Volunteerism brings UC Davis Health employees closer together
Partnering on projects outside of work creates team cohesion
(SACRAMENTO)
Recently, the UC Davis Health Strategy and Growth team rolled-up their sleeves to freshen-up the exteriors of a family’s home in Oak Park as part of the annual Habitat for Humanity “Rock the Block” event.
Rock the Block is a special two-day Habitat for Humanity event, bringing over 500 volunteers together to work on 22 home repair projects and five community projects in collaboration with the Oak Park neighborhood.
Mary Li, manager of managed care contracts for strategy and growth, had positive things to say about the entire experience.
Li said, “It was wonderful to give back to our community and connect with our team outside of work. The best part of my day was meeting the family we were supporting and knowing we made a positive impact to their family home.”
Charlaine Hamilton, education program coordinator for strategy and growth, is an avid volunteer and fan of Habitat events.
“This is one of my favorite community events,” Hamilton remarked. “We continue to grapple with a local and national housing crisis, and volunteering with Habitat for Humanity is one small way to help. Doing this all while getting to know my colleagues better was tremendous!”
According to Habitat staff, approximately 4,000 volunteer hours were invested in this effort. Of the community volunteers, more than 12 UC Davis Health employees volunteered for Rock the Block.
The Strategy and Growth team outside Oak Park home.
Team building at a sporting event
Volunteering for a local nonprofit is one way to connect with your team outside of work. Another is to bond at a sporting event.
Members of the UC Davis Health Talent Acquisition team recently got together to watch a Sacramento Republic soccer match and volunteered their time at the UC Davis Health booth before the game and during half-time.
Group photo of Talent Acquisition staff with family and friends at the Sacramento Republic match.
There is such a difference when connecting with colleagues in-person and not focused on work. If creating events outside the workplace is not something your team is used to doing, take ‘baby steps’ and start with an informal activity like setting-up one-on-one or small group Zoom calls – and don’t talk about anything work-related. Re-create those interpersonal, but important ‘water cooler’ conversations.—Syerra Logan, staff recruiter
Shelby Morrell, nurse recruiter for the talent acquisition (TA) team, shared how nice it was to get out of the work setting and get to know her colleagues on a more personal level.
Andrew Yap holding a bucket of paint used to re-paint exteriors of a home in Oak Park.
Morrell said, “Many of us work in a hybrid environment. So, we don’t have many opportunities to be together in-person. It was nice to try something different and hangout at the soccer match.”
Mikayla Matthews, nurse recruiter for TA, added that their team is known for planning events and activities outside the workplace.
“Our entire job is based on relationship-building. So, it only makes sense to connect with our colleagues,” Matthews said. “We’ve hosted several events and activities for our department. A couple of months ago we hosted our own version of the ‘Olympics’ at a park in Sacramento, which was a ton of fun! We also held a holiday party outdoors last winter.”
Have a team-building activity you’d like to share? Contact Carolyn Ramirez at cjramirez@ucdavis.edu.
(From left to right) Mary X Li, a Habitat employee, Yulia Perevozchikova, Andrew Yap, a Habitat employee, Bobby Scott, Luiza Ursulescu and Karla Ocampo.
