Wednesday, September 30, 2026

Your Fall Benefits Guide: Open Enrollment, Wellness, & Retirement

Your Fall Benefits Guide

Prepare for Open Enrollment at the Benefits and Well-Being Expo

UVA Benefits Open Enrollment for 2027 is just around the corner, taking place October 5 - 16, 2026. Get ready by attending the Hoos Well-sponsored Benefits and Well-Being Expo, where you can meet with benefits partners, ask questions, and learn more about your benefits options.

Find an Expo Near You

  • September 30: College at Wise, Cantrell Hall, 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
  • October 1: College at Wise, Cantrell Hall, 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
  • October 6: UVA Health MC, ERC, 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
  • October 7: Contemplative Commons, 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
  • October 8-9 (overnight): UVA Health MC, Cafeteria, 10:30 p.m. - 1:30 a.m.

For more information, visit the In-Person and Live-Virtual Support webpage.

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Earn Up to $500 with Hoos Well

If you're enrolled in the UVA Health Plan, you can earn up to $500 in Hoos Well rewards by completing eligible well-being activities. Visit the Hoos Well Portal to register or log in, and explore available activities and rewards.

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Don't Forget Your Universal Availability Notice

UVA is required to provide an annual Universal Availability Notice about your eligibility to contribute to a 403(b) savings program. Learn more about your retirement options on the Retirement webpage.

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Take advantage of these resources to prepare for Open Enrollment, explore your well-being benefits, and stay informed about your retirement options.

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Tuesday, September 29, 2026

FEAP October Resources: Support for Your Well-Being

Presented by FEAP

As October brings beautiful fall foliage across Charlottesville, the changing leaves offer a reminder that rest is part of growth. Many of us have learned to think of rest as something we need to earn, pushing through busy schedules and postponing time off, and sometimes measuring our worth by how much we accomplish. As we move into the final months of the year, consider giving yourself permission to slow down when you can. Take a walk along Virginia's trails, spend time with the people you love, or simply allow yourself a quiet evening. Sometimes the healthiest thing we can do is follow nature's example. 

Here are a few opportunities to support your well-being this month and beyond. 

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Join the SPARC of Hope 5K

October 17 | 9:00am | Louisa, VA

Lace up your shoes and join UVA FEAP for the SPARC of Hope 5K Run/Walk! The even brings colleagues and community members together to support suicide prevention, share hope, honor loved ones, and help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and suicide. 

The event is open to all ages, and registration is available at no cost if you choose not to receive an event shirt. 

Register for the SPARC of Hope 5k

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Managing Anxiety in Uncertain Times 

October 28 | 12:00-1:00pm

Uncertainty is an unavoidable part of life, but there are ways to build skills for navigating it without allowing anxiety to take over.

This Hoos Well reward-eligible webinar with explore how to better tolerate uncertainty without assuming the worst, recognize factors that can maintain or intensify anxiety, and find a balance between staying informed and managing stress and emotional duress. 

Learn more about Managing Anxiety in Uncertain Times

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More FEAP Offerings

  • Take a Moment for Yourself
    • You don't need to be in crisis, or even have a specific problem, to reach out to FEAP. Sometimes confidential conversation can help you think something through, make sense or what you're experiencing, or simply give you some space to check in with yourself. Whether something feels big, small, or you're not quite sure what you need, FEAP is here for you.
  • FEAP Well-Being Pulse Check
    • In just 30 minutes, a FEAP Well-Being Pulse Check offers a supportive, confidential space to pause, reflect, and practice simple strategies to strengthen your resilience and well-being.
  • Confidential Consultation

Make Time for Your Well-Being

October can be a busy month, and the end of the year will be here before we know it. As you move through the season, consider what rest looks like for you. 

Maybe it's an afternoon walk. Maybe it's putting your phone away for an evening. Maybe it's connecting with a friend, asking for support, or simply recognizing that you don't have to accomplish everything at once.

Rest isn't a reward for finishing everything on your list. It's part of how we sustain ourselves for what comes next.

If slowing down feels difficult or finding sustainable ways to care for yourself feels out of reach, FEAP is here to help.


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Making the Unseen, Seen: Explore the Infrastructure Behind UVA

Join Us!
This October, the UVA Office for Sustainability and University of Virginia Facilities Management invite students, faculty, staff, and community members to Making the Unseen, Seen, a month-long celebration of the people, places, and processes that keep UVA running day in and day out. 

From the food we enjoy to the water and energy systems that support Grounds, much of UVA's infrastructure operates behind the scenes. This month offers a chance to see it up close through free Infrastructure & Ice Cream tours and events. 



UVA Infrastructure Month - October 2026 Calendar


Date

Time

Event

Details

Thursday, October 8

3:00 – 4:00 PM

Tour: Behind the Scenes at UVA O’Hill Dining

Go behind the scenes of O’Hill Dining and learn more about the food systems that support the UVA community.

Thursday, October 15

3:00 – 4:15 PM

Tour: Fontaine Central Energy Plant of the Future

Explore UVA’s energy infrastructure and learn about the Fontaine Central Energy Plant, including its Geoxchange system.

Tuesday, October 20

12:30 – 1:30 PM

Tour: Brandon Avenue “Green Street”

Learn about the stormwater infrastructure incorporated into Brandon Avenue.

Wednesday, October 21

2:00 – 3:00 PM

Tour: Brandon Avenue “Green Street”

Learn about the stormwater infrastructure incorporated into Brandon Avenue.

Thursday, October 22

3:45 – 4:45 PM

Tour: Brandon Avenue “Green Street”

Learn about the stormwater infrastructure incorporated into Brandon Avenue.

Wednesday, October 28

11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Thank You Station

Write thank-you notes to the staff who help keep UVA running. Free snacks and beverages will be available in the South Meeting Room, Newcomb Hall.


All events are free and open to students, faculty, staff, and interested community members. Space is limited and registration is required. View the full schedule and register.

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Whether you're interested in environmental engineering, architecture and buildings, public service, sustainability, or simply curious about how UVA works, these events offer a unique opportunity to take a closer look at the systems and people that support our daily lives on Grounds. 

We hope you'll join us this October to make the unseen, seen!

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Thursday, September 24, 2026

Updated Expense Ambassador Resources

expense ambassador resources updated
Finding the right Expense Ambassador just got easier!

Expense Ambassador resources on the UVAFinance website have a new home on the Expense Ambassador landing page, making it easier for employees to find and connect with an Expense Ambassador in their area. 

What's changed?

The updated Expense Ambassador resources now include:

  • A new Expense Ambassador landing page with information about the Expense Ambassador program and links to available resources. 
  • An updated Expense Ambassador directory organized by MBU, making it easier to identify Ambassadors who support your area. 
  • Individual Ambassador names so employees can more easily find and connect with their local resource. 
  • A new Expense Ambassador application for employees who are interested in serving as an Expense Ambassador. 

What do I need to do?

No action is required. The current Expense Ambassador directory link on the Finance website remains the same. When you visit the link, you'll now arrive at the new Expense Ambassador landing page, where you can learn more about the program and access the directory. 

From there, you can search for an Expense Ambassador based on your MBU and find the appropriate resource for your area. 

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Expense Ambassadors play an important role in helping their colleagues navigate UVA's travel and expense processes. These updates make it easier for employees to identify and connect with an Ambassador when they need assistance. 

Questions about the Expense Ambassador program? Contact askfinance@virginia.edu.

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Monday, September 21, 2026

Professional Development Corner September 2026

 
Contributed by Patty Marbury, Director of Training and Development, UVAFinance

Reminder: Remember to discuss all professional development opportunities with your manager prior to applying for any funds. See below for more information on the Education Benefit.

Why Is Professional Development Important?

Professional development offers a valuable opportunity to stay engaged and navigate the constantly changing landscape of Higher Education, and beyond. Whether you’re looking to learn new skills, sharpen existing ones, enhance your leadership abilities, explore new interests, stay on top of emerging trends, or simply connect with colleagues, there’s something for everyone.

Turning Development Into Impact

Professional development isn't just about what you learn, it's about what you do with what you learn. A course, conference, certification, or new project can give you new knowledge and ideas. But the real value comes when that learning begins to make a difference in your work. 

Think about something you've learned recently. Has it changed the way you approach a problem? Helped you communicate more effectively? Given you a new perspective? Maybe you've found a better way to accomplish a task, share what you learned with a colleague, or felt more confident taking on a new challenge. Impact doesn't have to mean a dramatic change, it can show up in small ways. 

As you think about your own professional development, don't just ask, What have I learned? Ask, What am I doing differently because of it? That shift—from learning something to using it—is where development becomes impact. 

Professional Development Tip to Try this Month

Think about one development experience you've had in the past six months. Identify one thing you learned from it, then ask yourself: How have I used this—or how could I use it—to make a difference in my work? 

Professional Development Opportunities

To help with your planning, the following includes information about a variety of workshops, courses, and resources to support your ongoing growth. While some opportunities are free and others may have a fee, many do not require travel. Please feel free to share other opportunities you come across with pam5w@virginia.edu, and we'll include them in future communications!

Coursera

Remember that we have access to Coursera, an online learning platform that offers a wide range of courses, specializations, certifications, and degree programs from universities and institutions around the world. UVA has a university-wide subscription for Coursera. Check it out and start learning!

Upcoming Offerings

Listed below are links to offerings that may be of interest. If you are requesting departmental funds, make sure you have approval before you register for or enroll in any offering. 

EDUCAUSE Events

What is EDUCAUSE? From their website: "EDUCAUSE is a nonprofit association whose mission is to lead the way, advancing the strategic use of technology and data to further the promise of higher education. We connect and empower our member community through insights, advocacy, resources, and learning opportunities to anticipate trends and strengthen professional practice."

*NEW — Learn about AI*

NACCA (National Conference on College Cost Accounting)

  • Virtual Conference - two 1/2 days - November 9th and 19th, 12:00-4:30 pm EST.
  • Registration is $100 a person; discount for 5 ($400 for 5 attendees). Please contact Christine Kennedy-Tyburski at ck6n@virginia.edu if you're interested in registering

NACUBO*

Washington Updates

Conferences and Forums

Upcoming Programs – some sessions are free to NACUBO members, which we are, although you need an individual account.* Some also offer CPE credits.

Recordings (NACUBO 2026 Annual Meeting Recordings available)
  • Strategic Higher Education Finance and Planning ($595)
  • F&A Short Form ($150)
  • Essentials of College and University Accounting ($125)
  • Facilities Management ($49)
  • Endowment Fundamentals ($49)
  • New to Higher Education ($49)

Podcasts

  • Career Conversations
  • NACUBO in Brief

*Individual NACUBO membership is free through UVA’s institutional membership. To join go to nacubo.org and click on “Login or Join.” From the Login box, click on “Don’t have an account” and fill out the form. In the “Primary Affiliate” field, enter “University of Virginia” and select the appropriate affiliate.

SACUBO

EACUBO

Additional Professional Organizations and Resources

The Chronicle of Higher Education

NCCI (Network for Change and Continuous Innovation)

NCCI positions higher education institutions to be agile, lifelong learning models to transform lives and communities around the world. All efforts of NCCI trace back to the goal of advancing sustainable excellence in higher education by promoting successful practices and approaches used to drive change, innovation, and continuous improvement across academic and administrative functions.

AGA

AGA is the association that connects and empowers professionals who support government, from financial management to IT, human resources, cybersecurity and more, to advance good government initiatives, grow their expertise and accelerate their careers. (Requires membership.)

LearnBFSI

Several interesting for-fee courses – note that this company is in Australia.

UVA Organizations

Other Institutions

Education Benefit

Each year you have $2,000 of centrally funded education benefit for professional development or $5,250 to use for tuition toward a degree-seeking program. See UVA’s Education Benefits information for more information. (To be eligible for this benefit, you must have had six months of service in a benefits-eligible position at UVA by the start date of the class, with the intent to remain on the active payroll during the entire term of the class).

Questions?

UVAFinance team members – if you have questions about Professional Development opportunities, please contact Patty Marbury, pam5w@virginia.edu.

Article on Leadership

The Top 20 Leadership Challenges—this informative article provides many links to other articles and resources. ( Center for Creative Leadership)

Please feel free to share other opportunities you come across and I’ll include them in future communications!

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Wednesday, September 16, 2026

UVAFinance Gives Back: Day of Caring

This September, UVAFinance employees came together to give back to the Charlottesville community as part of United Way of Greater Charlottesville's Day of Caring. Held each September, Day of Caring brings local volunteers together to support nonprofits and community organizations through meaningful service projects across town.

UVAFinance employees supporting Blue Star Families of Central Virginia at Darden Towe Park.
UVAFinance employees supporting Blue Star Families
of Central Virginia at Darden Towe Park.

UVAFinance employees helping with cleanup and landscaping at Claudius Crozet Park.
UVAFinance employees helping with cleanup
and landscaping at Claudius Crozet Park.

Some members of our team spent the day at Darden Towe Park supporting Blue Star Families of Central Virginia, writing personal notes and postcards of encouragement for deployed service members. Blue Star Families supports military families and service members through a variety of community service initiatives, including sending care packages to troops throughout the year.

Other team members spent the day volunteering at Claudius Crozet Park, doing general cleanup, landscaping, and park beautification.

We're proud of our UVAFinance colleagues for taking time to connect with our community, support local organizations, and make a meaningful difference! Thank you to United Way for gathering the Charlottesville community for another wonderful Day of Caring!

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New Look, Same Workday

new look, same workday
Starting Saturday, September 19, Workday is getting a refreshed look designed to make it easier to navigate, find information, and access the actions you need. 

UVA Workday users will notice updates to three primary areas: navigation, the Home Page, and Worker Profile. 

While Workday will look different, the core tasks you complete each day will remain the same. Business processes, workflows, security roles, permissions, and user access are not changing.


What's Changing?

A New Navigation Experience

The Workday navigation menu is being updated to provide quicker access to the applications and worklets you use. The menu will be docked along the side of the screen by default.

Hover over a category to view and select the available worklets, helping reduce the number of clicks needed to navigate Workday.

You can also personalize your navigation experience by:

  • Undocking the menu if you prefer the previous behavior.
  • Reorganizing categories.
  • Pinning frequently used worklets for quick access.

An Updated Workday Home Page

The Workday Home page is receiving a fresh look, with information and actions organized to help you quickly understand what may need your attention.

To Do and Updates

Workday's Timely Suggestions and Recommended for You experiences are being consolidated into a new To Do and Updates card.

  • To Do highlights timely actions and suggestions that may require your attention.
  • Updates provides relevant information for you or, when applicable, your team.

Home Page Cards

You may also notice new or updated cards on your Home page. These cards provide quick access to information and actions relevant to your role and responsibilities.

Examples may include:

  • Announcements
  • Time entries
  • Hiring and staffing information
  • Other areas of Workday relevant to your role

The existing My Team Highlights card will also become the My Team card.

Workday's new home page
Workday's new Home Page + Cards
Please note:

The cards available on your Home page will vary based on your role and responsibilities. You may not see every card shown in the example.

Improved Search

The search bar will be more prominent and will serve as the primary entry point on the Workday Home page.

Users will notice a redesigned search bar, cleaner search results, and improved support for natural-language searches, making it easier to find tasks, reports, and information.

The Simplified Search setting will move from the search results page to Account Preferences. Core search functionality will otherwise remain the same.

A Modernized Worker Profile

Worker Profile is receiving a fresh design that changes how information about you and other workers is organized and displayed.

One of the most noticeable changes is an updated Summary experience. When viewing your own Worker Profile, information will be organized into Public and Private areas, making it clearer which information is generally available to others and which information is specific to you.

Only you will see the Private tab on your Worker Profile.

The updated design is intended to make Worker Profile easier to understand and navigate while maintaining access to the information you are accustomed to finding there.

Change Job Update for Role Assignment Review

When employees change positions, managers will receive tasks to review the roles assigned to the current and future positions.

Because roles are position-based assignments rather than assignments to specific users, these review steps will allow managers to evaluate role assignments when a position changes.

What's Not Changing?

Although Workday will have an updated appearance, the way you complete your core tasks will remain the same.

Your day-to-day Workday tasks are staying the same.
  • Business processes and workflows are not changing.
  • Tasks such as requesting time off, viewing pay, submitting expenses, and approving items will continue to work as they do today.
  • User access, security roles, and permissions are not changing.

What Do I Need to Do?

No action is required.

The updated design will appear automatically when the change goes live on Saturday, September 19.

You can continue using Workday as usual. There's no need to update your settings, request new access, or complete any preparation in advance.

After the update, take a few minutes to explore the new navigation menu and Home page. You may also want to personalize your navigation by reorganizing categories or pinning the Workday items you use most often.

Questions or Need Help?

If you experience issues or have questions about these updates, contact the Workday Support Team.

Email: askfinance@virginia.edu

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Caleb Shifflet Joins UVAFinance from UVA Medical Center

welcome to uvafinance Caleb Shifflet
Welcome to the team, Caleb!
Beginning August 1st, Caleb Shifflet, Treasury Manager from UVA Health University Medical Center (MC), joined the UVAFinance Treasury team, reporting to Donald Cook. 

This move builds on momentum from the Treasury workstream developed with EY last year, as we move closer toward the OneUVA Workday initiative. While Caleb and his current direct reports remain Medical Center employees with primary responsibility for supporting MC and Community Health, this change will allow for better harmonization, best practices, development, and transparency between the two organizations. 

We're excited to welcome him to the team!

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Tuesday, September 15, 2026

Open Enrollment Is Coming Up!

open enrollment coming up
Join us to review your benefits!
It's almost time for Open Enrollment! This year, enrollment is scheduled for October 5 - 16, giving you an opportunity to review your benefits and make any changes for the upcoming plan year. 

Mark Your Calendar

The Open Enrollment website is scheduled to go live around September 21, so be sure to check back for important information, resources, and details about this year's benefits.

Have Questions? Join Us!

Rachel Short, HR Benefits Counselor, will be at Carruthers Hall on Tuesday, September 22, in Carr-1 & Carr-2 from 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. to share important enrollment updates and answer any questions you may have. 

You're welcome to join in-person or via Zoom, whichever works best for you!

Whether you're new to the benefits process or simply want a refresher. this is a great opportunity to get the information you need before Open Enrollment begins.

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Save the dates and we hope to see you there!

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Monday, September 14, 2026

Community Engagement Summit: Co-Creating a Thriving Community

The University of Virginia will host its inaugural 2026 Community Engagement Summit on Thursday, October 15, at Newcomb Hall, bringing together UVA faculty, staff, students, and university partners for a day centered on purposeful community engagement. 

2026 Community Engagement Summit: Co-Creating a Thriving Community
Join Us!
The event's featured highlight will be a keynote conversation between Tania D. Mitchell, Associate Provost for Community Engagement at the University of Maryland, and Dr. Stephanie Rowley, Dean of the UVA School of Education and Human Development. Their conversation will explore the role of higher education in building meaningful, mutually beneficial partnerships with the communities it serves.

Throughout the day, attendees will have opportunities to exchange ideas and explore topics through panels on community-engaged scholarship, service-learning, healthy communities, and more. 

The summit recognizes that by bringing diverse perspectives together, UVA and its neighbors can strengthen existing partnerships while creating new opportunities to serve the greater Charlottesville-Albemarle region.

The day will conclude with the Public Service Week Reception from 5-7 PM at the Contemplative Commons building, offering attendees an opportunity to continue their conversations and further connect with colleagues. 


Community Engagement Summit Agenda

TimeSessionDetails
8:30 AM–9:30 AMRegistration & Continental Breakfast
9:30 AM–9:45 AMOpening & Welcome Remarks 
9:45 AM–10:00 AMGathered & GroundedWe begin the day with a brief guided mindfulness practice designed to help you arrive fully, connect with others, and focus your energy for the experiences ahead.
10:05 AM–11:20 AMConcurrent Session Block 1Participants will have the opportunity to choose among three concurrent sessions centering on Community-Engaged Scholarship, K–12 Education, Healthy Communities, Service Learning and Student Engagement, Community Partnerships, or Measuring Impact (Assessing Outcomes).
11:20 AM–11:30 AMBreakParticipants will have the opportunity to take a break and visit the information tables of community partners, UVA offices, and student organizations focused on mutually beneficial engagement and partnerships.
11:30 AM–12:45 PMConcurrent Session Block 2Participants will have the opportunity to choose among three concurrent sessions centering on Community-Engaged Scholarship, K–12 Education, Healthy Communities, Service Learning and Student Engagement, Community Partnerships, or Measuring Impact (Assessing Outcomes).
12:45 PM–2:15 PMLunch & KeynoteLunch will be provided.
2:15 PM–2:45 PMGet to Know the NetworkParticipants will have the opportunity to visit the information tables of community partners, UVA offices, and student organizations focused on mutually beneficial engagement and partnerships, or gather for conversation and plan for future follow-up with new contacts.
2:45 PM–3:45 PMCommunity Discussion & Commitments to Ongoing WorkThis will be an opportunity to engage in facilitated conversation about topics, ideas, and priorities emerging from the concurrent sessions, ongoing projects and partnerships, and the vision for the future of publicly engaged work with partners and UVA.
3:45 PM–4:15 PMGrounded & Going ForwardWe will close the summit by reflecting on key takeaways, identifying actionable next steps, and committing to carrying the momentum forward in your work and community.
5:00 PM–7:00 PMPublic Service Week Reception

Location:
Contemplative Commons
403 Emmet St S
Charlottesville, VA 22903

Community Engagement Summit attendees are invited to connect with community members and colleagues from Cville-Albemarle, UVA, Madison House, and more after the Summit.

RSVP for the Public Service Week Reception


More Details

For more information on speakers, panelists, the agenda, and ways to support the 2026 Community Engagement Summit, check out UVA's Division for Community Engagement and Equal Opportunity's summit webpage.
We hope to see you there!
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Essentials of Fiscal Stewardship: A New Training for the UVA Community


Coming this fall!
UVAFinance is launching Essentials of Fiscal Stewardship, a brand-new training designed to share what fiscal stewardship really means at UVA and how each of us plays a part in protecting University resources and maintaining trust.

The course covers individual responsibilities, internal controls, financial risks, and the everyday actions that add up to responsible stewardship. Each session also includes time for discussion, giving participants an opportunity to apply the material directly to their current roles and environments across UVA.

What to expect

  • A practical introduction to fiscal stewardship at UVA
  • Guidance on individual responsibilities and internal controls
  • Discussion of common financial risks
  • Real-world conversation about applying these principles in your role

This instructor-led virtual session is conducted via Zoom and facilitated by JJ Sullivan, Director of Financial Compliance. Registered participants will receive the meeting link and passcode following enrollment.

Fall Session Dates

10:00–11:00 a.m.
Each session is limited to 25 participants.

  • September 24
  • October 22
  • November 19

Seats are limited, so reserve yours soon.

Register in Workday

We are pleased to bring this training to the UVA community. Stay tuned for more opportunities to learn and grow together.



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