The purpose of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Committee at Systems Unlimited is to promote acceptance, involvement, and fairness throughout the company by continuously providing space for fresh perspectives and celebrating the differences between our employees and the people we serve.
DEIB will focus on improving our channels of communication that drive opportunities for the growth and success of our Systems Unlimited family, thereby creating a place we can ALL call home.
Through our community collaboration and awareness, we strive to become a recognized leader in the State of Iowa for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging in the workplace.
Whether you are a staff member or a person we serve, you belong here.
Hispanic Heritage Month is recognized from September 15th – October 15th as several countries celebrate their Independence Day, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, on September 15th, Mexico on September 16th, and Chile on September 18th.
October 12th gives recognition to “Dia de la Raza” which is a day to recognize the cultural fusion between Indigenous America and Spanish heritage. It symbolizes the day that Christopher Columbus first entered the new world, in 1492, and how that led to major changes throughout all of America.
There is much to celebrate that involves history, recognizing the influence of Hispanic cultures, food, and many achievements. Please take the time to check out the attached link to learn and explore more about Hispanic Heritage and the impact it continues to make.
National Hispanic American Heritage Month 2024 (hispanicheritagemonth.gov)
Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year and is considered to be a couple of very holy days. This year, the holiday will be celebrated on October 2-4. The time is used to reflection and to prepare hopes for the upcoming year. Some Jewish people also celebrate Rosh Hashanah as the celebration of the creation of humanity.
Jewish people may take time to attend worship services, say special prayers and sing specific songs. People will often participate in several traditions outside of synagogue which may include blowing into a curved Rams horn called a shofar. This is meant to wake people up and to take stock of where they are at in life. Some traditions include praying over bodies of water and throwing pieces of bread in which symbolizes throwing away sin.
Some food that is eaten during this time may include eating apples and honey together to symbolize a sweet New Year. Challah bread that is prepared in a circle may be eaten to represent the cycle of a year. There is a lot of emphasis on sweetness in hopes that people celebrating step into the year with good tastes and good feelings.
When greeting Jewish friends and co-workers, it is appropriate to wish them a Happy Rosh Hashanah or a Happy New Year.
After Rosh Hashanah, there is ten days of reflection, repentance and renewal called the ‘Days of Awe’ which ends with the day of atonement, Yom Kippur. Yom Kippur is considered to be the most somber Jewish holiday and is the day that Jews seek forgiveness from God. In 2024, Yom Kippur falls on October 11-12.
Yom Kippur is a day of fasting as well as other restrictions such as no bathing, no wearing perfumes or deodorants, no leather shoes and no sex. After the fast, there is a celebratory meal with family that may include bagels with lox, challah, kugel, honey cake and fresh fruit.
It is not customary to greet people with a Happy Yom Kippur, as this a day is for reflection, not celebration. It is more customary to wish a Jewish friend or colleague with a ‘We hope you have meaningful Yom Kippur.’
Systems strives to be a welcoming and inclusive community for the people we serve and all who work here. Below we have listed several religious and secular holidays, monthly observances and culturally significant days.
While we try to be as inclusive as possible, we may have missed an important day.Please reach out to the marketing team at marketing@sui.org to let us know about it.
Expand to see more information
January 1: New Year’s Day
January 4: National Braille Day
January 7: Coptic Orthodox Christmas
January 15: World Religion Day
January 16: Martin Luther King Jr., Day
January 25: Mahayana New Year
January 27: International Holocaust Remembrance Day
Monthly Observances: Black History Month
February 8: Lailat al Miraj (Islam)
February 10: Chinese New Year
February 13: International Epilepsy Day
February 15: Ash Wednesday (Christian)
February 15: Nirvana Day (Buddhist)
February 20: World Day of Social Justice
Monthly Observances: Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, Ethnic Equality Month, National Women’s History Month, Brain Injury Awareness Month
March 8: International Women’s Day
March 11: Ramadan begins (Islam)
March 21: World Down Syndrome Day
March 24: Palm Sunday (Christian)
March 25: Holi (Hindu)
March 29: Good Friday (Christian)
March 31: Easter (Christian)
March 30: World Bipolar Day
March 31: International Transgender Day of Visibility
Monthly Observances: Arab-American Heritage Month, Autism Awareness Month, Celebrate Diversity Month, National Volunteer Month
April 2: World Autism Awareness Day
April 6: Laylat al-Qadr (Muslim)
April 9-12: Eid-al-Fitr/End of Ramadan (Muslim)
April 14: National Day of Silence (LGBTQ+)
April 21: Start of Ridvan (Baha’i)
April 22-30: Passover (Jewish)
Monthly Observances: Haitian Heritage Month, Indian Heritage Month, Jewish-American Heritage Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, National Asian American and South Pacific Islander Heritage Month, South Asian American Heritage Month, National Mobility Month, Prader Willi Syndrome Awareness Month, National Mobility Month
May 17: International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia
May 21: World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
May 23: Declaration of the Bab (Baha’i)
May 29: Ascension of Baha’u’llah (Baha’i)
May 29: Memorial Day
Monthly Observances: National Caribbean American Heritage Month, Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, Pride Month
June 19: Juneteenth
June 21: Litha, Summer Solstice (Pagan)
June 28: Eid al-Adha (Muslim)
Monthly Observances: French-American Heritage Month
July 4: Independence Day
July 9: Martyrdom of the Bab (Baha’i)
July 19: Muharram Islamic New Year
July 26: National Disability Independence Day
Monthly Observances: National Civility Month
August 9: International Day of the World’s Indigenous People
August 26: Women’s Equality Day
Monthly Observances: Hispanic Heritage Month, Suicide Prevention Month
September 4: Labor Day
September 5: International Day of Charity
September 6/7: Krishna Janmashtami (Hindu)
September 15: International Day of Democracy
September 22: National Native American Day
September 24: Yom Kippur (Jewish)
September 29: Sukkot (Jewish)
Monthly Observances: Filipino-American Heritage Month, German-American Heritage Month, Italian-American Heritage Month, Polish-American Heritage Month, LGBTQ+ History Month
October 2: International Day of Nonviolence
October 9: National Indigenous Peoples’ Day
October 10: World Mental Health Day
October 15: Navratri begins (Hindu)
October 16: Birth of the Bab (Baha’i)
October 19: Spirit Day (LGBTQ+ and anti-bullying)
October 20: Sikh Holy Day
October 22: International Stuttering Awareness Day
October 25: Birth of Baha’u’llah (Baha’i)
October 31: Halloween
Monthly Observances: Movember (Awareness of Men’s Health), National Native American, American Heritage Month
November 1: All Saints Day (Roman Catholic)
November 2: All Souls Day
November 9: Diwali (Hindu)
November 11: Veterans Day
November 19: International Men’s Day
November 20: Transgender Day of Remembrance
November 23: Thanksgiving
November 25: Day of the Covenant (Baha’i)
November 27: Ascension of Abdu’l-Baha (Baha’i)
Monthly Observances: Universal Human Rights Month
December 3: International Day for People with Disabilities
December 7/8: Hanukkah (Jewish)
December 10: International Human Rights Day
December 21: Yule Winter Solstice (Pagan)
December 25: Christmas (Christian)
December 26: Kwanzaa
December 31: New Year’s Eve
January 1: New Year’s Day
January 4: National Braille Day
January 7: Coptic Orthodox Christmas
January 15: World Religion Day
January 16: Martin Luther King Jr., Day
January 25: Mahayana New Year
January 27: International Holocaust Remembrance Day
Monthly Observances: Black History Month
February 8: Lailat al Miraj (Islam)
February 10: Chinese New Year
February 13: International Epilepsy Day
February 15: Ash Wednesday (Christian)
February 15: Nirvana Day (Buddhist)
February 20: World Day of Social Justice
Monthly Observances: Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, Ethnic Equality Month, National Women’s History Month, Brain Injury Awareness Month
March 8: International Women’s Day
March 8: Maha Shivaratri (Hindu)
March 8: Holi (Hindu)
March 21: World Down Syndrome Day
March 11: Ramadan begins
March 30: World Bipolar Day
March 31: International Transgender Day of Visibility
Monthly Observances: Arab-American Heritage Month, Autism Awareness Month, Celebrate Diversity Month, National Volunteer Month
April 2: World Autism Awareness Day
April 2: Palm Sunday (Christians)
April 5: Passover (Christians)
April 7: Good Friday (Christians)
April 9/10: Easter (Christians)
April 14: National Day of Silence (LGBTQ+)
April 18: Yom Hashoah (Jewish)
April 20: Start of Ridvan (Baha’i)
April 21: Eid-al-Fitr/End of Ramadan (Muslim)
Monthly Observances: Haitian Heritage Month, Indian Heritage Month, Jewish-American Heritage Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, National Asian American and South Pacific Islander Heritage Month, South Asian American Heritage Month
May 1: Beltane (Pagan)
May 17: International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia
May 21: World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
May 23: Vesak/Buddah Day (Buddhism)
May 28: Trail of Tears (American)
May 29: Memorial Day
Monthly Observances: National Caribbean American Heritage Month, Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, Pride Month, Men’s Health Awareness Month
June 7: Feast of the Sacred Heart (Roman Catholic)
June 12-13: Shavuot (Jewish)
June 14-19: The Hajj (Muslim)
June 19: Juneteenth
June 21: Litha, Summer Solstice (Pagan)
June 17-20: Eid al-Adha (Muslim)
Monthly Observances: French-American Heritage Month, National Fragile X Syndrome Awareness Month, Disability Pride Month
July 4: Independence Day
July 7: Muharram Islamic New Year
July 26: National Disability Independence Day; Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Anniversary
Monthly Observances: National Civility Month
August 9: International Day of the World’s Indigenous People
August 26: Women’s Equality Day
August 31: International Day of People of African Descent
Monthly Observances: Hispanic Heritage Month, Suicide Prevention Month, Deaf Awareness Month, National Service Dog Month
September 4: Labor Day
September 5: International Day of Charity
September 15: International Day of Democracy
September 21-29: Mabon (Pagan)
September 22: National Native American Day
Monthly Observances: Filipino-American Heritage Month, German-American Heritage Month, Italian-American Heritage Month, Polish-American Heritage Month, LGBTQ+ History Month, Down Syndrome Awareness Month, Learning Disabilities Awareness Month
October 2: International Day of Nonviolence
October 3: Navratri begins (Hindu)
October 2-4: Rosh Hashanah (Jewish)
October 9: National Indigenous Peoples’ Day
October 10: World Mental Health Day
October 11-12: Yom Kippur (Jewish)
October 16-18: Sukkot (Jewish)
October 19: Spirit Day (LGBTQ+ and anti-bullying)
October 20: Sikh Holy Day
October 22: International Stuttering Awareness Day
October 31: Halloween
Monthly Observances: Movember (Awareness of Men’s Health), National Native American Heritage Month, National Family Caregivers Month, Epilepsy Awareness Month
October 31-November 4: Diwali (Hindu)
November 1: All Saints Day (Roman Catholic)
November 2: All Souls Day
November 3: Birth of Baha’u’llah (Baha’i)
November 11: Veterans Day
November 13: World Kindness Day
November 20: Transgender Day of Remembrance
November 28: Thanksgiving (American)
November 25: Day of the Covenant (Baha’i)
November 27: Ascension of Abdu’l-Baha (Baha’i)
Monthly Observances: Universal Human Rights Month
December 1: World AIDS Day
December 3: International Day for People with Disabilities, Giving Tuesday
December 10: International Human Rights Day
December 21-January 1: Yule Winter Solstice (Pagan)
December 25: Christmas (Christian)
December 26-January 2: Hanukkah (Jewish)
December 26-January 1: Kwanzaa
December 31: New Year’s Eve
A non-profit leader for more than 50 years in Eastern Iowa.
Delivering high-quality, personalized, and individualized social services support for people with disabilities and mental health needs.
© 2024 Systems Unlimited, Inc. All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy
