Wellness & Health At Macalester -WHAM
News & Event Updates
WHAM Lunch & Learn: Potlikker: Food, Memory, and the Art of Nourishment
WHAM invites you to trace the conceptual, cultural, and culinary roots of potlikker. Attendees will explore potlikker as both a food and a metaphor: a concentrated expression of survival, nourishment, memory, and transformation within African American foodways. Drawing on foundational recipes, historical framing, and guiding concepts, Chef Lachelle Cunningham of the Healthy Roots Institute will walk participants through the history and practice of potlikker–one of the most misunderstood and undervalued traditions in Black food culture.
Register to join us on Wednesday, November 11, at 11 am in the Kagin Teaching Kitchen for a hands-on culinary education experience where food becomes a tool for learning, healing, culture, and connection. Lunch will not be served at this event, but delicious samples will be provided. This event is limited to the first 30 staff and faculty.
Register for Fall Session 2 WHAM Classes
Connect with your colleagues and burn off some mid-day stress. Register for our Fall Session 2 WHAM classes between Monday, October 19 and Wednesday, October 28 at 4:00 PM.
Class Lineup:
- Circuit Training & Boot Camp: Master the fundamentals with beginner-friendly Circuit Training, or push your limits in Boot Camp.
- Hatha Yoga & Mindfulness: Stay centered and balanced through your busiest days.
- Dance Cardio: Shake off stress with upbeat music and high-energy movement.
Visit the WHAM Classes Page for class descriptions and secure your spot!
Information Technology Services Wins the Make a Move Challenge!
Congratulations to the 10-person team from Information Technology Services who won this year’s Make a Move Challenge! They came out strong and never looked back. Together they accumulated 658,884 average steps during the 6-week challenge. We admire their determination and persistence!
Congratulations also go out to the team in Advancement, who surged ahead in the final week to finish second, narrowly ahead of Academic Affairs, which finished third.
We applaud all of you who made it through six weeks of the Make a Move Challenge! And congrats to Katy Gabrio and Michael Jensen, who each won a Fitbit, courtesy of WHAM!
Gut Health Essentials
Your gut does a lot for you — from helping you digest food to supporting your mood, energy, and immune system. Our new WHAM activity, Gut Health Essentials, breaks gut health down into simple, practical steps, from how digestion works to how daily habits like eating, moving, sleeping, and managing stress shape your overall well being. You’ll build awareness and discover what helps your gut, and your whole body, feel its best.
To learn more visit our Well-being activities page. Completing this activity can also help you earn your $150 wellness reward.
Pivot first, quit when you’re ready
WHAM and HealthPartners are excited to introduce a new way to help you quit smoking, vaping, or chewing at your own pace. Pivot is an app-based digital tobacco cessation program that includes the use of an FDA-cleared SmartSensor (for those who smoke cigarettes), interactive lessons, peer support, a certified health coach, and up to 12 weeks of nicotine replacement therapy to support you through your quit journey.
To learn more, watch Tyler’s story and visit our Well-being activities page. Completing the Pivot activity can also help you earn your $150 wellness reward.
Connect with our health coach to reach your goals
It’s time to team up. A professional health coach can be the missing link between setting goals and meeting them. Talk one-on-one with our certified health coach, Kelly Fang, about what’s important to you. Whether that’s back pain, nutrition, sleep, stress management, exercise or something else – Kelly will work with you to address your unique needs.
If you’re on Macalester’s benefits plan, take your health assessment to get started at healthpartners.com/wellbeing or use the Living Well button on the myHP app. Then contact Kelly to set up a time. In-person, walking and video appointments are free and open to all staff, faculty, spouses and domestic partners, regardless of your benefits plan. To learn more, visit our Health Coaching page.
Stay Active From Anywhere with Wellbeats
Whether you work from home or go into work, it’s easy to get so caught up in the day that you suddenly realize, it’s been hours since you last got up. Wellbeats is a free online resource with programs for all interests and ability levels. Check it out and get moving more, whether you’re working at home, on campus or on the go.
Try the Give Me a Work Break Program (Four Weeks). Manage stress and increase productivity during the work day with these short exercises and stretches. Wellbeats member, Jess, said “This felt great! A quick five minutes made such a difference.” Download the HealthPartners mobile app or sign in to healthpartners.com/wellbeing to explore all Wellbeats has to offer. For more work-break ideas, visit our Well-being Activities page.
Find Your Inner Peace
Calming yourself improves your mental and physical wellbeing. A new activity, Create Your Calm, is now available virtually and on-demand through WHAM and HealthPartners Living Well. This 2-week activity includes 4-7 classes each week of mindfulness, breathing and medication-style classes to help you pause, breathe and create calm. All classes are beginner level and under 30 minutes.
Visit our Well-being Activities page to learn more, or get started today. Visit healthpartners.com/signin/livingwell and sign into your online account. Select “Get Started” on the activity, Create Your Calm.