Save the Date for NOVA’s Gratitude & Appreciation Week: April 22–26

Propelled by our Fall 2023 Convocation, NOVA embraced the theme of this past academic year: “Sense of Belonging.” It was a call to action to find ways to increase the sense of belonging among all NOVA community members. To explore the theme further, colleagues responded with a variety of initiatives throughout the year, making the theme even more relevant to their work. Many of us participated in reading circles based on the book Belonging: The Science of Creating Connection and Bridging Divides written by Dr. Geoffrey L. Cohen⁠, a professor of psychology at Stanford University.

In his book and in a podcast, Dr. Cohen underscores the profound link between belonging and gratitude. Cohen stated, “We forge genuine connections, conquer isolation and enrich our lives through the transformative power of gratitude and belonging.” He went on to say, “Gratitude becomes the catalyst for creating nurturing environments where people genuinely feel they belong.” The power of gratitude resonated with members of the President’s Reading Circle. As such, we decided to spread the message! Join us to bring life to the circle’s vision of a week that focuses on the power of gratitude and appreciation in the workplace.

Save the dates! Next week, in the Daily Flyer, look for messages from the Office of Employee Wellness and Wellbeing on establishing or refreshing gratitude and appreciation practices.

Submitted by: 
Dahlia Henry-Tett, Chief Wellness Officer (CWO), employeewellbeing@nvcc.edu