This blog post was written by Strengthening Chicago’s Youth Communications and Community Outreach Manager Dion McGill, who is a huge fan of hashtag holidays! Dion recommends joining in on the fun by referencing the Sprout Hashtag Holiday Calendar.
The team here at SCY loves a good hashtag holiday, and if you follow our Instagram, you’ve definitely seen some of that play out. Many of the hashtag holidays are created simply to bring a smile to people’s faces, and with so much going on, it’s always great to break the monotony, and have an excuse to indulge in everything from a donut, to a slice of pizza, to a fancy cup of coffee.
However, even we were surprised how many injury topic events were celebrated in the month of May. So here are a smattering of happenings this month that caught our eye:
Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (May 1-31): Asian and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, celebrated annually during the month of May, celebrates the various cultures and contributions made by persons of Asian and Pacific Islander decent to the United States. The term Asian and Pacific Islander includes people of an array of diverse cultures, beliefs and languages. Asian American and Pacific Islander descendants in the United States represent 48 countries that make up the continent of Asia and the Pacific Island groups of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, an estimated 24 million people identified as Asian and 1.6 million people identified as Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander. Source: University of Northern Colorado.
This month presents us with a perfect opportunity to celebrate the amazing work done by our partners over at the Midwest Asian Health Association (MAHA). We are proud members of the McKinley park Underage Drinking and Other Substances Prevention Coalition (McK-UDOS), organized by MAHA.
National Mental Health Awareness Month (May 1-31): Since 1949, Mental Health America and their affiliates across the country have observed May is Mental Health Month by reaching out to millions of people through the media, local events, and screenings. This year, the theme of MHA’s 2022 Mental Health Month Toolkit is “Back to Basics.” After the last two years of pandemic living, many people are realizing that stress, isolation, and uncertainty have taken a toll on their well-being. Source: Mental Health America
National Bicycle Safety Month (May 1-31): May is National Bike Month, promoted by the League of American Bicyclists and celebrated in communities from coast to coast. Established in 1956, National Bike Month is a chance to showcase the many benefits of bicycling — and encourage more folks to giving biking a try. As a reminder, May 16-22nd is Bike to Work Week and Bike to Work Day is on Friday May 20th. Visit the Chicago Active Transportation Alliance for upcoming events this month. Also, did you know that our colleagues at Safe Kids Chicago do Bike Helmet distributions throughout the year? Visit their website for more information or reach out to them via email. Source: League of American Bicyclists
Also, our friends at Communities United run a youth focused bike shop, Bikes ‘N Roses, and they promote safe riding and offer safety gear at their nonprofit shop.
National Water Safety Month (May 1-31): National Water Safety Month is an annual awareness campaign coordinated by the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance with support from the American Red Cross, National Recreation and Park Association and World Waterpark Association. Our colleagues at Safe Kids Chicago also do work around water safety and drowning prevention, so make sure you are taking all precautions when enjoying the water as weather improves, and follow SKC for great tips. Source: National Water Safety Month
Safe Kids Week (May 8-14): Safe Kids Week was created to empower parents to take simple action that can make a big difference for the safety of their children. Did you know that Safe Kids Chicago was housed here in Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago? We encourage you to follow our colleagues at Safe Kids Chicago on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay updated on upcoming events to celebrate the week!
And of course, May 4th is Star Wars Day, followed by Cinco De Mayo. There is literally something for everyone happening this month.
How are you celebrating this May? Let us know down in the comments.
