Dear UMBC Community,
UMBC's commitment to nurture community members' mental and physical health has never been more important than it is now. To expand our conversations, offer resources, and provide space to learn effective wellness practices, theUniversity Steering Committee is working with colleagues and students from across our campus to host the first UMBC Community Mental Health Action Day on Thursday, April 7, 2022.
We invite you to join us for a series of events, workshops, and listening sessions. The day will include opportunities to spend time in nature, in quiet mediation, or experiencing a joyful dance move. Our goal is to offer community members the chance to try something that appeals to them and also fosters a sense of connectedness and well-being in and amongst faculty, students, staff, and administrators. Below is the agenda for the day, with links to register for the events. Please note that some events have an in-person capacity limit, so please be sure to withdraw your registration if you are unable to attend.
Release time will be granted for employees to take part in these events. All campus offices will remain open, and services should continue to be offered. Supervisors and staff are asked to work together to coordinate office coverage.
We hope this day will provide tools and spark meaningful conversations that are useful to you in the moment and for the future.
If you have questions about Community Mental Health Action Day, or suggestions to improve the experience, please contact usc@umbc.edu.
Yours in service,
President Freeman Hrabowski
Provost Philip Rous
Susan McDonough, Chair, University Steering Committee
Joshua Gray, Vice Chair, University Steering Committee
UMBC Community Mental Health Action Day
Thursday, April 7, 2022
10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Connecting with Nature at UMBC
Locations: Library Pond and Administration Circle
Audience: Open to all, with a 20 person cap on each saunter
Register here for the Library Pond meet-up
Register here for the Administration Circle meet-up
11 a.m. – Noon Cultivating Resilience with Mindfulness with Jill Wardell
Location: Virtual
Audience: Open to all
More information and virtual event link here
11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Restorative Practices at UMBC with Jeff Cullen
Location: Hybrid; Center for Well-Being, Room 118, and Online
Audience: Open to all
Register for the in-person event (18 person limit) or get the virtual event link here
12:30 p.m. – 1 p.m. Mental Health Awareness Walk
Location: Breezeway
Audience: Open to all
1 p.m. – 2 p.m. Group Fitness Pop-Up
Location: In front of the RAC
Audience: Open to all
2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Grief and Healing Circles
Three concurrent in-person sessions capped at 12 attendees each
Staff Circle Led by Jill Wardell
Location: 231 RAC
Register and get more information here
Student Circle Led by Beatriz Gutierrez Malagon
Location: Apartment Community Center MPR
Register and get more information here
Faculty Circle Led by Bambi Chapin
Location: 230 RAC
Register and get more information here
3 p.m. – 3:50 p.m. Behaviors of Concern: How and Who to Report To
Location: Virtual
Audience: Staff and Faculty
More information and virtual event link here
3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Graduate Student Mental Health Panel and Listening Session
Location: Retriever Room, Undergraduate Admissions Office, Albin O. Kuhn Library, Pondside, Room 012
Audience: Graduate Students; attendance capped at 34
Register and get more information here
3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Faculty Mental Well-Being with Susan and Orianne
Location: Virtual
Audience: Faculty
More information and virtual event link here
4 p.m. – 6 p.m. Student Government Association: Snacks and Mental Health Chats
Location: SGA Office, Commons 2B20
Audience: Undergraduate Students
Register and get more information here
6 p.m. – 7 p.m. Community Conversations
Location: Library Gallery
Audience: Students
Register and get more information here
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It's about us! All are welcome as we honor faculty and staff who have consistently contributed above and beyond to the campus community. This community gathering will also be a special moment for faculty and staff to wish President Hrabowski well. This event will be held in person and virtually.
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