Ramadan is a holy and fortunate month for Muslims all around the world, and it is one of Islam’s five pillars, which Muslims hold in high respect. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar, and it is regarded as a particularly significant month since it is during Ramadan that the Quran (Holy Book) was revealed to the Prophet Mohammed PBUH. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar, and it marks the beginning of a month of fasting between sunrise and dusk. During daytime hours, Muslims all around the globe will not eat or drink, but will continue to work or study.

DDS joins in the celebrations of Ramadan with everyone else. It’s a time for introspection and gratitude for what I have in my life, even if it’s not much. It is a time for family reunions and community gatherings all across the world to commemorate this beautiful month. It’s also a good opportunity to remember those who are less fortunate who may go without food and clean water all year. During Ramadan, we encourage all of our employees to observe the month’s sacredness.

To be the greatest version of yourself for others, you occasionally need to put yourself first. Since September is National Self-Care Awareness Month, it is the ideal time to practice making some "me" time a priority. Even while it’s simple to get caught up in caring for others, self-care is crucial for maintaining your mental health. It has been empirically demonstrated that practicing self-care may lessen or completely remove anxiety, despair, and stress as well as boost happiness, energy, and attention.

Check out these ways to promote self-care in your life, so you can walk away feeling refreshed and ready to do more good in the world.

1. Set Goals for Yourself

April is Autism Awareness Month! Let’s work together to raise autism acceptance in our communities now that so many of us are aware of Autism Spectrum Disorder. DDS promotes peer acceptance, inclusion, awareness and acceptance for the people suffering from Autism. Every April, we celebrate the month to build an inclusive community where autistic individuals are embraced and supported to achieve the highest quality of life possible. Awareness is more about accepting the reality of things and that is equally true for Autism.

With the autism diagnosis rate increasing fast, we take these 30 days to celebrate the differences of, and empower individuals facing autism. Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of Autism Spectrum Disorder, is a developmental disorder. We have a number of intellectual leaders with Asperger’s Syndrome that built modern civilization. Some of the great personalities are Leonardo Di Vinci, Albert Einstein, Mozart, Bill Gates, Emily Dickinson, Mark Twain, Michelangelo, Hans Christian Andersen, Tim Burton, Vincent Van Gogh, Stanley Kubrick, Charles Darwin, Thomas Jefferson, Steve Jobs, Franz Kafka, Alfred Kinsey, Lewis Carroll, James Joyce, Sir Isaac Newton, Nikola Tesla, Elon Musk, Andy Warhol, H.G. Wells, Dan Aykroyd, David Byrne, George Orwell, Michael Jackson, Thomas Edison, Greta Thunberg, Alfred Hitchcock, Lionel Messi, Jim Henson, Daryl Hannah, Bobby Fischer, Anthony Hopkins, Beethoven, Henry Ford, Carl Sagan, Friedrich Nietzsche and Jane Austen.*

DDS stands with the policy of inclusion and respecting the differences laying great importance to the mental health causes. The most radical act you can perform as an ally to Autistic people is to accept them exactly as they are. Organizations like the Autism Society Los Angeles hold fundraising events to spread awareness, celebrate, and generate funds. Feel free to Donate. Let’s learn about the history of Autism, support Autism-Friendly Businesses and Employers, spread kindness and awareness in community and light the world BLUE!

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Here we are again about two (2) months after I wrote you in May and California is shutting down again due the the increase in cases of COVID-19. Los Angeles County schools have announced the will continue completely virtually in the fall. The level of uncertainty in how we continue to move forward, stay safe, maintain our livelihoods and communities remains high.

The good news is that we are a lot more prepared for this next wave of closures than we were during the first lock down. Now, for the most part, we can find the supplies we need to keep ourselves safe. I have been able to procure forehead thermometers for my home and office. Masks and hand sanitizer are readily available in stores. While, antibacterial wipes are still in high demand, at least toilet paper is back in regular supply!?

Again this month, my call is to stay positive. If you are a business-to-business vendor like DDS, then know that there are many businesses that are essential and/or growing in this difficult time and they need our support. Continue to look for the opportunities to help and be that neighbor who share their antibacterial wipes they scored at COSTCO!! (my neighbors and I have kept each other in supply for months) or to be that vendor who gives the new payment terms so that a client can better afford their needed services.

In consideration of COVID-19, at DDS, we have started offering a 1-month free trial of our services. We are doing this as it is a feature that we believe our ideal clients will appreciate in this pandemic time and while it has been borne out of a pandemic environment it is based on sound business practice. We believe, our ideal clients and our company benefits from a period of getting to know how each side of the agreement functions to make the decision to enter a business relationship together.

Let’s continue to look up and be positive and be the helpers in this difficult pandemic time.

Thinking of you with great care,

Ebitari Larsen

President, Delta Data Services LLC

America is a vast land with many cultures dating back thousands of years to the land’s original inhabitants. All national parks today include Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Island communities’ history and heritage. The month honors Native people’s rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories, as well as their significant contributions. Heritage Month is also an excellent time to educate the general public about tribes, to raise awareness about the unique challenges that Native people have faced both historically and currently, and the ways in which tribal citizens have worked to overcome these challenges.

In the United States, there are approximately 326 Indian land areas administered as federal Indian reservations, totaling more than 56 million acres. Currently, 574 American Indian and Alaska Native tribes and villages are federally recognized. Today, approximately 175 Indigenous languages are spoken in the United States. Things we take for granted, such as rubber, corn, kayaks, modern farming, and even mouthwash, have their origins in Native American design. 

Go through the Native American Regions Map to visualize the different locations and tribe names. Browse The American Indian Business Alliance’s directory of Native American-owned businesses—you can replace your office Starbucks brew with Native-owned and operated coffee beans. Read Moon of the Crusted Snow, Waubgeshig Rice. If you are a podcast listener, then The Red Nation Podcast is a perfect pick to know about Indigenous People. It’s never too late to organize a work event or start a thoughtful conversation in honor of Native American Heritage Month. Let us know what you end up doing, or if there are any other ways to celebrate Native culture in the workplace that we missed in the comments!

June is LGBTQ month and like every year, this year too DDS comes forward to celebrate the Pride month with all of you. This year marks 51 years since LGBTQ Pride Month was first celebrated in June 1970*. We are proud to be a part of the month long celebration of love, diversity, acceptance and unashamed self-pride. Our team at DDS is diverse with people of all genders and we make our workplace safe and supportive of all genders. DDS strives to be an inclusive place for our employees and we celebrate that we live and work in Long Beach; a town that is supportive of LGBTQ Community and issues. 

In Long Beach, people of every sexual orientation and gender identity are welcome and given equal rights and opportunities. Long Beach community continues to lead on LGBTQ+ rights and have been named one of the best cities in the US, for LGBTQ+ inclusion for nine years consistently**.

Ebi regularly goes to a Presbyterian church that welcomes people of all genders and we surround ourselves with LGBTQ supporters. DDS has been a member and as a company we participate in the Long Beach Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.