Collaboration Between Creative Minds

Do you want to create an amazing game, meet cool people, and learn new skills? We are going to be hosting a game jam starting on June 12th! A game jam is a dedicated time to try making a game from start to finish. You can build your game development skills, network with other game developers, and finish with a cool project that you can share! We are open to all experience levels, from people who make games professionally to people who have never made a game before. For more details about the game jam itself: join up on the Itch site: [https://itch.io/jam/district-jam-7](https://itch.io/jam/district-jam-7) We will have an on-site location at George Mason University: 4400 University Dr, Fairfax, VA 22030 Johnson Center third floor - Meeting Room E Schedule: Friday 6/12 * 6:00 PM - Site opens * 7:00 PM - Jam starts * 10:00 PM - Room closes Saturday 6/13 * 10:00 AM - Room opens * 10:00 PM - Room closes Sunday 6/14 * 10:00 AM - Room opens * 4:00 PM - Jam submission deadline and game presentations * 6:00 PM - Room closes

Hey everyone, this is our very first gathering! We’re keeping it low-key and real. Just honest talk about the big stuff: life, meaning (or the lack of it), absurdity, consciousness, the illusions we all live with, and whatever else bubbles up. There’ll be existential philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, and plenty of dark humor (I’m sure of it with people who enjoy staring into the void!) It’s an introductory meetup, so no pressure. Come, chat about whether you’ve been thinking about this stuff for years or you’re just curious and a little unsure. We’ve all probably been there. We’ll have one loose topic to get things started— which is whether we create meaning in life or is it predetermined? But mostly it’ll be open conversation. Stay as long as you want, leave whenever you need. Look forward to our chat!

**Looking for a group you can write with *whilst sipping your fave coffee*?** ☕✍️ Then come join **Shut Up & Write!** on **Saturday, June 13th from 1:30pm to 4:00pm** at **Ridgetop Coffee & Tea**! Whether you're cranking out a novel, journaling, looking for new friends, or just trying to get that stubborn paragraph right—we’ve got a cozy seat and a supportive group waiting for you! **No critiques, no peer review, no pressure—just a chill space to get words on the page.** 📝 **What to expect:** 1:30–2:00pm – Grab your coffee or tea, find your seat, and meet your fellow writers. 2:00pm–3:30pm – Silent, focused writing time 3:30–4:00pm – Debrief, celebrate any writing wins, commiserate on any obstacles, and head out feeling accomplished. **RSVP Info:** The room seats only 10 people comfortably! RSVP as soon as possible to secure your spot!! If you are unable to attend, please cancel your reservation **ASAP** so those on the wait list are able to RSVP and attend!!! **Meeting Room:** Enter the coffee shop, walk straight towards the play area and on your left you will see a meeting room just past the bathrooms. The room has a TV, white board, and walls are painted green. **What to Bring:** Whatever helps you focus, and be productive. There is a wall outlet at each end of the room, so you're able to bring your laptop to write, but please bring your own charging tools. You're welcome to bring headphones if you enjoy listening to music while working. **Parking & Accessibility:** there is a large parking lot out front and it is free! There are no stair cases when entering the coffee shop or when inside. This coffee shop is incredibly spacious with many seating options. If you have any questions, please message me through MeetUp. I'm happy to help. **Dietary Information:** many GF, Vegan, and SF options. Just ask your barista when ordering for specifics! Can’t wait to see you there! 🎉

***\*Both In-Person & Private Live-Streaming*** **The word anatta** – which means no permanently abiding self – is at the very heart and core of Buddhist meditation practice, yet it is one of its most misunderstood concepts. **When we explore anatta** through our meditation practice, it doesn’t mean we’re trying to get rid of who we are; it means we’re becoming more and more willing to see through the small, false, often negative ideas or beliefs of what we call “self.” **In actuality,** we are so much bigger than who or what we think we are. In fact, we are not only vast, but constantly fluid and changing: new in each moment, and dying in each moment … much like waves on the ocean. **During this silent meditation retreat,** we’ll be exploring anatta through various teachings, along with meditations designed to help us loosen our tenacious grip on the ego and sense of “self,” so that we can experience more freedom, peace, and ease in our lives. **The format will include** both guided and silent meditation, a dharma talk, and walking meditation both inside and on the lovely, spacious church grounds. Lunch will be in silence, and participants are asked to bring their own. **We’ll be gathering for our retreat on Saturday from 10 a.m. – 5:00 p.m** in the beautiful St. Francis Episcopal Church in Great Falls, VA. The peaceful interior is filled with large bright windows overlooking the great lawn and a canopy of trees. The expansive grounds include a special labyrinth, and many natural places to sit and walk. **The format will include both guided and silent meditation**, a dharma talk, and walking meditation both inside and on the lovely, spacious church grounds. Lunch will be in silence, and participants are asked to bring their own. **THE TEACHER:** Shell Fischer, founder and guiding teacher of Mindful Shenandoah (**[www.mindfulvalley.com](http://www.mindfulvalley.com/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExVFptRkN5cmpUVW9NWnlUaQEe04iYiwuuRDHGb8miRSO1_bG8Pdo-W2qefvsF41ER-Wr-PKZ7WKNnD_q03mg_aem_Hqz8SeHgbqFCh-0cegrr6Q)**) offers more than 30 years of extensive mindfulness training, study, and teaching. She is a Buddhist teacher, trained in the Tibetan Vajrayana tradition at Naropa University – the nation’s leading contemplative university – and in the Theravadan Vipassana (Insight) tradition by Dr. Tara Brach – one of the world’s foremost Insight teachers. She is a graduate of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction teacher-training program led by Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of MBSR and the Stress Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. Prior to teaching, Shell wrote about mindfulness and yoga for national magazines. **While offering the teachings of Insight Meditation**, Shell places great emphasis on the metta (loving-kindness) practices. Her hope is to guide you in nurturing even more kindness and compassion for yourself, others, and for all the situations you find yourself in throughout your life, through the heart-teachings and practices of mindfulness meditation. **Shell warmly welcomes the inclusion and participation** of people of diverse identities, including those of all races, ethnicities, cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities, classes, religions, abilities, and ages … with the aspiration that all feel welcome, safe, and respected as we practice together in community. **When:** Sat., June 13, 2026, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. (also available online) **Where:** St. Francis Episcopal Church, 9220 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA 22066 **Fee:** $85 in-person/$40 online **[LEARN MORE HERE](https://www.mindfulvalley.com/retreats/june-13-2026-meditation-retreat-no-self-no-problem-exploring-anatta/)** ## Attendees 2 [Host](https://www.meetup.com/members/3560274) [Shell Fischer](https://www.meetup.com/members/3560274) [Organizer](https://www.meetup.com/members/3560274) [Chloe](https://www.meetup.com/members/6537118) [Member](https://www.meetup.com/members/6537118) ## Photos 0 No photos for now! You'll see them here once they're added. ## Start the conversation Communicate with event participants to ask questions or share information.  Send as a private comment (Visible only for attendees) [See more events by Mindful Shenandoah Valley - Meditation Community](https://www.meetup.com/winchester-insight-meditation/events/) ## Related topics [Events in Great Falls, VA](/find/us--va--great-falls/) ## You may also like [](https://www.meetup.com/new-york-empowering-yourself/events/313708607/?eventOrigin=group_similar_events) ### [Empowering Yourself](https://www.meetup.com/new-york-empowering-yourself/events/313708607/?eventOrigin=group_similar_events) [Fri, Mar 20 · 7:00 PM EDT](https://www.meetup.com/new-york-empowering-yourself/events/313708607/?eventOrigin=group_similar_events) [·Online](https://www.meetup.com/new-york-empowering-yourself/events/313708607/?eventOrigin=group_similar_events) [by New York Empowering Yourself](https://www.meetup.com/new-york-empowering-yourself/events/313708607/?eventOrigin=group_similar_events) [Online](https://www.meetup.com/new-york-empowering-yourself/events/313708607/?eventOrigin=group_similar_events) [](https://www.meetup.com/burlington-women-personal-development-meetup-group/events/313166171/?eventOrigin=group_similar_events) ### [Why It’s Easy to Show Up for Others but Hard to Show Up for Yourself](https://www.meetup.com/burlington-women-personal-development-meetup-group/events/313166171/?eventOrigin=group_similar_events) [Thu, Mar 19 · 7:00 PM EDT](https://www.meetup.com/burlington-women-personal-development-meetup-group/events/313166171/?eventOrigin=group_similar_events) [·Online](https://www.meetup.com/burlington-women-personal-development-meetup-group/events/313166171/?eventOrigin=group_similar_events) [by Burlington NLP & Personal Change Group](https://www.meetup.com/burlington-women-personal-development-meetup-group/events/313166171/?eventOrigin=group_similar_events) [Online](https://www.meetup.com/burlington-women-personal-development-meetup-group/events/313166171/?eventOrigin=group_similar_events) [](https://www.meetup.com/attachment-pathway-your-gps-for-secure-relationships/events/312835545/?eventOrigin=group_similar_events) ### [Courageous Conversation: Say the Hard Thing Without Starting a Fire](https://www.meetup.com/attachment-pathway-your-gps-for-secure-relationships/events/312835545/?eventOrigin=group_similar_events) [Wed, Mar 18 · 7:00 PM EDT](https://www.meetup.com/attachment-pathway-your-gps-for-secure-relationships/events/312835545/?eventOrigin=group_similar_events) [·Online](https://www.meetup.com/attachment-pathway-your-gps-for-secure-relationships/events/312835545/?eventOrigin=group_similar_events) [by Attachment Pathway](https://www.meetup.com/attachment-pathway-your-gps-for-secure-relationships/events/312835545/?eventOrigin=group_similar_events) [Online](https://www.meetup.com/attachment-pathway-your-gps-for-secure-relationships/events/312835545/?eventOrigin=group_similar_events)

## 1 Million Cups Loudoun – Business Presentation ### Featuring Mary Hartshorn, Founder of Craft Alchemy **Wednesday\, June 10 \| 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM** **Venture X Loudoun** Join us as we welcome **Mary Hartshorn**, founder of **Craft Alchemy**, to the 1 Million Cups Loudoun stage. *** ## About the Presenter Mary Hartshorn is an Army Veteran, entrepreneur, and founder of Craft Alchemy. With a background in communications and logistics and an MBA earned in 2016, Mary spent years developing expertise in e-commerce, digital products, automation systems, Shopify, Etsy, and customer-focused product development while raising her family and navigating military life. In 2024, a personal moment of crisis inspired Mary to create a tool that could help others facing similar challenges. What began as a resource for veterans quickly evolved into a broader solution designed to support individuals and families navigating autism, mental health challenges, caregiving responsibilities, medical conditions, and other situations where communication can become difficult during times of stress. *** ## About the Business Craft Alchemy has developed the **Anchor Tag Support System**, a personalized QR-based support hub that helps individuals quickly access calming tools, emergency contacts, support resources, and personalized information when they need it most. Designed to bridge the gap between physical and digital support, Anchor Tags provide a practical, accessible tool for Veterans, First Responders, autism families, caregivers, mental health advocates, schools, healthcare providers, and organizations focused on community well-being. Rather than creating another app, Craft Alchemy offers a real-world solution that can be carried, accessed quickly, and utilized during moments when support and communication matter most. *** ## Who Mary Is Looking to Hear From Mary would especially value feedback and connections from: * Veteran support organizations * First responder support groups * Mental health professionals and advocates * Autism and disability support organizations * School administrators and special education professionals * Healthcare and caregiving professionals * Nonprofit leaders * Community outreach specialists * Government contracting and partnership advisors * Local leaders focused on community impact initiatives *** ## Current Business Focus & Challenge Craft Alchemy is currently in its early growth and partnership stage. Mary's primary focus is building awareness, establishing strategic partnerships, and expanding opportunities within organizations and community-based networks. She is seeking feedback around: * Building strategic partnerships * Scaling awareness organically * Expanding into schools, nonprofits, and community organizations * Navigating government and organizational opportunities * Growing a mission-driven business without relying heavily on paid advertising She would also appreciate introductions to individuals and organizations connected to veterans, first responders, mental health advocacy, autism support, caregiving, education, and community health initiatives. *** ## Why Attend? * Learn about an innovative solution designed to support people during moments of stress and crisis * Provide valuable feedback to a mission-driven entrepreneur * Connect with community leaders, advocates, and professionals across multiple industries * Be part of a meaningful conversation around accessibility, support, and community impact *** ## About 1 Million Cups 1 Million Cups is a national program that brings entrepreneurs and communities together to learn, connect, and grow through presentations and discussion. Loudoun’s chapter meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays each month. Join us on **June 10** for coffee, connection, and a conversation about creating practical solutions that strengthen individuals, families, and communities. We look forward to seeing you there.

Looking for a quiet, focused space to write? Come be part of our writing group—a dedicated time just for writing alongside fellow writers in your community. No readings, no critiques, no peer-review—just you writing within a supportive atmosphere. 7pm-7:15pm: Find your seat, set up your writing station, quick intro's. 7:15pm-8:45 pm: An hour and a half of silent focused writing. 8:45pm-9pm: Quick debrief, pack and head home. Can't wait to see you! :)

Join us for the inaugural gathering of the DC Creative Collective for Film, TV, and Theater — a welcoming space for filmmakers, writers, actors, and creative enthusiasts across the DMV to connect and create together. This first meetup will be an introduction to the collective’s vision, followed by networking, artist introductions, and an open discussion where members can share their creative interests, experience levels, and the kinds of projects they hope to collaborate on. We will also host a casual table read and idea exchange, giving participants a chance to hear scripts, workshop concepts, and meet potential collaborators for future productions. Whether you are experienced in the industry or just beginning your creative journey, come ready to build community, share stories, and help shape a collaborative artistic home where ideas move from imagination to stage and screen.