Random Acts of Coffee: Summer 2024 Edition

Sign up to get to know your colleagues over a cup of coffee (tea, hot chocolate, or the beverage of your choice!)

In 2020 the Smithsonian Community Committee introduced Random Acts of Coffee, a program that supports the One Smithsonian initiative to establish new lines of communication across the Institution by creating informal, small-group conversations between staff and volunteers – one cup at a time.

Since then, more than 2,000 Smithsonian staff, interns, volunteers, fellows, alumni, and contractors have registered to participate in the program, and we’ve received some very positive feedback. Here’s what some previous participants had to say:

• I feel happier after chatting with them.
• Random Acts of Coffee helped me feel more connected to the rest of the Smithsonian.
• My group has participants from NY, Boston, and DC. We have agreed to check in every other week.
• I signed up for the first Random Acts of Coffee in 2020 and my group still has occasional check-ins.
• I’ve participated in several rounds of Random Acts and have enjoyed getting to meet new people from other parts of the Institution
• I thought I knew everyone at SI – until I met the others in my group.

How it works

Participating staff are randomly assigned to groups of four people for a virtual meet-up. Your group picks the date, time, platform (Teams, Zoom, etc.). Fill up your mug with coffee, tea, water, juice, etc., and let the conversations begin. We can provide you with some icebreaker questions in case you need help getting started.

Whether it’s a one-off meeting or turns into a regular group chat, you will get a chance to meet new colleagues and learn about their journey within and outside the Smithsonian. Other benefits may include collaboration, team building, new ideas, and an appreciation of a new experience/activity.

Who can participate?

Random Acts of Coffee is open to everyone in the Smithsonian community, including staff, volunteers, fellows, interns, alumni, and contractors.

Sign me up!

Please complete the online registration form by 5:00 pm EST on Sunday, June 23. Groups will be randomly assigned, and all participants will be notified of their group shortly after the registration closes.