Looking for tools and information on January key dates and events that you can use in your employee communications? Check out our suggestions!
New Year’s Day – Celebrated on the first day of the year, January 1 is a holiday and, for many, a bookend to a season of holidays. In the U.S. and many other countries, people ring in the new year at midnight with fireworks and people around the world celebrate with various New Year’s Day traditions. It’s also rather customary for people to set self-improvement goals in the form of New Year’s resolutions. According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted last year, three-in-ten Americans reported making at least one resolution. Here’s a link to the full Pew New Year’s survey results where you can learn more, but we have excerpted the graphic below which summarizes some of the most frequent resolutions made last year. Pro tip: If you are among those who make resolutions, your EAP can help!
Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 20 – The King Center says this “…a time that we celebrate, commemorate and honor the life, legacy and impact of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The King Center leads the charge to provide education and training in Nonviolence365.” The King Center has scheduled a series of both in-person and virtual events beginning with a press conference on January7 through to the holiday. Check the link for a schedule of events. January 20, 2025 will also mark the 30th anniversary as a National Day of Service. This day was established to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King, and to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities.Access resources for the Day of Service to learn ways to participate.
National Mentoring Month – This site says: “Each January, we come together as a community to ignite these passions and help turn these wildest dreams into reality with National Mentoring Month. By harnessing our collective voice, MENTOR advocates for supportive relationships for young people, mentoring as a legislative priority, and raises awareness around how mentorship can change a young person’s life.” The site has many excellent resources and tool kits for both mentors and mentees. We particularly like the detailed kit on Becoming a Better Mentor: Strategies to Be There for Young People.
National Blood Donor Month – A single blood donation could help save multiple lives. The holiday season is typically a time of reduced donations so January is a good month for the reminder of the importance of donating blood. Use this tool to find blood donation centers near you. Also, check out this helpful list of frequently asked questions about blood donation.
Other January key dates and observances
- National Radon Action Month and Jan 27-31 is Radon Awareness Week
- Thyroid Awareness Month
- Cervical Health Awareness Month
- National Glaucoma Awareness Month
- National Birth Defects Prevention Month
- National Stalking Awareness Month and Jan 18 is Stalking Awareness Day of Action