Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Land of Lincoln Goodwill Industries (LLGI) has a long history of supporting those with unique needs and disabilities. Our priority is to ensure that diversity, equity, and inclusion remains prevalent within our organization and our workforce. We encourage you to check this page regularly as we update our work and activities embracing diversity at LLGI.
National Women’s History Month
Women’s contributions and accomplishments have largely been overlooked and consequently omitted from mainstream culture. Each year March is designated as Women’s History Month to honor women’s contributions in American History.
Women’s History Month began as a local celebration in Santa Rosa, California. The organizers selected the week of March 8th to correspond with International Women’s Day. In 1980, a consortium of women’s groups and historians successfully lobbied for national recognition. In February 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the Week of March 8th is National Women’s History Week. Each year, Presidents continued to proclaim a National Women’s History Week until March 1987 when Congress passed Public Law designating March as Women’s History Month.
At Land of Lincoln Goodwill, we celebrate all of the women who are in our leadership & associate roles for the contributions they each bring to LLGI.
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Irish Heritage Month
Irish American Heritage Month, is an annual observance originating in the United States during the month of March to coincide with Saint Patrick’s Day. It was first celebrated by proclamation of the President and Congress to honor the achievements and contributions of Irish Americans.
Saint Patrick’s Day is a Catholic religious holiday that honors the saint who introduced Christianity to Ireland in the early 5th century. It has developed in the United States as a celebration of all things Irish. New York City held the first St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 1762 featuring Irish soldiers serving in the British military that were protecting the colonies during the French and Indian War. Today, New York City still has the largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade with over 100,000 participants and 2 million attendees.
In tribute to all Irish Americans, the United States Congress proclaimed March as Irish American Heritage Month in 1991 and each year thereafter. Each year in March the Irish Taoiseach visits the United States for Saint Patrick’s Day, and a Shamrock Ceremony takes place in the morning at the White House where a crystal bowl containing shamrocks is presented to the President in the Oval Office. This is followed by a Friends of Ireland luncheon hosted by the speaker of the House and an evening St. Patrick’s Day Reception takes place at the White House.
