The holiday season is a very lonely time for many people, especially isolated older adults. Will you be away from friends and family this Thanksgiving? Will someone you know be alone over Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, or New Years Eve?

Make Room @ The Table's annual Holiday Lists bring together a cornucopia of creative ways people can enjoy the holidays by themselves, as well as simple strategies to dish out helpings of festive connectivity for those engaged in solitary celebrations. Learn more on Make Room @ The Table's Facebook page.

 

November is National Native American Heritage Month. Throughout the year and especially in November we focus on the powerful contributions of Native Peoples in the United States. There are many ways to celebrate and honor Native Americans and the rich culture of the many indigenous tribes: educate ourselves about the histories of the many contributions of Native Americans, attend local events to support Indigenous Cultures, support Native owned businesses and artisans, visit museums, heritage centers, and historical sites, and commit to supporting the policies that impact equitable change in local and national organizations.

While we celebrate Native Americans' contributions to culture, art, education, public service, science, humanities, medicine, ecology, architecture, and many other areas of society, it is important to recognize the painful history inflicted upon the Native Peoples of America, as President Joe Biden affirms in his 2023 Proclamation on National Native American Heritage Month: "throughout our history, Native peoples’ cultures, identities, and governments were not always seen as a part of this Nation but as a threat to it.  Native people were pressured to assimilate, banned from practicing their traditions and sacred ceremonies, and forced from their homes and ancestral homelands.  This violence and devastation cost countless lives, tore families apart, and caused lasting damage to Tribal communities and institutions." (Read President Biden's full proclamation)