Special Emphasis Program Observances

The following observances take place each year and are mandated through Presidential Executive Orders.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday – (January)      

• This national holiday, which occurs on the third Monday in January each year, was established to serve as a time for Americans to reflect on the principles of racial equality and nonviolent social change espoused by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Congressman John Conyers, Democrat from Michigan, first introduced legislation for a commemorative holiday four days after King was assassinated in 1968.

African American History - (February)      
Women's History – (March)
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month – (May)
Womens Equality Day - (August)
Hispanic Heritage – (September 15 – October 15)
Disability Employment Awareness – (October)
Native American Heritage – (November)