Community and Connection

Learn, connect, and support
each other for a stronger Columbia

Columbia University strives to foster a strong community and help support employees in the workplace. To that end, the University hosts regular programming to help staff understand and respect diverse experiences and perspectives; combat discrimination; communicate effectively; and support themselves and each other, even in challenging times.

Below is a list of available resources and upcoming events. If you are sponsoring an upcoming event for, or open to, staff, please complete this form.

Learning Resources

Upcoming Sessions

Join our upcoming sessions designed to strengthen workplace culture and community awareness across Columbia. Be sure to register early to secure your spot!

The Wellness Events calendar also has for a full list of upcoming well-being programs offered by HR Benefits.

Take a Break: Stretch & Reset
Every other Thursday, September 24 - December 3 | 12 - 12:30 p.m. | Webinar
Small breaks can make a difference in how you feel throughout the day. Take a Break offers 30-minute guided sessions designed to help you pause, recharge, and refocus through mindfulness, stretching, and other simple practices that support your well-being. Step away from your routine, release tension, and make time to reset before returning to the rest of your day.

This fall, Take a Break sessions occur every other Thursday, starting on September 10 through December 3, from 12 - 12:30 p.m. To attend a session, click here register for your preferred dates in ELM.

Care Through Cancer: Coordinating Support for Loved Ones (Wellthy)
Wednesday, October 21 | 12 p.m. - 12:30 p.m. | Webinar
A cancer diagnosis affects more than just the person receiving care, it impacts the entire family. From navigating treatments and appointments to offering emotional support, those providing care often become the central point of coordination during a stressful and emotional time.

In this webinar, Wellthy's Care Team will share tools and guidance to help you manage logistics, communicate effectively, and create a strong support system for your loved one. You'll also have a chance to ask questions during a live Q&A at the end of the session.

Learn more about Wellthy and caregiving benefits to help with child, adult and elder care.

Before You Google It: Make Sense of Health Info (CU Thrive)
Wednesday, October 28 | 12 p.m - 12:45 p.m. | Webinar

Have you ever looked up a symptom late at night, and somehow ended up with three websites, two videos, and an AI chatbot telling you different things? Now you have five "answers" and even more questions than when you started. If this sounds familiar, then you're not alone.

According to a recent KFF poll, about 1 in 3 adults have used the internet to look up health information in the last year, and many don't follow up with a health care provider afterward. The flood of information online can make it really hard to tell what's credible, what's misleading, and what really deserves medical attention.

Please join us on Wednesday, October 28 at 12 p.m. for a CU Thrive discussion on health literacy with Gina Orlando, MPH, CHES, CWHC. We'll define what "health literacy" means (and why it matters), and answer your questions about researching health information and navigating health care.

On-Demand Sessions

Access a wide range of sessions at your convenience, available anytime. Explore topics that matter to you, with the flexibility to learn and grow on your own schedule.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

LinkedIn Learning

Previously Recorded Sessions

Catch up on expert-led discussions you may have missed or revisit valuable insights that can help you thrive and deepen your understanding of yourself and others in the workplace.

Untold Stories in Health Equity: Lessons from Cancer and Beyond
Monday, February 3 | 3 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. | In person

Untold Stories is a course taught by Prof. Heather Butts at the Columbia Mailman School that introduces students to health leaders of color whose impact is largely absent from history books. This talk will look at the overall lens of health and public health, focusing on issues in the realm of cancer and cancer research, history of medicine, pioneering champions, and unknow healthcare professionals. Individuals such as Dr. Virginia Alexander, Henrietta Lacks, Dr. Alexander Thomas Augusta, Dr. Jane Cook Wright and many others will be explored, and participants will have the chance to workshop others during the session.

Dr. Butts will shed light on pivotal, often-overlooked contributions to health policy, cancer prevention, and treatment in Black communities.

The Campus and the Israel-Hamas War
July 25, 2024 | Podcast

This past spring many college and university campuses were roiled by unprecedented protests sparked by the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Not since Vietnam has any foreign policy issue resulted in such widespread demonstrations on campuses. What explains the intensity of the reaction? Join Aaron David Miller as he sits down with Columbia University Dean Keren Yarhi-Milo and Princeton University Dean Amaney Jamal for a wide-ranging discussion. Offered by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Who are the Jews? Jewish Identity and Antisemitism in the 21st Century
July 25, 2024 | Webinar

During this session, Dr. Laura Shaw-Frank, Director of the American Jewish Committee's William Petschek Contemporary Jewish Life Department, explores the unique nature of Jewish identity and how it is difficult to understand through an American lens. She also provides a brief history of antisemitism through focusing on central antisemitic trope and discusses the particular circumstances of antisemitism in America today, with special attention paid to the post-10/7 reality for American Jews. Offered by CUIMC.

Validation as a Tool for Connection
July 18, 2024 | Webinar

Validation is a response that shows acceptance and respect for another person's feelings, ideas, actions, and experiences. It is an essential communication skill that supports strengthening interpersonal connection and building better relationships with others, even when we disagree or hold differing points of view. During this 60-minute workshop, you will learn (1) why validation matters; (2) how it contributes to effective coping during emotionally charged situations; (3) what validation looks and sounds like in practice through concrete examples and role plays; and (4) to identify opportunities for self-validation and validation in your personal and professional life. Offered by CUIMC.

Managing Trauma When Trauma is Ongoing
July 11, 2024 | Webinar

Healthcare workers are exposed every day to events and situations that can be experienced as outside of the "normal" assumptions of safety and stress. In addition, the pandemic and ongoing national and world events are a source of stress, division, and a trigger for personal and generational trauma for many in our community. This talk addresses how ongoing exposure to these triggers can affect our well-being and ability to function in all the roles of our lives and offer some tools to address this important issue. Offered by CUIMC.

Addressing the Unspoken Issue
June 27, 2024 | Webinar

There are topics that can arise in the workplace that can feel uncomfortable and/or challenging to address. This discomfort often leads to avoidance of these topics. During this 60-minute workshop Dr. Colleen Cullen and Dr. Lou Baptista discuss when to consider addressing unspoken issues and how to do so in a skillful manner. Offered by CUIMC.

Your Well-Being

Your health is a top priority, but staying fit and living well can be challenging. Columbia University offers several well-being programs and services to inspire healthy choices, manage mental health, support your goals, and keep you motivated on your wellness journey.

Well-Being Resources

Physical Fitness

Discover Your Benefits