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ORR Team,
What does it mean to show compassion?
Compassion comes to us through multiple Romance Languages, but in its current state, you can easily discern the original Latin root passion meaning “to suffer” and com meaning “together.”
What does it mean to “be together in suffering?” Does it mean to show sympathy?
In fact, compassion is a loan from the Greek-derived sympathy. In this case, the Greek root pathos (pronounced pāˌTHäs) means “suffering” and sym means “together.”
If both compassion and sympathy call us together in suffering, how do we enact that? Does this origin imply that we cannot exhibit compassion unless we are suffering alongside others?
For example, after a disaster, are we unable to show survivors compassion unless we have also been harmed by the disaster? Obviously not.
Let’s take another example. When a colleague has too much work assigned, should we create projects to take on an equivalent amount of work, so that we are equally miserable? Although some of you may have this inclination, desist.
This idea of matching suffering to show compassion feels absurd. Let’s return to the etymology. Com (“together”) comes before passion (“suffering”). Perhaps we should think of that sense of connection first.
When we have troubles casting shadows in our lives, often what we need most is the presence of others. Sometimes, when it is our turn to give comfort, we feel completely at loss. We may have nothing helpful to say. Nothing practical to do. Still, I think the foundation of compassion is our presence during others’ time of need—our attention to others and our willingness to serve. That is how we get through suffering, together.
Rebecca Rutland Soulen | Communications | Climate Adaptation ESG Secretariat | Resilience (Detail)
To download FEMA Core Values resources for distribution and training, go to FEMA Pub 1 - We are FEMA! Intranet Site
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FEMA Core Value: Compassion - We are understanding, empathetic, and inclusive as we support fellow employees, partner organizations, individuals, and communities.
What does Compassion mean to me?
Compassion is the ability to find a common denominator that links you to another human being. Where you are capable of relating to another person's experience or misfortunes. Then, being able to create a network of links that tie you all together to help find a resolution; to be the greater good. Compassion also means having patience and understanding, and knowing that there is more than one side to a story or situation.
Holli L. Griffiths | External Support Branch Director | Incident Management Support Division | Logistics Management Directorate
Would you like to share what FEMA Core Values means to you? Email FEMA-ORR-CoreValues-Team@fema.dhs.gov for more information.
How organizations define diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) can vary, but most would agree that creating fair opportunities and encouraging participation in the workplace regardless of an employee’s ethnicity, race, gender, personality, religion, or any other characteristic exemplifies good DEI practices. This idea is a great sentiment to have, but how do we as an agency actually achieve our goal of having an equitable and fair workplace for all employees in practice? Through compassion.
Compassion involves seeing the world from someone else’s point of view. By considering the perspective of our colleagues, we are able to truly understand what diversity means and empathize with how their experience may be different from ours. Often, when discussing DEI, we have a tendency to talk about all of the things that we should not do, but it might be a better approach to learn why some actions are not inclusive. It takes compassion to not only comprehend what makes us different, but to appreciate those differences as well.
"When we focus on ourselves, our world contracts as our problems and preoccupations loom large. But when we focus on others, our world expands. Our own problems drift to the periphery of the mind and so seem smaller, and we increase our capacity for connection - or compassionate action."
- Daniel Goleman
Signs You're a Compassion Fatigued Leader — And 10 Tips for Recovery
Over the last 2 years, the emotional impacts of the pandemic and the exodus of workers in what has been called the Great Reshuffle, has taken a major toll on many leaders. Last year, nearly 48 million U.S. workers left their jobs. Additionally, the “hidden resignation”—doing the bear minimum to keep your job—is another negative consequence. With the remnants of a global crisis almost behind us, now is the time we prepare for its aftermath—compassion fatigued leadership. So, what are the tell tale signs you have compassion fatigue?
Signs You’re a Compassion Fatigued Leader — and 10 Tips for Recovery » Community | GovLoop
Empathy in the Workplace A Tool for Effective Leadership
A top priority for many organizations is to look beyond traditional strategies for management development and recruitment to create a cadre of leaders capable of moving the company forward. Leaders today need to be more person-focused and be able to work with those not just in the next cubicle, but also with those in other buildings, or other countries.
empathyintheworkplace.pdf (cclinnovation.org)
Informational Webinar Series: 2022 Nonprofit Security Grant Program Technical Assistance
FEMA and its partners are committed to providing quality customer service to all nonprofit organization stakeholders, including socially vulnerable, underserved, and under-represented communities. As such, and building on last year’s efforts, the Grants Program Directorate is offering informational NSGP webinars for all nonprofit organizations interested in learning more about the Fiscal Year 2022 NSGP priorities, eligibility, and application process.
If you have any questions regarding these webinars, or require special accommodations, please contact FEMA-NSGP@fema.dhs.gov
Nonprofit Security Grant Program | FEMA.gov
Digital Escape with 508!
Creating accessible documents and content is everyone's responsibility! Here's the link to subscribe to the forthcoming Section 508 newsletter. Please subscribe and pass the word along!! Section 508 Newsletter
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
AAPI Month is an annual celebration that recognizes the historical and cultural contributions of individuals and groups of Asian and Pacific Islander descent in the United States. The term AAPI includes cultures from the entire Asian continent - including East, Southeast, and South Asia - and the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia.
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have contributed significantly to many facets of American culture and society, including science and medicine, literature and art, sports and recreation, government and politics, and activism and law. Notably in 2021, Kamala Harris became the first Asian American Vice President of the United States. The month of May was chosen for AAPI Heritage Month because it commemorates the immigration of the first Japanese people to the United States on May 7, 1843. May is also a significant month because it recognizes Golden Spike Day, May 10, 1869, which marks the completion of the transcontinental railroad that was built with significant contributions from Chinese workers.
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month - Origins, Themes & Populations - HISTORY
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Haitian Heritage Month
Haitian Heritage Month is a nationally recognized month celebrated in May every year. It is a great time to celebrate the vibrant culture, distinct art, delectable cuisine, and people of Haitian origin. Haitian Heritage Month is celebrated in May because it is an expansion of the annual Haitian Flag Day which occurs on May 18. The United States is home to a large Haitian population and Haitian Heritage Month is celebrated across the nation through parades, flag hoisting, and school activities.
https://nationaltoday.com/haitian-heritage-month/
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Jewish American Heritage Month
During May, Jewish American Heritage Month recognizes the contributions American Jews have made, and continue to make, to the history, culture and society of this country. The origins of the month began in 1980 with the establishment of Jewish American Week. Through the bi-partisan efforts of Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida and the late Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, the month was established in 2006 by President George W. Bush to honor the contributions and achievements of Jewish Americans and to educate all Americans. It has been continued since then by presidential proclamation.
https://diversity.ua.edu/jewish-american-heritage-month/
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Mental Health Awareness Month
Each year millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental illness. During May, we are encouraged to raise awareness about mental health and fight stigma, provide support, educate the public, and advocate for policies that support people with mental illness and their families.
https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Awareness-Events/Mental-Health-Awareness-Month
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May Day - May 1
May Day is a May 1 celebration with a long and varied history, dating back millennia. Throughout the years, there have been many different events and festivities worldwide, most with the express purpose of welcoming in a change of season (spring in the Northern Hemisphere). A notable May Day tradition is the Maypole Dance. While the exact origins of the maypole are unknown, the annual traditions surrounding it can be traced back to medieval times. In the 19th century, May Day took on a new meaning, as an International Workers’ Day grew out of the 19th-century labor movement for worker’s rights and an eight-hour workday in the United States.
https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/history-of-may-day
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Eid al-Fitr - May 3
The religious festival Eid al-Fitr, or the “Festival of Breaking the Fast,” is one of two major holidays celebrated by Muslims around the world. Also known as the “Lesser Eid,” Eid al-Fitr commemorates the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. An occasion for special prayers, family visits, gift-giving and charity, it takes place over one to three days, beginning on the first day of Shawwal, the 10th month in the Islamic calendar.
https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/eid-al-fitr
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Cinco de Mayo - May 5
Cinco de Mayo, or the fifth of May, is a holiday that celebrates the date of the Mexican army’s May 5, 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. The day is also known as Battle of Puebla Day. While it is a relatively minor holiday in Mexico, in the United States, Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a commemoration of Mexican culture and heritage, particularly in areas with large Mexican-American populations.
https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/cinco-de-mayo
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National Military Spouse Appreciation Day - May 6
On Military Spouse Appreciation Day we honor the contributions and sacrifices made by military spouses. Their commitment and support help to keep our country safe.
https://veteran.com/military-spouse-appreciation-day/
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Mother's Day - May 8
Mother’s Day is a holiday honoring motherhood and is celebrated in different forms throughout the world. Celebrations of mothers and motherhood can be traced back to the ancient Greeks and Romans, who held festivals in honor of the mother goddesses Rhea and Cybele, but the clearest modern precedent for Mother’s Day is the early Christian festival known as “Mothering Sunday.”
The American incarnation of Mother’s Day was created by Anna Jarvis. Following her mother’s 1905 death, Anna Jarvis conceived of Mother’s Day as a way of honoring the sacrifices mothers made for their children. Arguing that American holidays were biased toward male achievements, she started a massive letter writing campaign to newspapers and prominent politicians urging the adoption of a special day honoring motherhood. In 1914 President Woodrow Wilson signed a measure officially establishing the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.
https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/mothers-day
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FEMA VAC Memorial Day Event - May 19
In commemoration of Memorial Day, the FEMA Veterans Advisory Council (VAC) is privileged to present remarks from FEMA Region 8 Administrator, Nancy Dragani and National President American Gold Star Mothers Jo Ann Maitland. Please join us on May 19, 2022, from 2:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. EST, our for Memorial Day event. Our Memorial Day event is an event that we, as a grateful nation, take a moment to pay our respects to those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms.
Thursday, May 19 at 2:30 - 3:45pm EDT
Meeting Platform: Zoom
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Harvey Milk Day - May 22
Harvey Milk Day is commemorated every year on May 22, and it commemorates the life and legacy of gay rights activist Harvey Milk, who was also the first openly gay man elected into office in the United States. Milk was responsible for passing gay rights ordinances for the city of San Francisco and served eleven months in office before he was assassinated on November 27, 1978, along with San Francisco Mayor George Moscone. Harvey Milk’s contributions to the cause of equality for all people has been recognized in a number of ways, including the issuance of a stamp with his picture on it, the posthumous awarding of the Medal of Freedom, and the creation of a holiday in his memory. Harvey Milk Day was officially established as a Day of Special Significance in 2009 when Arnold Schwarzenegger (then governor of California) signed it into law.
https://nationaltoday.com/harvey-milk-day/
https://gsanetwork.org/resources/harvey-milk-day/
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AANHPI Heritage Month Special Observance Event - May 24
May is Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. Each year, we set aside this month to celebrate the rich culture, history, and achievements of the AANHPI community in the United States. The term AANHPI represents a broad grouping of cultures including, but not limited to, Bangladeshi, Burmese, Cambodian, Chamorro, Chinese, Filipino, Guamanian, Hmong, Indian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Native Hawaiian, Nepalese, Pakistani, Taiwanese, Thai, Samoan, Sri Lankan, Tongan and Vietnamese.
The rich and diverse tapestry of culture and experience throughout the AANHPI community contributes to the strength of FEMA and reflects the communities we live amongst and serve. The FEMA theme for 2022 Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month is “Hear Our Voices,” selected to encourage discussions and understanding of the different AANHPI experiences in America. In recent years, notably during the pandemic, AANHPI community members have endured increasingly widespread violence and personal attack. This is just one reason why it’s important to hear AANHPI stories and voices – to gain understanding which can build compassion and unity.
To celebrate the month the Asian American and Pacific Islander Employee Resource Group, in collaboration with the Office of Equal Rights, will host a FEMA-wide event from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET on May 24 featuring keynote speaker Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, John K. Tien.
Tuesday, May 24 at 3:00 - 4:00pm EST
Meeting Platform: Zoom
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Memorial Day - May 30
Memorial Day is an American holiday, observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Originally known as Decoration Day, the day honored only those lost while fighting in the Civil War. During the United States involvement in World War I, the holiday evolved to commemorate American military personnel who died in all wars, including World War II, The Vietnam War, The Korean, War, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
For decades, Memorial Day was observed on May 30 - the date General Logan had selected for Decoration Day. This changed in 1968 when Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which established Memorial Day as the last Monday in May in order to create a three-day weekend for federal employees. The change went into effect in 1971 - the same law also declared Memorial Day as a federal holiday. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades.
https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/memorial-day-history
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FEMA is committed to maintaining a workforce that reflects our Nation’s rich diversity and capitalizes on the varied cultural, professional, and ethnic backgrounds of our workforce and those we serve. The commitment to diversity and inclusion requires creating sustainable programs and initiatives to ensure the retention of a diverse and inclusive workforce.
In addition to the programs sponsored by the Office of the Chief Component Human Capital Officer (OCCHCO), the Office of Equal Rights (OER), and the Inclusive Diversity Council (IDC), FEMA formalized the policies and procedures for FEMA Employee Resource Groups (FERGs).
FERGs are voluntary, employee-led groups that serve as a resource for FEMA employees to foster a diverse, inclusive workplace aligned with FEMA’s mission and values. FERGs will assist with recruitment and outreach events; organize networking and mentoring opportunities; and host commemorative, cultural, educational, and social events. FERGs offer a valuable mechanism to foster innovation, facilitate communication between employees and senior leaders, and provide employee development opportunities.
The successful implementation of FERGs require the active support of senior leaders. Each FERG must be sponsored by a Senior Executive Service member and two co-sponsors to manage FERG activities. All employees are encouraged to participate in a FERG to help FEMA achieve its diversity and inclusion goals.
For a list of all FERGS, visit:
https://usfema.sharepoint.com/teams/OCCHCOHCI/DIEE/IDC/FERG/Pages/default.aspx
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