Leading with Care: Creating Safe & Supportive Alumni Communities
November 4 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm PST
UCLA alumni volunteers create the moments that foster connection, transforming a group of Bruins, parents, families and friends into a community. Usually, this work is joyful and straightforward.
But sometimes it isn’t.
- A guest may behave in a way that concerns you.
- You may notice someone who appears uncomfortable.
- Someone may share an experience with you and look to you for help.
In the moment, it may not be clear what you should do or say, or when UCLA needs to be involved.
Overview
This session helps you lead with care and confidence when something feels off.
· Set the tone
Help create welcoming events by setting clear expectations and respectful boundaries.
· Respond in the moment
Recognize concerns and consider practical, supportive next steps.
· Know when to involve UCLA
Understand when to reach out, whom to contact and what information helps.
· Know your role
Understand where your responsibility ends and UCLA’s support begins.
Who should attend?
This training is intended for network leaders, parent volunteers and others who help organize, host or support UCLA alumni activities. Whether you lead a network, plan events, welcome participants or help bring programs to life, the guidance is designed to be useful in the situations you may encounter while volunteering with UCLA.
Virtual
What we’ll cover
Creating welcoming and respectful spaces
Alumni volunteers already play a key role in setting a positive tone. We’ll explore ways to clarify behavioral expectations, set clear boundaries, and foster a welcoming environment where everyone feels included and valued.
Recognizing and responding in the moment
UCLA CARE will teach you how to identify concerning behavior and engage calmly to support the person. We will emphasize practical techniques, including immediate actions and effective communication for de-escalation.
Understanding when UCLA needs to be informed
The Civil Rights Office will specify when to escalate issues, how to report concerns to UCLA and what details are most useful. We’ll also provide clear next steps to make contacting UCLA simple.
Knowing where your role ends
Alumni Affairs and the Civil Rights Office will outline the immediate next steps following a concern, including when to contact your Alumni Affairs staff advisor, what support you can expect from UCLA and when responsibility shifts out of the volunteer leader’s hands.
These partners will demonstrate that you have a support network, emphasizing that you don’t have to face difficult situations alone.
Practice with realistic scenarios
Knowing the guidance is helpful. Applying it in the moment is another matter.
A SESSION CONVERSATION MIGHT BEGIN WITH…
“A guest is making another attendee visibly uncomfortable. What can I do right now?”
We’ll explore real-world alumni network scenarios, discussing what volunteers might observe, the available options, when UCLA should intervene and how the response process might unfold.
There may not always be a single perfect solution or a clear course of action. The goal is to provide a framework that helps you respond thoughtfully and guides you on where to turn.
Explore the available options in the moment, including how to offer support and when it may be appropriate to involve UCLA.
Our commitment to you
We support the people who support UCLA.
You give UCLA your valuable time, judgment and willingness to help build community. This training is one way we can support you in return. We want you to leave not expecting difficult situations, but feeling more confident that if one arises, you’ll know what to do, whom to call and that UCLA is there to help.
With gratitude to our partners
We are grateful to our colleagues at UCLA CARE and the Title IX Civil Rights Office for sharing their expertise, guidance and care to support our alumni volunteers and the communities they serve.
CARE: Campus Advocacy, Resources & Education
Building compassion, knowledge and resilience encourages culture change toward a safer, healthier, equitable community.
Title IX Civil Rights Office
Standing for a fair, supportive and proactive approach in service of our community
