Now in my fourth month as Mayor, I recognize the importance of honoring national, state, ethnic, and organizational events. We’ve gone through Martin Luther King Day, Black American History Month, Women’s Month, Chinese New Year, St. Patrick’s Day, Holi, Easter, Purim and President’s Day
I recognize that the diversity in our country and community offers us many opportunities to participate in celebrations, presentations and recognition. I welcome the ability to highlight these events and offer an opportunity to community members to describe these observances. Highlighting events across organizations and cultures we can build a greater sense of awareness, inclusion and belonging in our City.
In April, NH observes Genocide Awareness Month, Domestic Violence Prevention Month, Child Abuse Prevention Month, Gold Star Mother’s Day and General John Stark Day which is being celebrated today, April 8th.
A good source for local Genocide Awareness Month events is through the Cohen Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies: https://www.keene.edu/academics/cchgs/
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. It is an opportunity for us to recognize the effects that sexual violence has on our entire community. Sexual assault is not easy to talk about, but when we talk openly, listen, believe and support survivors, and increase awareness, we can develop strategies and resources to prevent sexual abuse from occurring. Everyone deserves to feel safe, and violence never has to be the end of the road – together we can bring hope and healing to survivors. April is also Child Abuse Prevention Month. Children who grow up in domestic violence situations experience deep emotional abuse even if they are not physically harmed. The best way to stay up-to-date on local activities is through the Monadnock Center for Violence Prevention Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MonadnockCenterForViolencePrevention/
Helen Mattson, Executive Assistant to the City Manager and Mayor, has built an annual calendar of holidays and commemorations from state statute and other contributors. If you have a commemorative event scheduled feel free to call it to our attention by contacting Ms. Mattson at hmattson@keenenh.gov.