The City of Goleta wants to spotlight some of the awareness days and campaigns this month. These align with the City’s commitment to fostering a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive community.

Women’s History Month:

• Congress designated the month of March as Women’s History Month in 1987. The National Women’s History Month’s theme for 2024 celebrates “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.” The theme recognizes women throughout the country who understand that, for a positive future, we need to eliminate bias and discrimination entirely from our lives and institutions.

International Women’s Day – March 8

• International Women’s Day is a global day that has occurred for well over a century, with the first IWD gathering in 1911 supported by over a million people. The day celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The theme for 2024 is “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress.”

Development Disabilities Awareness Month

• Each individual, regardless of their abilities, has the right to be respected, embraced, and provided with opportunities to thrive. Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month serves as a profound reminder of these principles, emphasizing the value, rights, and aspirations of those with developmental disabilities.

Employee Appreciation Day – March 1

• First created in 1995, the event is celebrated the first Friday in March each year. It focuses attention on employees in all industries and is an opportunity for employers to give thanks or recognition to their employees.

Ramadan – March 10 – April 9

• Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar, the holy month of fasting, and the most important month of the Islamic calendar. It begins and ends with the appearance of the crescent moon and the month in which the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. During Ramadan, Muslims around the world fast from sunrise to sunset.

Deaf History Month – March 13 – April 15

• Deaf History Month is an awareness month for the deaf and hard-of-hearing persons in the U.S. first designated in 2006 by the American Library Association and the National Association of the Deaf. The month celebrates the contributions and accomplishments of people who are deaf or hard of hearing and raises awareness for the Deaf community. 

Easter – March 31 (Good Friday March 29)

• Easter marks one of the holiest day in the Christian calendar. The holiday celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Easter bunny and Easter eggs originated as pagan symbols of spring and rebirth. Over the centuries, the two traditions have merged together to become what some celebrate today.

Cesar Chavez Day – March 31

• A U.S. federal commemorative holiday proclaimed by President Obama in 2014. The holiday celebrates the birth and legacy of the civil rights and labor movement activist Cesar Chavez on March 31 every year.

Join us as we come together to make a positive impact in our community! Let’s learn, acknowledge, and honor various cultural and awareness observances each month, creating a more inclusive and welcoming Goleta for all.

Together, we can make a difference!