DEIA & Wellness Newsletters

The newsletter is brought to you by the DEIA Council and Wellness Coalition newsletter teams.

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Become a featured artist! Have your articles, musings, photos, or cover stories or poetry featured, or join the newsletter teams, submit an email to yose_dei@nps.gov

DEIA - January ‘24

This issue features…

• Upcoming Events

• Emotional Wellness

• MLK Day

• World Braille Day

DEIA - December ‘23

This issue features…

• Upcoming Events

• 8 Dimensions of Wellness

• International Day of Persons with Disabilities

• New Year’s Resolutions

DEIA - November ‘23

This issue features…

• Upcoming Events

• Veteran’s Day

• Dia de los Muertos

• Trans Awareness Week

DEIA - October ‘23

This issue features…

• Upcoming Events

• Indigenous Peoples’ Day

• Disability Employment Awareness Month

• Filipino American History Month

• LGBTQ+ History Month

DEIA - September ‘23

This issue features…

• Upcoming Events

• NPS RDI Trainings

• Hispanic Heritage Month

• New National Monument

• Read, Watch, Listen

DEIA - August ‘23

This issue features…

• Upcoming Events & Opportunities

• RISE Framework

• Caribbean-American Heritage Month

• Transgender Advocacy

DEIA - July ‘23

This issue features…

• e, Workshops, and Employee Opportunities

• Latino Conservation Week

• Pride 2023 Recap

• Disability Pride Month

WEllness - July ‘23

This issue features…

• What is Environmental Wellness?

• Community Events

• Featured Artists

• Plastic Free July

• Wellness News: How litter picking benefits your mental health

• Recipe for Yo’ Wellness: Rhubarb Jam

• Resources: Mariposa Heritage House + MHH Services at Yosemite

DEIA - June ‘23

This issue features…

• Pride Events Calendar

• Early-Season ERG Events

• Celebrating Pride Month

• Intersectional Pride

• Juneteenth

DEIA - May ‘23

This issue features:

• Upcoming events

• Intro to DEIA

• Employee Resource Groups

• AAPI Heritage Month

• Pride Month Calendar

WEllness - May ‘23

This issue features…

• Warm Spring Welcome

• Upcoming Events

• Featured Artists for the Month of May

• Hello Spring and Seasonal Allergies

• Kale, Quinoa & Apple Salad

• Tips for Keeping a Gratitude Journal

• Mental Health Resources

DEIA - April ‘23

This newsletter features…

• Community Events

• Workshops and Webinars

• Transgender Day of Visibility

• Environmental Justice

• Recent News

Wellness - April ‘23

This issue features…

• Breathe Exercises

• Upcoming Events

• Featured Artists for the Month of April

• How Decluttering Can Transform Your Mental Well-being

• Spinach-Potato Tacos

• Easy Ways to Make Decluttering Fun

• Mental Health Resources

DEIA - March ‘23

This issue features…

• Upcoming Events

• Evolution of the Feminist Movement

• Women in the NPS

• Women’s History Month

• National Women’s Employee Resource Group

WEllness - February ‘23

This issue features…

• I Too Poem by Langston Hughes

• Upcoming Events

• Featured Artists for the Month of February

• How to Maintain your Mental Health in Winter

• Potato Soup Recipe

• Mindful Coloring Activity

• Mental Health Resources

DEIA - February ‘23

This issue features…

• Upcoming Events

• Black History Month Infographic

• Black Faces, White Spaces

• How to Celebrate Black History Month

Wellness - January ‘23

This issue features…

• Starting Over by David Harris

• Upcoming Events

• Featured Artists for the Month of January

• New Year’s Goal Setting Tips

• Hot Salted Caramel Apple Cider Recipe

• Setting SMART-R Goals Activity

• Mental Health Resources

DEIA - january ‘23

This issue features…

• Upcoming events

• MLK Day

• Unpacking Privilege

• MLK Day Clothing Drive

Wellness - December ‘22

This issue features…

• Hope Is The Thing With Feathers by Emily Dickenson

• Upcoming Events

• Featured Artist for the Month of December

• Find Your Holiday Happiness: Manage Anxiety and Depression

• Mexican Hot Chocolate Recipe

• Goal Setting for Self - Esteem Activity

• Mental Health Resources

DEIA - December ‘22

This issue features…

• Upcoming events

• Allyship

• Eco-ableism

• Representation in Media

WEllness - November ‘22

This issue features…

• Thank You by Ross Gay

• Upcoming Events

• Featured Artist for the Month of November

• Thanksgiving Traditions That Can Boost Health and Wellness

• Pumpkin Bread Recipe

• Plan a Picnic, Get Outside Activity

• Mental Health Resources

DEIA - November ‘22

This issue of the DEIA Newsletter explores Intersectional Environmentalism (IE). The information on IE has been informed by ‘The Intersectional Environmentalist’, a book by Leah Thomas. Leah advocates for environmental justice and inclusivity through her Intersectional Environmentalism Platform. Click here to learn more about Leah's work.

This issue features…

• An IE infographic

• An article on the importance of oral history

• November bucket list

• Upcoming events

Wellness -
October ‘22

This issue features…

• La Llorona Mexican Folkore Story

• Upcoming Events

• Featured Artist for the Month of October

• Motivation: How to get started and staying motivated

• Spooky Boo Brownies Recipe

• Make or Bake Treats Recipe

• Mental Health Resources

DEIA - October ‘22

This issue features…

• Hispanic Heritage Month

• Filipino American History Month

• LGBTQ+ History Month

• Disability Employment Awareness Month

• Indigenous Peoples’ Day

• Retention Dialogue Employee Spotlight

• Retention Dialogue Debrief

• Upcoming events

Wellness - September ‘22

What should I do if I suspect someone is experiencing a crisis or is hurting?

If you believe someone needs help, we encourage you to follow the ACE (Ask, Care, Escort) suicide prevention model, with these easy-to-remember steps:

Ask – Ask, “Are you thinking of killing yourself?” Although it may feel awkward, research shows that people having thoughts of suicide feel relief when someone asks them in a caring way.
Care – Show you care. The context of caring makes it a lot easier to ask the hard questions about suicide. By actively listening and engaging, without judgment, you are showing that you care – this might just be enough to help the person feel relief and that they are not alone.
Escort – When someone acknowledges that they are feeling suicidal or hopeless, care enough to connect them to the nearest helping resource. Do not leave them alone! If possible, separate them from methods of harm.

www.samhsa.gov/find-help/988
www.dhs.gov/employee-resources/blog/2021/09/02/september-national-suicide-prevention-awareness-month

DEIA - September ‘22

This month’s issue features…

• Employee Spotlights

• Infographics on Measuring Diversity and Implicit Bias

• Upcoming Events

• August DEIA Recap

Wellness - August ‘22

DEIA - August ‘22

This is the very first issue of the DEIA Newsletter! This issue features:

• Resources on Yosemite’s Employee Resource Groups

• Recommended media that features diverse casts and content

• Answers to common DEIA questions

Wellness - July ‘22

Wellness - June ‘22

June is Pride Month

Celebrating and supporting LGBTQIA+ community now and always.

Wellness - May ‘22

May is Mental Health Awareness Month
Do your part in reducing Mental Health Stigma
Stigma is when someone, or even you yourself, views a person in a negative way just because they have a mental health condition. Some people describe stigma as a feeling of shame or judgement from someone else. Stigma can even come from an internal place, confusing feeling bad with being bad.

Navigating life with a mental health condition can be tough, and the isolation, blame and secrecy that is often encouraged by stigma can create huge challenges to reaching out, getting needed support and living well.

Learning how to avoid and address stigma are important for all of us, especially when you realize stigma’s effects:

See the person, not the condition

• Offer support if you think someone is having trouble

• Challenge misconceptions when you see or hear them

• Use respectful language to talk about mental health conditions

Use this tool to: Find a Therapist, Psychologist, Counselor - Psychology Today

April ‘22

February’22

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the Volunteer Program’s Martin Luther King Jr Day of Service clothing drive in January. We donated around 17 - 35 gal bags to the Mariposa Heritage House. These donations will help families and persons of all ages.

January’22

december

october edition

September Edition

September is Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month. If you are struggling, reach out to a trusted friend, call one of the lifeline numbers listed, or visit: Resources for Suicide Prevention | SAMHSA

Anyone can take part in suicide prevention and awareness.
If you’re concerned about someone, here are some tips to getting help.
How Anyone Can Prevent Suicide (verywellmind.com)

Know the Signs, Don't Discount Their Feelings, Look at Suicide as a Cry for Help, Be a Good Listener, Encourage Them to Get Help, Ask About Their Suicidal Feelings, Don't Leave Them Alone, Encourage Them to See a Professional, Know That Secrets Can Kill.


If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States.
Talk To Someone Now : Lifeline (suicidepreventionlifeline.org)

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
National de Prevencion del Suicudio: 1-888-628-9454
Lifeline for Deaf + Hard of Hearing: For TTY Users: Use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 1-800-273-8255.
Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255 / Text: 838255 / Chat with VCL:
Suicide Prevention Chat: 24/7 Confidential Help – Veterans Crisis Line

August Edition

August 2020 Fitness Challenge and Guidelines (Download & printer friendly)

NPS Version August 2020 Fitness Challenge and Guidelines (Download and printer friendly. (NPS Staff submit the completed challenge to your supervisor by Sept 10. for your incentive.

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For questions about the August Fitness Challenge email: ryan_kirtland@nps.gov

June Edition

May Edition

With the season picking up and the Wellness Team all having full time jobs, we've made the decision to take care of our own mental health and scale back a bit, so we don't run into a wall of burnout. Instead of bi-weekly newsletters, we'll have one each month for the summer.

April: Edition 11 &12

• Freedom

• Events

• Community Submissions

• About Hite’s Cove

• Activity: Breathing Techniques

• Resources: Know the signs of suicide

• Flow

• Events

• Community Submissions

• Coping with Allergies During the Spring

• Activity: Self Love Journaling

• Resources: Vaccine eligibility

March: Edition 9 & 10

• Bloom

• Events

• Community Submissions

• 10 Ways to Break Up the Pandemic Monotony

• Activity: 50 Ways to Take a Break, Take a break Bingo, Wellness Wordsearch

• Looking Both Ways

• Events

• Community Submissions

• How to prepare before getting a COVID-19 vaccine

• Activity: Draw Like a Naturalist

• Resources: Covid-19 Vaccines ‘What we know’

February: edition 7 & 8

• Thaw

• Events

• Community Submissions

• How to Work Out Safer and Smarter During the COVID-19 Winter

• Activity: Self Love Journaling

• February Fitness & Wellness Challenge

• Resources: Covid-19 information

• Letting Go

• Events

• Community Submissions

• Dimensions of Wellness

• Activity: Self Care, February Fitness and Wellness Challenge

• Resources: Mariposa County Covid-19 information

January: Edition 5 & 6

• Rest

• Events

• Community Submissions

• 10 Tips To Be Happier And Make 2021 Your Best Year Ever

• 21 Goals for 2021

• Resources: Covid 19 Vaccine Bulletin

• Chaos

• Events

• Community Submissions

• 7 Emotion-Focused Coping Techniques for Uncertain Times

• Activity: Intro to Somatic Meditation

december: Editions 4&5

• Chasing Light

• Events

• Community Submissions

• 5 Tips to Survive a Pandemic Winter

• Activity: Journaling and Art, Dual Self Portrait

• Solstice

• Events

• Community Submissions

• How To Protect Your Mental and Physical Health This Holiday Season

• Activity: Anonymous Holiday Card Exchange

Anonymous Holiday Card Exchange card template - PRINTABLE -

November: Editions 2&3

• Changes

• Upcoming Event

• Commnuity Submissions

• What is RDI and ERG?

• Wellness News

• Flu and Shot Resources

• Darkness

• Events

• Community Submissions

• Holiday Gatherings in 2020: Health Experts Provide Tips to Safely Navigate the Holidays During a Pandemic

• Activity: Gratitude

• Resouces: New Library Hours