Digital Literacy

Women Techmakers Berlin and SPICED Academy are joining forces to host an evening focused on both building *efficient AI systems* and navigating the real challenges of building a *career in tech*—beyond just learning technical skills. ## Talks Talk 1: Confidence Beyond Skills - What Really Holds Women Back in Tech Careers - by Marina Matveevskaia Many women in tech keep investing in new courses, skills, and certifications, yet still feel stuck or “not ready enough” to take the next career step. In this talk, we will look beyond technical competence and explore the less visible factors that often shape career growth much more strongly — such as self-trust, fear of visibility, internalized expectations, and the emotional impact of burnout or layoffs. I will share common patterns I see in highly capable women and why “just improving skills” is often not the real barrier. Participants will leave with new perspectives and simple reflection tools to better understand what is holding them back and how to move forward in a more sustainable and aligned way. Talk 2: Efficient Agentic Systems - by Jane Waithira Let Classical ML Do the Heavy Lifting, Let Agents Do the Thinking There’s a temptation to throw an LLM at every problem—but the most effective systems take a different approach. This talk explores how to combine deterministic, classical machine learning for predictable tasks with LLM-powered agents for reasoning and decision-making—so you can build systems that are fast, cost-effective, and reliable. ## Speakers **Jane Waithira:** Jane Waithira is an innovative, solution-oriented developer working in AI/ML, currently at SAP in Germany, where she integrates applied AI and GenAI for SAP's own cloud infrastructure. With over five years of experience building production AI systems, Jane has established her skillset in practical applications of ML and GenAI. Her talk will provide attendees with a practical framework for building efficient agentic systems that combine deterministic classical ML with the flexibility of LLM-powered agents. [https://www.linkedin.com/in/waithira-macharia/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/waithira-macharia/) **Marina Matveevskaia:** Marina Matveevskaia is a Professional Identity and Transition Coach working primarily with women in tech and international professionals in Germany. With over 14 years of experience in the IT industry, including leadership roles, she understands the unique pressures and challenges women face in fast-paced, male-dominated environments. In her coaching practice, Marina focuses on burnout prevention, impostor syndrome, and career transitions, helping highly capable women build sustainable and fulfilling career paths. She also collaborates with the German Employment Agency (Arbeitsagentur) as an AVGS coach, supporting women in their return to the labour market. [www.linkedin.com/in/marina-matveevskaia](http://www.linkedin.com/in/marina-matveevskaia) ## Why Attend? * Learn from women working in Tech * Get inspired by real stories and practical advice * Connect with like-minded people in a supportive space * Discover career paths across Tech & AI * Network with the WTM & SPICED community Join us for an evening of inspiring talks, practical insights, and meaningful connections in the heart of Berlin’s tech community. ## About SPICED Academy SPICED Academy is a Berlin-based tech bootcamp that helps people transition into tech through intensive, hands-on training. They offer both in-person and online programs across data analytics, data science, web development, and AI, with a strong focus on real-world projects and career support. https://www.spiced-academy.com/en ## Inclusivity Statement Women Techmakers Berlin is committed to creating a **safe, inclusive, and welcoming space**. This event is open to people of all genders who support diversity in tech.

## DNA. presents: "CREATIVE WRITING" In this workshop, You will learn a method that can help You to strengthen Your access to Your creativity, write more, write better and get back into a flow state in which new ideas emerge. Rediscover Your creative flow with Lena's hourglass method. ##### HOURGLASS METHOD Lena will guide You through the three phases of her hourglass method, which consist of different writing exercises, and explain the background to them. You will use pen, paper and Your words as tools, but You don't have to be a poet to have fun and benefit from the workshop :) ##### APPLICATION OF THE METHOD: The method can also be used on Your own at home after the workshop, whenever You need a creative jump-start. ##### SETTING: The small group setting as a safe space also allows You to share your thoughts with others. You'll learn techniques to: * Tap into Your Inner creativity. * Overcome self-doubt and fear. * Express Yourself authentically and confidently. * Cultivate a sense of purpose in Your art and communication.

Planning to go on parental leave while working in tech? You probably have a ton of questions, and we will do our best to get you answers. Whether you're expecting, currently on leave, planning ahead or wanting to support your teammates, navigating parental leave comes with a lot of new challenges. Technical careers require us to stay up to date and living in Germany adds another layer of bureaucratic hurdles to the mix. To help you feel more prepared, we have selected panelists who've been through it and will share their experiences openly: what worked, what surprised them, and what they wish they'd known. We'll cover the practical and bureaucratic side, the career side, and we'll reserve time for your questions. **🗓️ Agenda** 6:30 Arrival and networking 7:00 Welcome and Intro 7:10 Panel Discussion: Planning Parental Leave in Tech 9:00 Event ends **Panel: Planning Parental Leave in Tech** ● **Saranya Parvathi Ganesan**, Senior Software Engineer @Immoscout24 ● **Sinny Kumari**, Associate Engineering Manager @Red Hat ● **Vanessa Ating**, Senior Frontend Engineer ● Moderated by: **Vaishali Thakkar,** Confidential Computing Expert @SUSE **🍕 Food and Drinks** There will be vegetarian and vegan food and beverages sponsored by our host Bettermile. 🗣️ **About the Panelists** **Saranya** I’m a mother to a four-year-old daughter and currently work as a Senior Software Engineer at ImmoScout24. I have over 12 years of experience in software development, primarily in backend engineering with Java, Kotlin, AWS, Node.js, and serverless technologies. Prior to moving to Germany, I worked as a Software Engineer at PayPal and Ford in India. I’m passionate about mentoring, continuous learning, and staying hands-on with technology while building scalable and reliable systems. **Sinny** [Sinny](https://sinnykumari.wordpress.com/) is a mother to a four-year-old and an Engineering Manager at Red Hat. Prior to stepping into engineering leadership for the [DNF](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNF_(software)) team, she spent over a decade as a Software Engineer developing core OpenShift [operators](https://github.com/openshift/machine-config-operator), performing ABI analysis, and more. She is also an Open Source enthusiast and has contributed to projects such as Fedora and KDE. **Vanessa** I’m a Software Engineer with over five years of experience building scalable, accessible web applications across the full stack. I specialize in frontend development with React, TypeScript, and Next.js while also bringing solid backend experience to deliver complete end-to-end solutions. I’m passionate about creating design-driven interfaces that deliver real value to users. 📍**About Bettermile** We’re Bettermile, and we’re essentially here to fix the parcel logistics. We’ve built an AI-powered SaaS suite that turns the chaos of dynamic routing and complex addresses into a smooth, efficient experience. Based in Berlin-Kreuzberg, we’re a 150-strong international crew (36 languages and counting!) that ditches the corporate ego for creative freedom and actual autonomy. With flexibility, a kid-and-pet-friendly office, and a culture that’s high on drive, we’re setting a new standard for last mile. **☂️ About the FLINTA label** This event is labeled as FLINTA (women, lesbians, intersex, non-binary, trans and agender) as we make it a mission to empower women and other underrepresented minorities in the tech community. 💗 **Code of Conduct** We are dedicated to providing a safe and welcoming experience for everyone who participates in our events. By attending our event, you agree to the Berlin Code of Conduct: https://berlincodeofconduct.org/en 📸 **Media Consent** We may be taking photos of this event for social media posts. If you do not want to be photographed, please let the organizers at the event know. We will make sure to respect your privacy. 👋 **About Empowered in Tech** We are a local community in Berlin dedicated to empowering FLINTA (women, lesbians, intersex, non-binary, trans and agender) people to excel in their tech journey. Our events offer study groups, technical workshops, hackathons, networking events, panel discussions, lightning talks, and social events. Stay in touch with the community! Join our Slack: [https://bit.ly/EmpoweredInTechSlack](https://bit.ly/EmpoweredInTechSlack)

🎤 **What Happens at a Toastmasters Meeting?** We change the time to 7pm please aarive 10 minutes earlier. Curious about Toastmasters? Come experience it for yourself! At **Toastmasters Center Berlin**, our meetings are designed to help you grow as a speaker, listener, and leader — in a fun, supportive environment. Here’s what you can expect: ✅ **Warm Welcome** – Guests are always greeted with open arms. No pressure to speak — just observe and enjoy! ✅ **Prepared Speeches** – Members deliver inspiring, informative, or entertaining speeches they've crafted. ✅ **Impromptu Speaking (Table Topics)** – A fun challenge where volunteers speak on surprise topics for 1–2 minutes. Great for thinking on your feet! ✅ **Constructive Feedback** – Every speaker receives thoughtful evaluations to help them improve. ✅ **Leadership & Roles** – Members take on meeting roles that build confidence and leadership skills. Whether you're looking to overcome stage fright, sharpen your storytelling, or simply meet like-minded people — this is the place to start. 🗓️ **Join us as a guest — no experience needed!** 📍 **Toastmasters Center Berlin** 💬 **Grow your voice. Share your story.**

In diesem Kurs beschäftigen wir uns mit verschiedenen Texten aus unterschiedlichen Bereichen. Das können u.a. kurze Geschichten, Gedichte, Zeitungsartikel, Kolumnen oder Videos sein. Immer sind es Themen, die uns gefallen, die wir besonders interessant, wichtig oder manchmal auch richtig schlecht finden. Gemeinsam versuchen wir die Position der Autor*in, den Stil und die Argumentationsstruktur zu verstehen. Dazu diskutieren wir über das, was wir verstehen, welche Meinung wir zu dem Thema haben oder welche Fragen offen bleiben.
Gerne könnt ihr uns auch Themenvorschläge mitbringen oder zuschicken.
Der Kurs richtet sich an interessierte Menschen mit einem B2-Niveau (oder so ähnlich), die Lust haben sich weiter mit der deutschen Sprache zu beschäftigen und ihren Wortschatz zu erweitern.
Die Termine sind sporadisch.

Wie beschreibst du Freundschaft? Join us for our next German Sprachcafe as we cover the topic of Freundschaft (friendship)! Our event begins with a brief moderation at 19:00 where the host will introduce the topic, explain the conversation guidelines, and create groups of different German ability. In your group you will converse with a native German speaker on the topic of Freundschaft. What is friendship to you? How do you grow in friendship? What do you look for in a friend? What makes you a good friend to others? These topic and more will be discussed with the participants in each group. So practice your German, whatever your level. Make mistakes, have fun, and improve in your language ability. Light snacks and drinks will be served to people in attendance. This event is free of charge! Our event officially ends at 20:30. Weather your just starting learning German, an intermediate, or growing in your language abilities, you are invited to join! This event is hosted by [Zoarkirche](https://efg-zoar.de/) and [Community Church Berlin](communitychurchberlin.de)

* **NEW IG ACCOUNT: [@neurocrafting.berlin](https://www.instagram.com/neurocrafting.berlin?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==) (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ\*:･ﾟ✧** Calling all neurodivergent individuals! Are you tired of starting hobbies that you never seem to finish? Join us for an evening of guilt-free creativity where there is absolutely no pressure to complete anything. This event is designed to be a safe space where you can freely express your creativity without fear of judgment or criticism. We will have a variety of crafting supplies available including paint, yarn, crochet needles, beads, coloring books, origami paper, markers... However, feel free to bring your own supplies or current projects if you'd like to work on something specific. **There is a donation of a minimum of 4-5 euros to cover the materials and space.** In case you wish to pay via paypal: neurocrafting.berlin@gmail.com

**Build for Everyone — Accessibility for Mobile** Flutter Berlin is hosting a joint meetup with Kotlin User Group Berlin and CocoaHeads Berlin, focused on building accessible mobile apps. **Location:** Hedwig-Dohm-Haus, Berlin We’ll cover both strategy and hands-on implementation — from understanding platform differences (Android, iOS, cross-platform) to real-world accessibility pitfalls and live testing. With: **Important:** Registration is via Luma, not Meetup. Please register here: https://luma.com/xo7d3vb4

**Join Pitch & Feedback, a focused session designed for builders who want real, actionable input on their ideas.** This event brings together founders, freelancers, and curious minds in a structured format where selected participants present their ideas and receive direct feedback from the group. Whether you're refining an MVP (Minimum valuable product or service), validating a concept, or preparing to launch, this is a space to test your thinking with others who are building as well. How it works: * 6–8 selected presenters * Each gets 5 minutes to pitch + 10 minutes of structured feedback * Audience members contribute insights, questions, and suggestions Who should attend: * Presenters: founders, freelancers, or anyone working on an idea who wants honest feedback * Viewers: people interested in startups, product thinking, or networking with builders What you get: * Direct, constructive feedback on ideas * Exposure to different projects and perspectives * Opportunities to connect with potential co-founders, collaborators, or early supporters We will film the pitches and share the recordings with presenters (optional, only if they agree). This is not a passive meetup. It is a working session built around clarity, feedback, and meaningful connections. Session Details: * **📅 Thursday, 28.05.2026** * **🕕 18:00 – 20:00** * 📍 CI Space * Hosts: Erik & Belinda Limited spots for presenters. Register early if you want to pitch. This is how you save your spot: AS VIEWER: Just hit 'Join' here on Meetup and come along in person on the 28th : ) SIGN UP AS PRESENTER: 1\. hit the join button here on Meetup 2\. IMPORTANT: open the following FORM to hand in your pitch\. This helps us to get everything planned and you get a confirmation if your presenting spot is confirmed. Click or copy this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc_ymogzg8FaHIpUqcOHS9pRXLVVC9InPkdJ74jjHUQ_km8iw/viewform Any questions, please reach out. Looking forward to your pitches & participation! Belinda & Erik

Whether you're a seasoned tech veteran or just starting out, let's create the ideal afterwork place to meet and chill with other workers in tech - find that new job, expand your network, share ideas, and stay up-to-date on the latest trends in the industry. Let's inspire, innovate, and shape the future of technology in Berlin! Tech, AI, Data, IT, and more \~ ​ \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- ### Event Details 💰 Cost: Free 🍺🥃 Afterwork drinks and social 📍 Belushi's Berlin (Alexanderplatz) (Inside, or ask for Tech Social) - Rosa-Luxemburg-Straße 41 🕕 6:00pm onwards every Friday ​ **Or RSVP on the website for our Discord / WhatsApp communities, and to see who else is going and what their backgrounds/seniority/interests are:** 🔗 [Link to Website](https://techsocialberlin.com/event/meetup) ​ If you cannot find us, ask staff about Tech Social, or ask in the WhatsApp community above. ​ \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- ### Who Should Attend? Perfect for **Berlin tech professionals** including: * **Software Developers & Engineers** (Python, JavaScript, Java, C++, React, Node.js) * **Data Scientists & Analysts** (Machine Learning, AI, Data Visualization, SQL) * **Cybersecurity Professionals** (InfoSec, Ethical Hacking, Cloud Security) * **Product Managers & Tech Entrepreneurs** * **Students & Tech Graduates** looking to break into tech * **Career Changers** entering tech industry * **Remote Workers & Digital Nomads** in Berlin * **Startup Employees & Entrepreneurs** * **Digital Marketing & Product Professionals** * **Senior Engineers** looking to mentor and network \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- ### What You'll Experience * 🤝 **Network with Berlin tech community** * 💼 **Job opportunities** and referrals from peers * 🚀 **Career acceleration** through peer networking * 🎯 **Skill sharing** and tech discussions * 🧠 **Knowledge sharing** on latest tech trends * 🎉 **Social activities** and games * 🧠 **Learn from peers** about real-world challenges * 🚀 **Collaborate** on projects and ideas * 🎯 **Mentorship connections** (both ways!) * 🍻 **Fun, casual atmosphere** \- no matter your seniority level \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- ### Event Guidelines * Support the venue by purchasing drinks/food (no outside items allowed) * Maintain appropriate behavior and respect for all attendees * Bring physical ID if required by venue (call ahead to confirm) \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- ​ ​ *Berlin Germany tech social mixer afterwork drinks AI connect network data IT programming cybersecurity digital nomad blockchain crypto big data science computer networking community jobs entrepreneur industry product design startup software development machine learning python javascript professional networking career development it professionals developers mentorship ai sql analytics data engineering business intelligence deep learning tensorflow pytorch data visualization data analysts ml engineers Berlin Germany tech social mixer afterwork drinks AI connect network data IT programming cybersecurity digital nomad blockchain crypto big data science computer networking community jobs entrepreneur industry product design startup software development machine learning python javascript professional networking career development it professionals developers mentorship ai sql analytics data engineering business intelligence deep learning tensorflow pytorch data visualization data analysts ml engineers*

A curated meetup for e-commerce operators to share learnings, strategies, and ideas. Free for e-commerce operators (approval required). Apply via Luma: [https://luma.com/9w1ztp5c](https://luma.com/9w1ztp5c?utm_source=meetup) Exact location will be shared after approval.

**⚠️ IMPORTANT: REGISTRATION MANDATORY ⚠️** Registration on **Luma** is **REQUIRED** to attend this event. **Link: https://luma.com/1sre8dy7?utm_source=meetup** Your registration is subject to host approval. You must complete the registration process on lu.ma to receive the full event location details and confirmation of your attendance. **Please note: Without approved registration on Luma, you will NOT be able to access the event location or attend.** We are excited to host a **BLISS x dida workshop** featuring **Lazar Obradović (Lead Data Scientist @ cognee.ai)**, who will guide us through an interactive session on Agentic AI. ​Title: Explainable Scientific Discovery with AI Memory: Hypothesis Generation and Validation with Cognee and Bayer 📅 Date: 27.05.2026 🕕 Time: 18:00 📍 Location: TU Berlin Marchstrasse 23 [Room 0.011] ​The session will last around 2 hours, followed by a networking session with dida and fellow AI enthusiasts (and free pizza!🍕). Bring your laptop! **​Abstract: Building "AI scientist"** systems that can reliably generate and evaluate research ideas remains effectively an open problem. While LLMs make hypothesis generation cheap, current systems still struggle to connect evidence across papers, domains, and mechanisms in a structured and reusable way. Evaluation is equally difficult, often relying on opaque “LLM-as-a-judge” methods that are hard to interpret or reproduce. We use Cognee to ingest scientific literature and construct a graph-based representation of papers, claims, and entities with associated vector embeddings. We then use this structure to select and organize the context used for hypothesis generation. Candidate hypotheses are evaluated using explicit graph- and vector-based metrics grounded in the underlying corpus. Initial evaluations by Bayer across targeted biomedical domains demonstrated that graph-based AI memory can reliably support scientific hypothesis generation and validation. **⚡ FINAL REMINDER ⚡** **You MUST register and be approved on Luma to attend. The event location will only be visible after your registration is confirmed by the host. Link: https://luma.com/1sre8dy7?utm_source=meetup** *** We are **BLISS e.V.**, Berlin’s AI community connecting like-minded individuals passionate about machine learning and data science. Our **BLISS Workshops** connect **students and young professionals with industry partners**, offering an inside look into **how machine learning is applied in real-world settings** \- from research and development to deployment\. ​We are **dida**, scientific engineers who believe that **reliable AI** should not be a **"black box".** That is why we prioritize transparency, mathematics, and code over hype. By **bridging the gap between theoretical research and production**, we develop custom white-box AI solutions that are fully explainable, rigorously engineered, and free of "magic". ​​​dida Website: [https://dida.do](https://dida.do/?utm_source=luma) ​​dida Youtube: [https://www.youtube.com/@dida-do](https://www.youtube.com/@dida-do?utm_source=luma) ​​​BLISS Website:[ https://bliss.berlin](https://bliss.berlin/?utm_source=luma) ​​​BLISS Youtube:[ https://www.youtube.com/@bliss.ev.berlin](https://www.youtube.com/@bliss.ev.berlin?utm_source=luma)

Wissen verändert die Welt. Mach Mit! Wir treffen uns alle zwei Wochen zum lockeren Austausch und gemeinsamen Arbeiten in unserem Communityraum in der Köpenicker Straße in Berlin-Mitte. Alle Interessierten sind herzlich eingeladen vorbeizukommen und mehr über Wikipedia und ihre Schwesterprojekte (z. B. Wikimedia Commons oder Wikidata) zu erfahren. Finde heraus, wie Wikipedia funktioniert, lerne wie du selbst mitschreiben kannst und welche Artikel zu deinen Lieblingsthemen noch fehlen. 🕖 Termine: zweiwöchentlich donnerstags ab 18.30 Uhr ℹ️ Aktuelle Termine: [https://w.wiki/tv](https://w.wiki/tv) Die Teilnahme ist kostenfrei, eine Anmeldung ist nicht notwendig. Komm einfach vorbei! Vor Ort können Leihrechner zur Verfügung gestellt werden. P. S.: Auch wenn die Teilnahmezahlen hier niedrig erscheinen – wir bewerben das Event noch auf anderen Plattformen und sind in der Regel zwischen 6 und 12 Personen. Foto: Niccolò Caranti (OBC), [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), via Wikimedia Commons

### Humanity: Dignity, Compassion, and Responsibility Humanity is one of the most basic concepts of human life. It refers not only to being biologically human, but also to a moral ideal: the ability to recognize others as dignified, vulnerable, and morally important beings. To speak about humanity is therefore to speak about compassion, respect, justice, responsibility, and human dignity. Historically, the meaning of humanity has changed over time. In early civilizations, ideas related to humanity were often connected to divine order, justice, social harmony, and the protection of the weak. In ancient Greek and Roman thought, humanity became linked to reason, virtue, education, law, and civic life. The Roman idea of *humanitas* especially connected humanity with culture, moral refinement, and responsibility toward others. Religious traditions also shaped the meaning of humanity. Many religions emphasize mercy, compassion, charity, humility, and care for the poor, the weak, and the stranger. In this sense, humanity was understood not only as a personal virtue, but also as a duty toward others and toward a higher moral order. In modern philosophy and politics, humanity became increasingly connected to universal dignity and human rights. The idea that every person deserves respect and protection, regardless of origin, religion, gender, class, or nationality, became central to modern ethical and political thought. Humanity therefore developed from a limited social or religious duty into a universal moral principle. However, the history of humanity is also a history of dehumanization. Slavery, colonialism, racism, war, genocide, and social exclusion show how people have often denied humanity to others. Dehumanization happens when human beings are treated as objects, threats, numbers, or tools. For this reason, humanity must also be understood as a critical concept against violence, humiliation, and exclusion. From a psychological perspective, humanity depends on empathy, compassion, moral judgment, and the ability to understand the suffering of others. From a sociological perspective, humanity is shaped by institutions, laws, education, culture, and social norms. From a biological perspective, it is connected to cooperation, care, attachment, and social bonding. Yet humanity cannot be reduced to biology alone; it also requires moral reflection and social responsibility. Today, humanity is challenged by war, poverty, migration, racism, technological change, artificial intelligence, and global inequality. Modern societies often reduce people to data, consumers, workers, or political categories. Therefore, the question of humanity remains urgent: how can dignity, compassion, and responsibility be preserved in a world shaped by power, technology, and crisis? This discussion invites a critical exploration of humanity as a moral, social, political, psychological, religious, and biological reality. Humanity is not only what human beings are; it is also what they owe to one another. *** 📅 Event Details 🗓️ Date: Sunday, 31 May 2026 ⏰ Time: 10:00 📍 Location: Tiergarten - Cafe am Neuen See Lichtensteinallee 2, 10787 Berlin · Berlin, de 📱 WhatsApp: For prep materials and directions (Group Chat) [Group Chat Bio](https://chat.whatsapp.com/Ba8ZAaH2Yuk6FGmD3LLO7H)

**Important time note:** Please plan on arriving between 5:30 and 6:00 as the elevators lock after 6 and you'll need to message us and we'll need to come get you. The building address is 4450 Bridge Park The entrance is 6620 Mooney St, Suite 400 You will need to scan your ID at the door to get a visitor badge. **Abstract** Like it or not, AI agents are now capable of turning a quickly written paragraph of requirements into a pull request that is ready to be integrated into real-world production applications and it's now our responsibility to make sure AI doesn't go rogue and take down prod - or corrupt our data by misunderstanding the requirements or our existing schemas. In this session we'll explore strategies to protect our codebases through unit and integration testing, documentation, and code review along with additional ways of providing context and guard rails to our AI agents as they carry out the work we've assigned them to do. By the time we're done, you'll have a firm grasp of the problem and understand some helpful options for protecting your codebase from vibe coding mishaps getting YOLOed into prod. **YouTube Link** https://youtube.com/live/BltmWMH1zG0?feature=share

The theme for May is Thriller. • The book we will be discussing is A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson. (determined by votes from April Book Club. Let me know if you'd like a free digital copy of the book) • This event will be at the main library. Feel free to come whether or not you've started or finished the book. • Small snacks will be provided. You're welcome to bring your own snacks & drinks too! Let me know if you’d like to volunteer to bring snacks or drinks for the group.

We'll meet at The Capital One Café, 167 Easton Town Center, Space A-103. This is in the main mall where the Microsoft store used to be, on your left if you're standing at the bottom of the AMC Theater escalator. Join us on Saturday for an hour of uninterrupted wordmaking! • What we'll do Join us for an hour of writing! We’ve discovered that it’s strikingly helpful to write with other writers. See if it’s true for you at 10AM on Saturday mornings. Be it a book, blog, script, essay, dissertation, resume, melody, poem or just plain work stuff, you are invited to write it with us. No one will see what you've written or give you unsolicited advice. Instead of just thinking about writing, come and get some real writing done. SCHEDULE: 10:00 - SESSION 1: quick intros. 10:10 - timer starts: write for 1 hour. 11:10 - chat / take off / keep writing. OPTIONAL SOCIALIZING happens at 11A-11:30ish. Writing is very solitary. Connecting (and sometimes even commiserating) with other writers is a cool thing. BEING LATE IS OKAY: just show up and get settled, then check-in with me after the session. (I’ll be the person with the Shut Up & Write! sign.) If you were on time, please be willing to make room for the friendly latecomer. Happy writing and I look forward to seeing you! • What to bring Whatever you need to be able to write! Bring earbuds/earplugs if you want to block noise or the occasional conversation by other patrons. Electrical outlets are limited, so charge your devices before whenever possible. See you at The Café on Saturday!

Let’s meet and wander the galleries! General admission on Sundays is free.

Greetings writers! Come down and join your fellow wordsmiths for one hour of uninterrupted writing time in the upper level of the Market District Supermarket in Upper Arlington. The main entrance of the shopping center opens onto stairs/elevator leading up to the 2nd floor cafe section where we will have a table displaying a sign with the Shut Up & Write logo. Writing is largely a solitary craft. Practicing with others in a community setting may be the thing you need to fire your own routine. We’ll meet on Wednesday evenings, starting the clock at 6:30, following a brief period of introductions. This is solid writing time and all inclusive. Any project is acceptable, be it fiction, non -fiction, work or homework assignment. All is welcome and will remain private to you. The market boasts a Starbucks, a full service bar and various affordable food options. Parking is plentiful, free Wifi is provided as well as outlets for charging your devices, though they are somewhat limited, so plan accordingly. Show up as early as you like, or stay late. This group tends to socialize some, both before and after the alloted time, but this is not mandatory to you. Feel free to come and go as you please and late arrivals are welcome. The cafe may be noisy on occasion so headphones/ earbuds are reccommended as you see fit. Please try to RSVP if possible so that we may grab enough seats for all—the venue can be busy at times. Feel free to message me privately wth any questions and/ or concerns you may have. Happy writing!

QA or the Highway is a one-day, affordable, regional, professional conference featuring real-world experience and thought leadership in the QA and testing industry. This is a ticketed event please register here: https://www.qaorthehwy.com/ Featured Keynote Speakers: **Matthew-Hope Eland** **(Wizard at Leading EDJE)** \- An AI Specialist and Wizard at Leading EDJE who is known to teach software engineering\, AI\, and data science concepts in the most ridiculous ways possible\. Matt has used machine learning to settle debates over whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie\, reinforcement learning to drive the behavior of digital squirrels\, data analytics to suggest improvements to his favorite TV show\, and AI agents to play board games and create an AI agent with the personality of a dog\. Matt is the author of "Data Science in \.NET with Polyglot Notebooks" and "Refactoring with C\#" as well as several LinkedIn Learning courses\. Matt helps organize the Central Ohio \.NET Developer Group\, runs several blogs and a YouTube channel\, has a Master’s of Science in Data Analytics\, and is a current Microsoft MVP in AI and \.NET\. **Tatyana Arbouzova** **(CEO at Innovate QA)** \- Tatyana Arbouzova is an engineering and business leader with a strong background in Quality Engineering across multiple industries\, including Big Tech\, Healthcare\, and Entertainment\. She has held leadership roles at world\-class companies such as Microsoft\, VMware\, Disney\, and The Pokémon Company International\, where she focused on building quality\-driven cultures and scaling teams to deliver high\-impact products\. With decades of experience\, Tatyana has helped organizations transform their quality practices so teams can deliver software efficiently\, confidently\, and with measurable business outcomes\. Today\, Tatyana advises software companies on adopting AI to optimize quality practices and improve how software is delivered at scale\. She is also a passionate community builder and the founder of Innovate QA\, a thriving Seattle\-based community and conference for quality professionals\.