Community

**In a time of division and isolation, come be part of the community that's rebuilding the town square, one table at a time.** In BreadBreakers, we use the common space of the dining table to have conversations where neighbors can **hear, be heard, and know one another.** If you're hungry for good conversation and deeper community, join us for a Community Dinner in Reston and help blaze the trail to a healthier, more connected society and democracy. Here’s how it works: For just two hours, multiple tables of people set aside the need to "win" and instead focus on sharing, listening, and connecting. Guided by experienced table hosts, we'll tell our stories, try to understand each other, and practice being in community with those with different views or backgrounds. **At this dinner, participants will get to choose between three different topics, including some current events.** Topics range from the political, to the "slice of life", to the spiritual, to the philosophical, to the off-the-wall - but no matter which table you choose to sit at, you can be sure it'll be like no dinner conversation you've had before! You can also **suggest a topic** by emailing us at BreadBreakersInfo@gmail.com. Food will be provided for free. For those who wish to provide a donation to help fund BreadBreakers, you can [give here](https://pushpay.com/g/restorationrestonumc?fnd=pO6G-N7oO7FH7Mp1u-x6mA&fndv=Lock&r=No&lang=en&src=pcgl) or at the event. We'll have vegetarian and gluten-free options available. If you have any additional dietary restrictions (Celiac Disease, vegan, etc.) please let us know at BreadBreakersInfo@gmail.com so that we can implement the appropriate food handling procedures. **Join us, invite a friend, and be a part of the movement to mend our fractured society and normalize a better way of talking with one another.** BreadBreakers, an initiative by [Restoration United Methodist Church](https://restorationreston.org/breadbreakers) in Reston, VA, is a religiously inclusive community. We are a collaboration between people of all faiths and stripes. Our leadership, volunteer team, and community include people who attend Restoration and people who don't.

## **1 Million Cups Loudoun – Business Presentation** **Featuring Aida Davalos, Founder of Argon Accounting** **Wednesday\, May 13 \| 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM** **Venture X Loudoun** Join us as we welcome **Aida Davalos**, founder of **Argon Accounting**, to the 1 Million Cups Loudoun stage for a thoughtful conversation around financial clarity, intentional growth, and building a relationship-driven business. *** ## **About the Presenter** Aida is a **first-generation college graduate with a master’s degree** and an entrepreneur at heart, inspired by her family’s business roots in Ecuador. With a strong background in **corporate accounting, financial operations, tax strategy, and advisory**, her career has been focused on helping businesses make smarter financial decisions and build sustainable foundations for growth. Over the past seven years, Aida has been growing her own **boutique accounting and tax practice organically**, built on trust, relationships, and practical, real-world financial guidance. She is also actively involved with **George Mason University**, mentoring students and supporting the next generation of professionals. *** ## **About the Business** Argon Accounting provides **accounting, bookkeeping, financial advisory, and tax services** designed to help small business owners and individuals feel confident and informed about their finances. Aida’s approach focuses on making financial information **clear, approachable, and actionable**, so clients can understand what their numbers are telling them — and use that insight to make better decisions for long-term growth. *** ## **Who Aida Is Looking to Hear From** Aida would especially value feedback from: * Small business owners and founders * Service-based business operators * Marketing and brand strategy professionals * Entrepreneurs who have grown beyond referral-based business * Individuals passionate about supporting BIPOC entrepreneurs and professionals *** ## **Current Business Focus & Challenge** Aida is in the **early stages of intentional growth**, focused on building a sustainable and well-positioned business. Her biggest challenge is **gaining visibility and attracting a consistent client base**, and she is seeking feedback around: * Clearly communicating her value to small business owners * Marketing her services effectively without relying on paid advertising * Building trust and credibility as a growing business * Expanding beyond word-of-mouth while maintaining strong relationships *** ## **Why Attend?** * Gain insight into building a service-based business with intention * Provide valuable feedback on marketing, positioning, and growth strategy * Connect with entrepreneurs focused on sustainable, relationship-driven growth * Be part of a meaningful, solutions-focused conversation *** ## **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 **May 13** for coffee, connection, and a conversation about building financial clarity and growing a business with purpose. We look forward to seeing you there.

## **1 Million Cups Loudoun – Business Presentation** **Featuring James Norris, Founder of Squeegee Samurai** **Wednesday\, May 13 \| 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM** **Venture X Loudoun** Join us as we welcome **James Norris**, founder of **Squeegee Samurai**, to the 1 Million Cups Loudoun stage for a conversation on building a service-based business from the ground up. *** ## **About the Presenter** James Norris transitioned from a career in **cybersecurity compliance** into entrepreneurship, taking a hands-on approach to building a business from scratch. Initially exploring the acquisition of an existing company, he ultimately chose to **build his own window cleaning business** after recognizing the simplicity, consistency, and opportunity within the industry. His journey reflects a growing trend of entrepreneurs moving from corporate roles into tangible, service-based businesses with clear demand and scalable potential. *** ## **About the Business** Squeegee Samurai provides **professional window cleaning services for residential and commercial clients**, delivering immediate, visible results — what James calls *“clarity through pane.”* In an industry where the fundamentals haven’t changed, Squeegee Samurai focuses on **high-quality, traditional techniques** paired with strong customer experience and operational discipline. As a solo operator, James currently manages every aspect of the business — from marketing and pricing to service delivery, quality control, and operations — while laying the groundwork for future growth. *** ## **Who James Is Looking to Hear From** James would especially value feedback from: * Business owners who have scaled service-based businesses * Operators of route-based or recurring revenue businesses * Entrepreneurs who have transitioned from corporate roles to hands-on work * Founders who have built teams from a solo operation * Anyone with experience in pricing, local marketing, or service scaling *** ## **Current Business Focus & Challenge** James is in the **early growth stage**, focused on building a foundation for scale through recurring storefront contracts and refining his pricing model. He is seeking feedback on: * Pricing strategy in a competitive, price-sensitive market * Whether to display pricing publicly or use promotional strategies * When and how to invest in advertising (where, how much, and when) * Timing and approach to hiring and team building * Balancing market penetration with long-term profitability This is a critical stage where the right decisions can significantly impact long-term growth and scalability. *** ## **Why Attend?** * Gain insight into building a service business from the ground up * Provide feedback on pricing, marketing, and scaling strategy * Connect with entrepreneurs navigating similar growth stages * Be part of a practical, real-world business conversation *** ## **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 **May 13** for coffee, connection, and a conversation around building, pricing, and scaling a service-based business. We look forward to seeing you there.

## **1 Million Cups Loudoun – Resource Presentation** **What You Really Need to Know from an HR Professional** **Presented by Donna Giarratana** **Wednesday\, May 27 \| 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM** **Venture X Loudoun** Join us for a practical and insightful resource presentation designed to help small business owners navigate one of the most critical — and often overlooked — areas of growth: **Human Resources**. *** ## **About the Session** As your business grows, so do the complexities of managing people, processes, and compliance. Many entrepreneurs wait too long to think about HR — and by the time they do, they’re already reacting instead of planning. In this session, **Donna Giarratana** will break down what small business owners *really* need to know about HR — in a way that is clear, actionable, and relevant to your stage of growth. This conversation is designed to help you move from uncertainty to confidence when it comes to building and managing your team. *** ## **What You’ll Learn** * When it’s the right time to hire * How to set your business up for success before bringing on employees * Why HR matters — even for small businesses * Common pitfalls and how to avoid them * The foundational HR knowledge every business owner should have *** ## **Who Should Attend** * Entrepreneurs preparing to hire their first employee * Small business owners currently managing a team * Founders looking to strengthen operations and compliance * Anyone who wants to build a business with a strong, scalable foundation *** ## **Why Attend?** * Gain clarity on one of the most important aspects of business growth * Learn how to avoid costly mistakes before they happen * Ask questions and get real-world insight from an HR professional * Walk away with practical knowledge you can apply immediately *** ## **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 **May 27** for coffee, connection, and a conversation that will help you build your business the right way from the inside out. We look forward to seeing you there.

Join Sober Supper Club DC for an intimate group dinner at Summer House Santa Monica in North Bethesda, a sun-drenched, California-inspired restaurant tucked into the Pike & Rose neighborhood. Summer House brings a little bit of the West Coast to the DMV — bright, airy, and built around the feeling of a perfect summer day. The menu is fresh, seasonal, and made for sharing: wood-grilled fish and meats, market-driven salads, hand-rolled pastas, and the famous Cookie Bar stocked with dozens of fresh-baked cookies to close out the night. The space itself feels like a coastal escape — whitewashed wood, abundant plants, and warm light that makes every dinner feel like a vacation. It's a beautiful setting for slowing down, eating well, and connecting around a long table. This dinner is intentionally small to keep conversation easy and the experience relaxed. Our guests typically range from 25–45, and the evening is designed for people who enjoy thoughtful conversation, beautiful food, and a communal table built for a fun sober night in the city. Seating is limited to 10 people maintain an intimate atmosphere. **WHO:** You + 9 Other People **WHAT:** Intimate Group Dinner **WHEN:** Thursday, May 21, 2026 · 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM **WHERE:** Summer House - North Bethesda **COST:** $80/person PREPAID TICKET (Includes dinner, drinks & gratuity) To purchase your ticket on our website instead, head here: [https://sobersupper.club/events/ssc-dc-summer-house-may-21](https://sobersupper.club/events/ssc-dc-summer-house-may-21)

**🪷 COST:** There is a fee for this event. Please [Register and Donate with this Link!](https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/already-enough-a-day-retreat-to-reconnect-through-gratitude) **🌿 Description:** ***Already Enough: A Day Retreat to Reconnect Through Gratitude*** In the pace of daily life, it’s easy to keep reaching for what’s next—solving, striving, or focusing on what feels missing. This day retreat is an invitation to pause and gently shift that pattern through the practice of gratitude. Together, we’ll explore gratitude not just as an idea, but as a lived practice—something we can return to daily to support presence, emotional balance, and a deeper appreciation for what is already here. At the heart of the retreat is a simple practice inspired by The Magic: a daily way of writing and feeling gratitude until it becomes real, not just words. Through guided exercises, journaling, sharing, meditation, and time in nature, we’ll create space to slow down, reflect, and reconnect—with ourselves, our lives, and the people around us. This is not about forcing positivity. It’s about training our attention to notice what is already present—and learning how to live from that place more often, moment by moment and day by day. **This restorative day retreat includes:** 🌿 Guided gratitude-based practices inspired by *The Magic* 📓 Journaling and personal reflection 🤝🏻 One-on-one and small group sharing 🌲 Gentle nature-based experiences woven throughout the day 🥗 A shared potluck lunch and mindful pause 🧘 Closing meditation and integration **Preparation:** Participants are encouraged to bring a copy of *The Magic* by Rhonda Byrne, and to read it beforehand if possible. If this is a financial barrier, please reach out to **admin@imaginebeingwell.org** so we can assist. **🪷 COST:** There is a fee for this event. Please [Register and Donate with this Link!](https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/already-enough-a-day-retreat-to-reconnect-through-gratitude) **About your facilitator:** Nitin Dogra is a Project/Program Manager and meditation practitioner who integrates simple, repeatable practices into daily life. His work focuses on helping people build grounded awareness, emotional steadiness, and practical inner shifts through consistency rather than complexity. This retreat is rooted in both inspiration and lived experience. Through deep and consistent gratitude practice, Nitin experienced profound shifts in his own life—including changes in his physical and mental wellbeing, his closest relationships, and his sense of possibility. His approach is simple: less theory, more practice. **🌟 Credits & Inspiration:** This retreat is inspired by teachings and practices from Rhonda Byrne and Shukrana Gratitude Foundation India, along with personal practice and lived experience. **🌐 NEWSLETTER:** [Click Here to Sign Up](https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/newsletter-form/sign-up-for-the-imagine-well-being-newsletter) if you would like to receive Imagine Well Being's monthly newsletter highlighting events, retreats and outreach programs. **⭐️ LIABILITY RELEASE:** With my RSVP, I hereby stipulate that I am physically sound to participate in this event. I understand and agree that all events, gatherings and retreats are undertaken at my sole risk and that Imagine Well Being guides and co-directors shall not be liable for injuries or damages to my person or property arising out of or connected to any of these activities. I authorize Imagine Well Being guides and co-directors to call 911 in the event that I appear to require emergency medical care, and I assume responsibility for all associated costs. **I have carefully read this agreement and understand its contents. I agree that it is a complete release of liability for any injuries or damage that I may sustain due to Imagine events, gatherings, and retreats.**

Looking to connect with other young adults with food allergy? Join **Adulting with Allergies**, FARE’s social club for young adults 21 and up. **[Register Here](https://www.foodallergy.org/resources/adulting-allergies-young-adult-food-allergy-social-club)!** The goal of Adulting with Allergies is to create a space where young adults can connect, share experiences, and build community. Members can participate in quarterly virtual hangouts, as well as annual in-person events hosted in cities across the U.S. Our first **VIRTUAL** session will take place on **May 26 at 7 PM EST** and will focus on navigating food allergies in the workplace. Please note that there is no limit to number of attendees. If you're interested in registering, click the link above!