The Importance of Pronouns
If you are cisgender, someone who identifies with the gender they were assigned at birth, you may or may not have given much thought to the pronouns you use every day. However, for people who are transgender and/or non-binary (TNB) the topic of pronouns is very important. Language is impactful especially when it comes to identity and misgendering, referring to someone by a gender they don’t identify as, can impact mental health. 

It can also be difficult to know how to use pronouns inclusively or how to apologize if you accidentally misgender someone. To learn more about normalizing pronouns and using gender-neutral language, click on the link below to read an article from Harvard Health Publishing! 
Black Cowboys in Chicago
Broken Arrow Horseback Riding Club, a nonprofit riding club in Chicago, talks about the lesser known community of Black cowboys in Chicago.

Calendar
Upcoming Holidays | Celebrations | Awareness Days
February 1st 
First day of Black History Month: (U.S., CAN, U.K.) A month dedicated to honoring all black people across different periods of history. Although it originated in the U.S. the significance of this month has gained recognition in many other countries including Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. 

Imbolc: (pagan) A fire festival celebrating hearth and home. This day also marks the halfway point between winter and spring. 

February 6th
Tu Bishvat: (Jewish) A day celebrating nature and the environment that often includes tree planting. 

February 14th
Valentine’s Day: Though there are many legends about the start of this holiday, in modern day culture it is a celebration of love. 

February 18th
Shivaratri: (Hindu) A festival honoring the god Shiva and the night Shiva performed the dance Tandava-the dance of creation, preservation and destruction. 

Isra and Miraj: (Islam) Celebrates the journey the Prophet Muhammad took from Mecca to Jerusalem and then from Jerusalem to the heavens. 

February 20th
President’s Day: (U.S.) Celebrates all people who served as President of the United States. 

February 21st
Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras: (Christian) The day before Ash Wednesday and often involves participating in confession as well as eating sweets. 

February 22nd
Ash Wednesday: (Christian) A holy day of prayer, fasting, and repentance. This is also the first day of Lent.

Be sure to check out the live Calendar through the link below! You can view the entire year by clicking the blue arrows at top left of the calendar.
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