UCOP staff have been hard at work planning a variety of opportunities for colleagues to come together for learning and connection! Please mark your calendar and plan to join us.

Note: If you’re interested in participating in a November 4 Habitat for Humanity volunteer opportunity, learn more here.

Event and registration details are provided below. All listings reflect Pacific Time. Unless stated otherwise, events are virtual.

Special events

Week of Oct. 20

Some of the many volunteers and event organizers at APISA’s 2024 UCOP Diwali celebration. The next Diwali event takes place on Tuesday, Oct. 21, via Zoom and in Oakland.

APISA Diwali Celebration
Tuesday, Oct. 21, 1 – 3 p.m.
Oakland Broadway Conference Center + Zoom | Register to join by Zoom (Registration not required for Oakland attendees)
Please join the Asian Pacific Islander Staff Association for our annual Diwali celebration. The event will include shared stories, an Indian diya lighting ceremony, singing and a dance performance, along with delicious Indian treats, music and conversation. Colleagues are welcome to attend in South Asian/Indian attire. See additional Diwali event details. 

UCOP AI Innovators Share Fair
Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2 – 3:15 p.m. | Register for the share fair
Join colleagues from Academic Affairs – Provost’s Office, UCOP Operations, UC Information Technology Services and the OP Staff Assembly for this virtual event that will highlight staff who are streamlining tasks, enhancing productivity and solving everyday challenges using AI. The event will feature group presentations, presentations and interactive breakout sessions. Check out the full event schedule.

Week of Oct. 27

The Oct. 28 Community and Connection Fair will offer a fun opportunity to get into the fall spirit and connect with colleagues.

UCOP Community and Connection Fair — Now a costume contest!
Tuesday, Oct. 28, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Oakland, Broadway Conference Center
On Tuesday, Oct. 28, join OPSA for the 2025 UCOP Community and Connection Fair in Oakland. This fun, Halloween-themed event will feature tables hosted by UCOP departments, employee resource groups, affinity groups and our amazing vendor partners — Dell, Box, AWS, Oracle, Insight Global and I.D. Me Promotions. Plus, local favorite Mr. Espresso will be on hand to brew up treats! And, we’ve just added a twist: Come dressed in your best Halloween attire and join the festive spirit of our costume contest! Don’t miss this fun opportunity to connect and spend time with colleagues throughout UCOP.

BSFO Health Fair
Tuesday, Oct. 28, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Oakland, Broadway Conference Center
Connect with colleagues, Black Staff and Faculty Organization members and wellness vendors, then enter into a drawing to receive a free 10-15-minute massage. Names will be pulled at the beginning of the event.

Week of Nov. 4

UC Undergraduate Admission Overview for UCOP Staff
Nov. 5, 12 – 1 p.m. | Register for the admissions overview
Curious about UC undergraduate admission? Perhaps you have a family member interested in attending UC in the future. If so, join OPSA and UCOP’s Undergraduate Admissions team for a webinar specifically for UCOP staff. We will provide an overview of UC’s first-year and transfer admission requirements and the application process.

UC ANR Native American Heritage Month Webinar
Nov. 6, 2 – 3 p.m. | Register for the Native American Heritage Month event
Join the UC ANR Native American Advisory Council event featuring UC Regent Greg Sarris, Ph.D. Regent Sarris will share how he has used storytelling to connect with the broad array of communities in his life, as a professor, UC Regent, and Tribal Member and Chairman of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, as well as how his work has uplifted Native American communities.

Employee resource group meetings

OP Staff Assembly Monthly Meeting
Wednesday, Oct. 22, 3 – 3:50 p.m.
No registration is needed; Zoom meeting ID: 994 490 7320
OP Staff Assembly (OPSA) members facilitate communication, foster mutual understanding and enhance knowledge exchange within the UC community. All staff are invited to attend the monthly Steering Committee on the fourth Wednesday of every month to be informed and involved with OPSA’s work.

Lakeside Speakeasy Toastmasters Meeting
Oct. 23, Oct. 30 (Virtual) + Nov. 6 (Hybrid), 12:05 – 12:55 p.m.
Contact lakesidespeakeasy@gmail.com for information
Joining Toastmasters can help you build communication skills — including speaking, leadership, listening and feedback. If you’d like to excel at presentations, meeting interactions, elevator-speech “sound bites” and/or performance feedback, this is the group for you! Lakeside Speakeasy Toastmasters Club No. 2967 meets virtually on Thursdays from 12:05 – 12:55 p.m., except for the first week of each month, when members host a hybrid Wednesday meeting.

Pride Employee Resource Group Meeting
Friday, Oct. 24, 12 – 1 p.m.
No registration is needed; Zoom meeting ID: 928 2865 2684
UCOP Pride is open to all UCOP employees with an interest in providing advocacy, education, and community building for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, genderqueer, agender, asexual, and non-binary community, and its allies, within UCOP and beyond. All employees are invited to attend this general meeting.

UCOP Administrative Officers Group Meeting (Staff-led, non-ERG group)
Nov. 4, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Join the Administrative Officers Group — a supportive community for UCOP staff in administrative roles who are eager to connect, share knowledge and collaborate. Our goal is to build a strong network where we can exchange insights, troubleshoot challenges, and discover new resources together. To attend via Zoom, RSVP to Natalie Rios, Rachal Valtakis, or Jessica Hankins.

Check out all upcoming events on the Link calendar

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