CommuniTEA, a new initiative launched by the Office of the Vice Provost for Institutional Inclusive Excellence, is a monthly community gathering that takes place during the academic year, offering a space for employees to connect with one another outside of their daily workplace interactions.

“We are eager to welcome staff across the university to come together in these monthly gatherings, for joy, connection, and community,” said Tiffany Enos, associate provost for inclusive staff and administrative excellence in the Office of the Vice Provost for Institutional Inclusive Excellence.

CommuniTEA allows participants to get to know each other by way of activities including craft-making while also enjoying coffee, tea, and snacks. The events are designed as a relaxing environment for attendees to talk to fellow Tufts community members whom they might not otherwise have a chance to meet and, in the process, become more familiar with new offices around the university.

“It was nice to hash a few conversations while relaxing for an hour,” said Jordan Wilkinson, senior research administrator in the Office of the Vice Provost for Research. “I mostly work remotely in a research-related office and don't get to meet all that many people. Today, I got to meet someone that's working at Tisch College and another person working at the Africana Center. It turns out we've both been staff here for years and just never connected.”

CommuniTEA conversations can also lead to future professional collaborations, as Hannah Clifford, assistant director of student and young alumni engagement in the Office of Alumni Engagement, and Ann Ward, sustainability manager in the Office of Sustainability, discovered. As a result of their meeting at the April 29 event, Clifford and Ward may now begin working together to engage students and alumni with similar interests.

“I have some alumni that want to do something with renewable energy, and I didn't really know where to point them to,” said Clifford. “Having the opportunity to have my conversation [with Ward], I feel like I now have some more resources in my pocket and can reopen that conversation and point the alums in the right direction.”

“I was telling Hannah that I know for certain, as somebody who works with a lot of students in the Office of Sustainability, that our students would love to hear from her alumni,” added Ward. “It was a really great connection that I don't think I would've made otherwise.”

CommuniTEA events are currently happening on the Medford/Somerville campus on the last Tuesday of each month. The next event will take place on Tuesday, May 27 in the Austin Room in Tisch Library; staff and administrators who are interested in attending upcoming CommuniTEA events can register here.