A Diversity Message From Neil Meltzer - October 2017

At LifeBridge Health we celebrate both what makes us diverse and unique, and what makes us the same - our shared purpose of caring for the community together. This month, we highlight another group of diverse celebrations, events and remembrances.

This year, the Jewish festival of Sukkot takes place from Oct. 4-11. Sukkot (the Feast of Booths or Tabernacles) is one of the three biblically based pilgrimage festivals, collectively known as the shalosh regalim. Sukkot is an agricultural festival, originally considered as a thanksgiving for the fall harvest, and is celebrated by building a sukkah, a temporary hut or booth, where many Jews eat their meals during the eight-day holiday.
October is recognized as National Italian American Heritage Month. Millions of people have emigrated from Italy to the United States, making Italian Americans one of the largest ethnic groups in the country, and Italian Americans have become leaders across all industries, including the arts, sciences, politics and business. This month offers an opportunity to celebrate Italian American achievements and to learn more about their history and culture.

National Coming Out Day is a chance to honor our friends and loved ones who publically identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer (LGBTQ). On Oct. 11, members of the LGBTQ community and their advocates will come together around the world to raise awareness of LGBTQ issues.

Spirit Day falls on Oct. 19, and we're asking LifeBridge Health employees to join the Diversity Council and "go purple" on this day. Spirit Day is an opportunity for us to speak up for our LGBTQ family members and friends and to stand with LGBTQ youth, who disproportionately face bullying and harassment because of their identities. Pledging to wear purple is a way for all of us to visibly show solidarity with LGBTQ youth and to take part in the largest anti-bullying campaign in the world.

United Nations Day (Oct. 24) commemorates the work that the United Nations (U.N.) has done to further the causes of justice and equality around the world. Every year on this day, we mark the ratification of the U.N.'s founding document, written in 1945. Each of us has the power to take the U.N.'s message to heart and to create a more peaceful, compassionate world by treating everyone with dignity and respect.

Diversity Survey at LifeBridge Health: At LifeBridge Health from Oct. 11 - 18, we will be conducting an anonymous survey about diversity. In the survey, employees and providers will be asked to share their comments about LifeBridge Health programs and practices. The survey will be used to help leadership identify our strengths, best practices, and opportunities for improvement around diversity and inclusion.

I appreciate you taking the time to fill out this survey. Look for more information in AllUser emails starting Oct. 11.

At LifeBridge Health we celebrate both what makes us diverse and unique, and what makes us the same - our shared purpose of caring for the community together.