This connection will bring together students who have a love of languages, whether these are ones they already speak (since many of our students are multilingual/multicultural), ones they have studied, or simply ones that they might study some day. Our shared interest comes from our desire to see the world through different linguistic "lenses" - as well as the respect for other peoples, cultures, and ideas that this gives us. Together, we will explore the great advantages knowing and using more than one language and working in more than one culture offer us all... on campus and off! This will also be a venue in which we can offer mutual support and forge friendships with like-minded people.

#masterminds, #identity, #aggiesforaction

Beyoncé's trajectory from Houston, Texas as a member of the group Destiny's Child to international fame and superstardom and a successful career as a solo singer, actress, clothing designer and entrepreneur holds important implications for critical dialogues on femininity, fashion, philanthropy, money management, work ethic, and Black culture. Every class will examine a different part of her career and upbringing and will conclude with greater conversation about each subject.

We will talk about all the songs and music videos that showcase her pride in being a Black woman as well as all the times she made history for being the first Black person to accomplish a feat in the music, film, and business world. The purpose of this connection will be to bring together Aggies who love being a woman or people who enjoy celebrating strong women and their contributions to our society.

#aggiesforaction, #ArtMusicEntertainment, #identity

Are you interested in learning more about culture – the way it shapes us and how to better navigate differences in a global world? In this Connection we will explore what we mean by culture and how to grow yourself and your intercultural skills. Each Connection meeting we will discuss concepts from global and intercultural learning along with your own experiences and perspectives so that you make connections with fellow students, learn about yourself, and discover ways to be successful in the diverse campus and world we live in.

#aggiesforaction, #thrive

Let’s learn to harness data and use it to identify social justice opportunities. We'll discuss some examples of people or organizations that meld social justice with data analytics to uncover ways in which we can change our community and the world for the better. Some examples include: data and #metoo, satellite data and human rights, #blacklivesmatter, and cycling advocacy and data. We can also talk about some actions we can take to move social change forward. No data analytics experience needed, just the desire to be a changemaker to improve some of today’s most pressing social, cultural, and global challenges.

#masterminds, #aggiesforaction

At a time when climate change and social inequalities are a threat to our societies, impact investing is a way to help our world progress, while growing our economy. This Connection is a great introductory experience for any student interested in the environment, business, finance, or sociology. Join us to strengthen your foundational knowledge relating to financial literacy.

Connection activities will cover the following topics:
- Investing, startups and the stock market
- Entrepreneurship
- Impact investing as a way to make the world a better place while generating financial returns
- How to build an impactful startup and invest with impact

Note: this Connection will be hybrid, emphasizing student's participation in an interactive entrepreneurship project. This is an inclusive and educational experience for all students regardless of personal finances. No actual investing will take place.

Led by Léa Bouhelier-Gautreau: Impact Investor, Senior Investment Analyst at KingsCrowd and MBA student at UC Davis

#aggiesforaction

This connection takes students on a ‘beyond the scene’ journey exploring the leadership of BTS. Billions around the world know their faces, catchy tunes, and slick dance moves but, underneath, there are 7 leaders whose authenticity and unwavering displays of vulnerability have created a global community that values self-love, optimism, and hope. Utilizing their music, individual characteristics and talents, and numerous campaigns that have sparked social activism, this Connection will help you 1) distinguish what it means to be a ‘leader’ and to engage in ‘leadership’; 2) explore your identity, strengths, and unique talents; 3) examine the effects of teamwork and interdependence; and 4) learn how love and compassions are radical tools to create social change. Come ready to engage and have fun as we embrace the BTS Way of leading!

#ArtMusicEntertainment, #aggiesforaction, #thrive

In this Connection, you will have the opportunity to explore your own identity and those of your peers. We will reflect on how your various intersecting identities influence your experience, both looking at UC Davis and society more broadly. We will discuss gender, sexuality, race/ethnicity, (dis)ability, privilege, and many other topics relating to identity. We will also discuss the value of diversity in higher education and in the workplace. This will be an active and engaging space including lectures, group discussions, and activities.

#identity, #aggiesforaction

COP-26, the international conference of parties on climate action, ended on November 13, 2021. Now it’s your turn to try out how you’d solve climate change. Learn about climate change, how governments negotiate climate change action, and participate in a simulation to hold our global warming to under 2 degrees Celsius. We’ll have guest speakers, work with students and young leaders from around the world, and use a simulation tool that actual UN negotiators, secretaries of state, Nobel-prize winning scientists and countless students have all used to understand what we need to do collectively to act on climate change.

#aggiesforaction