As we get closer to the end of 2022, many companies are looking ahead to next year and beyond to ensure their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) initiatives are on track for 2023. One way to get started with this is by creating a DE&I calendar.
What is a DE&I Calendar?
A DE&I calendar is a tool that organizations use to plan and track DE&I initiatives throughout the year. By having all of your DE&I events and activities in one place, you can ensure that you're staying on track and making progress toward your goals.
How can you make your DE&I calendar more meaningful (and non-theater-y)?
It’s easy to churn out social media posts and email blasts announcing your allegiance to every holiday. Unfortunately, the root causes of a lack of diversity are often systemic and cultural — and therefore not a quick fix.
Here are a few things you should keep in mind while creating a more meaningful DE&I calendar in 2023:
1. Define your DE&I Goals
The first step in creating a DE&I calendar is to define your goals that align with your team’s values. What does your organization hope to achieve with its DE&I initiatives? Who (and what events) are you trying to include with this exercise?
Some examples of DE&I goals include:
Increasing racial diversity in the workplace
Improving gender equity
Supporting employees with disabilities
Creating an inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ employees
2. Pick Dates & Events That Align
Once you have defined your goals, it's time to start doing some research. What kind of events and activities would be best suited to your team? There are a lot of possibilities, so it's important to take some time to explore what's out there. See the master calendar below for inspiration.
3. Promote your Calendar Internally
Once you've created your calendar, it's time to publish and promote it! Make sure everyone in your organization knows about it and knows how they can access it. And don't forget to regularly email your team reminding them of what’s coming up in a particular month.
Diversity Calendar 2023 Dates & Events
Note: There are hundreds of events and holidays listed in this calendar, so we advise picking events and holidays that align with your team’s DE&I goals. That said, here's the master list you can choose from.
January
Month-long observances:
National Mentoring Month
Poverty in America Awareness Month
Slavery and Human Trafficking Awareness Month
Important DE&I calendar dates:
January 1 – New Year’s Day
January 4 – National Braille Day
January 6 – Coptic Orthodox Christmas
January 7 – Mahayana New Year (Buddhist)
January 15 – World Religion Day
January 16 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
January 22 — Chinese New Year (Year of the Rabbit)
January 24 – International Day of Education
January 26 – International Customs Day
January 27 – International Holocaust Remembrance Day
February
Month-long observances:
Black History Month
American Heart Month
Important DE&I calendar dates:
February 4 — Rosa Parks Day
February 8 — Safer Internet Day
February 11 – International Day of Women & Girls in Science
February 13 – International Epilepsy Day
February 14 – Valentine’s Day
February 15 – Nirvana Day (Buddhist)
February 15 – International Childhood Cancer Day
February 18 – Maha Shivarati (Hindu)
February 20 – World Day of Social Justice
February 20 – FamilyDay (Canada)
February 21 – Mardi Gras
February 22 – Ash Wednesday
March
Month-long observances:
Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
Ethnic Equality Month
Gender Equality Month
Greek-American Heritage Month
Irish-American Heritage Month
National Colon Cancer Awareness Month
National Kidney Month
National Multiple Sclerosis Awareness and Education Month
National Women’s History Month
Important DE&I calendar dates:
March 3 – Employee Appreciation Day
March 6 – Purim (Jewish)
March 8 – International Women’s Day
March 8 – Holi (Hindu)
March 14 – Pi π Day
March 15 – Equal Pay Day
March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day
March 21 – World Down Syndrome Day
March 21 – Naw-Ruz (Baha’I New Year)
March 23 – Ramadan begins (Islam)
March 23 – International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
March 31 – International Transgender Day of Visibility
April
Month-long observances:
Arab-American Heritage Month
Autism Awareness Month
Celebrate Diversity Month
Earth Month
National Child Abuse Prevention Month
National Volunteer Month
Important DE&I calendar dates:
April 2 – World Autism Awareness Day
April 2 – Palm Sunday (Christian)
April 5 – Passover begins (Jewish)
April 7 – Good Friday (Christian)
April 14 – National Day of Silence (LGBTQ+)
April 9/10 – Easter (Christian)
April 13 – Passover ends
April 17 – Laylat al-Qadr (Muslim)
April 18 – Yom Hashoah (Jewish)
April 20 – Start of Ridvan (Baha’i)
April 21 – Eid-al-Fitr/End of Ramadan (Muslim)
April 22 – Earth Day
May
Month-long observances:
ALS Awareness Month
Haitian Heritage Month
Indian Heritage Month
Jewish-American Heritage Month
Mental Health Month
National Asian American and South Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Older Americans Month
South Asian American Heritage Month
Important DE&I calendar dates:
May 5 – Cinco de Mayo
May 17 – International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia
May 21 – World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
May 22 – Victoria Day (Canada)
May 23 – Declaration of the Bab (Baha’i)
May 29 – Ascension of Baha’u’llah (Baha’i)
May 29 – Memorial Day
June
Month-long observances:
Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month
Black Music Month
National Caribbean American Heritage Month
Important DE&I calendar dates:
June 5 – World Environment Day
June 11 — Race Unity Day
June 12 – Loving Day
June 19 – Juneteenth
June 20 – World Refugee Day
June 21 – National Indigenous Peoples Day (Canada)
June 21 – Litha, Summer Solstice (Pagan)
June 24 St-Jean-Baptiste Day (Quebec)
June 28– Eid al-Adha (Muslim)
June Pride Day (LGBTQ+) (varies by city and country)
July
Month-long observances:
French-American Heritage Month
Important DE&I calendar dates:
July 1 – Canada Day (Canada)
July 4 – Independence Day (USA)
July 9 – Martyrdom of the Bab (Baha’i)
July 11 – World Populace Day
July 14 – Bastille Day
July 18 – International Nelson Mandela Day
July 19 – Muharram Islamic New Year
July 24 – Pioneer Day (Mormon)
July 26 – National Disability Independence Day (commemorates the signing of the Americans With Disabilities Act)
July 30 – International Day of Friendship
August
Month-long observances:
National Civility Month
Important DE&I calendar dates:
August 7 – Purple Heart Day
August 9 – International Day of the World’s Indigenous People
August 13 – Left-Handers Day
August 17 – Marcus Garvey Day (Jamaican)
September 6-7 – Krishna Janmashtami (Hindu)
August 19 – World Humanitarian Day
August 21 – Senior Citizens Day
August 22 – American Business Women’s Day
August 26 – Women’s Equality Day
September
Month-long observances:
Hispanic Heritage Month
National Guide Dog Month
Suicide Prevention Month
Important DE&I calendar dates:
September 4 – Labor Day
September 5 – International Day of Charity
September 11 – Patriot Day (U.S.A.)
September 15 – International Day of Democracy
September 15 – Rosh Hashanah begins (Jewish)
September 16 – Mexican Independence Day
September 21 – International Day of Peace
September 21 – World Gratitude Day
September 22 – National Native American Day
September 24 – Yom Kippur (Jewish)
September 29 – Sukkot (Jewish)
September 30 – National Day for Truth & Reconciliation (Canada)
October
Month-long observances:
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Bullying Prevention Month
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Filipino-American Heritage Month
German-American Heritage Month
Italian-American Heritage Month
LGBTQ History Month
National Work and Family Month
Polish-American Heritage Month
Family History Month
Important DE&I calendar dates:
October 2 – International Day of Nonviolence
October 9 – National Indigenous Peoples’ Day (United States)
October 10 – Thanksgiving Day (Canada)
October 10 – World Mental Health Day
October 11 – National Coming Out Day (LGBTQ+)
October 12 – World Sight Day
October 15 – Navrati begins (Hindu)
October 16 – Birth of the Bab (Baha’i)
October 16 – Waste Reduction Week
October 19 – Spirit Day (LGBTQ+ anti-bullying)
October 20 – Sikh Holy Day (birth of Guru Granth)
October 22 – International Stuttering Awareness Day
October 25 – Birth of Baha’u’llah (Baha’i)
October 31 – Halloween
October 31 – Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
November
Month-long observances:
Diabetes Awareness Month
Movember (awareness of men’s health issues, such as prostate cancer)
National Native American, American Heritage Month
Important DE&I calendar dates:
November 1 – All Saints’ Day (Roman Catholic)
November 1 – National Stress Awareness Day
November 9 – Diwali (Hindu)
November 9 – World Freedom Day
November 9 – World Adoption Day
November 11 – Remembrance/Veterans Day
November 13 – World Kindness Day
November 16 – International Day for Tolerance
November 19 – International Men’s Day
November 20 – Transgender Day of Remembrance
November 20 – Universal Children’s Day (Human Rights, U.N.)
November 23 – Thanksgiving
November 25 – Day of the Covenant (Baha’i)
November 27 – Ascension of Abdu’l-Baha (Baha’i)
December
Month-long observances:
HIV/AIDS Awareness Month
Universal Human Rights Month
Important DE&I calendar dates:
December 1 – World AIDS Day
December 3 – International Day for People with Disabilities
December 5 – International Volunteer Day
December 7 – Hanukkah begins at sunset (Jewish)
December 9 – International Genocide Prevention Day
December 10 – International Human Rights Day
December 8 – Hanukkah begins at sunset (Jewish)
December 21 – Yule Winter Solstice (Pagan)
December 25 – Christmas (Christian)
December 26 – Kwanzaa week (Celebration of African Customs & Cultures)
December 26 – Boxing Day
December 31 – New Year’s Eve
Action Item: Upload Leopard's DEI Calendar
While we recommend picking & choosing your areas of focus, it can also be good to at least know what dates exist. If you want to add the full list of events, we've attached a CSV below (and instructions for uploadinG)
Open Google Calendar. In the top right, click Settings. In the menu on the left, click Import & Export.
Grab the dates below and save them in a sheet as a CSV for uploading.
Events are typically imported into your primary calendar, so you may want to talk to HR / Leadership if there's a preferred work Calendar to upload to.
Date,Event/ Holiday/ Celebration January 1 ,New Year’s Day January 4 ,National Braille Day January 6 ,Coptic Orthodox Christmas January 7 ,Mahayana New Year (Buddhist) January 15,World Religion Day January 16,"Martin Luther King, Jr. Day" January 22,Chinese New Year (Year of the Rabbit) January 24,International Day of Education January 26,International Customs Day January 27,International Holocaust Remembrance Day February 1 ,National Freedom Day February 4 ,Rosa Parks Day February 8 ,Safer Internet Day February 11,International Day of Women & Girls in Science February 13,International Epilepsy Day February 14,Valentine’s Day February 15,Nirvana Day (Buddhist) February 15,International Childhood Cancer Day February 18,Maha Shivarati (Hindu) February 20,World Day of Social Justice February 20,FamilyDay (Canada) February 21,Mardi Gras February 22,Ash Wednesday March 3 ,Employee Appreciation Day March 6 ,Purim (Jewish) March 8 ,International Women’s Day March 8 ,Holi (Hindu) March 14,Pi π Day March 15,Equal Pay Day March 17,St. Patrick’s Day March 21,World Down Syndrome Day March 21,Naw-Ruz (Baha’I New Year) March 23,Ramadan begins (Islam) March 23,International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade March 31,International Transgender Day of Visibility April 2 ,World Autism Awareness Day April 2 ,Palm Sunday (Christian) April 5 ,Passover begins (Jewish) April 7 ,Good Friday (Christian) April 14,National Day of Silence (LGBTQ+) April 9/,Easter (Christian) April 13,Passover ends April 17,Laylat al-Qadr (Muslim) April 18,Yom Hashoah (Jewish) April 20,Start of Ridvan (Baha’i) April 21,Eid-al-Fitr/End of Ramadan (Muslim) April 22,Earth Day June 5 ,World Environment Day June 11,Race Unity Day June 12,Loving Day June 19,Juneteenth June 20,World Refugee Day June 21,National Indigenous Peoples Day (Canada) June 21,"Litha, Summer Solstice (Pagan)" June 24,St-Jean-Baptiste Day (Quebec) June 28,Eid al-Adha (Muslim) June Pride,(LGBTQ+) (varies by city and country) July 1 ,Canada Day (Canada) July 4 ,Independence Day (USA) July 9 ,Martyrdom of the Bab (Baha’i) July 11,World Populace Day July 14,Bastille Day July 18,International Nelson Mandela Day July 19,Muharram Islamic New Year July 24,Pioneer Day (Mormon) July 26,National Disability Independence Day (commemorates the signing of the Americans With Disabilities Act) July 30,International Day of Friendship August 7 ,Purple Heart Day August 9 ,International Day of the World’s Indigenous People August 13,Left-Handers Day August 17,Marcus Garvey Day (Jamaican) August 19,Krishna Janmashtami (Hindu) August 19,World Humanitarian Day August 21,Senior Citizens Day August 22,American Business Women’s Day August 26,Women’s Equality Day September 4 ,Labor Day September 5 ,International Day of Charity September 11,Patriot Day (U.S.A.) September 15,International Day of Democracy September 15,Rosh Hashanah begins (Jewish) September 16,Mexican Independence Day September 21,International Day of Peace September 21,World Gratitude Day September 22,National Native American Day September 24,Yom Kippur (Jewish) September 29,Sukkot (Jewish) September 30,National Day for Truth & Reconciliation (Canada) October 2 ,International Day of Nonviolence October 9 ,National Indigenous Peoples’ Day (United States) October 10,Thanksgiving Day (Canada) October 10,World Mental Health Day October 11,National Coming Out Day (LGBTQ+) October 12,World Sight Day October 15,Navrati begins (Hindu) October 16,Birth of the Bab (Baha’i) October 16,Waste Reduction Week October 19,Spirit Day (LGBTQ+ anti-bullying) October 20,Sikh Holy Day (birth of Guru Granth) October 22,International Stuttering Awareness Day October 25,Birth of Baha’u’llah (Baha’i) October 31,Halloween October 31,Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) November 1 ,All Saints’ Day (Roman Catholic) November 1 ,National Stress Awareness Day November 9 ,Diwali (Hindu) November 9 ,World Freedom Day November 9 ,World Adoption Day November 11,Remembrance/Veterans Day November 13,World Kindness Day November 16,International Day for Tolerance November 19,International Men’s Day November 20,Transgender Day of Remembrance November 20,"Universal Children’s Day (Human Rights, U.N.)" November 23,Thanksgiving November 25,Day of the Covenant (Baha’i) November 27,Ascension of Abdu’l-Baha (Baha’i) December 1 ,World AIDS Day December 3 ,International Day for People with Disabilities December 5 ,International Volunteer Day December 7 ,Hanukkah begins at sunset (Jewish) December 9 ,International Genocide Prevention Day December 10,International Human Rights Day December 8 ,Hanukkah begins at sunset (Jewish) December 21,Yule Winter Solstice (Pagan) December 25,Christmas (Christian) December 26,Kwanzaa week (Celebration of African Customs & Cultures) December 26,Boxing Day December 31,New Year’s Eve
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