2008 Month-by-Month Themes for Community Outreach
The following national holidays, days of recognition and monthly themes are intended to be used as a guide to jumpstart your thinking for planning local events and media outreach. The specific dates given are for 2008, but the events and themes can be used year after year. Aside from garnering media attention, these events will help you raise awareness for local Citizen Corps activities, ultimately increasing preparedness, training, and volunteer participation.
Some months have more suggestions than others, but local events and activities specific to your town can be added to further expand each month. Also, be sure to read/listen to your local news for opportunities to link Citizen Corps messages to breaking news or to human interest stories. For example, if the local news runs a story on a recent fire, follow up with the reporter to let him or her know about fire prevention education materials and upcoming fire prevention trainings!
And please remember to post your activities on the Citizen Corps Calendar of Events. And send in your stories and photos to citizencorps@dhs.gov. We love to hear from you!
January
- January 1, 2008: New Year's Day
- National Volunteer Blood Donor Month
- National Mentoring Month
- January 21, 2008: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
- Winter Storm Preparation
February
March
- American Red Cross Month
- The Great American Cleanup
- National Women's History Month
- March 9, 2008: Daylight Savings Time
- March 16-22, 2008: National Poison Prevention Week
- Tornadoes
April
- National 9-1-1 Education Month
- April 27 - May 3, 2008: National Volunteer Week
- April 19-26, 2008: National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW)
May
- National Older Americans Month
- American Stroke Month
- Mental Health Month
- May 6-12, 2008: National Nurses Week
- May 10, 2008: National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day
- May 11-16, 2008: National Police Week
- May 18-24, 2008: National EMS Week
- May 18-24, 2008: National Public Works Week
June
- National Safety Month – National Safety Council
- Home Safety Month – Home Safety Council
- June 1, 2008: Hurricane Season Begins
- June 14, 2008: Flag Day
- June 28-29, 2008: ARRL Field Day
July
- July 4, 2008: Independence Day
- July 26, 2008: Anniversary of the Signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act
- July 27, 2008: National Parents' Day
- Summer Thunderstorms
August
September
- National Preparedness Month
- Back to School Activities
- September 1, 2008: Labor Day
- September 11, 2008: Anniversary of the September 11, 2001 Attacks
- September 15-October 15, 2008: National Hispanic Heritage Month
- September 17, 2008: Citizenship Day
- September 21-26, 2008: Deaf Awareness Week
- Wildfire Mitigation
October
- Crime Prevention Month
- Diversity Awareness Month
- National Cyber Security Month
- October 2-4, 2008: Celebrate Safe Communities
- October 7-13, 2008: Fire Prevention Week
- October 19-25, 2008: America's Safe Schools Week
- October 20-24, 2008: National School Bus Safety Week
- October 23-31, 2008: National Red Ribbon Week
November
- National American Indian Heritage Month
- November 2, 2008: Daylight Savings Time Ends
- November 11, 2008: Veterans' Day
- November 27, 2008: Thanksgiving Day