A Diversity Message From Neil Meltzer - July 2018
On July 4, we celebrate Independence Day when we commemorate the formal adoption of the Declaration of Independence, a document that contains the ideals of our nation, asserting that all men are created equal and are endowed with certain unalienable rights, among them life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
On Independence Day, Americans honor the great strides women and men across the nation have made to ensure these ideals are upheld and exemplified in our laws, polices, practices and behaviors. Many will do this through reflection; others will do it by watching or participating in parades, fireworks, barbecues, carnivals and family get-togethers. 
In the Philippines, July 4 is also celebrated, but as Philippine Republic Day, also known as Filipino-American Friendship Day. The date was originally called Independence Day to recognize when the United States granted the Philippines independence in 1946. (Prior to that, the Philippines was considered a U.S. territory). Since gaining independence, our countries have had a long-standing friendship, with Filipinos having supported the United States in many international foreign efforts.
Mandela Day or Nelson Mandela International Day takes place on July 18 in honor of Nelson Mandela, the late South African leader. (July 18, 2018 would have marked his 100th birthday.) The day is celebrated globally to promote peace and Mandela's legacy, which involved many significant achievements for equality and eventually led to apartheid being abolished in South Africa in the early 1990s and the establishment of the country's first democratic government in 1994. Mandela's message of peace and unity has resonated with many worldwide. On Mandela Day, everyone is encouraged to honor his values through volunteering and community service-giving back the way he did throughout his lifetime.
July 26 is a monumental day for the protection of rights for those with disabilities. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a landmark federal law that prohibits discrimination against people with a physical or mental impairment. It also required employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities and imposed requirements to make public accommodations accessible to the disabled as well. The goal of the law is to ensure that those with disabilities are afforded the same rights, privileges, access and opportunities that all Americans enjoy while also honoring their contributions to our nation.
At LifeBridge Health, we celebrate both what makes us diverse and unique, and what makes us the same - our shared purpose of caring for communities together.