Skip to main content
Menu
September 25, 2025

Boris' Block Party: Academic Year Kickoff

10 am to 2 pm

Location: School of Public Health Building #255 (multiple locations inside/outside)

Fall 2025 updates coming soon! 

Dean Boris Lushniak is having a party and EVERYONE is invited! Start your fall semester with the University of Maryland School of Public Health as we celebrate culture and wellbeing with community, care and joy!

This event is sponsored by the SPH Happiness and Wellness Initiative and the SPH Student Engagement Initiative. 

 

See 2024 Events Below:

  • Categories
  • Everyone

Learning how to connect with people and in meaningful ways? Stop by our Table of Friendship, inspired by Dr. Marisa Franco and her book, “Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make–and Keep– Friends”. Here you can meet with people in the campus community, participate in simple friendship-building activities, spin a wheel for a prize, and learn more about Dr. Franco’s book.

Location: Reilly Lounge, SPH Concourse, 0393.

In support of physical, mental and social health on campus, the UMD SPH Happiness and Wellness Initiative is hosting neck massage therapy sessions! 

These soothing sessions help you relax your muscles and reduce tension and are a great way to start your day! Each session is 10 minutes long.

You must register for a time slot. It is first come, first served so sign up ASAP!

Location: SPH Friedgen Lounge, 2236.

Experience a soothing and relaxing sound bath.

The SPH Happiness and Wellness Initiative is hosting 25-minute sound therapy sessions led by Dr. Tamisha Ponder, founder of Sankofa Yoga & Wellness Center in Laurel, Maryland.

Sign up here and bring some friends along for a relaxing and energizing session together! 

Location: SPH Wellness Room, 0113.

Looking for some simple, easy creative outlets? Waiting for your turn for the massage or sound therapy sessions? Take a seat and enjoy some mindful and amusing worry stone painting that you can take home once you’re done, Picasso!

Painting can help ease your mind of worries and encourage thoughtfulness, so join in the activity!

Location: SPH Concourse (ground floor).

Join the president of the Star Strutters, Keturah Halle, who is offering a short session to learn a few moves and the history and joy of majorette dance. This is an excellent opportunity for students to engage and learn more about the Star Strutters and their homage to majorette dance and Historically Black Colleges and Universities through art.

Location: UMD SPH Wellness Room, 0113.

Learn new skills and expand your toolkit as a community member and health advocate via the free Narcan training. At the University Health Center table, you can digitally scan a QR code and complete a short training (within a few minutes) in which you will learn to properly administer Narcan and save lives. Join in the goal of getting our UMD and SPH Community Narcan trained!

Location: SPH Concourse, ground floor.

Looking to change your lunch time routine today? Stop by the Trini Vybz and Halal Grill food trucks!

Trini Vybz offers a unique and flavorful experience with their authentic, Trinidadian cuisine where everything is fresh and made to order. Taste their delicious curry or stew chicken, or their popular roti wraps with the protein of your choice!

Halal Grill is making its way here from DC! Their Mediterranean menu includes delicious platters ranging from marinated grilled chicken and basmati rice topped with their Tzatziki sauce to gyro-combo salads with spicy and extra spicy options!

Location: Metered parking spaces in front of the UMD SPH Building, 4200 Valley Drive.

Academic life gets busy and stressful; remember to take a deep breath and breathe! The SKY Club is providing tools and information about how to mitigate stress and mindfulness through their unique meditation and yoga practices. Yoga mats will be available for participants, so stop on by and relax with us!

Location: UMD SPH Wellness Room, 0113

Yum, yum, yum! Maryland Dairy is scooping up three flavor options for our block party participants. Try a traditional flavors of vanilla or chocolate, or the 1856 feature flavor - a strawberry ice cream and vanilla sponge cake combo with sherry and vanilla cream! 

Share your commitment to voting in the 2024 US Elections on November 5 as you get your scoop! 

A BIG THANK YOU to SECU for sponsoring the ice cream  cart for the block party!

Location: SPH Concourse, ground floor. First come first served.

Wag your tails and wave hello to Teddy, the K9 comfort dog, and his handler Corporal Melissa Fischer! This adorable Labrador is more than happy to snuggle with students, staff and faculty. Comfort and stress relief is Teddy's specialty, and you can return the love with good belly rubs and plenty of head pats. 

Location: SPH Concourse, ground floor.

Renowned American artist, activist, and former Black Panther Party member, Charlotte O’Neal (Mama C) is offering a special performance for the UMD and SPH community.

Mama C's art and activism have been deeply intertwined, reflecting her commitment to social justice and equality. Her artwork blends African, African American, and indigenous influences. Her activism spans decades, with involvement in the Black Panther Party, the African Liberation Support Committee, the American Indian Movement, and Environmental Justice. Learn more here. 

Mama C and her partner, Pete O’Neal, run the United African Alliance Community Center (UAACC ) in Imbaseni village outside of Arusha city, Tanzania, where they are scheduled to host a new UMD study abroad program in Tanzania in June 2025. Mama C is visiting campus this week to meet with students interested in studying abroad (Sept 25th: In-class meeting 11am-12pm in room 1301 and Brown Bag discussion at 12 pm in room 1142A).

Location: SPH Outdoor Classroom (SPH Overhang, ground floor).

From the heart of Washington, DC, the Jump DC Double Dutch team is taking the stage joyfully promoting the power of community! Stop by to watch their performance and stick around to learn how to double dutch jump.

Jump DC strives to empower the community through confidence-building, mentorship, self-determination and more.

This event is sponsored by the UMD LGBTQ+ Equity Center, which is debuting the first UMD double dutch jump club. We hope you’ll sign up to learn more and jump with us!

Location: SPH Overhang (outside, ground floor).