Fundraising

After hopping across various Berlin venues, we’re thrilled to return to Saftladen for the second edition of *Level Up Your Folds*! Big shoutout to this non-profit (and a very *professional* one, mind you 🍊) indie game developer collective for hosting us again – couldn’t ask for a better creative playground! 👾 Food or snacks for sharing during the origami session are very welcome, so bring them on! Here's an overview of what you could expect: * **Special format of 2x presentation** by our beloved origami masters, followed by **guided collective folding of a model** of their choice! * **Mandatory donation** (amount of your choice) – this supports essential costs like the Meetup subscription and keeps our community thriving 🌱 You can either submit a **physical donation** to the event host in person or make a **digital donation** **[here](https://paypal.me/origamiberlin?locale.x=de_DE&country.x=DE)** (and inform the host afterwards). * In-person folding practice for all levels – beginners and experienced folders are equally welcome. * Origami paper + model instructions will be provided (from the host’s collection, for reference only). Feel free to bring your own favorite sheets or tools! * Photos may be taken for memories & our archive (Meetup, Instagram, Telegram) – let the host know if you prefer not to appear. * **We kindly encourage everyone to buy at least one drink (€2 each) to support [Saftladen](https://saftladen.berlin/) for hosting us!** ⚠️ **RSVP Policy – Please Read** ⚠️ Our community has grown a lot since its birth in August 2024, which is amazing — but it also means we need to handle RSVPs more carefully: * RSVP opens **7 days before** each event (apart from short-notice events) and closes at **noon on the event day**. * Please cancel your spot or contact the host directly (via Meetup message function or our [Telegram channel](https://t.me/+T4URs80l2ig3NWNi)) by **noon on the event day** if you can't make it last minute. * Members with **2 no-shows** (without notice) will be removed from the group unless a valid reason is provided. Thank you for helping us keep our community respectful, reliable, and fun! 🙏 Get in touch if you have questions anytime and see you all at the folding tables very soon! 👾🍊

Berlin is slowly slipping into summer again — longer evenings, warmer air and the feeling that staying home might mean missing something. Join us for a Monday night full of conversations, new faces and a little bit of early summer energy before the city gets too busy to notice itself. ✨ Tiny optional challenge: Bring one small thing that feels like summer in Berlin to you. A photo, an object, a snack, sunglasses, a book, a strange souvenir — anything with a story behind it. Orga The location accepts only card payments. We will be sitting in the first room. Questions? Check our Meetup-FAQs: [https://socialbutterfly.berlin/meetup-faq/](https://socialbutterfly.berlin/meetup-faq/) Meet your host I’m Julia — a Berlin local who loves bringing people together. My path went from growing up in a dance school to studying philosophy to working in IT support, and somehow all of that led me here: hosting meetups and creating spaces where people can show up, relax, and connect. Insta [https://www.instagram.com/juwaberlin/](https://www.instagram.com/juwaberlin/) LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-waehnert/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-waehnert/) About The Social Butterfly Club 🦋 is a Berlin-based community that has been bringing people together for over three years. Each gathering is part of a larger framework designed to help friendships grow through shared experiences in the city — with a long-term vision of turning Berlin itself into a shared, playful experience. Love the vibe? There’s a whole community waiting for you. 🦋 Join the Social Butterfly Club and experience Berlin together [https://socialbutterflyradar.substack.com/](https://socialbutterflyradar.substack.com/)

**Authentische Ehrlichkeit - Ein Einführungs-Workshop** **💶 Wertschätzungsbeitrag vor Ort: 10-20 Euro (nach eigenen Möglichkeiten)** . \-\-\-\-\-\-\- . Gute Freundschaften leben von Ehrlichkeit & Vertrauen. . Gute Freunde kennen sich, wie ihre linke Westentasche: ihr Leben, ihre Gefühle, ihre Wünsche, ihre Einstellungen, ihre guten & ihre schlechten Seiten. . Gute Freunde können „Ja“ sagen, wenn es ein „Ja“ ist; und sie können „Nein“ sagen, wenn es ein „Nein“ ist. . Gute Freunde können sich sagen, was sie aneinander mögen, und sie können sich sagen, was sie nicht so toll finden. . **🙂 Ehrlichkeit als Basis guter Beziehungen** Ehrlichkeit ist die Basis, damit Nähe und Verbindung entstehen kann. . Sich hinter Masken und (unbewussten) Lügen zu verstecken steht dieser Verbindung im Weg. . Ich glaube alle Beziehungen im Leben werden vertrauensvoller, wenn man miteinander ehrlich ist: Liebensbeziehungen, Arbeitsbeziehungen, Freundschaften und selbst die Beziehung zur Bedienung im Café. . **🍀 Dieser Abend ist eine Einführung in die Ehrlichkeit.** Du erfährst, * warum „Lügen“ mehr ist als das bewusste Verdrehen von Fakten. * wie Du im Leben mehr von dem bekommst, was Du wirklich willst, weil Du Dich auf Ehrlichkeit einlässt. An diesem Abend werden wir in kleinen Schritten Ehrlichkeit üben, auch in unbequemen Situationen. . Du nimmst praktische Ehrlichkeitsübungen mit, die Du sofort im Alltag und in Deinen Freundschaften umsetzen kannst. **🧡 Zwei Worte über Ehrlichkeit** Ich habe mich lange versteckt, wollte meine schwachen Seiten, meine Ängste, Gefühle & Unzufriedenheiten nicht zeigen – immer mit der Angst, abgelehnt zu werden. . Irgendwann stieß ich auf Radikale Ehrlichkeit und buchte ein Wochenendseminar. Es war so befreiend! . Meine Erfahrungen findest Du hier: [https://abenteuer-freundschaft.de/radikale-ehrlichkeit-erfahrungsbericht](https://abenteuer-freundschaft.de/radikale-ehrlichkeit-erfahrungsbericht) . Danach habe ich das 8-Tages-Retreat gemacht, wo es wirklich ans Eingemachte ging. . Ich habe festgestellt, dass Ehrlichkeit meine Beziehungen zu anderen Menschen deutlich verbessert. . Gleichzeitig fühle ich mich deutlich wohler, weil ich mich nicht mehr verstecke. Ich bekomme meine Probleme gelöst (weil ich darüber spreche) und meine Wünsche erfüllt (weil ich darüber spreche). . Dieser Workshop ist mein Einstiegsbeitrag zu mehr Ehrlichkeit in Beziehungen und Freundschaften. . #### 👱🏼‍♂️ Über mich: * Mein Name ist Georg Preller * Ich bin Betreiber der Seite [www.abenteuer-freundschaft.de](http://www.abenteuer-freundschaft.de) * Ausgebildeter NLP-Lehrtrainer ([DVNLP](https://www.dvnlp.de/)) & Coach * Jahrelang selbstständiger Unternehmensberater * Eigene Vita: Von schüchternen Jungen zum fitten Mann * Mehr über mich: [LinkedIn - Georg Preller](https://www.linkedin.com/in/georg-preller/) . **⏰ Die Türen sind offen ab 18:15 Uhr.** Deinen Mantel aufhängen, WC, eine Runde schwatzen und los geht's... . **❓ Darf ich wiederkommen?** Es gibt nur wenige Veranstaltungen, bei denen man wirklich miteinander ins Gespräch kommt. Hier schon, mit Tiefgang. . Einige kommen immer wieder, um die kleinen Übungen nochmals im gesicherten Rahmen auszuprobieren oder aus Neugier, wie andere ihre authentische Ehrlichkeit leben. . Das Workshopprogramm ist auch jedesmal etwas anderes - je nach Gruppe und zunehmenden Erfahrungen. . **🎒 Was bringst Du mit?** * Etwas zu trinken (z.B. deine Wasserflasche, keinen Alkohol!) * Du solltest satt sein und vorher gegessen haben * Bargeld für Wertschätzungbeitrag . **🏠 Der Veranstaltungsraum** * Wir haben einen wunderschönen Raum in Berlin Mitte * saubere Toiletten * Gut mit Öffis zu erreichen nähe Hackescher Markt * Vor Ort ist alles ausgeschildert. . **Wegbeschreibung vor Ort:** * Vor Ort ist alles augeschildert. Vorsichtshalber hier eine Wegbeschreibung * Du klingest bei Hausnummer 28 bei Kieztreff * Du gehst in den Hinterhof und dort nach links * Dort klingelst Du und es wird Dir geöffnet. * Ich freu mich auf Dich! . **👋🏽 Weitere Gruppen & Kontaktmöglichkeiten** . **✈ Telegram-Kanal: [t.me/abenteuer_freundschaft](http://t.me/abenteuer_freundschaft)** für Events, Workshops & Treffpunkte für neue Freundschaften . **✉ Freundschafts-Newsletter:** [https://abenteuer-freundschaft.de/newsletter](https://abenteuer-freundschaft.de/newsletter) Alle 4 Wochen das Neuste aus der Freundschaftsforschung; oft seltener, denn ich schreibe nur dann, wenn es wirklich etwas zu berichten gibt. . **🔥 6 Zutaten großartiger Freundschaften** Seit 2020 forsche ich, was großartige Freundschaften wirklich ausmacht. Das Ergebnis ist das 30seitige eBook: "Die 6 Zutaten großartiger Freundschaften". Du erhältst das eBook zurzeit kostenlos mit der Anmeldung zum Newsletter: [https://abenteuer-freundschaft.de/newsletter](https://abenteuer-freundschaft.de/newsletter)

🕢 Doors open at 18:30 and sessions start at 19:00. Freestyle vocal workout at and play session. €8-20 😌 Flow is a state of being… an experience when you allow yourself to be 100% fully engaged in the present moment in a feedback loop between clarity and satisfaction. It is an undeniable sensation where things seem to be more effortless, pleasurable, in sync, and you can easily sense a connection with something greater than yourself; this is what we will create…: • a connected and mindful meditation where it is possible to blissfully surf the cutting edge of the present moment together… • a game where it’s possible to feel excited and calm in the same moment, and everyone can win as much as they like… Scott Bolden, founder of Das Baumhaus Berlin will share some very easy, practical and effective methods developed during the last 12 years of facilitating the “Improvisational Groove Orchestra” (I.G.O.) improv vocal jam sessions. Within 20 minutes participants learn to use the common sound space to create resonance in the form of improvisational music where it is quite common to experience some real flow moments… It is very easy to participate, no musical talent or training is required so anyone is welcome to join. All of the session is done with eyes closed to avoid visual distractions and keep focus on the co-created sound space. During these sessions we will also have short breaks for feedback and refreshment. Important – Please be on time. It is very important to understand the methodology and warm up in the group before joining in! 🎤 @21:00 - Freestyle vocal workshop and practice session. €8-15 Have you ever wanted to learn how to do freestyle vocalizations? Maybe you are on your way and would like to just have a fun workout session with other vocal freestyle enthusiasts. All levels welcome. Links to sound samples - https://www.baumhausberlin.de/events/flow-a-guided-vocal-sound-bath-meditation/

Bischen spaß haben während wir sapzieren Fußball oder Basketball spielen

**\*\*This event has been free for over three years, but only due to the support of anonymous donations behind the scenes. Please consider [donating via Eventbrite](https://www.eventbrite.de/e/read-wedding-a-berlin-open-mic-for-poetry-storytelling-tickets-1975773081473?aff=oddtdtcreator) if you are able, to help this stay free for everyone else.** -- Whether you're poetry-curious or a seasoned performer, join us for our monthly open mic night at Hank Chinaski! This event is brought to you, for free\*\*, by the [Re(a)d VVedding Collective](https://www.instagram.com/readwedding/), who organize regular events for all phases of the writer's journey, all in the northern Kiez(es) of Berlin. Join us for our core event which has been going on in Wedding for over three years. You are most welcome to share your work (or that of writers you admire) & meet fellow enthusiasts through this event. All written works & languages are welcome, though bigotry, racism, transphobia, Islamophobia, antisemitism (which *is not Anti-Zionism*), and so on are not welcome in this space. **Format - 3 sections:** * Sections 1 & 2: ≈12 performers (≈6 per section, kicking off at 19:30) * Section 3: Around 21:30, we'll hold space for a writing session and optional sharing afterwards. This open mic is not only about already “finished“ work! For the readings, priority is first given to those who haven't read earlier in the evening & especially to first-time readers! **\*\*Donation​s:** * While our open mic will always be free, we do happily accept donations [via Eventbrite](https://www.eventbrite.de/e/read-wedding-berlin-open-mic-for-poetry-storytelling-tickets-670852075617?aff=oddtdtcreator) or at the door. * Donations do not guarantee a reading slot, but help support us in putting in this event, others around Wedding, Pankow and Moabit, and our ongoing zine publications. We appreciate it deeply and as a small collective, will put it to good use! **RSVPs​ & Sign Up:** * RSVP via Meetup, Eventbrite, or just show up. Online RSVPs DO NOT save performance spots * Sign up at the door between 19:00-19:30 * 5-minute performance slots. Please respect this limit to avoid cutting off your work Experience the magic of live storytelling and poetry with us!

Looking to unwind, meet fellow founders, and connect with others in the startup world? Join us for a casual evening of good food, great company, and a friendly **poker tournament** with a €5 entry and €10 re-buy, 5/10 cent blinds that increase by 10 cents every hour. **What to Expect** **7:00 – 7:30 PM:** Check in & Mingle **From 7:30 PM:** Poker tournament begins (friendly competition, beginners welcome!) **11:00 PM:** Announcement of the **top 3 winners** — prizes will be awarded to the top 3! 🎟️ **€10 including Entry & Snacks + €10 Poker Chips to Play with, rebuy up to 3 times.** **Everyone is welcome! Whether you’re a pro, a beginner, or just here to learn, we’ll divide tables based on experience. Please indicate your level with your name tag:** **🟢 Green – No clue, here to learn** **🟠 Orange – Beginner / Intermediate** **🔴 Red – Advanced / Professional** **✅ Spaces are limited, so claim your spot through this [SIGN UP FORM](https://forms.gle/QCjXZXioTk5V4wTh9)** **and [Join the WhatsApp Group Founders & Startups Poker Night ](https://chat.whatsapp.com/HZqJkAGiXQ51GECyLiQohZ)[♠️](https://chat.whatsapp.com/C02KYYSMS8cGgKocAoOhkk) where I will be sharing more details later**

This group is for everyone who is interested in drawing portraits! For me, drawing has been a wonderful way to gain a new perspective on the world and the people within it. Whether you are just starting out or have been drawing for ages — all levels are welcome :) How it works: 1\. We meet at The Castle pub in Mitte and do short sittings of 15 minutes for each other\. The first sitting is divided into 3 warm\-up sketches\, 5 minutes each\. 2\. Before we start\, everybody writes their name on a blank card \(provided by the organizer\); these cards are then used to randomly pick the model every 15 minutes\. 3\. Usually we do 8 sittings\, with a 15\-minute break in the middle \(so after 4 sittings\, or 1 hour\)\. -> The participation is free, but it is expected that everybody orders something from the bar to support the lovely location. Get out your pencils and let's start! Please bring your own art supplies!

**Investors Networking Meetup: How to Build a Purchase Pipeline with Achim Amann, CEO of Black Label Properties, with + 1.000 transactions in the last 20 years** Many investors manage to acquire one property. Far fewer build a reliable **purchase pipeline** that allows them to scale strategically over time. In this meetup, we focus on exactly that: how to think **beyond single transactions** and develop a structured approach to s**ourcing, evaluating, and executing deals**, while aligning your investments with smart tax strategies. Join us on **May 29th at 4:00 pm** at the Black Label Villa for an afternoon of practical insights, open discussion, and high-level networking with serious investors and like-minded professionals.

**A place to meet sound, without maps** Facilitated by **Vesti Gium (they/them)** Everyone enters as they are. No score. No threshold of skill. We follow the room, moment by moment— listening, nudging, letting the music find itself. A breath, a shoelace, a laugh, a footstep— each carries weight. Silence is welcomed; noise is celebrated. There are no wrong directions here. We practise a listening that reaches outward and inward: to ourselves, to one another, to the space we shape together. That is where the music begins. * 🌀 Bring a voice, an object, an instrument, a movement—or nothing at all. * ✨ **Priority given to FLINTA folks and people with migration background.** * 🎧 No experience needed. Curiosity is enough. * 📍 Berlin – \[theodorstraße 5,12099] * 🗓 Every Saturday 12:00 * 📬 DM or email **[vestigium.impro@gmail.com](mailto:vestigium.impro@gmail.com)** to join Come make sound—come be heard.

**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

**In Association With the Berlin Portrait Academy and PAKD Gallery / PAKD Art Lab** * **www.berlinportraitacademy.com** * **www.pakd-gallery.com/artlab** * **Cost: 15 Euros** A regular opportunity to study the nude or portrait from life for 3 hours, every single week! We have one long pose - you can choose whether to draw several studies from different angles around the room, or take your time to do a single sustained drawing or painting in full detail. The pose is held for 20 minute intervals with five minute breaks in-between so the model to rest and stretch, and so artists can move between seats if they choose. We provide some materials such as paper, pencils & pastels for free. Canvases, brushes and acrylic paint can be purchased at the event. We hope to see you there very soon!

Let’s be honest: the traditional cultural sector often forces us to choose between our creative integrity and our financial survival. The myth of the "starving artist" or the "solitary genius" is a trap that keeps cultural workers in a constant state of precarity. But what if we could design our projects differently? What if we could build cultural businesses based on solidarity, cooperation, and radical sustainability? Join us on May 27th for an interactive, hands-on workshop co-hosted by ODBK and Travelling U. We will explore how to dismantle extractivist practices and design alternative business models that actually serve the creators. **What you will learn in this session:** * Beyond the Canvas: How to view system design and business models as part of your artistic medium. * Alternative Frameworks: An introduction to cooperative structures and the solidarity economy. * Redefining Value: How to measure the success of your cultural project using metrics of care, rather than just capitalist extraction. * Real-World Pathways: Tangible examples of cultural workers who have successfully subverted the system to gain economic sovereignty. **Who is this for?** Artists, cultural managers, creative freelancers, and social entrepreneurs in Berlin who are tired of the traditional hustle culture and want to explore sustainable, collective ways to structure their work. **About the Facilitator:** Oihane Amurrio is an artist, educator, and cultural entrepreneur based in Berlin. She specialises in designing alternative pedagogical models in the cultural sector and is the lead designer of the *Cooperative Cultural Entrepreneurship (CCE)* program at Travelling U.

Join us as we get together to see the top-reviewed comedy-drama, I LOVE BOOSTERS! The film comes from writer/director Boots Riley and follows a group of shoplifters who take aim at a cutthroat fashion maven. Here are details, trailers and our plan for this event: DESCRIPTION: The film follows a group of shoplifters who take aim at a cutthroat fashion maven. It is written/directed by Boots Riley (Sorry to Bother You) and stars Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, Poppy Liu, Eiza González, LaKeith Stanfield, Will Poulter, Don Cheadle, and Demi Moore. BUZZ AND ACCLAIM: I Love Boosters was the opening film at this year’s SXSW Festival and premiered to rave reviews! It is currently earning a tremendous 97% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes where critics call it, “an unexpected celebration of friendship, community, and solidarity.” Others call the film “an exercise in radical empathy,” a “masterful” and “optimistic” film designed to “provoke discussion” while making the audience laugh. TRAILER: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4lPRISgr9c](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4lPRISgr9c) SUMMER OF ICE CREAM: GRAETER’S! Established way back in 1870 in Cincinnati, this historic, family-owned brand is famous for their delicious small batch ice cream and any chocolate chunk flavors! They are currently the only commercial ice cream maker using the French Pot method that they’ve been using since they first opened! Plus, those chocolate chunks, oh my goodness! Vegan options are available. PLAN: We’ll plan for a 7pm-ish showing and will meet in the lobby area about 20 minutes before the show. Advance ticket purchase not required for this theater but Showtime and complete details will be confirmed/announced as the date gets closer. Look forward to seeing you there, Dan

## Candle Making Night at The Arcane Foundry \| Design Your Own Custom Candle **SPECIAL PROMOTION**: Buy 3 and get 1 Free! Step into The Arcane Foundry and create your own custom candle from start to finish. This is a laid back, hands-on experience where **you’ll blend fragrances, choose your vessel, and pour your own candle using 100% soy wax**. Whether you’re coming solo or with friends, it’s designed to be simple, creative, and a good time. We’ll walk you through the entire process, from picking your scents to choosing between a traditional cotton wick or a crackling wood wick. You can go with one fragrance or mix your own blend to create something completely unique**. No experience needed**, just show up and we’ll handle the rest. While your candle sets, feel free to hang out, play a game, explore the shop, or just relax and talk. Drinks and snacks are available, and the atmosphere leans into the **fantasy**, **dark academia**, and **gothic horror** vibe The Arcane Foundry is known for. Learn More: [Candle Making in Columbus, Ohio at The Arcane Foundry](https://thearcanefoundry.com/candle-making/) *** ### What to Expect: * Guided candle making experience * Choose your own vessel, wax, wick, and fragrance * 100% soy wax candles * Optional drinks and snacks * Time to relax while your candle cools *** ### Important Notes: * Please arrive on time so we can start together * Candles will need time to set before taking home * This is a beginner-friendly event *** ### RSVP Required Reserve your spot on Meetup to lock in your seat. **Candle Making** (includes vessel, your choice of wick, wax, scented oil, labels and lids) 5oz Glass Jars $15 8oz Candle Tins $25 12oz Glass Candles $35 12oz Amber Jars $40 16 oz Skull or Jack o Lantern Candle Mugs $65 (Limited Edition!) **All materials included. You just bring yourself (and your drink of choice).** **Payments accepted:** * Credit Card * Venmo: @Daclaud-Lee * Cashapp: $DaclaudL

Have a small business? Ever wish you could just ask some questions around how to grow your business, get more customers or just know what the freak you are doing with sales? Now is your chance!! Every month we are hosting the "Ask an Expert" at the Columbus Metro Library, Main campus. I will be there to answer your Sales related questions. Drop-in for sales coaching designed to help small business owners, entrepreneurs, and sales professionals sharpen their sales approach. Whether you have questions on how to refine your pitch, are looking to close deals more quickly, or are working on building better client relationships, Smashing Your Sales Goals Coaches are here to help. Drop-in to get expert insights, actionable strategies and real-time solutions to grow your business and generate higher profits. Drop-In Sales Coaching is FREE + OPEN to the public. No appointment needed. First come, first served. EPIC Learning created. Accelerate Columbus supported.

Rev. Steven Clevenger is an ordained spiritualist minister with over 40 years experience as a Spiritual Healer, Clairvoyant and Spiritual Teacher, educated and trained at the White Lily Chapel. Rev. Siobhan Wolf Shaffer is an ordained spiritualist minister and certified medium and healer with over 20 years experience. She began her development in 1988 in Pennsylvania and continued when she moved to Ohio in 1998 where she studied at Rays of Lights Church with Rev. Steven Clevenger. Our full worship services consist of an inspirational lecture, healing meditation, and messages from the spirit world that serve to demonstrate evidence of eternal life. Please visit our Official Church Website (http://raysoflightchurch.com) for more information.

(Note: RSVPing here on meetup does NOT reserve your seat. To do that, you’ll need to register at our website, **[HERE](https://www.coreerocks.com/Events.aspx?ID=In-Person-Columbus-Meeting-How-I-Get-Private-Lenders-and-Partners-to-Fund-My-Deals-14-6-2-2026)**.) Tuesday, June 2nd, 5:00–8:30 PM Eastern Central Ohio Chapter Meeting IN PERSON IN COLUMBUS How I Get Private Lenders and Partners to Fund My Deals If you can’t fund it, you don’t have a deal. And right now, funding is where more investors are getting stuck. Private lenders are more cautious. Partners are asking better questions. And deals that look good on paper still fall apart when the money doesn’t show up. That’s why we’re bringing in a panel of investors who are actually getting their deals funded right now. You’ll hear how they’re finding money, structuring deals, and building relationships that lead to repeat funding. Here’s what you’ll learn: * Where they’re finding private lenders today * How they start conversations that lead to funding * What makes lenders and partners say YES * How they structure deals to be fundable * The biggest mistakes investors make when raising money * How to build repeat funding relationships **Early Session (6:00–7:00 PM Eastern):** **Having Trouble Finding Tenants? How Community Shelter Board Can Help** Nicholas Brenner will walk you through programs designed to help rapidly rehouse tenants, including financial support that can stabilize your rentals. **The Deal Room (7:00–7:30 PM Eastern)** Bring deals, funding needs, buyers, and problems. This is where connections turn into action. This meeting is for serious real estate investors nationwide, and we’re known for our high-content, real-life education and our nationwide community of dealmakers. Members and non-members at all levels are welcome. Register below to reserve your seat. Remember, to actually reserve your seat, you have to go **[HERE](https://www.coreerocks.com/Events.aspx?ID=In-Person-Columbus-Meeting-How-I-Get-Private-Lenders-and-Partners-to-Fund-My-Deals-14-6-2-2026)** and register on our website!

**History** [Chestnut Ridge Metro Park](https://www.metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/chestnut-ridge/) is historically significant because it sits on a 300-million-year-old outcropping of Blackhand sandstone. Geographically recognized as the very first foothill of the Appalachian Mountains, the ridge rises 1,116 feet above sea level. Long before European settlement, the land served as a sacred site for ancient civilizations. The park contains the Old Maid's Orchard Mound, an eight-foot-tall burial mound constructed by the Adena culture between 1000 B.C. and 100 B.C. This ancient landmark has remained largely intact and is now protected on the National Register of Historic Places. The documented modern history of the land began with an official survey conducted by Ebenezer Buckingham in 1801. Original land deeds of sale from this period notably bear the signatures of United States Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. In the 1830s, Irish laborers arrived at the ridge to quarry its rich Blackhand sandstone. The blocks they hewed were used to build the crucial locks for the nearby Ohio and Erie Canal. Remnants of this early sandstone quarrying operation can still be spotted by sharp-eyed hikers along the modern trails. Agricultural transformation defined the ridge throughout the mid-to-late 19th century. Settlers discovered that the high elevation created a natural air flow that prevented late-season frost damage to crops. Extensive fruit orchards were planted across the slopes between 1860 and 1880. One notable orchard was established by John Wagner, a Spanish-American War veteran who chose the ridge specifically for its proximity to the bustling Columbus market. The park's current name pays homage to the massive American chestnut trees that once dominated the ridgeline before a devastating ecological blight wiped them out in the early 20th century. The conservation story of the modern 486-acre park began in March 1962. The Metro Parks board announced land acquisition plans to block developers from building a residential housing development called Chestnut Heights. Director-Secretary Walter A. Tucker advocated heavily for the purchase, citing the ridge's immense value as a scenic overlook for central Ohio. The district systematically purchased multiple agricultural parcels over the next two decades. After operating strictly as undeveloped farmland through the 1970s, Chestnut Ridge Metro Park officially opened to the public on December 18, 1988. In recent decades, the park has evolved from a quiet hiking spot into a premier regional destination for outdoor sports. A major turning point occurred in 2010 when the Central Ohio Mountain Biking Organization (COMBO) partnered with the park district to develop new infrastructure. Volunteers worked extensively to construct a single-track mountain bike trail, which officially opened in October 2011. An expert gravity and flow trail featuring advanced jumps was later integrated into the loop in 2016. Today, the park successfully balances its deep ancient, industrial, and agricultural history with active recreation. **Map of the Park** Here is a [map of Chestnut Ridge](https://www.metroparks.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/CHR_map_1980px_2026.jpg). **Summary** For this event, we will hike the Ridge, Meadows, and Homesite Trails, and Law's Lane, which is unmarked on some maps. None of these trails is individually very long, so we will hike a few permutations and loops until we get in 4-5 miles. The hike will be moderately strenuous. **Where We'll Meet** Drive to the rearmost picnic area at the back of the park. There's a latrine here, but there's no water fountain here or anywhere else at Chestnut Ridge. I strongly recommend you bring some water of your own, at least for after the hike. Cell service at the park is spotty, although your GPS will get you there just fine. The map pin I've provided here is exactly where we'll be meeting and should be able to be used directly in Google Maps, although Chestnut Ridge isn't big and you're unlikely to get lost here. **After the Hike** Afterward, we'll head over to [BrewDog DogTap](https://drink.brewdog.com/usa/brewdog-dogtap-columbus) for [drinks](https://usa.brewdog.com/pages/brewdog-lineup) and [food](https://usa.brewdog.com/cdn/shop/files/DogTap_Menu_2025_65e1ff8b-97d4-4f26-80f1-68321d482025.pdf?v=17356939232910340498). They also have an outdoor area that's extremely popular. I've had their burgers and their pizza, and I think they're both very good. I also really like their [Cold Beer](https://usa.brewdog.com/products/cold-beer-2024) (that's its actual name), which is their American light lager. BrewDog's actual address is [96 Gender Rd, Canal Winchester, OH 43110](https://www.google.com/maps/place/96+Gender+Rd,+Canal+Winchester,+OH+43110/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x88387c06afa21a85:0x804c611d373d8c54?sa=X&ved=1t:242&ictx=111), and they have a large, free parking lot. We should be there by 5 if you can't make the hike and just want to join us for drinks.

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