Work + Life Social Connection Groups

"Building Community Across IU Campuses, Peer-to-Peer"

Work + Life Social Connection Groups, where IU employees connect for engagement and enrichment around a shared interest or life stage. The Work + Life Social Connection Groups are peer-led and employee-driven, so group members determine how and when they meet as well as the topic discussions and activities that will take place.

Groups will be added as they are formed. If you have an interest in joining or forming a group or know of a group already existing on your campus, please contact the Healthy IU | Work + Life office. 

  • Potential Social Connection Groups

    This list consists of groups in which others on your campus have shown an interest. We are looking for individuals who are interested in facilitating group activities, as co-peer leaders, for these groups. As a reminder, group members determine how and when they meet as well as the topic discussions and activities that will take place. Please contact the Work + Life office at healthyu@indiana.edu, if you are interested in co-leading a social connection group.

    IU Bloomington

    • Curling
    • Queer Community
    • Outdoor Recreation
    • Tabletop Games
    • Crafting
    • Travel

    IUPUI

    • Hiking
    • Running
    • Attending Sporting Events
    • Cooking Classes/Meal Planning
    • Foster Parenting
    • Travel
    • Fitness
    • Living with Autoimmune Diseases/Disorders
    • Bike Riding
    • Gardening
    • Pottery and Ceramics
    • Walking
    • Veganism
    • Music/Concert Going
    • Parents of Young Children

    IU South Bend

    • Movies
    • Cooking and Meal Prep
    • Group Fitness
    • Staff Morale
    • Home Buying
    • Money Management 
    • Social Dancing (e.g. Swing, Salsa, Samba, etc.)
    • Walking
    • Chair Yoga
    • Board Games

     

  • University-wide

    • IU Crochet Give Back Network - We are looking for individuals who are interested in connecting with others who share a love for crochet. In addition to sharing ideas, swapping patterns, and connecting with others, the group intends to donate their crotchet creations to IU organizations or units such as Riley Hospital’s NICU, IUH Simon Cancer Center, etc. Interested parties contact Evelyn Safder at esafder@iupui.edu for additional information.
    • Candid Conversations for Caregivers - Whether you care for someone who is elderly, disabled, a relative, a child, a spouse, or any other loved one, IUWIT recognizes that being a caregiver is extra stressful these days. Join, IUWIT Leadership Team members, Kim and Melanie, in a monthly virtual, informal, and candid discussion about caregiving. This virtual meeting will give caregivers a chance to informally gather and discuss topics around juggling caregiving while working. You’ll able to just vent, share resources and experiences, and find support from other caregivers. All sessions are open to anyone of any gender. For this semester’s monthly schedule, click here. For more information, contact iuwit@iu.edu
    • IU Cancer Survivor Community - IU Microsoft Teams Group: This Teams group is intended to provide a supportive, compassionate, and caring environment for Indiana University employees who have experienced cancer to connect with each other. Any IU cancer survivor is welcome to join and share tools, resources, and support to others through their cancer journey. Contact healthyu@indiana.edu to request to join.
    • IU Parenting community group is specifically designed for faculty and staff who are interested in connecting with other IU parents to learn, share resources, and network over the shared experience of parenting and/or caregiving. For more information, please contact Healthy IU | Work + Life office. 

    • Shelf Indulgence Book Club - The Ray Bradbury Center is teaming up with Centerpoint Brewing Co. for a brand new quarterly book club. Each quarter, we will read a book from a different genre of fiction. For more information about this quarter's read, and meeting date and time, click here. For more information, email bradbury@iu.edu.

    • Calling all writers – The Writers’ Collaborative are a group of IU staff and faculty who desires to connect with other passionate writers. This group meets once a month for accountability, support, motivation, and encouragement around writing. To request to join the Writers’ Collaborative, please click here.

  • IU Bloomington

    • IU Working Moms' Group provides a community for female employees who are maintaining a career alongside their parenting responsibilities. The group meets for lunch, once a month, at various locations around campus. Moms with children of all ages, from newborns to adults, are welcome. To join, email Amanda Peterson at amkhoffm@indiana.edu or like the Facebook group page. 
    • Noontime Yoga Group members meet twice a week for an energizing hour of essential Hatha Yoga.  Please contact Joan Middendorf at middendo@indiana.edu for more information.

  • IUPUI

    • IUPUI's Faculty & Staff Affinity Groups have a long history of serving faculty and staff (as well as students and alumni) in matters of social justice and institutional accountability pertaining to the value of diversity.
    • IUPUI University Library Book Club - Created in the spring of 2013, this book club is designed to connect IUPUI readers with each other and promote pleasure reading on campus. If you like reading and/or talking about good books, this club might be for you. But if you just like hanging out with nice people and eating good food, this club might also be for you. All IUPUI students, faculty, and staff are invited. To see the current Book Club reading, location, and meeting date, click here.
    • Comic Book Group (on Discord) is for IUPUI employees. The goal of our group is to start with just chatting about what we love, COMIC BOOKS! Maybe later we will grow to meetups, lunches, comic book swaps, and more. Interested? Join us at "Comic Books (IUPUI Employee)" on Discord, by clicking here.

  • IU East

    Coming soon!

  • IU Kokomo

    Coming soon!

  • IU Northwest

    Coming soon!

  • IU South Bend

    • The IU South Bend Veterans Book Club is open to everyone interested in veterans' experiences and the role of the military and war in our society.  The book club meets periodically throughout the academic year and discusses a wide variety of book genres including novels, memoirs, journalism, graphic novels, short stories, poems, and history. Participants represent a wide range of ages and include students, staff, faculty, and community members as well as veterans and civilians. We frequently have guest experts and authors lead the discussions. Free books are available for those who are interested. The club meets on Thursday evenings from 5:30 to 7:00 in room 301 of the Schurz Library and on Zoom. For more information please contact Rhonda Culbertson, rculbert@iusb.edu.
    • The IU South Bend Community Culture Club is for all staff and faculty pop culture enthusiasts who would like to connect with others by engaging in local community cultural events (movies, music, concerts, arts, literature, and festivals). For more information or to join the group, please click here.
    • The IU South Bend Parenting Circle is for faculty and staff members who are navigating the demands of work and parenting. Join the group to connect with others who are facing the same joys and challenges in raising kids. We will meet monthly to discuss topics of interest to the group and will have ongoing asynchronous conversations using Teams. Our group is a non-judgmental space where we can share our experiences, offer support, and learn from each other. We welcome parents of all backgrounds, family structures, and ages of children.  Whether you're a first-time parent or a seasoned pro, we invite you to be part of our supportive community. Join us today on Teams or email Anna Michelle Martinez-Montavon, the peer facilitator, with any questions.

  • IU Southeast

    • Walking Wednesdays at IU Southeast- Walking is a great low-impact activityi to help you stay healthy. Walking Wednesdays is a great way to get out of the office, connect with colleagues and enjoy our lovely campus! If you would like to participate in Walking Wednesdays, please meet at the Clock Tower in McCullough Plaza every Wednesday at 12:30 pm. For more information please contact Lisa Book at lmbook@iu.edu or the IU Southeast Wellness Coalition at sewellne@ius.edu. You can also like the IU Southeast Fam Facebook and the IU Southeast Wellness Coalition Groups on Facebook.

  • IUPUC

    Coming soon!

  • IU Fort Wayne

    Coming soon!