Community Organizations

Easter Monday still free? Come join us for a walk between two of Utrecht's most beautiful castles! 🏰 We start from the bus stop Haarzuilens, Kasteel de Haar and make our way through nature to Slot Zuylen, two stunning spots that are worth a visit any time of year. The walk is around 2,5-3 hours and there will be plenty of time to explore both castles and take a break in between. A nice way to spend a hopefully sunny day, get some fresh air, and meet some new people along the way.

If you are living in The Netherlands, by now, you may well have noticed the amount of open water. If you enjoy cycling in the city, you may wish to feel safer as you navigate the bridges and canals. And you may also want to get ready for visiting the beach, pools or the many lakes this summer. Learning how to swim takes approx 1 year and it all starts with the very first lesson. New comers enroll via our website and pay € 30,50, this is the first lesson and a goody bag. After the class you agree with the personal swim coach how to continue to obtain your final objectives. Enrolling is only possible via [www.your-personal-swim-coach.nl ](https://www.your-personal-swim-coach.nl/)hence a rvsp via meetup is not enough.

A great ride along the Vecht and Gein rivers. You will love this route. Please ride single file along the winding river as there can be cars around each corner. **Route:** https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/441606271 GPX: https://drive.google.com/file/d/17-T_pT_GH3QKSFcH1WWgfArvxSdAkVzO/view?usp=sharing **Afterwards:** Drinks at Polder https://maps.app.goo.gl/tbt5DDG7YLU3uWvaA **Rules:** \- Download the route to your cycling computer so you can always find your way home \- Make sure to arrive on time \- Before you ride\, decide as a group how you want to ride: you can split up in a fast and a slow group or stay together\, but make sure to discuss what pace you are going to ride and whether you are going to wait if someone is slower than the group\, or not\.

Samen sporten, gewoon voor de fun, elke week een divers programma, met allerlei verschillende sporten. Je hoeft niet de beste te zijn, maar wel zin hebben om samen te spelen en te leren. Tijdens een training doen we verschillende spelletjes, basketbal, voetbal. volleybal, spikebal, honkbal. Kom je ook, de bal ligt bij jou!! Eerste keer meedoen is altijd gratis, daarna kan je beslissen of dit voor jou is, of niet!! Dus kom een keer proberen. Kan je niet op deze dag, we sporten ook op andere dagen nl Zondag om 9:30 of Maandag om 20:30 Stuur mij een berichtje als je op die dagen een keer wil proberen! The amount of people rsvp'd to this game doesn't match the real number of people at the event, as Meetup is only used for promotion purposes.

New Year, New Sport! 🏐 ​Whether you've never played volleyball before or it’s been many years since you last hit the court, you are very welcome to join our Beginner Group! ​We train every Monday at 9 PM at Gymnasium Bibian Mentel in Zeeburgereiland. ​Come learn the basics, get moving, and meet new people in a fun, relaxed environment. ​Get more info here: ​WhatsApp Group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/EnPEK1bHLiTGdpqz6Vtbm4 ​Instagram: @brazucavolley

We’ll go for a relaxed 45-minute walk through Amstelpark, following the designated paths. With spring in full bloom, the park is looking especially beautiful—perfect for a refreshing stroll and good company. 🌸 🌷 🌹 🪻 🌿 After the walk, we can grab a drink at the mini golf & pancake restaurant, which is also the meeting point🥞🍹 Please bring comfortable shoes and only sign up if you are really joining. Looking forward to seeing you there!

We debate questions chosen by participants. Please think of a question to suggest in advance. Or not, then just show up!

Get your ticket for only 7,50! Click the link below to secure your spot via Eventbrite: [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1981929859562/?discount=INT26](http://www.eventbrite.com/e/1981929859562/?discount=INT26 "http://www.eventbrite.com/e/1981929859562/?discount=INT26") **The main programme will take place from 20.00 - 21.30 in the Muzenzaal. It will be in English entirely and feature 6 speakers:** **Read hear for more information:** A.I. seems to be developing both at lightspeed and on a global scale - revolutionary breakthroughs make news headlines almost every day. Generative AI applications like Chat GPT and Midjourney have made the technology accessible for a worldwide audience. But even though these applications seem impressive, they are just the tip of the AI-iceberg. INNOVATE was wondering, how are the AI innovators in the Lifeport Arnhem-Nijmegen region doing? And what are they up to? Well, we did the research and it turns out our region holds some absolutely amazing innovations and stories we can't wait to share with you! So: bring your friends, colleagues, or fellow students and join us for this INNOVATE AI MEETUP - XL Edition and get inspired by the latest breakthrough innovations in AI. Learn how AI innovations from our region add to the development of A.I. as a technology, globally. Let entrepreneurs, designers and innovators in health + high tech + energy + creative demonstrate how they use AI to make impact on scale. **Speakers:** **1.Where is AI in it's development right now, and where is it going from here?** Prof. dr. **Pim Haselager** (Radboud University / Principal Investigator - Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour) mentioned during his previous presentation at INNOVATE a few years ago: ''Humanity and AI are somewhat like a child playing with a chainsaw'' ... How are we handling that right now, and where should we be going from here? **2.Can AI help save hundreds of lives per day?** Every day, around 700 women die from preventable pregnancy-related complications, most of them in low- and middle-income countries where access to ultrasound and trained sonographers is limited. To address these barriers to antenatal screening, **Delft Imaging**, in collaboration with **Radboudumc**, initiated the development of **BabyChecker**, an AI-enabled system that supports novice users in acquiring standardized ultrasound sweeps with a low-cost device and automatically identifying high-risk pregnancies. **Sofia Sappia** is researcher in AI for Medical Imaging at Radboudumc and one of the driving forces behind the Babychecker technology, she will tell us everything about her life saving application of AI. **3.Could an AI-powered app provide a new way to look at businesses?** Arnhem-based creative multi talent Sil van der Woerd (co-founder & creative director, [Studio Birthplace](https://www.studiobirthplace.com/ "https://www.studiobirthplace.com/")) pleads for *a revolution of kindness* with his work. His activistic short films and commercials for organisations like Woolmark and Greenpeace have reached audiences all over the world. Right now he is working on an AI powered app, *Reveal*, that could be a game changer in how we look at businesses worldwide. **4.How can AI turn a congested power grid into a flexible energy system?** Luc Nies (Principal Researcher Artificial Intelligence at Alliander) works at the forefront of the energy transition, where digitalisation is key to keeping the lights on. With the Dutch electricity grid under extreme pressure—long waiting times for new connections, growing risks of overload and blackouts—he explores how AI can help transform our 'old school powergrid' into a 'flexible energy system'. From smart forecasting and energy management systems to new tariff models, Luc shows how hospitals, schools and businesses can remain resilient in an increasingly electrified world. **5.How can AI radically accelerate software development?** Stefan Jansen (Lead, AI Experience Room at Avisi) shows how AI is transforming the way software is built. Where developing a software product once took a year, teams can now go from idea to market in a matter of weeks—or even days. Drawing on real-world projects, Stefan explores how AI-powered tooling reshapes the entire software lifecycle: from requirements and development to testing, deployment and cloud hosting. The result: faster innovation, shorter time-to-market, and a new reality where software teams must rethink what’s possible—and how fast they dare to move. **6.When AI leaves the cloud, what happens next?** As a global leader in semiconductors, NXP Semiconductors is enabling the next wave of AI—where intelligence moves from centralized data centers to *the edge*. From smart edge computing to AI running directly on devices, NXP builds the hardware that makes AI faster, safer and more energy-efficient. With change accelerating at unprecedented speed, this session explores the latest breakthroughs in edge AI—and the strategic choices companies must make now, as intelligence becomes embedded everywhere and waiting is no longer an option. **7.How can the Lifeport region help shape the future of AI in the European Union?** Alexandra van Huffelen, Chair of the Executive Board of Radboud Universiteit and Chair of The Economic Board Arnhem Nijmegen – Lifeport, brings together academic leadership, regional strategy and national policy experience. As former State Secretary for Digitalisation, she offers a unique perspective on how AI can drive innovation while safeguarding public values. In her closing remarks, she reflects on the role of AI in strengthening the Arnhem–Nijmegen region as a leading Lifeport ecosystem—and the choices we must make today to shape that future responsibly. The main programme will be moderated by **Eva Eikhout** (BNN/Vara)

🎭 Improv Utrecht Presents a Show Like No Other! 🎭 The graduates of the course of trainer Emma Holmes at Improv Utrecht will take the stage at Villa Concordia to showcase their skills in a very fun and interactive show, called Wednesday Wonders! Expect games like Whose Line Is It Anyway, De Lama's and even improvised singing! 💡 What is Improv? Improv is live, unscripted theatre where anything can happen! The performers create characters, scenes, and entire stories from scratch, all based on audience suggestions and their quick-thinking creativity. It’s spontaneous, electric, and completely unique—no two shows are ever the same! 🎟 Tickets Now Available! Don't miss this one-night-only spectacle of storytelling and laughter. Secure your tickets online before they’re gone! Book your ticket at [improv-utrecht.weticket.io](http://improv-utrecht.weticket.com/) : €12 plus €1 service fee Before and after the show we have a very nice bar to meet & greet people. 📅 When? Sunday 12 April 19:30h. Bar open 19:00 📍 Where? Villa Concordia. In your ticket confirmation mail you find directions to the theatre. Limited free parking spots available, close to Utrecht Central station. Join us for a night of creativity, comedy, and community—we can’t wait to see you there! Find out more about Improv Utrecht, our other shows and courses at [www.improvutrecht.nl](http://www.improvutrecht.nl/)

🎭 Improv Utrecht Presents a Show Like No Other! 🎭 The graduates of the course of trainer Emma Holmes at Improv Utrecht will take the stage at Villa Concordia to showcase their skills in a very fun and interactive show, called Time Well Wasted! Expect games like Whose Line Is It Anyway, De Lama's and even improvised singing! 💡 What is Improv? Improv is live, unscripted theatre where anything can happen! The performers create characters, scenes, and entire stories from scratch, all based on audience suggestions and their quick-thinking creativity. It’s spontaneous, electric, and completely unique—no two shows are ever the same! 🎟 Tickets Now Available! Don't miss this one-night-only spectacle of storytelling and laughter. Secure your tickets online before they’re gone! Book your ticket at [improv-utrecht.weticket.io](http://improv-utrecht.weticket.com/) : €12 plus €1 service fee Before and after the show we have a very nice bar to meet & greet people. 📅 When? Sunday 12 April 15:00h. Bar open 14:00 📍 Where? Villa Concordia. In your ticket confirmation mail you find directions to the theatre. Limited free parking spots available, close to Utrecht Central station. Join us for a night of creativity, comedy, and community—we can’t wait to see you there! Find out more about Improv Utrecht, our other shows and courses at [www.improvutrecht.nl](http://www.improvutrecht.nl/)

Join this INNOVATE A.I. XL Meetup and learn about the latest groundbreaking innovations in A.I. in the Arnhem-Nijmegen region! More information and registration via: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tickets-innovate-ai-meetup-2026-xl-edition-1981929859562?aff=oddtdtcreator

. 🎬 Movie Night You, Me & Tuscany Join us for a cinematic escape to the sun-drenched vineyards and romantic landscapes of Italy as we gather to watch You, Me & Tuscany, the new feel-good romantic comedy starring Halle Bailey and Regé‑Jean Page. Set against the breathtaking beauty of Tuscany, the film follows a spirited young woman whose impulsive decision to stay in a Tuscan villa leads to unexpected adventure, heartfelt moments, and a romance she never saw coming. Expect an evening filled with: 🍿 A beautiful cinematic escape to Italy 🍷 Relaxed social vibes and great conversation ✨ A feel-good romantic story perfect for movie lovers Whether you’re a fan of romantic comedies, stunning travel settings, or simply enjoy experiencing great films with great people, this will be a perfect night to unwind and connect. Come ready to relax, laugh, and be transported to Tuscany for the evening. Follow Black Love & Friends on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/share/17oXQtZz36/) and [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/blackloveandfriends?igsh=djVrYnhqeG5nMjBx) to stay connected and be the first to hear about upcoming dimnets, social gatherings, and other exciting member-only events.

Community Seed and Plant Swap Do you love gardening? Want to expand your collection of plants and seeds without breaking the bank? Join MOFB for their free community-based event. Sunday, April 19th 4-6 pm at Mid-Ohio Farm on the Hilltop 116 N Wheatland Ave Columbus OH, 43223 To RSVP for free in-person attendance: https://forms.gle/t6Ppoc5WnRFPTJMZ

Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens Free Communal Garden Class Series GROWING MUSHROOMS In this class, we will discuss how to raise mushrooms on logs outdoors as a way to raise food in parts of your yard that are usually too shady to grow vegetables or other crops. We will discuss what mushroom species can be cultivated, what tree species they can grow on, and demonstrate how to prepare and inoculate the logs. By following these steps, you can have your own bountiful mushroom harvest! APRIL 27 | 6:00-7:30 PM | WELLS BARN 1851 E BROAD ST, COLUMBUS, OH 43205 INSTRUCTOR: MARC AMANTE Mare Amante is an Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Educator with Central State University who is also currently serving as CSU Extension's Agriculture and Natural Resources Interim Program Leader. He has worked on and managed diversified vegetable farms across the Midwest and currently owns and operates an urban farm here in Ohio where he raises microgreens, vegetables, raspberries, and log-grown mushrooms for sale to local markets and restaurants. Registerefor free here https://www.fpconservatory.org/events/cg-growing-mushrooms/

**Confidence & Connection: Using Your Authentic Truth to Find Your People** Confidence isn’t just about believing in yourself, it’s about knowing where you belong and who you can grow alongside. In this April Confidence Lab Happy Hour, we’ll explore how living in your authentic truth helps you find your people, build meaningful collaborations, and create spaces where vulnerability is met with respect rather than risk. Together, we’ll reflect on what it looks like to advocate for yourself with clarity and care, and how confidence deepens when it’s rooted in connection rather than comparison. Featured speaker **Lachandra Baker**, founder of **[LBB Edutainment](https://www.lbbedutainment.com/)** and author of *Your Own Biggest Cheerleader*, will share reflections on authenticity, psychological safety, and the power of community over individual achievement. Drawing from personal stories—including the significance of turning 53—Lachandra will invite us into a conversation about showing up fully, being seen, and choosing relationships that support who you truly are. Expect a warm, welcoming atmosphere with space for reflection, shared insight, and intentional connection—plus drinks, light bites, and the kind of conversations that remind you you’re not meant to do this alone. Come as you are. Leave feeling clearer about your voice, your people, and the confidence that grows when both are aligned. **What is Confidence Lab?** Confidence Lab is a monthly community experience for bold, thoughtful leaders building confidence from the inside out. Whether you’re launching a business, leading a team, navigating change, or simply striving to show up more fully—you belong here. Our work demands clarity, courage, and conviction—but the pace of daily life can erode our sense of self. Confidence Lab creates space to reflect, reconnect, and grow with others doing purpose-driven work. It’s designed for entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders, creatives, corporate professionals, activists, and anyone ready to lead with authenticity and impact. ***Please note:*** *All are welcome! If cost is a concern, please use promo code PUBLIC to access a free ticket—we want you to join us.*

Open to public: Friday, 5/15/26: 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Saturday 5/16/26: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Hosted by OSU The 2026 Chadwick Arboretum Spring Plant Sale and Auction Fundraiser Location: Lawn area south of the Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center 2201 Fred Taylor Dr, Columbus, OH 43210 Spring Plant Sale Spring into greenery at Chadwick Arboretum & Learning Gardens! Join us for our annual Spring Plant Sale Fundraiser and dive into a lush world of botanical delights. With over 16,000 fresh, exotic, and time-tested edible and ornamental plants, there's something for every green thumb! Experience the thrill of our tree and shrub auctions, where you can bid on unique specimens to enhance your garden sanctuary. Step into our Learning Lab, where engaging educational demonstrations on various garden topics will unfold throughout the three-day sale, enriching your knowledge and inspiring your green endeavors. Take part in an exciting, live auction offered each day, as well as a silent auction on Thursday and Friday. Explore vendor booths brimming with gardening essentials and delightful treasures. And while you shop 'til you drop, indulge in delectable treats from a delicious, local food truck. Proceeds from this event go directly to The Ohio State Chadwick Arboretum, student organizations, and local businesses alike. Come one, come all! Let's cultivate a brighter, greener future together. Credit/debit cards only.

Wild Ones Columbus Annual Native Plant Sale Saturday, May 23th, 2026 9:00 am to 1:00 pm (Eastern Time) Overbrook Presbyterian Church Parking Lot, 4131 N High St, Columbus, OH, 43214 Public Welcome, Family-Friendly Free Event A wide variety of native flowering plants, grasses, shrubs, and trees will be available from Wild Ones Columbus and local vendors Natives in Harmony, Leaves for Wildlife, and Scioto Gardens. Wild Ones will publish a list of plants that will be available at this year's sale closer to the event date. Be sure to stop by! Show up anytime!

¡Estamos emocionados de invitarlos al evento más especial del año: 'Mommy and Me' - Mamá y Yo! 💕 Una cena en honor a mamá y la mujer, donde celebramos el amor, la elegancia y el vínculo especial entre madre e hija. 🌟 📅 Fecha: Domingo 3 de mayo ⏰ Hora: 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm 📍 Lugar: Courtyard by Marriott, Columbus Grove City (1668 Buckeye Pi, Grove City, OH 43123) 💰 Precio: $60 USD por 2 personas (incluye cena, postre, regalo, rifa, actividades y dinámicas) ¡Una tarde de elegancia como mamá lo merece! 👑 Premio al mejor outfit de Mommy and Me. Necesitamos tu apoyo para hacer de este evento un éxito. ¡Ayúdanos a celebrar a las mamás y sus hijos! Puedes colaborar con: * Patrocinio de actividades o regalos * Donación de productos o servicios para el evento * Ayuda en la promoción del evento ¡Contáctanos al 917-376-5085 para más información o para unirte a nuestro equipo de apoyo! ¡No te pierdas esta experiencia única y especial! ¡Te esperamos!" 🎊 *¡Cupos limitados!* Por favor, regístrate en el link aca debajo para asegurar tu lugar. https://forms.gle/2z7WzmHRsfcrQmQd8