April 1st - April 30th

Arab American Heritage is celebrated during the month of April, recognizing the great achievements of Arab Americans. It was first recognized as a national celebration in 2017, and got recognized by Congress in 2021, and President Biden officially designating April as Arab American Heritage month in 2023. Here are a few Arab Americans that have made history:

Rashida Tlaib

Tlaib is the first Palestinian American woman and one of the first two Muslim women elected to the U.S. Congress. She currently represents Michigan’s 12th Congressional District and previously worked as a lawyer for the Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice.

Michael Debakey

While still in medical school, DeBakey (born Dabaghi) invented the roller pump, a life-saving device that enabled continuous blood flow in heart patients. His groundbreaking innovations and pioneering achievements in vascular surgery shaped his highly acclaimed career.

Jordyn Weber

Jordyn Wieber, who grew up in Michigan, won gold as part of the U.S. Women’s Gymnastics team at the 2012 London Olympics. Of Lebanese descent, she was known to enjoy malfouf (cabbage) while training.

Arab American Heritage Month is a time to recognize the history, culture, and important contributions of Arab Americans to the U.S. as we celebrate, let’s respect the accomplishments of others and great impact they’ve had on our society!

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April 2nd

• World Autism Awareness Day is observed every year on April 2 to help people learn more about autism and support those on the autism spectrum. The United Nations started it in 2007, and since then, people around the world have used this day to promote acceptance and inclusion. Many organizations hold events, fundraisers, and activities like the “Light It Up Blue” campaign, where buildings and landmarks are lit up in blue to show support for autistic individuals.

Here’s some fact vs fiction about autism:

• All Autism is the same: Fiction 

• Fact: There is a broad spectrum of autism, and no two people who are autistic are the same.

• Autism is a mental illness: Fiction

• Fact: ASD, or Autism Spectrum Disorder, is a developmental disorder that starts from changes in the brain before a child is born. It’s not a mental condition that develops later after birth.

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April 12 - 19th 

Passover (Pesach in Hebrew) is a major Jewish spring festival celebrating freedom and family as we remember the Exodus from Egypt more than 3,000 years ago.  Here are some things they do during passover:

Cleaning

• During Passover, the Jewish people refrain from eating chametz, food with leavening such as bread, cookies, or pasta. Before Passover begins, families will clean their homes to clear out the chametz.

Eating Matzah

• During Passover, they eat matzah, a cracker-like bread substitute representing the bread that didn’t have time to rise when the Jewish people fled Egypt.

The Seder

• The seder, held on the first one or two nights of the holiday, consists of a festive meal, the retelling of the Exodus story, and several other rituals and traditions, like finding the afikomen (a piece of matzah hidden during the ceremony), singing songs like "Dayenu," and opening the door symbolically for the prophet Elijah. 

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April 20th

Easter is a Christian holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is believed to have happened three days after his crucifixion. It takes place on the first Sunday after the full moon following the vernal equinox, so it can fall anywhere between March 22 and April 25. Many people celebrate Easter by going to church, having special meals, and doing fun activities like decorating eggs and going on Easter egg hunts. The egg represents new life and rebirth, which fits with the holiday’s message. Easter is also served as a time for families to get together and enjoy the spring season.

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April 22th 

• Every year on April 22, Earth Day is observed to spread awareness about environmental issues and encourage actions to protect the planet. It was first celebrated in 1970, and it has grown into a worldwide movement, with millions of people taking part in activities like tree planting, cleanups, and climate initiatives.

 Here’s some facts about the Earth:

• The name Earth is at least 1,000 years old. All of the planets, except for Earth, were named after Greek and Roman gods and goddesses. However, the name Earth is a Germanic word, which simply means “the ground.”

• Coral reefs are Earth’s largest living structure 

• The Moon is gradually drifting away from Earth at a rate of approximately 4 cm per year. This phenomenon is caused by the Moon pulling on Earth’s oceans creating tidal forces that produce a bulge of water on the side of Earth facing the Moon.  

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