Disruptive Innovation

***In Person Location:*** Rockville Library, second floor meeting room (Collaboration Room 4). We are experimenting with a new virtual join link - [https://meet.jit.si/mocomakers](https://meet.jit.si/mocomakers) If you can make it in person, that's always recommended! Let's resume repeated full end-to-end testing cycles and continue to iterate our design and resolution. We are getting close. Our community is building (and documenting for other teams) how to build a scanning tunneling microscope using a mix of common and 3D printed parts. This will allow us to scan and visualize a single atom - an ambitious we are doing over the course of a few months. The MoCo Makers community is one of the most innovative and competent groups in Maryland, and we've done everything from [publishing cancer research](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38136356/), to [launching products](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gotim/cozy-curvy-multi-contour-pillow), [winning grants](https://covidinfocommons.datascience.columbia.edu/awards/2014255), and inspiring thousands. Now our biggest challenge yet has appeared. We are building a Scanning Tunneling Microscope, that will allow us to scan and visualize single atoms. Does it sound hard? Perhaps.. However! I have every confidence that we are now operating at a level were we can take on this mean, cross-functional project. We continue to build on our past successes, and a key technology we previously applied was increasing the signal of small voltages using OpAmps - which we did during our custom pH Probe project - [https://www.mocomakers.com/ph-probe/](https://www.mocomakers.com/ph-probe/) \- That technology is exactly what we need to get this machine working\, and at a high precision\! To get a better idea of what we are doing, see our reference project here: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N3OqTEq08g](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N3OqTEq08g) All starting CAD, code, and reference files should exist. However, let's be the first Maker community to document the build process and share it with learners around the world. We have a bit over $2,000 in materials costs, so if you want to sponsor this project, and get banners at events with 20K attendees, and access to our email broadcast of 30K members, please contact matt@mocomakers.com We are also open to university, lab, or community partnerships so feel to reach out if you want to be part of this project. Together, we can do incredible things. ***In Person Location:*** Rockville Library, second floor meeting room (Meeting Room 4). To Join Virtually: https://meet.jit.si/mocomakers

Ready to build something amazing without writing a single line of code? Or want a front-row seat to watch it all come together? Join us for an AI-powered hackathon where you’ll create an app using **Lovable** – the no-code platform that turns plain English prompts into real products. This will be an interactive, high-energy event – not a sit-down lecture. Builders will be hands-on and products will be built! How it works: * We’ll form small AI building groups – no need to come with a team. * Bring a laptop to help your team build by adding features or testing your product. * Each group will collaborate to build an app and share it at the end. * The product brief will be revealed at the start – no prep required! * All Lovable credits are covered – no fees involved. Whether you’re curious about AI tools, eager to experiment, or just want to see how others build fast, this is your chance to experience the future of app creation. Since group spots are limited, please RSVP **only if you’re sure you can commit**. **Agenda:** * **5:00pm - 5:30pm – Arrival / Networking** * **5:30pm - 6:00pm – Hackathon brief** * **6:00pm - 7:00pm – Build time** * **7:00pm - 7:20PM – Networking / Shortlist** * **7:20pm - 7:50pm – Finalist demo, voting and prizes** * **7:50pm - 8:30pm – Wrap-up / Networking** This event will be held at Amazon’s HQ2 in National Landing, Arlington. Please bring a photo ID that matches your registration name to check in with security. There are metro stops (Pentagon City, Crystal City) and parking garages within convenient walking distance. There is also some street parking available in the vicinity.

• What we'll do Economist William Michael Cunningham on Podbeam Thursdays at 6 pm. https://www.podbean.com/

Twinbrook Toastmasters meet every 2nd and 4th Thursday, 12-1 pm. 2101 Gaither Road, 2nd Floor, Suite 280, Rockville, MD 20850 (Office of Homebridge Financial) Free parking. Friendly people! 2017 upcoming meeting dates: April 27, May 11, May 25, June 8, June 22, July 13, July 27, August 10, August 24, September 14, September 28, October 12, October 26, November 9, December 14 Twinbrook Toastmasters Club #4223 GUESTS ARE WELCOME AT ALL MEETINGS! For more information on joining our Club, please contact Karin Walker, Club President. Email: karin614@aol.com Twinbrook Toastmasters Club #4223 http://www.twinbrooktoastmasters.com/

• What we'll do On https://blackecon101.podbean.com/ Thursdays at 6 pm. discussing the economy....

Come by for an hour of evening writing with fellow creative folks. Everyone works on their own thing, no obligation to share — just show up and make any kind of words happen. If you're spending too much time thinking about writing, join us for an hour of focused writing. Guidelines: * While some discussion is encouraged to get to know one another, strive for silent, focused writing from 6:45 PM - 7:45 PM. * Generally avoid disruptive sensory input/behaviors, such as repeated or unpleasant noises, smells, physical movements, etc. (if you have health-related reasons, or some other aspect out of your control due to which this could become an issue, show up anyway and explain that potential disruptions are not intentional.) * Repeated breaking of the above rules without a valid reason may result in dismissal from the group at any point during a session. **Why is Shut Up & Write(!) so effective?** [http://arsenalofwords.com/2015/10/14/why-i-shut-up-write/](http://arsenalofwords.com/2015/10/14/why-i-shut-up-write/) **LOCATION:** Gaithersburg Library, Study Room 2 (if we aren't in 2, check 1!) **SCHEDULE:** 6:30 \| Pre\-session check\-in \- What will you work on? 6:45 \| Shut up and write for 1 hour\! 7:45 \| Post\-session check\-in \- How did it go? Feel free to keep writing and finish your lingering thoughts past this point, but know that the library closes at 8 PM! **BRING:** Whatever you need to be able to write! ***If you are interested in a more collaborative and discussion-focused writing group, the Gaithersburg Library hosts such a group on Sundays from 4:00 to 5:30 PM! Ask Chris or the library staff for more details.***

Come practice all the languages of the world - all are welcome! Note: The Admiral is a 21+ bar, please bring ID. Come early to take advantage of their daily happy hour that runs from 4 to 6 p.m. STAY HOME IF YOU ARE SICK. We ask attendees to exercise their best judgment and do not attend if they feel unwell. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to come to an organizer. Fostering an open minded, safe community is our utmost priority.

**NOTE: This is NOT a screening, please watch the movie before the discussion.** *"Hey Ted, where the hell's the corkscrew?!"* *Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter* arrives at a point where the series knows exactly what it is. Picking up immediately after Part 3, the film traps a new group of unlucky victims near Camp Crystal Lake as Jason Voorhees continues his unstoppable march through the annals of horror history. Lean, mean, and packed with some of the series’ most memorable kills, *The Final Chapter* distills the formula to its sharpest elements — suspense, savagery, and a mounting sense of inevitability — before slamming the door shut with brutal efficiency. Often regarded as the strongest entry in the original series, the film balances classic slasher suspense with some of the most effective practical effects of the era. It’s a no-frills, high-impact installment that solidified Jason as a horror icon. ***

An Assata Shakur Study Group on why people mobilize in moments of pressure and contradiction and why mobilization must be linked to durable. Crises produced by capitalism and imperialism repeatedly drive people into the streets—from mass protests against ICE raids to uprisings responding to police violence and war abroad. This session unpacks why people mobilize in moments of pressure and contradiction, what mobilization can and cannot accomplish on its own, and how these moments are often captured or redirected by political elites and counterinsurgent forces. Join **Pan-African Community Action (PACA)** tol examine concrete examples of recent mobilizations to assess what “winning” has looked like in practice and why many movements dissipate once the moment passes. The discussion will focus on why mobilization must be linked to durable organization in order to build real community power and sustain long-term struggles for liberation. *Food will be provided!* This is also a hybrid event with the option for on line participation. Please also register here https://frommobilizationtoorganization.eventbrite.com/

**Have you spent your life pressing the gas and the brake at the same time?** Many of us spend years of our adult lives never suspecting we have ADHD. Instead, we’ve become experts at a complex balancing act, using high-level overcompensation and performance (the Brakes) to manage a brain fueled by deep meaning and interest (the Gas). Whether you have a diagnosis or just a hunch that your brain works differently, you are welcome here. If conventional productivity advice has never quite worked for you, it’s time to move toward tools and connections that actually fit how your brain is wired. **ADHD Unmasked: Time to Un-Wind** is a space for thoughtful, motivated people to move from masking to truly thriving. We’re here to help each other unmask, reacquaint ourselves with our true selves, and bring that alignment into our daily lives. **The Vibe** * **Authenticity over Performance:** No more pretending. Let your nervous system take a real break. * **Alignment over "Hacks":** When our nervous system is at ease and our actions align with our true selves, the "doing" follows naturally. * **Safe & Confidential:** This is a circle of trust; our stories belong only to those present. **The Logistics** * **Small & High-Fidelity:** To keep our conversation focused and meaningful, we limit our circle to a small group. * **The RSVP Care:** If you can’t make it, just update your RSVP so we know who to welcome and can open the spot for someone else looking to connect. * **The Flow:** An Authentic Check-In and Sharing, followed by a Theme Discussion to gain new insights for individual application. We wrap up with Takeaways, ready to move back into our world with a bit more ease and a lot more of ourselves. ;) We see ADHD not as a deficit, but as **Authentically Driven, Highly Discerned**, a brain that works exceptionally well when aligned with the right interest.

Serving our community by teaching financial literacy is paramount towards long term success. You will learn three main concepts towards building generational wealth. The five engines of revenu that will forever impact your. Lastly, be introduced a path to entrepreneurship that can transform your life and exceed expectations beyond your imagination Come and acquire this free education and walk out with a new drive! Dress code: Business Casual

**[Bitcoin District](https://bitcoindistrict.org/)** is a community of Bitcoiners living & working in the greater DMV metro area. Join us for a "Coffee & Bitcoin" meetup where we'll talk about what's happening in the world of Bitcoin. We highly encourage anyone who is new to Bitcoin or just a little curious to come and ask questions... don't be shy! 🚗 Ample parking at the shopping center 🚆🚍 METRO + Bus: Dunn Loring Station (orange line) + bus to Lee Hwy & Lee Oaks Ct stop Be sure to check out the special [Bitcoin Blend](https://www.compasscoffee.com/products/bitcoin-blend), an El Salvador single-origin roast from our host [Compass Coffee](https://www.compasscoffee.com/). You can order from their website and you can even pay in Bitcoin! **Our events are Bitcoin focused and we generally avoid discussing other coins & tokens. Nothing discussed during this meetup is financial advice. Always do your own research.**

Curious about DSA? Thinking about joining but want to hear more info first? Attended a few of our events already and ready become a member? Already a member and want to get more involved? If so, this event is for you! You'll learn about DSA, what we do, and how you can get involved in the fight for a brighter future. We'll outline our chapter's structure and our campaigns, working groups, and branches. Our chapter covers the DMV area, including the district, Northern Virginia, and Montgomery County and Prince George's County in Maryland. Please RSVP on [Action Network](https://actionnetwork.org/events/why-you-should-join-dsa-new-member-orientation-165/) to receive further updates on this event. \* \* \* This event is open to both DSA Members and supporters. Not a Member? Please consider [becoming a Member](https://dsausa.org/join?source=Metro%20DC). Fees are on a sliding scale according to what you feel you can afford.

## **1 Million Cups Loudoun – February 25 Business Presentation** **Featuring Seeman Saeed, Founder of LeakzAlert** **Wednesday\, February 25 \| 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM** **Venture X Loudoun** We’re excited to welcome **Seeman Saeed**, founder of **LeakzAlert**, to the 1 Million Cups Loudoun stage to share an innovative solution focused on prevention, protection, and smarter property management. **About the Business** LeakzAlert provides **water leak detection and monitoring services** designed to identify issues early and help prevent costly damage. By delivering proactive alerts and monitoring, LeakzAlert supports property owners and managers in protecting their assets, reducing risk, and avoiding unexpected disruptions. **Who Seeman Is Looking to Hear From** Seeman is eager to connect with professionals across: * Property management * Property maintenance companies * Home insurance providers * Hotels and hospitals * Homeowners * Anyone responsible for facility or property oversight **Current Focus** As LeakzAlert gains traction, Seeman is seeking feedback on: * Sales scalability * Sustainable growth strategies * Expanding market reach * Building strong industry partnerships **Why Attend?** * Learn about a service that directly impacts workplace success * Provide valuable feedback to a growing business * Connect with fellow entrepreneurs and community leaders * Be part of a collaborative, solutions-focused conversation **What is 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 **February 25 at 9:00 AM** for coffee, connection, and a meaningful conversation about communication, workforce development, and business growth. We look forward to seeing you there!

Getting attention as a B2B marketer is harder than ever. Posting more isn’t working. Being everywhere isn’t realistic. And most content disappears as fast as it’s published. This session is about using **one tool, a podcast, to expand your reach in oversaturated markets**. **Stephen A. Hart** will walk through how he built and scaled *Wait Just An Infosec* at **SANS Institute**, turning a single weekly show into a reliable way to put the brand’s thinking in front of the right people, without flooding the market or burning out the team. This is not a “start a podcast” talk. It’s about designing a podcast so it does real work for your business. You’ll see: * How to use a podcast to say what your brand stands for, clearly and consistently * How to reach new audiences by featuring people who already have trust and attention * How one long conversation can support marketing, sales, and partnerships at the same time You’ll leave knowing whether podcasting makes sense for your business and if it does, how to use it to extend your reach, strengthen your voice, and support growth without posting every day.

**CONTENT WARNING: Disease, mutilation, abortion.** **This film contains extreme body horror, prolonged depictions of illness and bodily decay, environmental contamination, and disturbing imagery. It also includes references to pregnancy loss and a graphic act involving the removal of a fetus from a woman’s body. Themes of obsession, emotional distress, and death are central to the film. Viewer discretion is strongly advised. You are welcome to step out at any time.** Please read the original manga ahead of the dicussion: https://mangadex.org/chapter/bf397fc1-17bc-4fa1-8cd7-2cfd35f8170c Hideshi Hino's *Mermaid in a Manhole* is body horror stripped of bravado. When a lonely artist encounters a dying mermaid trapped in an underground sewer, he attempts to care for her — documenting her condition as her body deteriorates in disturbing and intimate ways. What begins as a strange act of compassion transforms into a bleak meditation on decay, obsession, and environmental collapse. Blending body horror with tragic romance, the film replaces shock-for-shock’s-sake with an atmosphere of sickness and inevitability that seeps into every frame.

In an era focused on scalable efficiency, the pursuit of absolute service consistency is often seen as the ultimate goal. But what is gained and what is lost when service offerings are entirely predictable? Does aiming for uniformity stifle necessary adaptation and human connection? Join us for an intimate discussion exploring the often overlooked trade-offs of **service consistency**. We'll dive into when consistency builds “trust and reliability”, and when it becomes “a barrier to designing flexible, empathetic, and truly customer-centric experiences”. **#ServiceDesign #ServiceConsistency #ServiceManagement** **What’s a Service Design DC salon?** Our salons are an excellent opportunity to connect with fellow designers, engage in meaningful conversations, and gain fresh perspectives on the evolving landscape of our field. Space is limited to ensure an intimate atmosphere and encourage deeper conversations. Whether you have been to a past salon or will be a first timer, we’d be happy to have you join this group discussion of service design practitioners and enthusiasts in the Washington D.C. area! **Evening Agenda** * 6:00 P.M. - Doors Open / Socializing \* * 6:30 P.M. - Salon begins * 8:00 P.M. - Salon Wraps up \*We will provide light refreshments, including food and drinks, during the salon. **Note about RSVPs:** * Due to the limited number of available spots, we kindly request that you update your RSVP if you are unable to attend so others may have the opportunity to join. Thank you for your understanding. *** Many thanks to our host and sponsor, **Technical Assent!** *At Technical Assent, we believe that government can be a platform for service innovation where services can be designed to be more relevant to customers, more reliable, and delivered at a lower cost.* *Our company exists to build high-performing government service organizations — government-to-citizens (G2C), government-to-government (G2G), and shared services. Our approach is unique in that we improve service performance from the bottom-up, starting with customer experience. We use that insight to design and modify the talent, tools, and technology that deliver government services to each customer. Technical Assent is a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business appraised at CMMI-SVC Level 3.*

Attendance is $35 (cash, credit/debit card, or ApplePay - paid at the door), which includes water/soda/coffee, bread, choice of a plated lunch entrée, and a dessert assortment. Parking is also validated in the Reston Station garages (3 hours of validation). Join one of Northern Virginia's most successful business networking groups (part of BNI). Open to the public and is typically attended by business owners, business developers, and entrepreneurs. Meetings are typically attended by 30-40 members and guests. \*\*\*PLEASE RSVP here: [REGISTER HERE](https://square.link/u/0WvC6Eir) \*\*\*If you do not register on the BNI website, there may not be a seat available for you.

**Title**: Powering AI Through Data Modernization: Modernizing ETL with Databricks & Unity Catalog In this session, we will discuss how enterprises are modernizing their data platforms by migrating from legacy ETL tools (such as Informatica and traditional data warehouses) to Databricks Lakehouse architecture, and how Unity Catalog enables enterprise-grade governance, security, and discoverability across data and AI assets. We will start with food and drinks at 6pm and then move into the presentation at 6:30pm. The session will cover: * Why traditional ETL platforms are becoming a bottleneck for scale, cost, and AI adoption * How Databricks changes the data engineering and analytics operating mode * The role of Unity Catalog in centralized governance * How this foundation enables AI and Gene.AI use cases on trusted data * Q&A Our speaker for this event is **Hirenkumar Dholariya**. Hirenkumar Dholariya is a Senior Data Engineering Architect with 18+ years of experience modernizing enterprise data platforms for global Fortune 500 organizations, delivering up to 40% system performance improvement and 20–35% infrastructure cost reduction through large-scale migration from legacy ETL platforms to cloud-native Lakehouse architectures. He specializes in Databricks-based data engineering, Unity Catalog–driven governance, and building scalable, secure, and real-time analytics platforms. He has led multiple enterprise-wide transformations from tools such as Informatica and traditional data warehouses to Databricks, establishing governed data foundations using Unity Catalog and enabling advanced analytics and AI use cases on top of trusted data platforms. His leadership focuses on architecting durable data platforms, enabling teams to move faster with confidence, and translating data and AI investments into measurable business outcomes. *