Heritage

On January 17, 2022, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday will mark the 27th anniversary of the 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.

In 1994, Congress designated the third Monday as the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service - a "Day On, Not a Day Off."  

February is African American History Month The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of African Americans who struggled with adversity to achieve full citizenship in American society.

Lunar New Year, also called Spring Festival, is the most important holiday in China. Tied to the Chinese lunar calendar, the holiday began as a time for feasting and to honor household and heavenly deities, as well as ancestors.

With the popular adoption of the Western calendar in 1912, the Chinese joined in celebrating January 1 as New Year’s Day. China, however, continues to celebrate Lunar New Year with the traditional greeting, “Kung hei fat choi.” In 2022, Lunar New Year will begin on February 1.

The year 2022 is slated to be the Year of the water Tiger. The tiger is known as the king of all beasts in China and the zodiac is associated with strength, exorcising evils and bravery.

Read more about Lunar New Year: https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/chinese-new-year

Women’s History Month had its origins as a national celebration in 1981 when Congress passed Pub. L. 97-28 which authorized and requested the President to proclaim the week beginning March 7, 1982 as “Women’s History Week.” Throughout the next five years, Congress continued to pass joint resolutions designating a week in March as “Women’s History Week.” In 1987 after being petitioned by the National Women’s History Project, Congress passed Pub. L. 100-9 which designated the month of March 1987 as “Women’s History Month.” Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women’s History Month. Since 1995, presidents have issued a series of annual proclamations designating the month of March as “Women’s History Month.” These proclamations celebrate the contributions women have made to the United States and recognize the specific achievements women have made over the course of American history in a variety of fields.

Women in Real Estate

Rolling through your day on autopilot? Just because it’s second nature, doesn’t mean it’s right. Slow down and make sure you’re providing equal service to all. April is Fair Housing Month and a great time to affirm you’re helping to build thriving, inclusive communities. Fair housing impacts all NAR members, all markets, and all neighborhoods. Check yourself. Educate yourself. Hold yourself accountable. Because That’s Who We R®.

NCJAR's Fair Housing Resources

May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month!

A celebration of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States. A rather broad term, Asian/Pacific encompasses all of the Asian continent and the Pacific islands of Melanesia (New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Solomon Islands), Micronesia (Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru and the Federated States of Micronesia) and Polynesia (New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands, Rotuma, Midway Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, French Polynesia and Easter Island).

NCJAR Celebrates LGBTQ+ Pride Month 2022

(June 1 – June 30)

Every year, during the month of June, the LGBTQ+ community celebrates in a number of different ways. Across the globe, various events are held during this special month as a way of recognizing the influence LGBT people have had around the world. Why was June chosen? Because it is when the Stonewall Riots took place, way back in 1969.

Pride Month is so important because it marks the start of huge change within the LGBTQ+ community, as well as the wider societal implications. Although attitudes and injustice still remain, we have come a long way since the riots of 1969 and by continuing in this long standing tradition we continue to raise awareness, improve the attitudes of society and encourage inclusiveness. #Pride2022

In the past 32 years, July has been an important month for people with disabilities. In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed on July 26th, 1990.

Boston was the first city to hold a parade to celebrate Disability Pride Day that year. Since then, marches, pageants, and parades have been held in cities across the country. In addition, New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio officially declared July as Disability Pride Month in 2015.

Disability is a spectrum encompassing a wide range of illnesses. Despite the societal view of disability, it's not something that exists in isolation.

Visit How to Celebrate Disability Pride Month to read more.

In the United States, Minority Mental Health Awareness Month is observed every July to bring awareness to the unique struggles racial and ethnic minority groups face. In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, racial and ethnic minority groups have had a harder time finding treatment for their mental illnesses and substance abuse problems.

This month, North Central Jersey Association of Realtors® will provide tools and resources to address the stigma about mental health among racial and ethnic minorities.

To eliminate mental health stigma in minority communities, we encouraged everyone to visit resources that emphasize the importance of spreading awareness about how to prevent and dissipate mental health stigma.

While there are many emergency Mental Health hotlines, if you or someone you care about is having thoughts of suicide, call 911 for immediate help.

The month of September signifies a lot of wonderful things: a new school year, football season, the end of summer, and fall's arrival. However, it also represents SAFETY for Realtors.

The National Association of Realtors has designated September as Realtor Safety Month. It's well known that a career in real estate can be exciting, fun, and rewarding. It is important to keep in mind that being a real estate agent comes with some risks. Recently, real estate professionals have been violently attacked by physical attackers on a far more dangerous level than they have in the past.