELEBRATIONS AND NATIONAL OBSERVANCES// RMKS/1/. This ALNAV announces the Diversity and Inclusion Heritage Celebrations and National Observances for Calendar Year 2018. 2. All commands are strongly encouraged to increase their knowledge and awareness of Diversity and Inclusion Heritage Celebrations and Special Observances by supporting programs, exhibits, publications, and participation in community military and civilian sponsored events throughout the year. 3. List of Diversity and Inclusion Heritage Celebrations and National Observances: a. National African American/Black History Month Dates: 1-28 February 2018 National African American History Month, also known as Black History Month, is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans in their struggles for freedom and a time for recognizing the central role they have played in the history of the United States. Since 1976, every U.S. President has officially designated the month of February as National African American History/Black History Month. This month had its origins in 1915 when historian and author Dr. Carter G. Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. This organization is now known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. Through this organization Dr. Woodson initiated the first Negro History Week in February 1926. b. Womens History Month Dates: 1-31 March 2018 Women's History Month originated in 1978, when the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women initiated a women's history week to coincide with international women's day on 8 March. In 1981, in response to growing support for the week, Congress passed a joint resolution proclaiming a women's history week. The National Women's History Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring and preserving women's history, petitioned Congress in 1987 to expand the celebration to the entire month of March. Since then, National Women's History Month has commemorated the diverse contributions women have made, and continue to make, to our Nation. c. Sexual Assault Awareness And Prevention Month Dates: 1-30 April 2018 In the late 1980s, the National Coalition Against Sexual Assault informally polled state sexual assault coalitions to determine the preferred date for a National Sexual Assault Awareness Week. A week in April was selected. By the late 1990s, many advocates began coordinating activities and events throughout the month of April, advancing the idea of a nationally recognized month for sexual violence awareness and prevention activities. Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month was first observed nationally in April 2001. In 2009, April was proclaimed as Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. This month should be used to underscore the Department of the Navys (DON) commitment to reinforce the importance of prevention and intervention, responding to and providing compassionate support to victims, and overall, creating an environment of true dignity and respect for all our Sailors and Marines. Additional information can be found at http://www.sapr.mil/. d. Child Abuse Prevention Month/Month Of The Military Child Dates: 130 April 2018 In the early 1980s, U.S. Congress recognized the need for innovative programs to prevent child abuse and neglect and to assist parents and families affected by maltreatment. In 1983, Congress proclaimed April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month (CAPM) and designated it as a time for our Nation to remember child fatality victims and survivors of abuse and neglect. Since April is the optimal time to reflect on the well-being of children, we are able to further heighten awareness around child safety by celebrating the Month of the Military Child. The celebration reinforces the commitment that all children deserve to be safe, nurtured, and cherished. Each year the Family Advocacy Program develops an enterprise-wide CAPM Campaign that serves as a prevention strategy that: (1) Reminds Sailors, Marines, and families that child abuse and neglect negatively impacts the Fleets mission and our warfighting capability. (2) Reminds the military community that all adults play a significant role in child abuse and neglect prevention. (3) Creates awareness that child abuse and child neglect is a public health and a family issue. (4) Reinforces the Navy and Marine Corps commitment to prevent and eliminate child abuse and neglect from the DON and our joint base communities. https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/preventing/preventionmonth. e. Days of Remembrance/Holocaust Remembrance Day Dates: To Be Announced The Holocaust was the state-sponsored systematic annihilation of European Jews by Nazi Germany and its collaborators. Between 1933 and 1945,more than six million Jews were murdered while Poles, Soviet Prisoners of War, gypsies, Jehovah's Witnesses, political dissidents, the physically and mentally disabled, and homosexuals also suffered grievous persecution under Nazi tyranny. Established by Congress in 1980 as the Nation's annual commemoration of the Holocaust, the Days of Remembrance includes the observance of "Yom Hashoah," or Holocaust Remembrance Day. f. Asian American And Pacific Islander Heritage Month Dates: 1-31 May 2018 Directed by Congress in 1977 and established by Presidential proclamation in 1978, Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week was first observed the week of 4 May 1979. In 1990, President George H. W. Bush expanded the observance to encompass the month of May; and in 1992, Congress passed a law permanently designating May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month. The month of May is significant for this observance as it commemorates the arrival date of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States on 7 May 1843 and the significant contributions from Chinese pioneers completing the first Transcontinental Railroad on 10 May 1869. g. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month Dates: 1-30 June 2018 LGBT Pride Month is currently celebrated each year in the month of June to honor the 1969 Stonewall riots in Manhattan. The Stonewall riots were a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the U.S. In the U.S., the last Sunday in June was initially celebrated as "Gay Pride Day", but the actual day was flexible. In major cities across the nation the "day" soon grew to encompass a month-long series of events. The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally. h. Women's Equality Day Date: 26 August 2018 Women's Equality Day commemorates the struggle of women to gain the right to vote. The movement for women's rights was launched on a national level in 1848, at what is now known as the Seneca Falls Convention, which originally advertised itself as a "Women's Rights Convention." Voting rights advocates Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott, along with Susan B. Anthony and other activists, also known as "suffragists," formed organizations that raised public awareness and lobbied the government to grant voting rights to women, making the right to vote a centerpiece of the women's rights movement. It would take 72 years after the suffrage movement began for these groups to emerge victorious with the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution on 18 August 1920, which prohibited any U.S. citizen from being denied the right to vote on the basis of sex. On Election Day that same year, more than eight million women across the Nation voted for the first time. In 1971, to honor and commemorate this historic event, Congresswoman Bella Abzug introduced, and Congress signed, a resolution to designate 26 August as Women's Equality Day recognizing the anniversary of suffrage and of women's continued efforts toward equal rights. i. Suicide Prevention Month Dates: 1-30 September 2018 (1) Since 1974, the American Association of Suicidology has recognized the week of September 10th as National Suicide Prevention Week. Since 2012, the Department of Defense (DoD) has expanded this effort to devote the entire month of September to promote sustainable community-wide approaches to suicide prevention education and awareness. (2) The Navy uses Suicide Prevention Month as a launch-pad for continuous engagement throughout the year, providing Sailors, leaders, commands, and families with the tools to effectively navigate through stressful times while supporting help-seeking behavior. Supporting resources and communications are available at www.suicide.navy.mil to support commanders and unit Suicide Prevention Coordinators to assist in tailoring local initiatives. (3) Since 2012, the Marine Corps Suicide Prevention Program (MCSPP) observes the DoDs Suicide Prevention Month in September. MCSPP is committed to continuous year-round Suicide Prevention efforts by providing a strategic plan to outline suicide prevention efforts across the Marine Corps. During Suicide Prevention Month, National Suicide Prevention Week, and World Suicide Prevention Awareness Day, MCSPP provides supporting resources to commands and their Suicide Prevention Program Officers. j. Hispanic Heritage Month Dates: 15 September15 October 2018 Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from 15 September to 15 October, by celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. 15 September was chosen as the starting point for the celebration because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on 16 and 18 September, respectively. The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period. It was enacted into law on 17 August 1988, by the approval of Public Law 100-402. k. National Prisoner Of War/Missing In Action (POW/MIA) Recognition Day Date: 18 September 2018 The President of the U.S. issues an annual proclamation commemorating this national day of observance. Americans are to offer remembrance, honor, and reverence to those who were a POW and to over 33,000 Sailors and 3,000 Marines who remain MIA from our Nation's wars. It is also a day we remember the families of POW/MIA and the sacrifices they have endured. For more information on National POW/MIA Recognition Day visit www.dtic.mil/dpmo. l. Domestic Violence Awareness Month Dates: 131 October 2018 (1) In 1989, U.S. Congress passed Public Law 101-112 designating October of that year as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). The observance not only gives us an opportunity to raise domestic violence awareness, but to inform Service Members and their families about domestic violence prevention efforts as well as reporting options for victims. (2) Commands are strongly encouraged to integrate short key leadership messages into their monthly training plans and participate in local DVAM events sponsored by the Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC). To facilitate the delivery of DVAM messaging and obtain event materials, including discussion scripts, leadership videos, event planning materials, and Plan of the Day/Plan of the Week notes, contact your local FFSC, Family Advocacy Manager. (3) The 2018 observance of DVAM will emphasize addressing domestic violence as a shared community responsibility to prevent, recognize, and report domestic violence. The observance will feature military and civilian resources available to support victims, plan for safety, and rehabilitate offenders. m. National Disability Employment Awareness Month Dates: 1-31 October 2018 Held each October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month is a national campaign that raises awareness about disability employment issues and celebrates the many and varied contributions of America's workers with disabilities. More information on National Disability Employment Awareness Month can be found on the Department of Labor website at https://www.dol.gov/odep/topics/ndeam/. n. National American Indian Heritage Month Dates: 1-30 November 2018 Native American Heritage Month first began with the establishment of American Indian Day in May 1916 by the Governor of New York. Later, several additional states enacted celebrations during the fourth Friday in September, but the celebration did not gain official national recognition until President George H. W. Bush approved a joint resolution designating November 1990 as "National American Indian Heritage Month." Similar proclamations under different names, including "Native American Heritage Month" and "National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month," have been issued each year since 1994. 4. DoD themes are promulgated by the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute (DEOMI). More information, guidance, and resources on Diversity and Inclusion Heritage Celebrations and National Observances can be found on the DEOMI website at http://deomi.org/human-relations/special- observances.cfm?tab=1. 5. Articles, presentations, and other supporting information can be found at the Naval History Command's website at http://www.history.navy.mil/. 6. Point of contact for the DON Director, Diversity and Inclusion is Ms. Victoria Bowens, (703) 571-9036, victoria.bowens@navy.mil. 7. Point of contact for Navy diversity observances is Lieutenant Commander Jay Culnen, (703) 604-5080, james.culnen@navy.mil. 8. Point of contact for Marine Corps diversity observances is Mr. Marc Sheppard, (703) 784-9371, marc.sheppard@usmc.mil. 9. Point of contact for Navy Suicide Prevention Month is Chief Eric J. Randolph, (901) 874-4227, eric.randolph@navy.mil. 10. Point of contact for Sexual Assault Prevention Month for the Navy is Lieutenant Linda Yen, (703) 604-5172, linda.yen@navy.mil. 11. Point of contact for Sexual Assault Prevention Month for the Marine Corps is Ms. Christine Heit, (703) 784-4941, christine.heit@usmc.mil. 12. Point of contact for National POW/MIA Recognition Day is Mr. Rudy Gonzales, (901) 874-2273, rudolph.gonzales2@navy.mil. 13. Point of contact for Child Abuse Prevention Month and Domestic Violence Awareness Month is Ms. Lolita Allen, (202) 433-4683, lolita.allen@navy.mil. 14. Released by the Honorable Richard V. Spencer, Secretary of the Navy. BT #0001 NNNN UNCLASSIFIED//