UCOP celebrates Multicultural Day while helping out North Bay fire victims
November 7, 2017 •
Designed to celebrate the diversity of our staff, UCOP’s inaugural Multicultural Day ended up showcasing their generosity and compassion, too. After the devastating North Bay fires occurred, the focus of the event shifted to a donation drive to help victims of the disaster.
UCOP staff contributed over $700 in monetary donations and $1100 worth of high-demand items such as clothing, bedding and pet food, which were delivered to North Bay shelters by Sports Basement in Berkeley and Hopalong Animal Rescue in Oakland.
Over 100 staff members, including UCOP leadership, attended the Oct. 18 event in Oakland, which was developed and organized by the Employee Engagement and Diversity Group (EEDG) in partnership with seven UCOP affinity groups: Asian Pacific Islander Staff Association, Black Staff and Faculty Organization, Family Network Resource Group, Latino Staff Association, OP Staff Assembly (OPSA), President’s Advisory Committee on the Status of Women, and Pride.
As Oakland staff arrived to drop off goods or sign up for monetary donations at laptop stations, representatives of the affinity groups welcomed them, promoted their group’s activities and encouraged participation. A similar celebration was held at UCDC, organized by Karina Castellanos.
EEDG continues to work with leadership, OPSA and the other affinity groups to improve employee engagement and bring staff diversity to the forefront. Current members of the EEDG workgroup are:
Joanna Trammell, Chair
Carmela Lomonaco
Carol Lake
Garen Corbett
Helen Young
Juliann Martinez
Karina Castellanos
Matthew Leet
Paul Lechner
Sarah Fidelibus
Steve Garber
Stay tuned to Link for more information about EEDG events and initiatives! In the meantime, if you have questions about EEDG’s work or want to find out more about donating to fire victims, please contact Joanna.Trammell@ucop.edu.
