On the beautiful morning of Friday, April 26, UNM Staff gathered to participate in a Campus Cleanup Day event, organized by Institutional Support Services (ISS) and Facilities Management (FM), to mark the end of Earth Month. The initiative brought together 46 enthusiastic volunteers from various departments within the Executive Vice President for Finance & Administration umbrella.
The event was spearheaded by Giovanna Archuleta, an administrative officer from the ISS Vice President’s office, who expressed her long-standing idea of promoting collaboration among departments: "Today’s event was an idea that I have had for a while. Coming from FM and working on campus more, I saw an opportunity for departments to work together."
During the cleanup day, volunteers engaged in activities such as tree planting, mulching, and weeding, all aimed at improving the aesthetics and sustainability of the campus. A representative from FM emphasized the importance of mulching in retaining moisture and enhancing the health of landscaped areas.
Vice President for Institutional Support Services Shawna Wolfe expressed gratitude towards the volunteers, organizers, and grounds team, stating, "Your efforts exemplify the spirit of UNM and reinforce our commitment to making a difference together.”
The event not only achieved tangible goals in enhancing the campus environment but also fostered cross-department collaboration and unity among staff members. Participants from diverse departments worked together towards a common goal, breaking down silos and strengthening interdepartmental relationships.
The staff Campus Cleanup Day demonstrated the transformative power of volunteerism and teamwork, leaving a lasting impact on the workplace culture at UNM. As Giovanna Archuleta reflected, "It was touching to see and hear our Grounds & Landscaping peers appreciate the help they received, as well as volunteers who said this was the highlight of their day and can’t wait to do it again."
The success of this event highlights the importance of embracing cross-collaborative volunteerism and the positive outcomes it can bring to a community.