A Diversity Message from Neil Meltzer - March 2022

At LifeBridge Health, we embrace diversity, and these monthly messages are meant to recognize and celebrate the richness of our team members' cultures and that of our country. We celebrate both what makes us diverse and unique, and what makes us the same - our shared purpose of caring for our communities together.

March is National Women's History Month, a month dedicated to recognizing the achievements and contributions of women to the country in the areas of politics, science, the arts, entertainment and more. The month-long celebration first began as a week-long event in 1978 when the Sonoma school district in California held Women's History Week to raise awareness of women's important role in shaping America. Women's History Month was officially declared in 1987, thanks to the lobbying efforts of the National Women's History Project and the month of March was chosen to coincide with International Women's Day on March 8.

March 2 is Ash Wednesday. Observed by followers of various sectors of the Christian faith including Catholics, Anglicans and Methodists, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a six-week period of penitence before Easter. On this day, many Christians will attend religious services and receive ashes on their foreheads. During the Lenten season, some will also commit to a 40-day period of fasting, repentance and abstinence of luxuries to replicate the 40 days Jesus Christ spent fasting in the desert.

The Jewish holiday Purim begins the evening of March 16 and ends at sunset on March 17. The holiday commemorates the time when Jewish people living in ancient Persia were saved from extermination due to the courage of a beautiful Jewish woman named Esther. According to the story, Haman, a high-ranking adviser to the king, plotted to kill all Jews in ancient Persia when Mordecai, a Jewish leader, defied the king's order and refused to bow to him. To save the Jews, Mordecai persuaded his cousin Esther to tell the king about the evil plan. Esther was reluctant at first because she had initially disguised her Jewish identity from the king and eventually became queen. However, despite the dangerous consequences for herself, she told the king and successfully persuaded him to have Haman hanged. To commemorate this holiday, the Jewish community will hold feasts, participate in carnivals and donate food or gifts to charity to help those in need.

The Hindu holiday Holi, or Festival of Colors, takes place from March 17 through March 18. The festival celebrates fertility, color, love and the triumph of good over evil. It also celebrates the end of winter and the arrival of spring. The holiday begins with Holika Dahan (on March 17) when, traditionally, people will sing and dance in front of a large bonfire that is lit to burn out evil spirits. Then the next day, on Rangwali Holi (March 18), a boisterous celebration takes place where people will throw handfuls of colored powders at one another while getting drenched in water. 

Many will don green on March 17 in recognition of St. Patrick's Day. The day commemorates the death of St. Patrick, a patron saint of Ireland, and is a global celebration of the Irish culture. St. Patrick's Day also coincides with March being Irish American Heritage Month in America. Throughout the day, you may see many wearing green attire, shamrocks and green accessories of all kinds. Other traditions typically include attending church service, watching parades and enjoying feasts of Irish fare. 
March 20 is the Pagan holiday of Ostara in recognition of the spring equinox when the amount of daylight and night are nearly equal. Ostara is one of the four lesser Wiccan holidays and is recognized as a season of balance and renewal.

Followers of the Baháʼí Faith will celebrate the Festival of Naw-Ruz on March 20. The festival takes place after a month of fasting, which offers both a physical and spiritual preparation for spring and renewal. Naw-Ruz starts the Baha'i year on the first day of spring.


March 31 is International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV), a global celebration of the achievements of transgender people and a day to raise awareness of the violence and discrimination they have and continue to face. While progress has been made in accepting transgender people, much work still needs to be done. At LifeBridge Health, the LGBTQ Employee Resource Group is planning events to recognize the day. Keep your eyes out for more information in Alluser emails. 

Thank you for the commitment you make every day to CARE BRAVELY and live our LifeBridge Health values.