Come Learn how to Dance! New Activity!
Faculty Sarah “Sam” Saltiel will be teaching ballroom and Latin dance classes every Tuesday during Spring Quarter. Faculty, staff, and students all invited. Learn how to waltz, cha cha, and more! Email Sam.saltiel@evergreen.edu with any questions or to get emails about the dance of the week.
Every Tuesday through Spring Quarter from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m., COM 209, staff/faculty lounge. (Excluding April 21st & May 19th)
Hosted by Sarah “Sam” Saltiel
Easy Like Lunchtime Yoga
Back for Spring Quarter! Escape the desk, loosen up, and lower your stress. This 45-minute, all-levels practice is specifically designed to combine gentle stretches, mindful breathing, and a brief meditation to reset your mind for the afternoon. All equipment is supplied. No sweat, no special clothes required – just you taking a moment for yourself.
Wednesdays – Beginning April 8th from 12:05 to 12:50 p.m., House of Welcome Longhouse – Cedar Room. (Excluding April 29th)
Warning: Side effects may include improved flexibility, enhanced strength, better posture, stronger mental clarity, increased energy, better sleep and a sense of calmness.
Hosted by Linda Terry
Weekly Gaming Meetup
Pause your daily routine and dive into a world of fun during your lunch break! Join us every week for our Gaming Meetup, where faculty and staff come together to play tabletop games of all sorts. Discover new games or enjoy beloved classics. Spread the joy and bring your own game to share with the group. All experience levels welcome.
Every Thursday from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m., CAB 116, staff/faculty lounge.
Bring your lunch and your game face!
Hosted by Trisha Towanda
Happy Hour Cafe
Happy Hour Cafe brings Faculty and Staff together in a “cafe” style gathering to share community with each other, facilitated group gatherings with an invitation for participants to engage in conversation and shared activities mind/heart expansion. This activity will be facilitated by Lilly Marie Kinnamon who has 32 years of sharing and facilitating in a group format for the therapeutic value of support, growth, and wellness. Lilly will initiate, on a rotation basis, a reading from a daily meditation from a selection of different books. The group can share on the topic from the meditation or anything you would like to discuss that day. Bring Your Own Beverage and share community and connection with colleagues through conversation, stories, humor, or anything going on with you. Share some mindful practices you are using for staying grounded. Share stretches, recipes, sketches, writings, and affirmations. On sunny days participants can stroll accessible pathways on campus together.
Every Tuesday from noon-1:00 p.m. in the Social Justice Center (SJC).
Enter The 2026 Washington Experience Giveaway
You could win a $500 gift card from SmartHealth!
PEBB and SEBB subscribers who are eligible to qualify for the SmartHealth $125 wellness incentive are eligible to win.
How to enter:
- Complete your SmartHelath wellbeing assessment.
- Report completion of the “Washington Experience Giveaway” featured activity in SmartHealth by the drawing deadline.
The earlier you complete both steps, the more drawings you’ll be entered into, giving you more chances to win! You only need to enter once to be eligible for all drawings.
What can you win:
Twenty (20) lucky SmartHealth participants will win a $500 gift card* for one of the following businesses:
- Hotels.com
- Airbnb
- REI
- Washington State Parks Store
Drawing deadlines:
- Drawing 1: March 31, 2026
- Drawing 2: June 30, 2026
- Drawing 3: September 30, 2026
Review the FAQs for more details.
Free Offerings through WA State Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
The Washington State Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a free, confidential program created to promote the health, safety and well-being of public service employees. You can view the EAP website through this link: Employee Assistance Program | Department of Enterprise Services (DES) (wa.gov) for complete information or contact them by phoning 877-313-4455.
Supporting Gen Z Workers’ Mental Well-Being
Many of today’s younger workers—Gen Zs born between 1997 and 2012—grew up more comfortable talking about mental health issues than previous generations. But they also have significantly higher rates of anxiety and depression. Understanding this generational shift can help employers support young workers and attract and retain top talent. ODEP’s learning guide “Supporting the Mental Well-Being of Gen Z Workers” outlines proactive steps employers can take to foster supportive, mental health-friendly workplaces that benefit employees and the organization as a whole. Link to article: : AskEARN | Learning Guide: Supporting the Mental Well-Being of Gen Z Workers
Department of Retirement Systems Financial Wellness Free Webinars
The Department of Retirement Systems’ Education & Outreach team has updated the webinar schedule for April – June, 2026. To view the schedule and sign up for a live DRS Zoom webinar, select DRS Webinars.
If you need to request an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) related reasonable accommodation to participate, please email us at: drs.medregister@drs.wa.gov. Some requests may require 10 business days.
If you’re unable to attend a live webinar, most of the webinars have been recorded and are available on-demand:
Get to know the plans
Choosing a plan (new members of PERS, SERS, TRS)
DCP (Washington State Deferred Compensation Program)
Plan 2 (PERS, SERS, TRS)
Plan 3 (PERS, SERS, TRS)
Multiple Plans (dual membership)
Financial Wellness
Budget, debt management & prioritizing savings
Financial independence in retirement
What should I do when retirement is years away?
If I knew then what I know now
Withdrawals and retirement
Early retirement (PERS, SERS, TRS)
Purchasing an annuity and service credit
DCP withdrawals (distributions from supplemental savings)
Plan 3 withdrawals (distributions from investments)
Benefit options (survivorship)
Taking the fear out of retirement
Late Career SERS & TRS Plans 2, 3
Specialty topics
Working after retirement (PERS, SERS, TRS)
Disability and death benefits (PERS, SERS, TRS)
Disability and death benefits (LEOFF 2)
We recommend joining a few minutes early to test your connection and sound. Review joining and participating in Zoom webinars for tips. These events will not be recorded. Thank you!
If you’re not in a DRS retirement plan, select “Not sure of my plan” when registering. Review joining and participating in Zoom webinars for tips.
Get Involved with Employee Wellness
- Interested in being a wellness instructor: Contact Employee Wellness today!
- Interested in offering licensed chair massage for Spring Quarter: Contact Employee Wellness today!
- Join the team: Are you interested in volunteering with the Employee Appreciation, Recognition and Wellness team? Gain approval to volunteer from your supervisor, then just email us letting us know of your interest.
- Send ideas: Do you have an idea on how we can show appreciation or recognition for our colleagues? Email us with your ideas!
Employee Appreciation, Recognition and Wellness
The Evergreen State College