<aside> <img src="/icons/asterisk_yellow.svg" alt="/icons/asterisk_yellow.svg" width="40px" /> Joanna Chen is a fourth-year studying Design Media Arts and Digital Humanities at UCLA. She co-founded Innovative Design at UCLA, UCLA’s first student-run creative agency. She also engages with her campus community as a Notion Campus Leader, Adobe Ambassador, and Resident Assistant.
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In this article:
As students, we learn that beyond the textbooks and lectures, what truly enriches our college experience is the connections we make and the communities we become a part of. Finding our tribe and forging a sense of belonging is no easy task, but is certainly one we can help each other find through building communities on campus.
In this article, I will be sharing 6 traditions I use to creating welcoming and engaging communities at UCLA. Let’s dive in!
First things first, we've got to break the ice and get those conversations flowing. Introducing the Members Page on Notion! It's like our virtual icebreaker. Here, every person of the community creates their own profile to introduce themselves, share their social media, and share what makes them tick. It's the perfect way to kickstart those friendships as well as create a roster of your community members.
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#hot-takes channelWe all have quirks, right? Let's celebrate our unique personalities with a #hot-takes channel on a platform like Slack or Discord.
It's where everyone can engage in friendly debates about life's burning questions – like sock lengths and the hot dog sandwich saga! Trust me; it's an absolute riot and a great way to bond over shared opinions.
When it's time to hit the books, you'll want to find your trusty study companions. Enter the Class Finder page on Notion.
Using Notion’s database feature, this page allows everyone to list the classes they are taking for the quarter/semester and find people they share a class with. Who knew studying could be this social?
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#overheard channelInside jokes are the secret sauce of community bonding. So, let's create an #overheard channel where everyone can share hilarious phrases and out-of-context quotes.
Trust me, these quotes and phrases become the glue that binds everyone together. Bonus idea: you can create a Kahoot at the end of the year to guess who said what quote!
How can we spice up the typical attendance tracker? How about a Happiness Scores page on Notion?
After every meeting or event, have everyone rate their day on a scale of 1 to 10 to mark their participation. Additionally, have people comment on why they rated their day as such and also respond to each other’s comments. It’s a little reminder that we are all here for each other and a good way to check in on your community’s well being.
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For those who crave more intimate connections, we've got something special – Chex Mixes. Every week, randomly pair everyone up using a Slack or Discord bot.
Their task for the week is to meet up with each other and go for a walk, grab some boba, or study together! It's like a mini friend-date, a chance to know each other beyond the big gatherings and meetings. Get ready to make some lasting connections!
Community building is all about creating spaces where people can feel safe to be themselves, connect with their peers, and find the support they need to thrive while trying to survive the treacherous journey of college. There’s a gift in helping people feel welcomed, loved, and cared for and I hope these traditions help you create a gift that keeps on giving 💌