A Diversity Message from Neil Meltzer, President and CEO, and Dr. Sybil Pentsil, Chief Diversity Officer – May 2025
The Office of Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion continues in our resolve to make LifeBridge Health a place where all our team members are safe, our patients receive high quality care and our community’s needs are met. This happens because of our amazing team members, who show up every day and serve our community selflessly in our ambulatory offices, surgery centers, The Family Tree, Bridging Life, Center for Hope, LifeBridge Health & Fitness, urgent care centers, hospitals and all the places where we provide care. Now more than ever we must continue to CARE BRAVELY!
This May, we join you in recognizing the observances and celebrations that reflect the diversity, values and lived experiences of our team members, patients and communities.
ALS Awareness Month
ALS Awareness Month, which occurs every May, is a time where numerous organizations and communities get together to spread awareness regarding the disease called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Haitian Heritage Month
Haitian Heritage Month is a nationally recognized month celebrated in May every year, and it’s a terrific time to celebrate the vibrant culture, distinct art, delectable cuisine and people of Haitian origin.
Jewish-American Heritage Month
Each May, hundreds of organizations and Americans of all backgrounds join together to discover, explore and celebrate the vibrant and varied American Jewish experience from the dawn of our nation to the present day. It’s a time to pay tribute to the generations of Jewish Americans who helped form the fabric of American history, culture and society.
Mental Health Awareness Month
Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed in May in the United States since 1949. The month is observed with media, local events, and film screenings. Mental Health Awareness Month began in the United States in 1949 and was started by Mental Health America.
National Asian American and South Pacific Islander Heritage Month
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, celebrating the cultures and peoples of the Asian continent and Pacific Islands. Asian and Pacific Islander Americans have helped shape the history and culture of the United States and are vital to its future.
Beltane (5/01)
Beltane is a holiday of ancient Gaelic origin celebrated on May 1 which marks the beginning of summer. Today, the holiday is observed by many Wiccans and neopagans and is typically celebrated by lighting bonfires, decorating homes with May flowers, the making of May bushes, visiting holy wells and hosting a celebratory feast.
Cinco De Mayo (5/05)
As the name implies, Cinco De Mayo is celebrated on the fifth of May in commemoration of the Mexican army’s 1862 victory over France. This holiday is mostly observed in the United States, where it has come to represent a broad celebration of Mexican and Mexican American culture.
Mother’s Day (5/11)
Mother’s Day is a celebration honoring the mother of the family or individual, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on different days in many parts of the world, most commonly in the months of March or May.
International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (5/17)
This annual day hopes to raise awareness of issues relating to the LGBTQIA+ community.
World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development (5/21)
The World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, sometimes abbreviated World Day for Cultural Diversity, is a United Nations–sanctioned observance day for the promotion of diversity and intercultural dialogue.
Declaration of the Báb (5/22-5/23)
Baháʼís around the world celebrate the anniversary of the Declaration of the Báb (Arabic for “the Gate”). The Báb announced His mission in 1844, proclaimed that He was the bearer of a Divine Revelation and founder of His own religion, whose aim was to prepare the world for “Him Whom God Shall Make Manifest,” a Messenger of God known as Bahá’u’lláh. In much the same way that John the Baptist preceded and paved the way for the advent of Jesus Christ, the Báb, a herald and forerunner for the new religion, created the spiritual conditions necessary for Bahá’u’lláh’s advent.
Memorial Day (5/26)
Taking place on May 26, the last Monday of the month, Memorial Day commemorates members of the U.S. military who lost their lives while serving in the United States Armed Forces. The National Moment of Remembrance encourages all Americans to pause at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day for a minute of silence to remember and honor those who died in service to our nation.
Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh (5/27-5/28)
The Baháʼís will gather together for devotions and prayers in a reverent and meditative tone to commemorate the Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh, the Prophet-Founder of the Baháʼí Faith, who passed away in 1892 in the Mansion of Bahji (located just outside of the prison city of Akka in present day Israel, where He had been a prisoner for 24 years). The final resting place of Bahá’u’lláh, known as the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh, is located in Bahji, and is the Point of Adoration to which Baháʼís turn when reciting their prayers.
Calls to Action
Health equity starts with everyday actions. Here are three simple ways you can make a meaningful impact:
- Listen with Empathy – Take time to understand each patient's story. Culturally responsive care begins with compassion and curiosity. Be sure to offer this same empathy to your colleagues.
- Address Bias – Reflect on your own assumptions and challenge bias when you see it—in yourself, your team and your systems.
- Advocate for Access – Support initiatives that remove barriers to care for underserved communities, whether through policy, outreach or education.
Together, we can CARE BRAVELY to build a healthcare system where everyone has a fair chance at health and healing.