Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September. The UN General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire. The International Day of Peace calls for a more equitable and peaceful world and to celebrate peace by standing up against acts of hate online and offline, and by spreading compassion, kindness, and hope.
National Good Neighbor Day on September 28th creates an opportunity for neighbors to get to know each other better. This day acknowledges and celebrates the importance of a good neighbor.
It is a blessing to have a good neighbor, but it is even a greater thing to BE a good neighbor. Good neighbors often become friends. They watch out for each other, lend a helping hand, and are there for advice when asked. Neighbors offer that cup of sugar when we are short, collect our mail when we are on vacation, watch our homes, and sometimes watch our children and our pets. Simply put, being a good neighbor makes good neighbors and develops lifelong friendships.
LGBT History Month is a month-long annual observance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history, and the history of the gay rights and related civil rights movements. LGBT History Month provides role models, builds community, and makes the civil rights statement about the LGBT Communities’ extraordinary national and international contributions. Currently, LGBT History Month is a month-long celebration that is specific to the United States, and the United Kingdom. In the United States, it is celebrated in October to coincide with National Coming Out Day on October 11. In the United Kingdom, it is observed during February, to coincide with a major celebration of the 2003 abolition of Section 28. In Berlin, it is known as Queer History Month. Other LGBT-progressive countries, however, celebrate LGBT History with much shorter events.
In 1994, Rodney Wilson, a Missouri high school teacher, believed a month should be dedicated to the celebration and teaching of gay and lesbian history, and gathered other teachers and community leaders. They selected October because public schools are in session and existing traditions, such as Coming Out Day (October 11), occur that month.
Gay and Lesbian History Month was endorsed by GLAAD, the Human Rights Campaign, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the National Education Association, and other national organizations. In 2006, Equality Forum assumed responsibility for providing content, promotion and resources for LGBT History Month.
The International Day of Non-Violence is marked on 2 October, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence.
According to General Assembly resolution A/RES/61/271 of 15 June 2007, which established the commemoration, the International Day is an occasion to “disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness”. The resolution reaffirms “the universal relevance of the principle of non-violence” and the desire “to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence”.
“There are many causes that I am prepared to die for but no causes that I am prepared to kill for.” – Mahatma Gandhi
Learn more about the day on the UN Website.
The United Nations designated the first Monday of October of every year as World Habitat Day to reflect on the state of our towns and cities, and on the basic right of all to adequate shelter. The Day is also intended to remind the world that we all have the power and the responsibility to shape the future of our cities and towns.
Every 40 seconds, someone loses their life to suicide.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Oct 10 to be World Mental Heath Day. World Mental Health Day celebrates awareness for the global community in an empathetic way, with a unifying voice, helping those feel hopeful by empowering them to take action and to create lasting change.
On October 11, 1985 Odeh was killed by a bomb as he opened the door of his office on East 17th Street Santa Ana, California. To this date, the murder remains unsolved. The FBI has attributed it to a terrorist act and is still seeking suspects in its ongoing investigation. The FBI has offered a $1 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Odeh’s killers.
Alex Odeh was born on April 4, 1944 in Jifna, the West Bank, but migrated to the United States in 1972. An ardent antidiscrimination activist within the city of Santa Ana, Odeh eventually was named the Western Regional Director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.
Since 2012, 11 October has been marked as the International Day of the Girl. The day aims to highlight and address the needs and challenges girls face, while promoting girls’ empowerment and the fulfillment of their human rights.
“Investing in girls is a moral imperative – a matter of basic justice and equality.” – Ban Ki-moon, former UN Secretary-General
National Coming Out Day is a celebration of coming out as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) or as an ally. In 1988, October 11, the anniversary of the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, National Coming Out Day was first observed as a reminder that one of our most basic tools is the power of coming out. One out of every two Americans has someone close to them who is gay or lesbian. For transgender people, that number is only one in 10.
Learn more about National Coming Out Day
An international celebration of conflict resolution – held annually the third Thursday in October. Conflict Resolution Day was conceived in 2005 by Association for Conflict Resolution to:
• Promote awareness of mediation, arbitration, conciliation and other creative, peaceful means of resolving conflict;
• Promote the use of conflict resolution in schools, families, businesses, communities, governments and the legal system;
• Recognize the significant contributions of (peaceful) conflict resolvers; and
• Obtain national synergy by having celebrations happen across the country and around the world on the same day.
OCHR Basic Mediation Training
TRAINING SESSION INFORMATION:
OC Human Relations offers a very ‘hands on’ mediation training, with interactive activities and live mediation coaching throughout.
This training will be offered completely online. It consists of 6 training sessions held online on Zoom, and a total of ~8 hours of assigned independent work for a total of 32 hours.
Please see our webpage for more details and to register.
November is Native American Heritage Month, or as it is commonly refered to, American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month.
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.
Learn more at: https://nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov/
