A Diversity Message from Neil Meltzer, President and CEO, and Dr. Sybil Pentsil, Chief Diversity Officer - August 2023

Our J.E.D.I. office is dedicated to ensuring that all team members feel a sense of belonging and appreciation for the many unique cultures, communities and backgrounds represented by our team members and patients. Below, learn about some of August’s significant observances and how you can help make a difference here at LifeBridge Health.

Lughnasadh
August 1 is Lughnasadh, a harvest celebration of Gaelic origin and one of the eight sabbats in the Neopagan Wheel of the Year. Lughnasadh is an official holiday in Ireland, marked by various fairs and festivals, and is observed by modern Wiccans and Neopagans. We send our best wishes to all who celebrate for a joyful start to the harvest season. 

International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples
International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is observed annually on August 9 in honor of indigenous peoples across the globe. Indigenous peoples are those who are ancestrally native to the areas they inhabit. This day is a celebration of native cultures the world over with the aim of education and awareness. 

Qixi
The Qixi (Double Seven) Festival is celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh Chinese lunar month, falling this year on August 22. Also known as Chinese Valentine's Day, the holiday originates from a Chinese legend about a humble cowherder who fell in love with a fairy from heaven. As the story goes, the fairy’s mother was a goddess who separated the lovers with a river of stars, creating the Milky Way. However, the lovers were still able to use a bridge of magpies to meet once a year. Qixi is the romantic Chinese holiday and is still celebrated with exchanges of gifts, such as flowers or chocolate, between lovers.

Women’s Equality Day
In the United States, Women's Equality Day is observed on the anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment, which ensured women’s right to vote, being signed into law on August 26, 1920. Women's Equality Day serves to remind us of the hard-fought social advancements women in the United States have achieved, as well as the many remaining obstacles which much be addressed in working towards a more equitable society for people of all genders.

CALL TO ACTION:

REFLECT: Reflect on the significance of Women's Equality Day and the fight for gender equality. 

RECOGNIZE: Recognize contributions of indigenous people in American history. 

RESPOND: Be an ally! Take a stand against discrimination in your sphere of influence. 

J.E.D.I. Champion Nominations
The Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (J.E.D.I.) Champion award is given to individuals at LBH who embrace differences between team members, promote justice, equity, diversity and inclusion and go above and beyond to create a culture of belonging at LifeBridge Health. J.E.D.I. Champions are team members who: 

• Participate in J.E.D.I. education.
• Develop/engage in opportunities for J.E.D.I. engagement across the institution.
• Promote a sense of belonging for all team members.
• Demonstrate commitment to SPIRIT values.
• Support institutional efforts to be just, equitable, diverse and inclusive.

To nominate a team member for the J.E.D.I. Champion Award please send an email to JEDI_Office@lifebridgehealth.org with the following information: 

• Your name and email address
• Name, email address and title of the person you would like to nominate
• A short paragraph outlining how the nominee fits the criteria listed