🧜‍♀️ The AI Collective Hampton Roads

Meet people and pick up your weekly groceries.

🤝 A casual networking hangout in the grocery store cafe
Chats, connections, & grocery carts is a relaxed, social-first networking event for curious, friendly people across Hampton Roads who enjoy good conversation and knocking out life errands at the same time.

This is not a lecture.
This is not a pitch night.
And you definitely do not need to “prepare” anything.

It is simply a low-pressure space to meet new people, have real conversations, and casually connect while wandering the aisles and picking up your weekly groceries.

Whether you are deeply into AI and automation, adjacent to tech and creativity, or just someone who enjoys thoughtful conversations with interesting humans, you belong here.

✨ What to expect
- Casual, open networking with a mix of builders, creatives, technologists, founders, students, and professionals
- Easy, organic conversations while shopping at your own pace
- Light, optional conversation prompts to help break the ice if you want them
- No presentations, no panels, no pressure to “network correctly”
- A friendly, welcoming environment for all backgrounds and experience levels
- Come as you are. Grab a cart or a basket. Pick up dinner for the week. - - Meet a few new people along the way.

👥 Who should attend
Chats, Connections, & Grocery Carts is for:

People who enjoy meeting others without forced networking vibes
Builders, creatives, technologists, and curious minds
AI, automation, no-code, and tech-adjacent folks
Students and career switchers exploring what is next
Founders, consultants, operators, and professionals
Anyone who likes good conversation and low-stakes socializing

If you enjoy thoughtful chats and meeting people in unexpected places, you will fit right in.

🏪 Why a grocery store
You were probably going to the store anyway.

Hosting this event in a grocery store keeps things human, practical, and approachable. It removes the pressure of traditional networking and turns it into something simple, efficient, and a little fun.

Two errands. One cart.

💡 Why this event exists
Community grows best in relaxed, everyday spaces.

Chats, Connections, & Grocery Carts exists to create an easy, human-centered way for people to connect without titles, talks, or expectations. It is about building relationships, sharing ideas naturally, and strengthening the local community one conversation at a time.

Come say hi. Leave with groceries. Make a few new connections along the way.

ℹ️ Other bits of info & FAQs

• This is a free community event
• Drinks or food are available for purchase depending on the venue
• Photos or videos may be taken for community and marketing purposes
• Come solo or bring a friend
• ​​​Is there free parking in the area? Yes. They’ve got lots of spots available in their parking lot.
• ​​​Is this free? Yes, but space is limited. Make sure to RSVP.

🤝 Organizers & partners

New AI tools are dropping every week. Bookmarks are piling up. “To-be-studied” lists are growing faster than we can keep up with.

Sound familiar?

Peninsula Builders Study Group is a local initiative for students and developers of the Peninsula area who want to stop meaning to learn and start actually doing it—together.

There’s no pressure to be an expert, and no bootcamp intensity. Just a consistent habit, a room full of curious people, and the accountability that comes from showing up.

Things to bring:

• Laptop

Session details:
🕕 Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
📍 Location: Christopher Newport University (Luter 170)
🔁 Frequency: Bi-weekly (Tuesdays)

How is AI impacting your mental health?

A conversation with Ted Patterson and Dr. Sheetal Ajmani
Generative AI is quickly becoming part of how we work, create, learn, process emotions, and make decisions. For many people, these tools have opened up new possibilities. They can help us move faster, think more clearly, and access support in ways that were not possible before.
But as AI becomes more personal, more conversational, and more present in our daily lives, we also need to ask a deeper question:

How is this technology impacting our mental health?

The AI Collective believes in advancing humanity and technology in harmony. That means making space for honest conversations about both the promise and the pressure of living with AI.

Join Ted Patterson and Dr. Sheetal Ajmani for a thoughtful conversation on the mental health implications of AI. Together, we’ll explore emerging research, real-world case studies, and personal reflections on how AI use can affect stress, isolation, emotional dependence, reality-testing, creativity, productivity, and overall well-being.

This is not a fear-based conversation. It is a human one.
Whether you use AI every day, are just beginning to experiment with it, or are concerned about where the technology is heading, this session will help you pause, reflect, and build a healthier relationship with the tools shaping our future.

What You’ll Walk Away With

You’ll have the opportunity to:

• Learn about emerging research and case studies on AI and mental health
• Reflect on how GenAI use may be affecting your own well-being
• Explore the difference between helpful AI use and unhealthy dependence
• Discuss practical strategies for using AI while protecting your mental and emotional health
• Connect with others who are navigating similar questions in work, life, and community

Agenda

4:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Check-in and networking

5:00 PM – 5:10 PM
Welcome and introduction with Ted Patterson
Why this conversation matters for the AI Collective and the broader community

5:10 PM – 5:25 PM
Dr. Sheetal Ajmani shares her experience with GenAI and mental health, including her “No AI April” experiment, emerging research, and relevant case studies

5:25 PM – 5:35 PM
Guided reflection prompts for attendees

5:35 PM – 5:45 PM
Small group discussion

5:45 PM – 6:00 PM
Large group insights, audience takeaways, and Q&A

6:00 PM
Closing and feedback

About Dr. Sheetal Ajmani

Dr. Sheetal Ajmani is a physician turned keynote speaker, executive coach, consultant, and founder of Radiant Living Institute.

A highly sought-after professional speaker, Dr. Ajmani empowers audiences with practical, evidence-based strategies to cultivate stress resilience, lead with confidence, and create sustainable success. With over a hundred speaking engagements completed to date, her approach resonates with organizations across industries, including healthcare, law, insurance, executive groups, and professional women’s associations.

Dr. Ajmani is the host of the Essential Self-Care podcast, which has reached listeners around the world, and is the co-author of the Amazon bestselling book Doctoring, Better. She is currently completing her first full-length book, Live Radiantly: Let Go of Others’ Expectations and Start Living for You.

New AI tools are dropping every week. Bookmarks are piling up. “To-be-studied” lists are growing faster than we can keep up with.

Sound familiar?

Peninsula Builders Study Group is a local initiative for students and developers of the Peninsula area who want to stop meaning to learn and start actually doing it—together.

There’s no pressure to be an expert, and no bootcamp intensity. Just a consistent habit, a room full of curious people, and the accountability that comes from showing up.

Things to bring:

• Laptop

Session details:
🕕 Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
📍 Location: Christopher Newport University (Luter 170)
🔁 Frequency: Bi-weekly (Tuesdays)