For the month of May, we’re observing the following awareness days:

• • American Asian Native Hawaiian Pasifika Heritage Month: Since 1990, the U.S. government has designated the month of May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, celebrating the achievements and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) in the United States.
    
    

    The month of May was chosen to mark the arrival of the first Japanese immigrant to the United States on May 7, 1843, as well as the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. However Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders presence predates the creation of the United States. For example in 1763, a group of Filipinos facing a life of forced labor and imprisonment, during the Spanish galleon trade, jumped ship near New Orleans. They established the settlement of Saint Malo, forming one of the first documented Asian American communities in North America.

    There are more than 17 million people of Asian or Pacific Islander descent in the United States from a region that covers more than one third of the earth—including the Far East, Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and the Pacific.

• • Jewish American Heritage Month: Celebrating the immeasurable impact of Jewish values, contributions, and culture on our Nation’s character and recommit to realizing the promise of America for all Jewish Americans.

    In 1654, a small band of 23 Jewish refugees fled persecution abroad and sailed into the port of modern-day New York City.  They fought for religious freedom, helping define one of the bedrock principles upon which our Nation was built.

    2.4% of the population (about 7 million) Jewish people in the US and 1.1 million Jewish people of color recorded.

• • Lupus Awareness Month & World Lupus Day (May 10): Join the us in spreading awareness, educating others about lupus, and supporting those affected by this cruel disease throughout the month of May.
    
    

    Facts:

    • • Lupus is ranked the fifth cause of death among Black and Hispanic women, ages 15-24, and a leading cause of death among all young women.
    • • An estimated 1.5 million Americans have lupus, and 5 million worldwide.

• • Mental Health Awareness Month: Since its inception in 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month has been a cornerstone of addressing the challenges faced by millions of Americans living with mental health conditions; advocating for policies that prioritize the well-being of individuals and families affected by mental illness.

    Experiencing a mental health crisis: Call, chat or text 988 to speak with a trained crisis counselor 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

    Facts:

    • • 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year, and only half of them receive treatment.
    • • 1 in 6 U.S. youth experience a mental health condition each year, and only half of them receive treatment.

• • National Women’s Health Week: This observance aims to highlight women’s health issues and priorities and encourage women of all ages to prioritize their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Join us in this uplifting journey as we dive into everything that makes women’s health so important.