CELEBRATE HISTORY
CREATE AWARENESS
RUTH BADER GINSBURG (MARCH 15, 1933 - SEPT. 18, 2020) “Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you”
Ruth Bader Ginsburg died on September 18th, at the age of 87 after a battle with metastatic pancreatic cancer. Justice Ginsburg is the first woman to lie in state at the U.S. Capitol and the first person of Jewish descent. Even in her death, she continues to blaze trails. We remember and honor her incredible life. Born in Brooklyn, NY, Ruth Bader Ginsburg attended prestigious schools including Cornell, Harvard and Columbia. Nominated by President Clinton, Justice Ginsburg was the second woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, and was the first Jewish woman to serve on the court. She was a trailblazer, a champion of justice, an advocate for the rights of women and other marginalized groups. She even co-founded the ACLU’s Women’s Rights Project. While many of her achievements supported ending sex-based discrimination, Ginsburg also passionately fought for the rights of the LGBT community, undocumented people and disabled people. She also fought to expand voting rights. Ginsburg’s notable opinions and dissents included: • United States v. Virginia (1996) - gender-bias case held the Virginia Military Institute to open its doors to qualified women
• Olmstead v. L.C. ( 1999) - landmark ruling for disability rights • Bush v. Gore (2000) - among the most polarizing cases of her tenure, Justice Ginsburg excoriated the court’s conservative bloc for voting to suspend the counting of disputed ballots in Florida, effectively securing President George W. Bush’s election • Grutter v. Bollinger (2003) - the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that racial diversity was a compelling enough national interest to permit affirmative action in university admissions • Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (2007) - the Supreme Court ruled that a female tireplant supervisor waited too long under the law to bring a pay discrimination claim against her employer. At her encouragement, Congress would later amend the law to make it easier to challenge unequal pay She received attention all over the world for her passionate dissents in numerous cases, widely seen as reflecting paradigmatically liberal views of the law. She was playfully and notably nicknamed “The Notorious R.B.G.” a moniker she embraced. RBG, known as a feminist icon, inspired pop culture being
featured on Saturday Night Live, in coloring books, on clothing, and many internet memes featuring her famous quotes.
“When I’m sometimes asked ‘When will there be enough (women on the Supreme Court)?’ and my answer is: ‘When there are nine.’ People are shocked. But there’d been nine men, and nobody’s ever raised a question about that.” TO LEARN MORE CHECK OUT THE FOLLOWING:
RBG Documentary
I look up to Ruth Bader Ginsburg
My Own Words - Ruth Bader Ginsburg
NATIONAL DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH 2020 Theme: Increasing Access & Opportunity
This October is the 75th observance of National Disabilit y Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) and the 30th anniversary of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA).
• Did you know? 26% (one in four) of adults in the U.S. have some type of disability. • What is disability? – A disability is any condition of the body or mind (impairment) that makes it more difficult for the person with the condition to do certain activities (activity limitation) and interact with the world around them (participation restrictions). • Although “people with disabilities” sometimes refers to a single population, this is actually a diverse group of people with a wide range of needs. Two people with the same type of disability can be affected in very different ways.
• The DREAM Team encourages you to be mindful that you may have coworkers that have disabilities, and some disabilities may be hidden or not easy to see. Check out JAN’s (Job Accommodation Network) guide for disability etiquette in the workplace here. • ADA: Know Your Rights • Understand Your Benefits
LGBTIA+ HISTORY MONTH Live Proudly & Openly
Originally known as LBGT History Month, and now referred to as LGBTIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Pansexual, Transgender, Genderqueer, Queer, Intersexed, Agender, Asexual, and Ally community), was created in 1994 by Rodney Wilson, the first openly gay public school teacher in Missouri. LGBTIA+ History Month celebrates and acknowledges the role of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in American history.
RODNEY WILSON LBGTIA+ History Month Founder
October was chosen as it includes several important days: • Ally Week (Oct. 5-9) – A week in which allies against LGBT bullying are celebrated • National Coming Out Day (Oct. 11) – Marks the anniversary of the 1987 March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights and celebrates the bravery and process of coming out • Anniversary of Matthew Shepard’s Murder (Oct. 12) – This event in 1988 sparked the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act • LGBT March on Washington (Oct. 14) – In 1979, an estimated 75,000 people participated in a march for lesbian and gay rights to demand equal civil rights and urge for the passage of protective civil rights legislature. This date was also the 10th anniversary of a historic rebellion known as the Stonewall Riots, which is credited with starting the modern LGBT rights movement
• Spirit Day (Oct. 20) – When people wear purple in support of LGBT youth
TO LEARN MORE CHECK OUT THE FOLLOWING: Each day in October, a new LGBT Icon is featured to celebrate their achievements with a video, bio, bibliography, downloadable images and other resources. See it at the Equality Forum. OUTWORDS is the first national effort to capture the stories of LGBTQ+ pioneers and elders all over America. To Celebrate Our Past & Protect Our Future. Rainbow Library: a list of LGBTQ+ Affirming E-Books for families and children. Making Gay History: the critically acclaimed and award-winning podcast that brings LGBTQ history to life through the voices of the people who lived it.
2ND MONDAY IN OCTOBER Rethinking How We Celebrate American History
Columbus Day is a U.S. holiday that commemorates the landing of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492. It was unofficially celebrated in a number of cities and states as early as the 18th century, but did not become a federal holiday until 1937. For many, the holiday is a way of honoring Columbus’ achievements but for others it is a hurtful reminder of the violent 500-year history of colonial oppression that Native Americans faced at the hands of European explorers and those who settled here. This is a multi-faceted history with many ramifications and wounds which still run deep today. DID YOU KNOW: A movement to replace Columbus Day that has gained momentum over the past 40 years since its first introduction by participants in the United Nations International Conference on Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations in the Americas in Geneva and was first adopted by the Berkeley, California City Council in 1991.
Data Sources: This map was compiled from unknown sources by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) at 1:2,000,000 scale. Map Information: Lambert Azimuthal Equal Area; Scale 1:5845860 The numbers on the map represent the locations of Indian reservations. Please reference these numbers with the accompanying sheets entitled “Indian Reservations - BIA/CAST 5/96�.
TO LEARN MORE CHECK OUT THE FOLLOWING: Learn more about the impact of the invasion of America by Europeans through an interactive map produced by a University of Georgia historian.
And explore why you MUST try Native American cuisine through this James Beard Foundation nominated documentary - an engaging, fast-paced 20-minute watch
DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS NOVEMBER 1-2 Day of the Dead
Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead is a day of celebration for the people of Latin America, particularly in Mexico and Central America, and more recently for Mexican Americans. Although many people confuse the two, Día de los Muertos is not a Mexican version of Halloween, instead it’s a vibrant celebration of life where families take the time to remember their departed loved ones and welcome the return of their spirits. Día de los Muertos originated in ancient Mesoamerica (Mexico and northern Central America) where indigenous groups, including Aztec, Maya and Toltec, had specific times when they commemorated their loved ones who had passed away. After the arrival of the Spanish, this ritual of commemorating the dead was intertwined with two Spanish holidays: All Saints Day (Nov. 1) and All Soul’s Day (Nov. 2). Día de los Muertos is often celebrated on November 1st as a day to remember children who have passed away, and on November 2nd to honor adults. From quiet candlelit cemeteries to parades and concerts, Día de los Muertos is festive, fascinating and filled with endless possibilities including music and dancing!
TO LEARN MORE CHECK OUT THE FOLLOWING:
La Danza de los Viejitos (The dance of the little old men) in which boys and young men dress as old men, walk around crouched over then suddenly jump up in an energetic dance
La Danza de los Tecuanes (The dance of the jaguars) that depicts farm workers hunting a jaguar
Family Movie Night! Coco (Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film) In Disney/Pixar’s vibrant tale of family, fun and adventure, aspiring young musician named Miguel embarks on an extraordinary journey to the magical land of his ancestors. There, the charming trickster Hector becomes an unexpected friend who helps Miguel uncover the mysteries behind his family’s stories and traditions. Visit the movie website for printable activities! • Create your own paper marigolds! • Decorate your own instruments! • Create your own family food diary! • Color in character’s from the movie!
We would love YOUR ideas of how your favorite cultural holiday can be celebrated in the office next year once we’re all back! Please reach out to the DREAM TEAM and share your ideas!
Visit our Hub page to keep an eye out on new content. Coming soon: check out our Training Mini Sessions: Talk the Talk
Join us! Email DREAMteam@macerich.com to get involved and stay informed on upcoming happenings and announcements.