Dear Colleagues,   

We are excited to announce a host of special programming at the U-Club through a partnership with the AU Kitchen, the Office of Inclusive Excellence, AHealthyU, and Human Resources. This semester, we will offer select special events, regular Wednesday Meet and Eat offerings, and regular Dialogue Across Differences programming.  

Weekly Meet and Eat Lunch Table Begins Wednesday, January 21 Meet colleagues and build community at the Meet and Eat table. When you arrive, please ask to be seated at the Meet and Eat table. Regular lunch pricing will apply.  

Dialogue Across Differences Lunches Begin Tuesday, January 27 Join us for several special $12 per person Dialogue Across Difference lunches hosted by the Office of Inclusive Excellence where faculty and staff can listen, reflect, and engage with diverse perspectives while enjoying lunch on January 27, February 17, March 24, and April 7. The special rate is available online via Open Table for reservations and for walk-ins.  

Special Events Starting February 11  All events include light snacks, courtesy of AU Kitchen. Please register using the links below:  

• Off-the-Clock, a Hobbies & Passions Show and Tell, February 11 from 3 to 4:30 p.m.You bring so much to campus—but what brings you joy when the workday ends? Celebrate the energy of spring by joining colleagues for Off-the-Clock, a social gathering that highlights the hobbies and interests that help us recharge.  Whether you garden, paint, DJ, dance, bake, knit, birdwatch, or dabble in something entirely unique, you’re invited to share. Bring an item, a photo, or simply a story, and enjoy discovering the creative, curious, and playful sides of our campus community. Sign up here. 
• Money and Your Mental Health, March 17 from 3 to 4:30 p.m.Money can have a powerful impact on our mental and emotional well-being. Join fellow faculty and staff in a guided conversation about the connection between finances and mental health, along with insights from financial experts who will share practical, judgment-free guidance.  Participants will reflect on how money stress shows up in their lives; connect with colleagues; and leave with one small, expert-informed action to support both financial confidence and mental well-being. Sign up here.  
• Staff Appreciation Week Morning Social, April 15 from 8:30 to 10 a.m.We’re taking a moment to celebrate you. Join fellow faculty and staff for a relaxed morning social featuring light refreshments, and time to recognize the contributions—big and small—that strengthen our AU collegial community. Drop in, connect with colleagues, and help us celebrate one another. Sign up here.  

We hope you can join us for these unique events. Please contact us at mealplans@american.edu with questions or comments and you can find more information about the U-Club online here. 

Sincerely,  

AU Kitchen, AhealthyU, Human Resources, and Office of Inclusive Excellence