Promoting awareness, equality and acceptance among library team members and patrons helps to reduce barriers, build empathy and maintain an environment that is welcome to everyone.

Branches selected a month and topic or culture that they would like to better understand and recognize, then created programs about and for staff and community members. Each month had a theme such as honoring our veterans, celebrating refugees, mental health awareness and celebrating pride month. The month long promotion of each theme and the respective programs provided an opportunity to increase awareness internally and externally, while reinforcing the "It's About All of Us" message.

Several staff and community members are now better informed because of these programs and, hopefully, better able to communicate with and relate to each other. In addition, the program has provided a unique opportunity to partner with a variety of community partners and expand our workforce knowledge, while providing community members increased opportunities for success.