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We\u2019re excited to have nearly 200 NAU employees across 25 teams<\/strong> participating in this year\u2019s challenge!<\/p>\n Don\u2019t forget to track each 30 minutes of activity<\/strong> on your team wall chart. Team leaders will submit monthly reports, which will enter participating employees for the chance to win great prizes!<\/strong><\/p>\n And mark your calendar: the Kickoff Walk at Buffalo Park<\/strong> is happening November 14 at 9:00 a.m.<\/strong> We hope to see lots of Lumberjacks there!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n For more information visit AWC Program website<\/a>, or email ask-eaw@nau.edu<\/a>. Join the NAU vs. ASU vs. UA Employee Movement Challenge, November 4\u201317! Help NAU claim the highest average movement count while competing for up to 2,250 HIP points<\/strong>. Let\u2019s show our Lumberjack spirit and endurance!<\/p>\n Learn more about our Health Impact Program<\/a><\/p>\n When: \u00a0<\/strong>Friday, <\/strong>November 13, noon-1:00 p.m.<\/p>\n Where: <\/strong>Cline Library MakerLab Room #180<\/p>\n Come and paint a word of encouragement, an uplifting picture, or something silly to share a smile on a rock. After creating your rock masterpiece, you can hide your gem of kindness in plain sight to spread a little light and love around our campus community. Bring a rock of your own or use one of ours, we\u2019ll have plenty!<\/p>\n To register: ask-eaw@nau.edu<\/a><\/p>\n When: \u00a0<\/strong>Tuesday, <\/strong>November 17th, noon-1:00 p.m.<\/p>\n Facilitator<\/strong>: Mike Bouck, LCSW<\/p>\n Join Employee Assistance & Wellness and Staff Advisory Council for a relaxed, interactive lunch hour about the barriers that hold us back from reaching out. We\u2019ll talk about empathy vs. compassion, the fear of being a burden, imposter syndrome, and how culture shapes the way we give and receive support. Enjoy your lunch on this teams call and bring your phone for some fun live polls (yes, there will be cats). You\u2019ll leave with practical ways to ask for support and to make it easier for others to ask you.<\/p>\n Join via Teams:<\/strong> Meeting ID:<\/strong> 223 219 930 784 085 Diabetes is one of the fastest-growing public health concerns in the U.S. Join this wellness webinar to learn about diabetes risk factors, blood glucose levels, diagnosis and treatment, along with the latest research and information to help you better understand diabetes.<\/p>\n When:<\/strong> Wednesday, November 18, 2026, noon\u20131 p.m.<\/p>\n Register:<\/strong> Diabetes Webinar<\/a><\/p>\n When: \u00a0<\/strong>Thursday, <\/strong>November 19th, noon-1:30 p.m.<\/p>\n Where: <\/strong>Teams<\/p>\n Facilitator<\/strong>: Shawnee McDowell, LCSW and Mike Bouck, LCSW, EAW Counselors<\/p>\n Do you find it difficult to stay centered around certain people? Some relationships can leave us feeling frustrated, anxious, defensive, or emotionally drained. Drawing on concepts from Recovering from Emotionally Immature Parents <\/em>by Lindsay Gibson, this workshop explores why certain interactions have such a powerful impact and how understanding emotional maturity can help us respond more effectively.<\/p>\n Participants will learn to recognize common emotional triggers, develop realistic expectations of themselves and others, and practice strategies for maintaining emotional balance during challenging interactions. The workshop emphasizes self-awareness, healthy boundaries, and emotional regulation as practical tools for staying grounded, reducing reactivity, and approaching difficult relationships with a greater confidence and clarity. \u00a0All are welcome.<\/p>\n To register: ask-eaw@nau.edu<\/a><\/p>\n When:<\/strong> Tuesday, December 8, 2026, noon\u20131 p.m.<\/p>\n Facilitator:<\/strong> Shawnee McDowell, LCSW, Certified Advanced Grief Counseling Specialist (CAGCS)<\/p>\n Wondering how you will survive the upcoming winter holidays? Are you dreading these times, knowing that so many things have changed?<\/p>\n This workshop is for people grieving the loss of a loved one or loved ones. We will talk about how to deal with the many emotions you might face during the holidays, helpful tips for surviving social events, and discovering hope for your future.<\/p>\n Register:<\/strong> ask-eaw@nau.edu<\/a><\/p>\n When:\u00a0 <\/strong>Wednesday, November 18, 12:30-1:30 p.m. – Autism and ADHD: Synergies and Differences<\/p>\n Where: <\/strong>Discord<\/p>\n Facilitators: <\/strong>Heather Nash, EAW Director; Shelby Rinke, Assistant Professor of Practice; and Landi Morris, Assistant Professor of Accounting (by Discord)<\/p>\n The Alliance is a community for NAU faculty and staff who identify as neurodivergent, including people with medical or self-diagnoses and those exploring whether they may be part of the neurodivergent community. Meetings provide space to connect, share resources, and build community.<\/p>\n All forms of participation are welcome. Facilitators bring lived experience but do not provide formal therapeutic advice. Participation and meeting activity will remain private.<\/p>\n Register: <\/strong>Discord Registration<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n When<\/strong>: The second Thursday of each month, September 10-December 10, 2026, noon-1 p.m.<\/p>\n Facilitators<\/strong>: Shawnee McDowell, LCSW, EAW Counselor, and Cyndy Soto-Lopez, PhD, EAW Psychologist<\/p>\n A cancer diagnosis can bring medical uncertainty, emotional strain, and lasting survivorship concerns. This group is intended to offer mutual support, strengthen coping skills, and foster resilience and post-traumatic growth for employees affected by cancer.<\/p>\n For information<\/strong>: Shawnee.McDowell@nau.edu<\/a> or Cyndy.Soto-Lopez@nau.edu<\/a><\/p>\n When<\/strong>: 1st Wednesday of the month, September 2-December 2, noon-1:00 p.m.<\/p>\n Facilitator<\/strong>: Cyndy Soto-Lopez, PhD, EAW Psychologist<\/p>\n With our aging population, there has been a rise in the number of individuals who are informal family caregivers, many of whom are also caring for children and\/or managing their own chronic health conditions. Approximately 1 in 3 adults in the US is a family caregiver.<\/p>\n Caring for a family member with an injury, illness, or disability can be one of the most important and rewarding (and very challenging) roles a person can take on in their lifetime. The financial, physical, mental, and emotional demands of caregiving tasks may overwhelm even the most resilient of people. This group aims to provide support for the challenges caregivers face in managing stress associated with caregiving and barriers to self-care in striving to enhance quality of life for themselves and the loved ones for whom they provide care.<\/p>\n For information:<\/strong>\u00a0Cyndy.Soto-Lopez@nau.edu<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Registration is required. All groups are open to NAU employees, and participants may join at any point unless otherwise noted.<\/p>\n When<\/strong>: Tuesdays, September 15-December 1, 2026, 8:30-9:00 a.m.<\/p>\n Led by<\/strong>: Cyndy Soto-Lopez, PhD, EAW Psychologist<\/p>\n This group is based on the book \u201cThe High-Conflict Couple: A Dialectical Behavior Therapy Guide to Finding Peace, Intimacy, and Validation\u201d by Alan E. Fruzzetti (2006). Although the book was written for romantic relationships, this group will focus on any relationships where emotions, misunderstandings, and recurring conflict occur. Many workplace conflicts follow the same pattern Fruzzetti describes in couples: one person\u2019s emotional reaction triggers another person\u2019s defensive response, leading to escalation rather than resolution. Every week we will address not just communication skills but the emotional processes that drive conflict in the first place. Reading the book is not required although it might be helpful.<\/p>\n Register<\/strong>: ask-eaw@nau.edu<\/a><\/p>\n When<\/strong>: Wednesdays, September 2-November 18, 2026, 8:30-9 a.m.<\/p>\n Led by<\/strong>: Mike Bouck, LCSW, EAW Counselor and Trainer<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.\u201d \u2014Jon Kabat-Zinn<\/p>\n Work may not be slowing down, but we can change how we respond. Mindfulness helps build focus, self-awareness, emotional balance, resilience, and communication skills to better navigate stress and change.<\/p>\n Join our supportive community to practice simple, evidence-informed techniques for feeling more grounded and present. Drop in whenever you can\u2014no experience required, and everyone is welcome.<\/p>\n Register<\/strong>: ask-eaw@nau.edu<\/a><\/p>\n When<\/strong>: Thursdays, October 8-November 19, 8:30-9 a.m.<\/p>\n Led by<\/strong>: Heather Nash, PhD, EAW Director<\/p>\n Join Heather for a weekly conversation about setting and maintaining healthy boundaries. Sessions highlight relevant research and conclude with at least one strategy to apply during the coming week.<\/p>\n Register: ask-eaw@nau.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\n
\n<\/strong><\/p>\nTri-University Challenge<\/h2>\n
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Kindness Rocks!<\/h2>\n
Network NAU: Self-Care for Helpers<\/h2>\n
\nNetwork NAU Teams link<\/a><\/p>\n
\nPasscode:<\/strong> yG9dC9DD<\/p>\n<\/h2>\n
November is Diabetes Awareness Month<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Emotional Maturity: Staying Grounded Around People Who Trigger You<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Grief During the Holidays<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Support and Community Groups<\/strong><\/h1>\n
NAU Alliance for Neurodivergent Faculty and Staff\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Cancer Support Group for NAU Employees (Teams)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Caregiving Support Group (Teams)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Weekly Drop-In Groups<\/strong><\/h1>\n
Conflict Without Combat: Skills for Challenging Conversations (Teams)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Midweek Mindfulness Meditation (Teams)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Thursday Morning Happiness Club Explores Boundaries (Teams)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Register for EAW Programming<\/h1>\n