The Opportunity Agenda

Workers Memorial Day
2028-04-28
On Workers Memorial Day, labor unions and organizations working for occupational safety remember those who have suffered and died on the job, while renewing the fight for safe jobs. Cite the values of economic opportunity, community, and voice when discussing this day.

AAPI Heritage Month
2028-05-01
It’s Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. Celebrate by centering the work of AAPI-led organizations and influencers, and paint a vision of what our country can and should be: a safe, inclusive place of participation and belonging where everyone’s rights are protected and respected. Discuss both the gains and challenges confronting AAPI communities with the values of safety, equity, community, and voice.

Community Action Month
2028-05-01
Community Action Month calls attention to the positive programs by Community Action Agencies that help thousands of families across the United States. These organizations were founded in 1964 as part of the War on Poverty and funded by Community Services block grants. Join the conversation by using the values of community and economic opportunity.

National Mental Health Month
2028-05-01
The month of May is National Mental Health Month, when advocates draw attention to the challenges faced by millions of Americans living with mental illness and push for holistic solutions that support them and their families. Cite the values of economic justice, safety, and community.

Older Americans Month
2028-05-01
During May, the federal Administration on Community Living recognizes Older Americans Month. This annual campaign presents an opportunity to discuss the importance of racial and economic justice when developing policies to support senior citizens in our communities. Cite the values of community and economic opportunity.

May Day
2028-05-01
May Day is also known as International Workers’ Day. This date has become one of the larger mobilization days to celebrate the important contributions of immigrants to our communities, economy and uplift the need for reforms that uphold human rights and dignity. Talk about the values of community and economic opportunity.

Met Gala
2028-05-01
The Met Gala, or Met Ball, is an annual event bringing together celebrities, influencers, politicians, and other high-profile individuals to celebrate the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in New York City. Organized by Vogue around a particular theme, the event has become a platform for personalities to showcase innovative fashion and, at times, to make political statements. The gala – which is mostly accessible only to the wealthy – has also drawn much criticism, and protests are often held across the street. Use the event to talk about economic justice, sustainability and climate change, and social responsibility. Cite the values of opportunity and equity.

Septima Clark
2028-05-03
On this day in 1898, civil rights activist and educator Septima Clark was born. Clark is most famous for establishing “Citizenship Schools” which taught reading and citizenship rights to adults throughout the South. Clark often said, “Literacy means liberation.” Connect her legacy of activism to the ongoing work to achieve true racial and economic justice. Cite the values of voice, community, equity, and economic justice.

Freedom Riders
2028-05-04
On this day in 1961, the original group of 13 Freedom Riders left Washington, D.C. on a Greyhound bus to protest segregated bus terminals in the South. Use the anniversary to discuss ongoing threats and how today’s racial justice activism echoes their pioneering actions. Cite the values of voice and equity.

Star Wars Day
2028-05-04
Star Wars Day celebrates the Star Wars media franchise created by writer and director George Lucas. Starting with the iconic Skywalker film series and expanding to TV, books, comics, and even fan fiction, the world of Star Wars has grown to address various themes including family, caregiving, labor rights, activism, rebellion, criminal justice, and more. Use today to lift up your campaigns. Cite the values of economic opportunity, voice, equity, and community.

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day
2028-05-05
In 2021, President Joe Biden signed a proclamation recognizing this date as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day. This observance follows years of Indigenous-led advocacy and organizing to shed light on the alarming rates of violence against Native American communities and the lack of justice for thousands of missing or murdered Indigenous people. Wear red on this day and uplift the values of safety and equity.

Mother's Day
2028-05-14
Mother’s Day is an important time to discuss economic and racial justice for families. Past campaigns include creative interventions to share more inclusive “Mama’s Day” cards, release mothers from jail while advocating for an end to money bail, or oppose the separation and detention of families arriving at our borders. Celebrate the values of equity, economic opportunity, and community.

Brown v. Board of Education
2028-05-17
On this day in 1954, the Supreme Court ruled on the case of Brown v. Board of Education that “separate educational facilities are inherently unequal” and violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Cite this anniversary by referring to the values of voice, equity, and community.

George Floyd
2028-05-25
On this day in 2020, Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin murdered George Floyd. Chauvin’s actions, caught on video by a courageous teenage bystander, fueled nationwide mobilizing and organizing. Chauvin was found guilty on three charges of murder and manslaughter, a rare case of police accountability that lower-profile cases have seldom seen. Remember George Floyd and cite the values of safety and equity on this anniversary.

Indian Removal Act
2028-05-28
On this day in 1830, President Andrew Jackson signed into law the Indian Removal Act. The law authorized the president to “negotiate” the removal of American Indian nations in the South to federal territory west of the Mississippi River, paving the way for white Americans to settle in their ancestral lands. Today, we see this act as legitimating the genocide of native people. Talk about this anniversary by citing the values of voice, equity, and community

“Ain’t I a Woman?” Speech
2028-05-29
On this day in 1851, Sojourner Truth made her famous “Ain’t I a Woman?” speech at the Women’s Rights Convention held in Akron, Ohio. Today, scholars see the speech as an intersectional critique of single-issue activism. It’s also an important anniversary in light of the potential impacts abortion bans and other state-level legislative attacks on reproductive rights have on people of color. Use the values of voice, equity, and community to discuss this anniversary.

Dr. George Tiller
2028-05-31
On this day in 2009, an anti-abortion extremist assassinated Dr. George Tiller in Wichita, Kansas. Tiller was the medical director of Women’s Health Care Services. Use the anniversary of Tiller’s death to uplift the work of reproductive justice and the deadly consequences of legislation that restricts access to abortion. Cite the values of equity, economic opportunity, and community.

Griswold v. Connecticut
2028-06-07
On this day in 1965, the Supreme Court upheld the “right of marital privacy” in the case of Griswold v. Connecticut, which ensured access to contraception. The case provided precedent for the court to legalize abortion in the Roe v. Wade case eight years later. The Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overrule Roe also raised concern about how the right to privacy might be further threatened in other landmark decisions. When discussing the intersecting harms of the political attacks on reproductive freedom, remember to advance narratives of full rights and justice for everyone, especially those living in poverty and Black, brown, and Indigenous communities. Cite the values of opportunity and equity.

Tribeca Film Festival
2028-06-07 - 2028-06-18
The Tribeca Festival in New York City is one of the major film festivals held annually and includes not only film premieres and competitions but also live music performances and industry talks on film, television, audio storytelling, and more. Visit the festival website for information on passes and packages. Cite the values of voice and opportunity when discussing the importance of pop culture and media to shifting narratives on social issues.

Father's Day
2028-06-18
Father’s Day is an important time to talk about racial justice and economic opportunity with your community. The separation of immigrant families, impacts of discriminatory policing and mass incarceration, and cultural attacks on LGBTQ+ communities can make this a hard and heavy day for many. Talk about the need to protect family unity and inclusively celebrate all families on this date. Focus on the values of opportunity, safety, and equity.

Juneteenth
2028-06-19
Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when enslaved Americans gained their freedom in Texas, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Today’s celebrations provide the opportunity to discuss the enduring legacies of racial injustice. Join the conversation, citing the values of opportunity, equity, voice, and community.

Bree Newsome
2028-06-27
On this day in 2015, activist Bree Newsome removed the Confederate battle flag after climbing the flagpole in front of the South Carolina Capitol building. Confederate flags and monuments honoring the Confederacy remain in cities and communities across the United States and serve as flashpoints in our national reckoning with slavery and racial injustice. Cite the values of community, voice, safety, and equity when discussing this hook.

Civil Rights Act of 1964
2028-07-02
On this day, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the landmark civil rights and labor law that prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Use this anniversary to reaffirm the values of voice, economic opportunity, and community.

Independence Day
2028-07-04
As the birthday of the United States of America, Independence Day is yet another opportunity to raise the values we believe our nation should embody for everyone: opportunity, voice, equity, community, and safety. Also remind audiences about the importance of land acknowledgment and the ongoing work to repair the harms of colonization on Indigenous peoples.

Frida Kahlo
2028-07-06
On this day in 1907, the pioneering artist and activist Frida Kahlo was born. Today her iconic work and image are shared as examples of politically engaged art and unapologetic self-expression. Use this hook to talk about the role of artists in social justice activism. Cite the values of voice and community.

Comic-Con International
2028-07-27 - 2028-07-30
The Comic-Con International show kicks off today in San Diego, CA. The massive crowds that flock to this convention make it one of the can’t-miss annual events for lovers of popular arts and comics. The conference presents an opportunity for creative interventions uplifting the powerful impact of pop culture representation—#PowerofPop—to shape narratives through the stories we love. Cite the values of voice, economic opportunity, and equity.

Medicaid and Medicare
2028-07-30
On this day in 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson created both Medicaid and Medicare by signing into law an amendment to the Social Security Act. Investments in Medicaid to expand access to programs like Medicaid HCBS opens doors for people with disabilities to live near family, friends and contribute to our communities. Refer to the values of opportunity and community.

Night Out for Safety and Liberation
2028-08-01
Today is Night Out for Safety and Liberation (NOSL), hosted by The Ella Baker Center. Organized since 2013, the event serves as a counter-program to the law-enforcement driven National Night Out. Both events are held annually on the first Tuesday of August. The goal of NOSL is to shift the conversation about public safety. Cite the values of equity, safety, and community.

James Baldwin's Birthday
2028-08-02
On this day in 1934, writer James Baldwin was born. Baldwin was an outspoken and influential advocate for racial justice. Use this anniversary to discuss the role of artists and culture shifters in challenging racism. Cite the values of voice and equality.
