Events
Cultural North Star Pop-Ups
Join us each month as we gather in different campus locations to connect, share, and build community. These pop-ups are all about bringing people together—creating space for meaningful conversations, new introductions, and a stronger sense of belonging. Whether you're stopping by for a few minutes or staying to chat, each event is a chance to grow the connections that reflect and reinforce our shared values.
Recommit & Refresh: CNS Punchcard Party
January 29, 2026 @ 12 pm
Kick off 2026 by celebrating our shared values and creating your own Cultural North Star punch card! This community-building event is all about recommitting to our shared values and kicking off the new year with creativity and connection. Together, we’ll explore the 12 Cultural North Star purpose statements that guide our work and design personalized punch cards to track meaningful actions throughout 2026. It’s a great opportunity to share ideas, connect with colleagues, and enjoy light refreshments while celebrating what makes our culture strong. Let’s make 2026 a year of purpose and impact—together!
Mindful Music with The Keytones
March 4, 2026 @ 4 pm
The Mindful Music Series, which restarted in February 2023, aims to rebuild a sense of community after the pandemic and all the big leadership transitions within the Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences Department. The goal is to promote mental health and well-being through the healing power of music and the arts. In collaboration with the Arts & Healing Committee, Dr. Helena Hansen and Ethel Roxas organize monthly events showcasing the musical talents of local members in our community.
Registration
Kindness in Color: Making Things Better, One Bead at a Time
A collaborative program by UCLA Health’s Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine’s Administrative Staff Well-Being Committee and Cultural North Star.
February 24, 2026 @ 12 pm
This workshop brings together Cultural North Star’s guiding values and UCLA Health’s commitment to well-being to create a reflective, creative experience. Participants will design beaded bracelets as tangible reminders of kindness, integrity, and continuous improvement—values that strengthen both personal and organizational culture.
Cultural North Star Recognition Day
March 13, 2026 @ 12 pm
Get ready for CNS Recognition Day! This year, we’re switching things up—Recognition Day will take the place of our traditional awards celebration, and it’s all about celebrating the people who make DGSOM amazing. We’ll honor everyone who submitted a recognition and everyone who has been recognized for living our shared values. Come enjoy a light meal, connect with colleagues, and take time to reflect on the values and purpose statements that guide us. You’ll also have the chance to help identify new values emerging in our community. Plus, we’ll have games, photo opportunities, and plenty of fun as we celebrate the most important value in DGSOM: supporting and appreciating one another!
Past Event Recordings
Cultural North Star Awards
2024 Virtual Ceremony
Awardees: LA Cosecha, Mobile Clinic Project (MCP), Clinical & Translational Science Institute (CTSI) Grant Submission Unit (GSU)
2023 Virtual Ceremony
Awardees: Body Empowerment Project (BEP), CORELAB, IMPACT Team
2022 Virtual Ceremony
Awardees: Disability and Chronic Illness Student Group (DCI), CLA Gender Health Program - Care Coordination Team, UCLA Prevention Center of Excellence
2020 Commemorative Video
Awardee: Carol Mangione, MD, MSPH, FACP
Connect with Us
If you have questions regarding current or past CNS events, please reach out to us.
Email: culturalnorthstar@mednet.ucla.edu