Team building through community engagement

Volunteer work within the community offers a powerful avenue for employee team building, according to the JHU Office of Benefits & Worklife. Working together on meaningful projects enhances collaboration, develops leadership skills, boosts morale, and builds a positive workplace culture. Integrating volunteerism into team building events, Benefits & Worklife says, can yield significant benefits for both the employees and the greater community.

Recently, Benefits & Worklife organized its own volunteer day. Using the United Way of Central Maryland's volunteer program to identify a suitable opportunity, the team spent the day at the Filbert Street Garden in South Baltimore. The day's activities included meeting the animals, weeding the garden, and moving new chicken coops and supplies to prepare for an upcoming event. Through these actions, the team was able to make an impact in the community, strengthen relationships, relieve stress, and promote team and individual well-being.

"As a new member of the team, volunteering at the Filbert Street Garden was a fantastic opportunity to get to know my teammates outside of the typical office setting," says Jasmine Parsons, director of Benefits Strategy and Service. "Not only were we giving back to the community, but we were also learning and engaging with one another. This contributes to the team's collective well-being, and it made the experience truly memorable and impactful."

If you're looking for ways to give back, the Johns Hopkins Takes Time for Baltimore service leave policy allows faculty and staff to volunteer during their regularly scheduled work hours for up to two days per year. Such volunteer efforts must be done through one of the following groups: current recipients of Johns Hopkins Neighborhood Fund grants, organizations vetted by the university, Baltimore City Public Schools, or the United Way of Central Maryland. Ongoing service opportunities also can be found through Hopkins Engage.