Hey Elevate Fam,

The holiday season is here, a time filled with warmth, connection, and celebration, but it can also bring real challenges for many in our community. Across the country, new legislation signed in July 2025 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 is reshaping how food-assistance programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) operate. Changes include stricter work requirements, limits on eligibility, and shifts in funding expected to reduce millions of benefits. These policy updates are putting more pressure on families already struggling to put food on the table.

Here at Elevate Diversity, we’re committed to being part of the solution. That’s why we’re partnering with The Just One Project for our upcoming food-distribution event at JD Smith Middle School. By volunteering our time, energy, and compassion, we’re building a stronger, more connected community when it matters most.

Whether you’re unloading food pallets or distributing boxes, your presence makes a difference. Let’s come together this holiday season to share kindness, support our neighbors, and make connections count. 🧡

Food Distribution with The Just One Project!💪

✨ Start your Saturday with purpose! Join Elevate Diversity & The Just One Project every 3rd Saturday of the month in 2025 for a morning of impact and connection. We'll be at JD Smith Middle School to help unload food pallets and distribute them to those in need. Whether you’re assisting with client check-ins or helping with food distribution, your efforts will make a real difference in the community. 💛

Did you know?
🍽 1 in 7 Southern Nevadans faces hunger? That’s over 341,000 people.
🌍 Communities of color are hit hardest due to ongoing social and economic barriers.
Your helping hands can make a real difference!

📅 November 15th
⏰7:30 AM – 10:30 AM
📍JD Smith Middle School, 1880 E Stanley Ave, North Las Vegas, NV 89030

👟 What to bring: comfy clothes, closed-toe shoes, sunscreen, and your best smile! 🌞
🔗 30 spots available each month. Register now to lock in your spot! (No need to select a specific date)

Let’s show up and #VolunteerLikeABoss 💪

Must RSVP through Elevate Diveristy and the Just one Project!

Register with The Just One Project Here!

Meaningful Connections Workshop!

🎲 Tired of Small Talk? Let’s Play Instead! 🎲

📅 Date: Wednesday, November 19
🕕 Time: 6:00–8:00 PM
📍 Location: Paul C. Blau Theater Room, Clark County Library

The holidays can be a joyful time, but they can also feel isolating if you’re far from family or still searching for your people. That’s why we’re creating space for genuine connection this season.

Join us for Connection Games, a playful, interactive evening designed to help you build meaningful relationships that last beyond the holidays.

Presented by Elevate Diversity + Osumaré Learning, this unique networking experience invites you to skip the small talk and discover authentic connections through laughter, games, and honest conversation.

Here’s what to expect:

✨ Play Your Way to Connection
Engage in guided games and reflective prompts that make meeting new people feel natural and uplifting.

💡 Discover Your Genius Type
Learn how your unique “Genius” energy shapes how you connect, communicate, and collaborate.

💬 Meet Authentic People, Not Job Titles
Move beyond surface-level introductions and connect with fellow professionals, creatives, and community members who value real relationships.

Whether you’re spending the holidays away from home or simply craving meaningful human connection, this evening is part mixer, part learning lab, and all heart.

🎟️ Admission: Free | RSVP Today!

Come as you are, leave inspired, connected, and smiling. Because nobody should have to spend the season feeling alone. Let’s build community through play! 💫

This program is not a Library District event. The views expressed and other information presented are solely those of the producing entity.

Highlights from our October Events!

🪶 Honoring Native American Heritage Month

November is Native American Heritage Month, a time to recognize, celebrate, and honor the history, culture, and countless contributions of Indigenous peoples across the United States. This month serves as both a celebration and a reminder, to acknowledge the resilience of Native communities and to confront the injustices they have faced, and continue to face, throughout history.

🌎 A Brief History

Native American Heritage Month was first recognized nationally in 1990, when President George H.W. Bush approved a joint resolution designating November as a month to honor Indigenous peoples. Since then, it’s become an opportunity to uplift Native voices, share stories that have too often been silenced, and preserve the deep cultural traditions that shaped this land long before colonization.

💬 Why It Matters

Native Americans are not relics of the past, they are vibrant, diverse, and essential members of today’s society. From environmental activism to art, education, and governance, Indigenous communities continue to lead with wisdom, sustainability, and deep-rooted connection to the earth. Recognizing Native American Heritage Month helps us challenge stereotypes, broaden understanding, and support self-determination for Indigenous nations.

✨ How to Celebrate

• Educate yourself and others about local tribes, their history, and ongoing issues such as land rights and cultural preservation.

• Support Native-owned businesses and artists.

• Attend community events or museum exhibits that center Native stories and perspectives.

• Donate or volunteer with organizations that advocate for Indigenous rights and representation.

🦃 Rethinking Thanksgiving: Beyond the Myth

While Thanksgiving is often portrayed as a cheerful gathering between Pilgrims and Native Americans, the truth is far more complex, and painful. The traditional story erases the reality of colonization, violence, and land theft that followed European settlement. For many Indigenous people, Thanksgiving is a National Day of Mourning, not celebration.

Recognizing this truth doesn’t take away from gratitude or togetherness, it adds honesty and empathy. By understanding the real history behind the holiday, we can replace myth with meaning, and transform Thanksgiving into a time of reflection, learning, and allyship.

This November, as you gather with friends and family, consider honoring Native voices by:

• Acknowledging the original stewards of the land where you live and celebrate.

• Sharing the real history of Thanksgiving at your table.

• Supporting Native-led movements focused on sovereignty, environmental justice, and cultural preservation.

🌿 Let’s make this month about truth, gratitude, and respect.
By celebrating Native American Heritage Month with awareness and compassion, we not only honor the first peoples of this land, we take a step toward healing, justice, and unity.

Thank you for spending a few minutes with us. See you next month!

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