Each month, we highlight a member of the Cornell Wellbeing team to share how they assist employees and a bit about them.
C. Lucas, Wellness Community Outreach Specialist, Cornell Wellness
My work as the community programming specialist with Cornell Wellness is quite varied. On any given day, I might be working with someone one-on-one in a fitness center, facilitating an online stretching session, and/or collaborating with a department to design a workshop that best fits their needs. I get to meet a lot of different people working on
campus and remotely, and I really enjoy learning about and from them. These different perspectives help me create programming that values our interconnectedness with each other and the world around us.
When not at work, you can usually find me doing one of two things: either partaking in some sort of self-propelled activity (like cycling, running, cross-country skiing, or kayaking) or immersed in the pages of a book (historical fiction is probably my favorite genre).
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM)
Domestic and intimate partner violence affects people in various ways. Whether you've experienced it first hand, love or work with a survivor (knowingly or unknowingly), or want to be an advocate for safe and healthy environments, there are many ways to get support and give support - now and throughout the year.
Wear purple on Thursday, October 22 for New York State’s Go Purple Day
If you’re a manager at Cornell, this guide provides detailed guidance to assist you.
Give to the Emergency CARE Fund which offers financial support to employees in crisis. Domestic violence is a qualifying circumstance. Unused Appreciation Portal Points can also be donated to the Fund. This fund was created by employees, for employees.
Download the Zoom background for DVAM and use it throughout the month.
Relationships
Create and Connect Fridays - Needle Felting
October 23, 3-5pm, Mann Library. Drop in for some informal tips and guidance, try your hand at something new, or bring your own project and make some progress in a relaxed setting.
Local Knitting Workshop for Survivors of Domestic Violence (Advocacy Center)
October 26, 6-8pm, Connected Stitches Yarn and Fiber Shop, Dryden. Beginner-level knitting class focused on knitting basics for survivors of domestic violence. All materials are included. Sign up by emailingmbell@actompkins.org.
Grieving Together Online Support Group (Hospicare of Ithaca)
November 4, 5:30-6:30pm, virtual. This group is for anyone 18 years of age or older grieving a loss, regardless of when the death occurred. Contact bereavement@hospicare.org or call Liz Wood at 607-272-0212 to register.
Endowed Open Enrollment Begins October 26 During the Annual Endowed Open Enrollment (through November 13) employees can make certain changes to their health care plans and/or enroll in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA). This is the only time many changes can be made, unless you experience a qualifying life event (such as marriage, divorce, adoption, etc.).
Cornell Benefair for Endowed Colleges Oct. 27, 9am-1:30pm, G10 BioTech. Learn about health and savings plans, optional legal and long-term care insurance, education, and other employee benefits directly from providers and Cornell representatives.
Prepare to "Fall Back!" (Sleep Foundation) Daylight saving time ends in New York at 2am on Sunday, November 1. Small things can help ease the transition. Start slowly adjusting your sleep schedule now. Eat lightly leading up to it to help keep your circadian rhythms balanced.
Stretch with Wellness Mondays through November 23, 12-12:30pm, virtual. Each session will include a combination of active, energizing stretches and soothing, relaxing stretches. Join from anywhere - no membership needed.
Breast/Chest Feeding Basics: From Birth to Return to Work November 11 and 12, 5:30-7:30pm, virtual. This two-part workshop is designed to help pregnant parents build knowledge, confidence and more details about what to expect during their breast/chest feeding journey.
Mental Wellbeing
Mindful Birding at the Lab of Ornithology November 2, 12:30-1pm, Lab of O. This is a 30-minute, free, guided mindful birding experience led by Sarah Wagner, from the Lab of Ornithology. Beginner-friendly and open to all.
Manage Stress with Let's Meditate
November 4, 12:30-1pm, 106 Upson Hall. Join Dr. Rajesh Bhaskaran, faculty member in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, for a guided mindfulness meditation.
Wills and Estates (Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services) Oct. 21, 6:30-8pm, hybrid. During this class, a local attorney expert will help participants examine assets and decide on the best ways to manage them. Topics include: power of attorney, health care proxy, wills, distribution of assets, executors, guardians and more.
Virtual Homebuyer Classes (Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services)
Mondays, November 9, 16 and 23, 6:30-8:30pm. This class will cover: how much money you need to buy a home, credit scores and how they affect you, how much house you can afford, what a realtor can do for you, how to get a mortgage, home inspections, and how to protect your investment.
NYS Energy Affordability Program The Energy Affordability Program provides eligible customers with utility bill discounts they can count on each month. Millions of New Yorkers are newly eligible this year.
Environmental Wellbeing
Open House at the Mushroom Museum
November 7, 2-5pm, 214 Gallus Rd, Ithaca. Visit more than 400,000 preserved specimens of fungi, making the Cornell Plant Pathology Herbarium the 4th largest museum of fungi in North America.
Drop-In Discovery Days at Cornell Botanic Gardens
November 14, 1-3pm, Nevin Welcome Center. Join hands-on activities to learn about the wonders of plants, the changing seasons, and ways to learn about the natural world.
Video: Diversity Includes Disability Hear from Cornell colleagues with disabilities about the importance of creating a welcoming workplace. HeidiJo Gunn, an SO4 Lead Custodian, reveals how her 'invisible' disability affected her work and how some simple accommodations have helped her to thrive.
Zalaznick Reading by Layli Long Soldier
October 22, 5-7pm, Klarman Hall KG70. Layli Long Soldier is author of the collection Whereas, which won the National Books Critics Circle award, the 2018 PEN/Jean Stein Book Award, and was a finalist for the National Book Award. Reception and book signing following the reading.
Insectapalooza October 24, 9am-3pm, Stocking Hall. Fun for all ages! Insectapalooza spotlights the countless wonderful ways that insects interact with people and impact our lives.
Halloween Happenings Oct. 29, 11:30am-12:30pm, Willard Straight Hall. Cornell staff, faculty, and retirees: show off your creativity individually or as a team - and enjoy plenty of treats, prizes, and fun! Join this annual costume contest or participate in the pet photo and office decorating contests.
Information curated by Cornell Work/Life, Cornell Wellness, and the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program with campus and community resources, programs, events, and informative articles. Explore past editions or email to ask questions or suggest a resource. Published twice per month. Information shared does not indicate Cornell endorsement.
