NOAA’s National Weather Service's (NWS) Special Emphasis Programs and Observances are management programs established to ensure
equal employment opportunity for minorities, women, persons with
disabilities, and disabled veterans in various categories and occupations
throughout the NWS. Special Emphasis Programs and Observances promote equal opportunity
in the hiring, advancement, training, and treatment of each targeted
group. Programs in this area include the Federal Women Program,
African-American Employment Program, Hispanic-American Employment
Program, Asian American/Pacific Islander Employment Program, American
Indian/Alaskan Native Employment Program, People with Disabilities
Employment Program, and Disabled Veterans Program. These programs
advocate necessary change to overcome barriers that restrict equal
employment opportunity for women, minorities, and individuals with
disabilities.
- NWS' Strategic Plan for Special Emphasis Programs and Observances
- NWS' Strategic Plan for the Federal Women's Program
- NWS' Strategic Plan for the African-American Employment
Program
- NWS' Strategic Plan for the Hispanic-American Employment
Program
- NWS' Strategic Plan for the Asian American/Pacific Islander
Employment Program
- NWS' Strategic Plan for the American Indian/Alaskan Native
Employment Program
- NWS' Strategic Plan for the People with Disabilities Employment
Program
NOAA's National Weather Service Special Emphasis Observance Programs
As a culturally, ethnically, and racially diverse agency, the
NWS uses the Special Emphasis Observance Programs to celebrate
the diversity of our employees and this Nation's peoples; to enhance
cross-cultural, cross-ethnical, and cross-racial awareness among
its employees; and as a way of creating an environment that will
enable all to reach their full potential in pursuing organizational
and personal objectives. These programs recognize the achievements
and contributions made by members of specific racial, ethnic, or
gender groups in our society. The observances also promotes understanding,
teamwork, harmony, pride and esprit among all groups, not just
within the specific group being honored. The NWS asks all its employees
to participate and attend these programs, typically consisting
of speeches, lectures, films, and other events, produced throughout
the year.The NWS, NOAA, the Department of Commerce, and the Nation
benefit from the work of all Americans.
The NWS celebrates the following Special Emphasis Observances:
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Holiday |
January (3rd Monday) |
National African-American History Month |
February |
National Women's History Month |
March |
National Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month |
May |
National Jewish Heritage Month |
May |
National Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month |
June |
National Hispanic Heritage Month |
September 15 to October 15 |
National Disability Employment Awareness Month |
October |
National American Indian Heritage Month |
November |
National Veterans Day |
November 11 |
Executive Orders and Presidential Proclamations.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative
Holiday
January (3rd Monday)
NOAA’s National Weather Service recognizes this day as an
occasion for people to remember Dr. King’s life and dedicate
themselves anew to live his dream. Dr. King was born in Atlanta
on January 15, 1929, the son and grandson of Atlanta pastors. Dr.
King entered Morehouse College in Atlanta when he was only fifteen
years old and graduated at age nineteen. Dr. King earned a B.A.
degree in Divinity from Crozer Seminary in Chester, Pennsylvania
and on June 5, 1955, Dr. King received his Ph.D. in Systematic
Theology from Boston University. Dr. King is known for being one
of the greatest orators of the twentieth century, and perhaps in
all of American history. In the 1950s and 1960s, his words led
the Civil Rights Movement and helped change society. "I have
a dream that one day this nation will rise up, live out the true
meaning of its creed, we hold these truths to be self-evident;
that all men are created equal." Twenty years after Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr., uttered these words, Public Law 98-144 was enacted,
designating the third Monday in January as a Federal holiday commemorating
Dr. King’s birthday.
National African-American History Month
February
NOAA’s National Weather Service commemorates the rich and
varied contributions of African-Americans to the culture and history
of the United States each February. Americans have recognized black
history annually since 1926. Originally established as Negro History
Week in 1926 by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a Harvard Ph.D., noted African-American
author and scholar. Dr. Woodson chose the second week of February
for the observance because of its proximity to the birthdays of
Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass; two individuals whom Dr.
Woodson felt had dramatically affected the lives of African-Americans.
February 10, 1976, during President Ford’s bicentennial address
to our country, Negro History Week expanded into Black History
Month. We have increasingly called this commemoration "African-American
History Month," although both names are currently in use.
National Women's History Month
March
NOAA’s National Weather Service observes and celebrates
National Women's History Month annually in March to remember the
contributions of notable and ordinary women. Women’s History
Month grew from a grassroots educational initiative. In the 1970's
women's history was virtually an unknown topic in the K-12 curriculum
or in the general public consciousness. In 1978, the Education
Task Force of the Sonoma County, California Commission on the Status
of Women initiated a local week long celebration, "Women's
History Week." The week was chosen to coincide with International
Women's Day, March 8, which was first celebrated in 1911 in Europe.
Celebrations of National Women's History Week spread throughout
the nation. At the request of museums, libraries, and educators
across the country, the National Women's History Project petitioned
Congress to expand the celebration to the entire month of March
in 1987. A National Women's History Month Congressional Resolution
was quickly passed. Since 1992, a Presidential Proclamation has
carried the directive for what is now a major national and international
celebration.
National Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month
May
Each May NOAA's National Weather Service celebrates National Asian/Pacific
American Heritage Month to honor the achievements of Asian/Pacific
Americans and to recognize their contributions to the United States.
May was selected for the recognition because two significant events
in history took place in that month: Japanese immigrants first
arrived in the United States on May 7, 1843, and the transcontinental
railroad was completed on May 10, 1869 (Golden Spike Day). Furthermore,
since school is still in session during May, educators could capitalize
on the opportunity to include Asian/Pacific American history into
the curriculum. On Oct. 2, 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed
the Joint Resolution and we celebrated the first Asian Pacific
American Heritage Week in May 1979. In 1992, the week was expanded
to a month long recognition when President George Bush signed the
law permanently designating May of each year as Asian Pacific American
Heritage Month. Both the House of Representatives and the Senate
unanimously supported the law. Public-Law 102-450 approved on October
23, 1992, designated May of each year Asian Pacific American Heritage
Month.
NWS Asian American / Pacific Islander (AAPI) Focal Points
National Hispanic Heritage Month
September 15 to October 15
NOAA’s National Weather Service celebrates National Hispanic
Heritage Month September 15 - October 15 annually. Hispanic Heritage
Month begins on September 15, the anniversary of independence for
five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala,
Honduras, and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico achieved independence
on September 16, and Chile on September 18. The term Hispanic,
as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, refers to Spanish-speaking
people in the United States of any race. September 17, 1968, Public
Law 90-498 authorized an annual proclamation designating the week
including September 15 and 16 as National Hispanic Heritage Week.
The Public Law called upon the people of the United States, especially
educators, to observe the week with appropriate ceremonies and
activities. Public Law 100-402, Approved August 17, 1988, authorized
the designation of the National Hispanic Heritage Month inserting
a thirty-one-day period beginning September 15 and ending on October
15.
National Disability Employment Awareness
Month
October
October of each NOAA’s National Weather Service observes
National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The NWS recognizes
the tremendous contributions of individuals with disabilities to
NWS and the United States. Presidential proclamation has observed
National Employ the Handicapped Week the first week in October
every year since 1945. National Disability Employment Awareness
Month began with the Presidential Proclamation of Public Law 100-630
(Title III, Sec 301a) in 1988. The new law recognized a change
in terminology and replaced "handicap" with "disability." The
President's New Freedom Initiative is a significant effort to build
on past success and increase opportunities, including integrating
people with disabilities into the workforce, increasing access
to technology, and expanding educational opportunities for all
people with disabilities to ensure full integration in American
society. People with disabilities are the nation's largest minority,
and the only one that any person can join at any time.
National American Indian Heritage Month
November
NOAA’s National Weather Service observes and celebrates
National American Indian Heritage Month in November to recognize
the contributions of culture, heritage, history, art, and tradition
of the American Indian to the United States. What started at the
turn of the century as an effort to gain a day of recognition for
the significant contributions the first Americans made to the establishment
and growth of this Nation has resulted in a whole month being designated
for that purpose. National American Indian Heritage Month was first
enacted August 3, 1990, by a Joint Resolution and President Bush
approval, Public Law 101-343, designating November 1990 as "National
American Indian Heritage Month." Each year since 1994 the
President has issued a proclamation designating the month of November
as National American Indian Heritage Month. During these celebrations
of National American Indian Heritage Month, the NWS takes the time
to honor and recognize the American Indian Community.
National Veterans Day
November 11
NOAA’s National Weather Service celebrates National Veterans
Day November 11 each year to honors the men and women who have
served in the U.S. armed services. In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson
proclaimed November 11 as Armistice Day to celebrate the armistice
that ended World War I and remind Americans of the tragedies of
war. A law adopted in 1938 made the day a federal holiday. In 1954,
Congress changed the name of the holiday to Veterans Day to honor
all U.S. veterans. A law passed in 1968 that changed the national
commemoration of Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October.
It soon became apparent, however, that November 11 was a matter
of historic and patriotic significance to many our citizens. Congress,
therefore, enacted legislation (Public Law 94-97) which returned
the observance of this special day to its traditional date beginning
in 1978. Veterans Day celebrations in the United States include
parades and speeches. Special services are held at the Tomb of
the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery; they begin
with two minutes of silence, then after the playing of taps, a
wreath is placed at the tomb that houses the graves of three unknown
Americans who fought in World War I, World War II, and the Korean
War. In a ceremony in Washington, D.C., a wreath is placed at the
Vietnam Veterans Memorial to honor those who died in the Vietnam
War.
Special Emphasis Program links are located at: http://www.weather.gov/eeo/eeo_other_links.php |