May is a month rich with cultural heritage, mental health awareness, community care, and inclusion. It invites organizations to honor identity, support wellbeing, recognize service, and deepen understanding across differences. From celebrating Asian American and Jewish American heritage to advancing mental health conversations and accessibility, May offers ERGs and DEI teams meaningful opportunities to build connection and belonging.

Planning your May ERG programming? Verbate provides community and resources for ERG Leads and ERG Program Managers. Learn more about our ERG Leadership Community or sign up for our free, virtual ERG Program Manager Meet Up. 

May at a Glance

Key May Heritage & Awareness Observances

Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month

Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month celebrates the histories, cultures, and contributions of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities in the United States. The observance traces back to a 1978 congressional designation and has since expanded to reflect the breadth of AAPI identities across more than 20 ethnicities, languages, and cultural traditions. It also provides space to acknowledge the distinct histories, migration stories, and lived experiences that shape AAPI communities today - including ongoing challenges related to representation, safety, and belonging.

In workplace settings, AAPI Heritage Month is an opportunity to move beyond surface-level celebration and toward deeper understanding and inclusion.

Inclusive Ways to Celebrate

• Highlight AAPI voices, leaders, and stories across your organization.
• Host cultural storytelling, food-sharing, or heritage education events led by AAPI ERGs.
• Create space for dialogue about identity, belonging, and challenges faced by AAPI communities.
• Share resources that reflect the diversity within AAPI identities rather than a single narrative.
• Highlight AAPI voices, leaders, and stories across your organization.
• Host cultural storytelling, food-sharing, or heritage education events led by AAPI ERGs.
• Create space for dialogue about identity, belonging, and challenges faced by AAPI communities.

Jewish American Heritage Month

Jewish American Heritage Month honors the enduring contributions of Jewish Americans across business, science, civil rights, arts, and public service. First proclaimed nationally in 2006, the observance recognizes both historical legacy and contemporary leadership within Jewish communities. It also offers an opportunity to address Jewish diversity, combat antisemitism, and foster understanding across religious and cultural differences.

In organizational contexts, Jewish American Heritage Month supports education, inclusion, and respectful accommodation.

Inclusive Ways to Celebrate

• Spotlight Jewish American achievements and heritage through profiles or internal communications.
• Share educational resources about Jewish culture, history, and diversity.
• Be mindful of religious observances and inclusion needs for Jewish employees.
• Partner with Interfaith or Jewish ERGs to guide learning and programming.
• Spotlight Jewish American achievements and heritage through profiles or internal communications.
• Share educational resources about Jewish culture, history, and diversity.
• Be mindful of religious observances and inclusion needs for Jewish employees.

Mental Health Awareness Month

Mental Health Awareness Month raises awareness, reduces stigma, and encourages access to care and support. Since its founding in 1949, the observance has helped normalize conversations around mental health, resilience, and wellbeing across communities and workplaces. It also highlights how mental health intersects with identity, access to care, and systemic inequities.

For organizations, May offers a chance to reinforce that mental health support is ongoing - not limited to a single month.

Inclusive Ways to Celebrate

• Share mental health resources, EAP information, and wellbeing programming.
• Host webinars or discussion spaces focused on stigma, access, and culturally responsive care.
• Encourage psychologically safe check-ins led by managers and ERGs.
• Normalize rest, flexibility, and boundary-setting across teams.
• Share mental health resources, EAP information, and wellbeing programming.
• Host webinars or discussion spaces focused on stigma, access, and culturally responsive care.
• Encourage psychologically safe check-ins led by managers and ERGs.

Older Americans Month

Older Americans Month recognizes the contributions, leadership, and experience of older adults in communities and workplaces. First proclaimed in 1963, it highlights the value of age diversity at a time when multigenerational workforces are increasingly common. The observance also encourages organizations to examine age bias, accessibility, and long-term inclusion.

Celebrating Older Americans Month helps affirm that experience and longevity are strengths.

Inclusive Ways to Celebrate

• Spotlight career journeys and stories of older employees.
• Offer intergenerational mentoring or knowledge-sharing opportunities.
• Review policies for age inclusion, accessibility, and succession planning.
• Promote lifelong learning and growth across all career stages.
• Spotlight career journeys and stories of older employees.
• Offer intergenerational mentoring or knowledge-sharing opportunities.
• Review policies for age inclusion, accessibility, and succession planning.

Better Hearing & Speech Month

Better Hearing & Speech Month raises awareness about hearing health, communication disorders, and inclusive communication practices. Hearing and speech challenges affect millions of people globally and can significantly impact participation, connection, and confidence at work. The observance emphasizes early detection, accessibility, and inclusive design.

Organizations play an important role in removing communication barriers.

Inclusive Ways to Celebrate

• Promote captions, assistive technology, and inclusive meeting practices.
• Host trainings on listening, communication access, and disability inclusion.
• Share resources related to hearing health and speech-language wellness.
• Audit communication norms to ensure accessibility.
• Promote captions, assistive technology, and inclusive meeting practices.
• Host trainings on listening, communication access, and disability inclusion.
• Share resources related to hearing health and speech-language wellness.

Vesak / Buddha Day (May 1)

Vesak, also known as Buddha Day, is one of the most important holy days in Buddhism, commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha. Observed across many Buddhist traditions worldwide, Vesak emphasizes values of compassion, mindfulness, generosity, and peace. Practices vary by region and tradition, but often include meditation, acts of charity, and reflection on ethical living.

In workplace contexts, Vesak offers an opportunity to recognize Buddhist employees and promote interfaith understanding through education and respect.

Inclusive Ways to Celebrate

• Acknowledge observance and time-off needs for team members who celebrate.
• Share educational resources about Vesak and Buddhist traditions.
• Host optional mindfulness, meditation, or interfaith learning sessions.
• Avoid scheduling major deadlines or events that conflict with observance.
• Acknowledge observance and time-off needs for those who celebrate.
• Share educational resources about Buddhist traditions.
• Host mindfulness or interfaith learning sessions.

Cinco de Mayo (May 5)

Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican army’s victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla in 1862 and has become a symbol of Mexican resilience and pride. While it is often misunderstood as Mexico’s Independence Day, the observance is best honored through cultural education and historical context rather than stereotypes. In the U.S., Cinco de Mayo has also become a way to recognize Mexican American identity and contributions.

For organizations, the day presents an opportunity to celebrate culture thoughtfully while elevating Latinx voices.

Inclusive Ways to Celebrate

• Celebrate Mexican and Latinx heritage through storytelling, history, food, and music.
• Invite Latinx ERGs to lead or co-create programming.
• Share educational content that explains the historical significance of the day.
• Avoid caricatures or oversimplified representations of culture.
• Celebrate Mexican and Latinx heritage through storytelling, music, and food.
• Partner with Latinx ERGs to lead programming.
• Spotlight Latinx voices and contributions.

National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (May 5)

This observance raises awareness of the disproportionately high rates of violence experienced by Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people. The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) movement centers Indigenous leadership and calls attention to systemic failures in justice, healthcare, and public safety. The day is often marked by wearing red to honor those lost and demand accountability.

In workplaces, this observance should be approached with care, centering education, listening, and respect rather than performative action.

Inclusive Ways to Observe

• Share educational resources created by Indigenous-led organizations.
• Acknowledge the day respectfully in internal communications.
• Partner with Indigenous ERGs or community groups when possible.
• Center listening, learning, and accountability rather than celebration.
• Share educational resources from Indigenous-led organizations.
• Acknowledge the day respectfully and center listening and learning.
• Partner with Indigenous ERGs or community groups when possible.

Armed Forces Day (USA - May 16)

Armed Forces Day is observed on the third Saturday in May and honors those currently serving in the U.S. military. Unlike Memorial Day or Veterans Day, this observance focuses specifically on active-duty service members and their families. It recognizes ongoing service, sacrifice, and commitment.

In organizational settings, Armed Forces Day offers an opportunity to acknowledge service while being mindful of privacy and individual preference.

Inclusive Ways to Observe

• Recognize employees serving in the Guard or Reserves.
• Partner with Veterans ERGs to guide respectful acknowledgment.
• Offer appreciation without requiring public disclosure.
• Share educational context distinguishing Armed Forces Day from other military observances.
• Recognize employees who serve in the Guard or Reserves.
• Partner with Veterans ERGs to acknowledge service respectfully.
• Offer appreciation without requiring public disclosure.

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International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOT-B - May 17)

IDAHOT-B is a global observance that raises awareness of discrimination and violence faced by LGBTQ+ people worldwide. It marks the removal of homosexuality from the World Health Organization’s list of mental disorders in 1990 and serves as a call to action for equality, safety, and inclusion.

In organizations, the day offers a moment to reaffirm commitments to LGBTQ+ inclusion beyond Pride Month.

Inclusive Ways to Celebrate

• Host educational sessions or panels on LGBTQ+ inclusion and allyship.
• Offer safe spaces for open discussion and listening.
• Collaborate with LGBTQ+ ERGs to design meaningful programming.
• Reinforce zero-tolerance policies for harassment and discrimination.
• Host educational sessions or panels on LGBTQ+ inclusion and allyship.
• Offer safe spaces for dialogue and support.
• Collaborate with LGBTQ+ ERGs on meaningful programming.

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Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD - May 21)

Global Accessibility Awareness Day highlights the importance of digital accessibility and inclusive design for people with disabilities. First launched in 2012, GAAD raises awareness that more than one billion people globally live with disabilities - making accessibility essential for participation, equity, and innovation. The observance encourages organizations to move from awareness to action.

For workplaces, GAAD is a reminder that accessibility benefits everyone.

Inclusive Ways to Celebrate

• Audit digital tools, websites, and internal communications for accessibility.
• Offer accessibility awareness or inclusive design trainings.
• Highlight disability inclusion best practices across teams.
• Partner with Accessibility or Disability ERGs to lead initiatives.
• Audit digital tools, websites, and communications for accessibility.
• Offer accessibility awareness trainings.
• Share best practices for inclusive design across teams.

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Memorial Day (May 25)

Memorial Day is a U.S. federal holiday honoring military members who died while serving in the armed forces. It is a solemn day of remembrance marked by reflection, ceremonies, and moments of silence. While often associated with the start of summer, its purpose centers on honoring sacrifice and service.

Organizations can approach Memorial Day thoughtfully by emphasizing remembrance over celebration.

Inclusive Ways to Observe

• Recognize veterans and military families within your organization.
• Encourage community service or remembrance activities.
• Offer flexibility around the holiday.
• Share educational context about the meaning of the day.
• Recognize veterans and military families within your organization.
• Encourage community service or remembrance activities.
• Offer flexibility around the holiday.

Start of Hajj (May 25)

The start of Hajj marks the beginning of the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Millions of Muslims participate each year, making it one of the largest religious gatherings in the world. For those observing, Hajj often requires extended travel and time away from work.

Acknowledging Hajj in the workplace supports religious inclusion and respect.

Inclusive Ways to Acknowledge

• Be mindful of extended travel or time-off needs.
• Avoid scheduling major deadlines for impacted employees.
• Share educational context about Hajj to promote understanding.
• Respect privacy around observance and participation.
• Be mindful of extended travel or time-off needs.
• Avoid scheduling major deadlines for impacted employees.
• Share educational context to promote understanding.

Eid al-Adha (May 26 - 27)

Eid al-Adha, known as the Festival of Sacrifice, is one of the most important holidays in Islam. It commemorates the Prophet Ibrahim’s devotion and emphasizes values of faith, generosity, compassion, and community. Observances typically include prayer, family gatherings, charitable giving, and shared meals.

For workplaces, Eid al-Adha is an opportunity to practice flexibility and inclusion.

Inclusive Ways to Acknowledge

• Offer flexibility for time off or adjusted schedules.
• Avoid assumptions about how individuals celebrate.
• Share educational resources about the holiday’s meaning.
• Focus on respect, accommodation, and inclusion.
• Offer flexibility for time off or schedule adjustments.
• Avoid assumptions about observance.
• Focus on respect, accommodation, and inclusion.

Cultivating Inclusion & Connection Through May Observances

May’s blend of heritage, health, community, service, and accessibility observances offers organizations a powerful opportunity to deepen belonging and shared humanity. When ERGs and leaders plan proactively - rather than reactively - these moments become catalysts for year-round inclusion.

To support planning, explore Verbate’s Heritage Months & Cultural Calendar.

Planning your May ERG programming? Verbate provides community and resources for ERG Leads and ERG Program Managers. Sign up for our newsletter for deeper monthly insights. If you’re looking for strategic support, learn more about our ERG Leadership Community — including training, resources, and year-round connection with ERGs around the world.