Friendsgiving Brings UC Davis Health Together
More than 200 employees gathered to celebrate community, connection and belonging as the final The Nest rollout event joined forces with the annual Employee Resource Group Friendsgiving celebration.
More than 200 employees came together for the annual celebration hosted in partnership with Health Equity by Design for Inclusive Excellence, bringing colleagues from across UC Davis Health together for great food, conversation, laughter and an opportunity to learn more about the communities that help make UC Davis Health such a welcoming place to work.
Employee Resource Groups (ERG) and associations represented at the event included:
- African American Faculty and Staff Association
- Asian Pacific American Systemwide Alliance
- DiversABILITY
- Interfaith and Intercultural
- Latinx Staff and Faculty Association
- Muslim Faculty and Staff Association
- PRIDE - LGBTQ+
- Veterans Employee Association
Each group hosted a table where employees could meet members, learn more about their work and discover new opportunities to participate and connect.
Two celebrations, one sense of community
Friendsgiving and The Nest share something important: Both are about creating places where employees can connect, learn about one another and feel part of a larger community.
That made Friendsgiving a fitting final stop for The Nest rollout events. Employees asked questions, explored the platform, picked up giveaway items and shared their thoughts about UC Davis Health's new digital home for employee news, information, resources and connection.
And, of course, Nestor wasn't about to miss the celebration.
The Nest mascot made the rounds throughout the event, stopping at ERG tables, posing for group photos and selfies and bringing plenty of playful bird antics along the way. Wherever Nestor landed, cameras weren't far behind.
A celebration of belonging
Friendsgiving is more than an annual gathering. It creates an opportunity for employees from different backgrounds, professions, departments and locations to meet one another and build connections beyond their everyday work.
That same spirit is at the heart of The Nest. From the first Donuts for Downloads events to the final celebration at Friendsgiving, employees across UC Davis Health have embraced the opportunity to explore the platform, ask questions, take photos and connect with colleagues.
As Friendsgiving ushered in the holiday season, it also provided a fitting reminder of what makes UC Davis Health special: the people who make up its community. The rollout events may be over, but The Nest is just getting started.
Take a look at some of the great photos from Friendsgiving below, and don't be surprised if Nestor and some special friends continue flocking to UC Davis Health locations in the months ahead. Ready. Set. Soar.
Media Resources
The Nest is UC Davis Health’s employee intranet, bringing news, resources and opportunities for connection into one digital home. This story highlights how its launch joined a celebration of community supported by Inclusive Excellence. We’re sharing it here so the broader UC Davis community, including Davis campus colleagues who cannot access The Nest, can learn about this work.
Originally published on The Nest (requires UCDH login) on Nov. 6, 2026, as “Friendsgiving brings UC Davis Health together and gives The Nest a fitting finale,” by Christopher Long.