Illustration

**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!

**Queer Meditation Group // Queere Meditationsgruppe** *Our meditation course is led by a team of several teachers, please check our page to find out the name of the facilitator for this session.* for **LGBTQIA+** **[Book a Ticket](https://wearevillage.org/en/calendar/)** **Member: 5 €** **Regular: 8 €** 🔵 The **Queer Meditation Group** provides **LGBTQIA+** individuals, with a safe space to engage in an exploratory approach to meditation through gentle body tuning, breath awareness and conscious sitting practice. Each of the facilitators will bring their experiences in Mindfulness, Zen, Vipassana and other forms of meditation. The body-mind and the senses are explored as doorways into meditation. The purpose of this exploration is to become more conscious of your Self at many levels. Beginning wherever we are, this approach to meditation has an open goal of harmonizing with the present moment. The focus is on slowing down, unwinding tension and relaxing the nervous system. **General Information:** * Previous meditation experience is not necessary. * This event will be in German and/or English depending on participant needs. * The Queer Meditation Group is leaded by a rotating group of four facilitators. * This event can be attended as one of two free monthly events, which are included in the **[we are village Mitgliedschaft](https://wearevillage.org/en/produkt-kategorie/memberships-en-2/)**. 🔵 Die **Queere Meditationsgruppe** bietet einen sicheren und inklusiven Raum für **LGBTQIA+** Personen, um sich durch sanfte Körperabstimmung, Atemachtsamkeit und bewusste Sitzpraxis auf einen erkundenden Ansatz zur Meditation einzulassen. Jeder der Leiter\* bringt Erfahrungen mit Achtsamkeit, Zen, Vipassana und anderen Formen der Meditation mit ein. Vorherige Meditationserfahrung ist nicht erforderlich. Der Körper-Geist und die Sinne werden als Eingangstor zur Meditation erforscht. Das Ziel dieser Erkundung ist es, sich seines Selbst auf vielen Ebenen bewusster zu werden. Ausgehend von dem Ort, an dem wir uns gerade befinden, hat dieser Meditationsansatz das offene Ziel, mit dem gegenwärtigen Moment in Einklang zu kommen und sich zu verlangsamen, Spannungen abzubauen und das Nervensystem zu entspannen. **Hinweise:** * Vorherige Meditationserfahrung ist nicht erforderlich. * Je nach Bedürfnissen der Gruppe werden wir Deutsch und/oder Englisch sprechen. * Die Queer-Meditationsgruppe wird von einer wechselnden Gruppe von vier Moderatoren geleitet. * Diese Veranstaltung kann als eine der zwei kostenfreien monatlichen Veranstaltungen besucht werden, die Bestandteil der **[we are village Mitgliedschaft](https://wearevillage.org/produkt-kategorie/mitgliedschaften/)** sind.

A 2.5 hours oil color - acrylics painting lesson. **About this course** This is a painting workshop with the goal of teaching people how to create paintings using either oil colors or acrylics. The total subject lessons consists of around **27 lessons** that last 2.5 hours each. You can join at any time during the course. On each lesson the first part will be about theory and exercise and the second one about canvas time. Each participant will have the chance to work on canvas and start making paintings as artworks. All materials are provided by us. Each lesson has a subject. We do not follow a particular order, and every lesson is actually unique and many times personalized. This means that every time the attendess will have to do something new and different. You do not have to paint on canvas and with the mentioned art materias, you can also choose to use any of your wish. Most of the observations and exercises work well with all art materials. It is suitable for beginners and or even professionals who want to rationalize the canvas painting process. It is being hosted by the visual artist [Miltos Despoudis](https://miltosdespoudis.gr/). **How much does it cost?** Check below: * 5 x Lessons Packet (2.5 hours each) cost **120€.** * First lesson try-out costs **17€**. You can do that only once. * 1 x Lesson (2.5 hours) costs **30€.** You can pay either by cash or card at the event. All of the materials are included within the ticket reservation **except the canvases.** You can paint anything on a canvas we will provide you free but if you want to keep the canvas you will have to purchase it at the same cost we bought it. Canvases range from 3 to 9 Euros. **How do I subscribe?** You need to reserve a spot here and come at the event. You can pay at the event. Please verify that you are attending so that we know and prepare accordingly with the art supplies. **What do I need?** Watercolors materials will be provided at the venue. You can also bring your own art supplies, it might be helpful to learn working with what you have. Keep in mind that working with colors might make your clothes dirty, but in general we try to be clean. **More Info** The workshop happens almost every Wednesday. Learn more about the watercolor lesson plan here: [https://creativesessions.art/workshops/painting-workshop/](https://creativesessions.art/workshops/painting-workshop/) **Refund Policy** On case by case scenario. If you paid for the tryout session we can refund up to one day before the event starts. If you paid for the lesson packet and used one of the tickets no refunds are possible.

**Yoga for queer men\* // Intermediate Level** **with Merdan Akbayir or Mischa van Dullemen** for **GBTQ men\*** **[Book a Ticket](https://wearevillage.org/en/calendar/)** **Member: 10 €** **Regular: 15 €** 🔵 Join us for a dynamic yoga session designed specifically for queer men with some prior experience. In this supportive and motivating environment, deepen your practice through challenging flows that enhance strength, flexibility, and mindfulness. Embrace diversity and queerness while connecting with others in a space where you can truly be yourself. Celebrate your uniqueness and foster a sense of community in a session that honors who you are. Come and connect in a space where you can truly be yourself. **General Information** * **Level: Intermediate (some prior Experience with yoga is recommended)** * Wear comfortable clothes. * We’ll speak English and/or German, depending on the needs of the group. * For members, this counts as one of the two free events per month. * **Become a member**: As a member, you not only support our project, but you also get free access to two events every month. More information **[here](https://wearevillage.org/en/produkt-kategorie/memberships-en-2/)**. 🔵 **Queer Yoga für Männer / Fortgeschrittenes Niveau\*** Nimm an einer dynamischen Yoga-Session teil, die speziell für queere Männer mit etwas Erfahrung gedacht ist. In dieser unterstützenden und motivierenden Umgebung kannst du deine Praxis vertiefen, indem du an herausfordernden Flows arbeitest, die Kraft, Flexibilität und Achtsamkeit fördern. Erlebe Vielfalt und Queerness, während du dich mit anderen in einem Raum verbindest, in dem du ganz du selbst sein kannst. Komm und finde Community in einem Raum, in dem du wirklich du selbst sein kannst. **Hinweise** * **Niveau: Mittelstufe (etwas Vorerfahrung mit Yoga wird empfohlen)** * Trage bequeme Kleidungen. * Je nach Bedürfnissen der Gruppe werden wir Deutsch und/oder Englisch sprechen. * Diese Veranstaltung zählt zu den zwei kostenfreien Veranstaltungen pro Monat für Mitglieder. * **Member werden**: Als Mitglied unterstützt du nicht nur unser Projekt, sondern du erhältst gleichzeitig monatlich Zugang zu zwei kostenfreien Veranstaltungen. Mehr Infos **[hier](https://wearevillage.org/produkt-kategorie/mitgliedschaften/)**.

Curious about starting life drawing? Or want to deepen your practice? Join us at Kunstraum Heartspace, where we enjoy a wonderful life drawing session every Wednesday evening! Our teacher Thorsten has many years of experience and will gently guide you to your next level. This course is designed for beginners as well as experienced life drawing artists. Our models change weekly. They allow us to practice short and long poses. This allows your eye to train in recognising movement and form, while also giving you enough time to study the model more closely. In addition, every week, we include a short excursion into different aspects of figurative drawing – be it anatomical issues, lighting, or the structure of the human figure. You can join and pause at any time, as you will receive individual guidance. **Materials:** * Please bring pencils, sharpeners, and erasers! * We provide paper, but of course, you can bring your own sketch book or preferred paper types. **Tickets:** * Please book your ticket on Ticket Tailor. [Here is the link: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/kunstraumheartspace/1891935 ](https://www.tickettailor.com/events/kunstraumheartspace/1891935)

**👋 Hello Strangers! —** For all players and chess-curious folks out there who want to chill, make friends, and enjoy some chess: We are hosting a daily meetup in Mitte / Prenzlauerberg for all experience levels. It doesn't matter if you just watched the Queen's Gambit or if you have been playing regularly for a while. **Join us** — Daily from 7 pm till midnight. **Expected Behavior** — [Conduct](https://strangerchess.com/conduct/) **Pics** · [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/strangerchess/) / **Chat** · [Telegram](https://t.me/strangerchess) / **Web** · [Strangerchess.com](https://strangerchess.com/) (No need to bring anything, boards, clocks, etc. are provided)

**[4 WEEKS CLASS ON FIGURE DRAWING](https://berlinschoolofdrawing.weebly.com/figureclass.html)** **[for beginners](https://berlinschoolofdrawing.weebly.com/figureclass.html)** **FEB 11th to MARCH 4th** **WEDNESDAYS 5 TO 7 p.m.** 135€ ALL INCLUDED 35€ DROP IN https://berlinschoolofdrawing.weebly.com/figureclass.html **A 4 weeks class for beginners.** **The goal of the class is to learn basics of figure drawing such has volume, lines, weight, shading.** **We'll focus on proportions and forms, introducing methods and tools to simplify the human figure.** **We will work on quick and long poses, standing and sitting poses in order to understand foreshortening.** **The overall goal will be to be able to draw models with shading and volume.** **We will mainly work with pencils** Click here to book - cash or bank transfer: https://berlinschoolofdrawing.weebly.com/booking.html ***

Hallo zusammen! In Rahmen der PAKD Gallery Kurse bieten wir euch einen Zeichenkurs an. Wenn Ihr Zeichnen liebt und eure Fähigkeiten weiterentwickeln möchtet, dann seid Ihr hier genau richtig. In diesem Video erzähle ich euch von meinem Kurs für realistisches Zeichnen mit Bleistift - und wie er Eure künstlerische Arbeit auf ein neues Level bringen kann. Hattest Du schon immer das Gefühl, zeichnen können zu wollen - Dir fehlt aber die richtige Anleitung? In diesem Kurs lernst Du realistisches Zeichnen mit Bleistift, einfach, verständlich und Schritt für Schritt: • Korrekte Perspektive • Licht und Schatten • Materialdarstellung wie Glas, Keramik, Stoff, Metall Der Kurs ist perfekt für Anfänger und für alle, die ihre Fähigkeiten verbessern möchten. Wenn dieses Video Eure Leidenschaft für das Zeichnen mit Bleistift geweckt hat, dann schickt mir einfach eine E-Mail und lasst uns gemeinsam eure Reise in die Welt des realistischen Zeichnens mit Bleistift beginnen. Kleiner Kurs, große Wirkung. Maximal 12 Teilnehmer\*innen! Anmeldung:Ä [kifan@pakd-gallery.com](mailto:kifan@pakd-gallery.com) Sichere dir deinen Platz, bevor alles ausgebucht ist. Dienstag 18:30 - 21:30 Uhr. 25€ für eine einzelne 3- stündige Einheit 200€ für ein 10er-Paket, flexibles einlösbar.

**Village Heart Circle** hosted by **Marco Astolfi** & **Torsten Bless** for **GBTQ men\*** **[free event with registration](https://wearevillage.org/en/shop/heart-circle/w12-2025)** Are you looking for a space where you can express your feelings and share your experiences in a loving and supportive community of GBTQ men\*? In this circle we can sit together peacefully to speak from the heart and listen with our hearts, honouring the different ways from which we come in a safe and non-judgemental space, honouring the different ways from which we come in a safe and non-judgemental space. The Heart Circle is a practice originated by Native Americans and adopted by the Radical Faeries to build community. **General Information** We open the doors at 7:30 p.m. To protect the integrity of the Heart Circle, we ask that you arrive before 8:00 p.m. **Language**: This event will be in German and/or English depending on participant needs. 🔵 Suchst du nach einem Ort, an dem du deine Gefühle und Erfahrungen teilen kannst, in einer unterstützenden Gemeinschaft von schwulen, bisexuellen, trans und queeren Männern\*? Der Kreis ist ein Ort, an dem wir friedlich zusammensitzen, aus dem Herzen sprechen und mit dem Herzen zuhören können. Ein Ort, an dem wir die unterschiedlichen Lebensumstände, aus denen wir kommen, respektieren, ohne zu urteilen. Der Heart Circle ist eine Praxis, die von den Ureinwohnern Nordamerikas stammt und von den Radical Faeries übernommen wurde, um Gemeinschaft zu bilden. **Hinweise** Wir öffnen die Türen um 19.30 Uhr. Um die Unversehrtheit des Heart Circles zu bewahren, bitten wir dich, vor 20:00 Uhr zu erscheinen. **Sprache**: Je nach Bedürfnissen der Gruppe werden wir Deutsch und/oder Englisch sprechen.

Drypoint Printmaking Workshop — Coming Up! Learn the fundamentals of drypoint printmaking in a hands-on workshop held over 4 sessions, every Saturday from 11:00–14:00, starting February 21. until 14.03.2026 After completing the course, participants will be able to create their own drypoint prints independently in our studio. Upcoming workshops will introduce additional printmaking techniques, including Aquatint and Sugar Lift — stay tuned! Price: 110€ for the full 4-session workshop 35€ for one session Registration for full 4 - session Please email Kifan Alkarjousli 📧 kifan@pakd-gallery.com Limited spots available — be sure to secure yours early! Drypoint Printmaking Workshop — Coming Up! Learn the fundamentals of drypoint printmaking in a hands-on workshop held over 4 sessions, every Saturday from 11:00–14:00, starting February 21. until 14.03.2026 After completing the course, participants will be able to create their own drypoint prints independently in our studio. Upcoming workshops will introduce additional printmaking techniques, including Aquatint and Sugar Lift — stay tuned! Price: 110€ for the full 4-session workshop 35€ for one session Registration for full 4 - session Please email Kifan Alkarjousli 📧 kifan@pakd-gallery.com Limited spots available — be sure to secure yours early!

**Village Potluck** organized by the **[we are village](https://wearevillage.org/) volunteers team** for **LGBTQAI+ Friends** **Free event with [registration](https://wearevillage.org/en/shop/potluck/w10-2026)** 🔵 Spending time together! With this in mind, the Village invites you to take part in this free event, have a laugh and make new friends. Just bring a dish of your choice (if possible) and we’ll eat & drink together in a relaxed atmosphere. You are also welcome to invite your friends. A casual opportunity to spend a great time together at the Village – indoors and in the garden. This event will be in German and/or English depending on participant needs. 🔵 Gemeinsam Zeit verbringen! In diesem Sinne lädt dich das Village dazu ein, an diesem kostenlosen Event teilzunehmen, zu genießen, zu lachen und neue Freundschaften zu schließen. Bring einfach etwas zu Essen deiner Wahl mit (wenn möglich) und wir essen & trinken zusammen in gemütlicher, lockerer Runde. Gerne kannst du auch deine Freunde dazu einladen – eine gute Gelegenheit zusammen eine tolle Zeit im Village zu verbringen – drinnen und im Garten. Dieses Event wird je nach Teilnehmerbedürfnissen auf Deutsch und/oder Englisch sein.

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!

**Relax. Connect. Create. ☕** After a full week of work, meetings, study sessions and life in fast-forward, it’s time to slow down. Join us this Saturday afternoon in Berlin for a relaxed coffee hang-out where this week's agenda is good company & warm drinks. You're also invited to bring some boardgames, drawing/coloring materials (I will bring an adult coloring book) **What’s the plan?** We’ll meet in a cosy spot, draw, chat about everything and nothing, swap stories and simply enjoy the moment. No pressure. No formalities. Just a bunch of friendly people sharing a Saturday coffee. **Who’s welcome?** Everyone! Whether you’re a Berliner born and raised, newly arrived in the city, from Germany or abroad, if you like meeting open-minded folks and spending some relaxed time—come join us. **When & how?** Saturday afternoon. Detailed time and place in our Telegram group. ➡️ Join us on Telegram: [https://t.me/berlinsaturdaycoffee](https://t.me/berlinsaturdaycoffee) Hop in, say hello, and we’ll share the final details. **Why join?** * Because you deserve a break. * Because you enjoy being creative. * Because you enjoy boardgames * Because meeting new people sparks fresh energy. * Because coffee tastes even better when shared. * Because Saturday afternoons were made for this. Respect and Safety: There is always at least one organizer present at every meetup. If you ever feel unsafe or bothered by someone’s behavior, you can reach out to an organizer privately. Your identity will remain confidential, your concern will be taken seriously, and no inappropriate behavior is tolerated — anyone making others feel uncomfortable will be removed from the group immediately. We hope to see you there. Bring yourself, your smile, drawing materials, your stories—or just your comfy self. Let’s make Saturday a little more laid-back, a little more social and a lot more nice. See you soon! —Your Saturday Creative Coffee Crew ☕

Hallo zusammen! In Rahmen der PAKD Gallery Kurse bieten wir euch einen Zeichenkurs an. Wenn Ihr Zeichnen liebt und eure Fähigkeiten weiterentwickeln möchtet, dann seid Ihr hier genau richtig. In diesem Video erzähle ich euch von meinem Kurs für realistisches Zeichnen mit Bleistift - und wie er Eure künstlerische Arbeit auf ein neues Level bringen kann. Hattest Du schon immer das Gefühl, zeichnen können zu wollen - Dir fehlt aber die richtige Anleitung? In diesem Kurs lernst Du realistisches Zeichnen mit Bleistift, einfach, verständlich und Schritt für Schritt: • Korrekte Perspektive • Licht und Schatten • Materialdarstellung wie Glas, Keramik, Stoff, Metall Der Kurs ist perfekt für Anfänger und für alle, die ihre Fähigkeiten verbessern möchten. Wenn dieses Video Eure Leidenschaft für das Zeichnen mit Bleistift geweckt hat, dann schickt mir einfach eine E-Mail und lasst uns gemeinsam eure Reise in die Welt des realistischen Zeichnens mit Bleistift beginnen. Kleiner Kurs, große Wirkung. Maximal 12 Teilnehmer\*innen! Anmeldung: [kifan@pakd-gallery.com](mailto:kifan@pakd-gallery.com) Sichere dir deinen Platz, bevor alles ausgebucht ist. Dienstag 18:30 - 21:30 Uhr. 25€ für eine einzelne 3- stündige Einheit 200€ für ein 10er-Paket, flexibles einlösbar.

**We are expanding our creative programming opportunities with Queer Quills, a quiet writing and sharing space. Queer Quills features some prompts, supplies and friendly faces to help get some inspiration or feedback for your writing. Hope to see you there!**

NFT's are here to stay folks! This is a group for like minded people interested in understanding, leveraging, using, creating for, profiting from, trading too i suppose, NFT's.. everything around them, complexity, fear and exploits, best practices and more. **PLUS** This group will talk AI ART tools, techniques, artists, video, audio, prototypes and more in the AI assisted production space- ART specifically, but we can get into any aspect of some of the cooler things happening in AI in general.

**💥 Join us THIS Saturday and EVERY Saturday!** **💥 At Columbus’ Hottest New Salsa Venue!** **.** Lincoln Street Salsa THIS Saturday and EVERY Saturday! 8 pm – 1 am **.** **💥 Gorgeously Renovated Studio!** **💥 Free Parking!** **💥 BYOB!** **💥 Easy Access from Highway!** **.** Lincoln Street Salsa 1717 Brice Rd Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43215 **.** **ENTRANCE IS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE BUILDING** **Behind Anthony’s Pharmacy!** **.** **PLEASE SHARE and help get the word out!** **.** **🟣 Salsa, Bachata, and Merengue Dancing!** **.** **🟣** 8:00 pm – 8:30 pm **𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻** **.** **🟣** 8:30 pm – 9:30 pm **𝗕𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 Class!** **.** **🟣** 9:30 pm – 1 am **𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘆!** **.** **✅ Questions?** **Visit [LincolnStreetSalsa.com](https://columbussalsadancing.com/)** Or Text Todd: 614-774-8146 **.** **✅ No Experience Necessary!** **✅ No Partner Required!** **✅ Plenty of People to Dance With!** **.** **✅ $15 Cash / $16 Card** **✅ College Students $5 Off with Valid ID!** **✅ BYOB** **✅ Age 18+** **.** **✅ Lincoln Street Salsa is the perfect place for…** **.** **👉 Learning to Dance** **👉** Social Dancing **👉 Birthday Celebration** **👉** Bachelorette Parties **👉 Girl’s Night Out** **👉 Date Night** **👉** Getting Fit / Burning Calories **👉 Meeting New People** **👉** Having Fun, Fun, Fun! **.** ✅ **Questions?** Visit [LincolnStreetSalsa.com](https://columbussalsadancing.com/ "https://columbussalsadancing.com/") Or Text Todd: 614-774-8146 .

The topic for March is "Our Bodies, Ourselves" Speak Easy: true stories, told live. The idea is simple: an audience, an open microphone, and great stories. Hilarious, gripping, poignant- it's up to you. Audiences are invited to come to listen or come to tell as folks from all corners of Columbus offer their stories live on stage! Held at Wild Goose Creative's warm, intimate space, this night of tales occurs on the 3rd Thursday of every month. Doors open at 6:30 pm, show starts at 7:00 pm. Please arrive early if you want to tell, as we generally only have room for a limited number of tellers, and the sign-up sheet has a tendency to fill up fast. Formed around the idea that people need stories--they're what hold and draw us together--SpeakEasy celebrates the strangeness and commonness of being human. And in a world of smartphones, Facebook, Twitter, and more . . . it gives people a real, breathing, in-person way to connect. The night is geared for true stories of all kinds, taking the best tales told around kitchen tables, in darkened pubs, on the street corner, and at late-night parties and giving them an audience. Speak Easy is also a great outlet for performers, writers, and artists looking to share their favorite stories and perfect their skills. We strongly encourage tellers to please tell the story rather than read it so we keep within the spirit of good storytelling and stay engaged with the audience. All are welcome. Hang around after the show for a drink and build community!

**Confidence in Bloom: How Creativity Builds Confidence** What happens when creativity becomes an intentional practice? In this month’s Confidence Lab, we’ll gather at **Petals That Inspire: The Flourish Studio** for an evening exploring the connection between creativity and confidence. How making with our hands, engaging our senses, and allowing space for expression can shift how we see ourselves and what we believe is possible. Our featured speaker, **Amanda Lorenzetti**, owner of Petals That Inspire, will share how creativity has shaped her own confidence journey and why creative environments play such a powerful role in well-being, resilience, and personal growth. Drawing from her work leading an experience-driven floral studio and a community-centered workforce development program, Amanda will reflect on creativity as both a personal and collective catalyst. Amanda will also guide us through a **hands-on floral design experience**, creating a fresh arrangement in a wide mouth mason jar. No prior floral experience is needed, just curiosity and a willingness to engage the process. This evening is an invitation to slow down, create, and reconnect with the part of yourself that grows through care, attention, and imagination. You’ll leave with a floral arrangement to take home, and a deeper understanding of how confidence can be cultivated through creative practices. **Featured Speaker: Amanda Lorenzetti** Amanda Lorenzetti is the owner and founder of [Petals That Inspire](https://www.petalsthatinspire.com/) and The Flourish Studio, a social enterprise florist based in Columbus, Ohio. She brings more than a decade of experience in wedding and event sales, paired with hands-on expertise in floral and event design. Amanda’s connection to the floral industry began early, spending time alongside her godmother, a professional florist on the East Coast. After earning her business degree, she returned to her hometown in Connecticut to work as a floral and event designer, blending creative artistry with strong operational and client-focused skills. In 2020, Amanda returned to the floral industry with a renewed purpose, driven by a desire to build a business rooted in creativity, community impact, and sustainability. During this pivotal time, she founded Petals That Inspire—an innovative floral concept that reimagines the traditional florist model by combining event florals, workshops, and experiential offerings with a mission-centered approach to workforce development. Today, Petals That Inspire is a thriving social enterprise known for its thoughtful design, educational experiences, and commitment to empowering young adults facing barriers to entry in the workforce. Amanda is deeply passionate about building businesses that are both profitable and purpose-driven, and she leverages her strong business acumen to create a scalable & sustainable model that inspires creativity while giving back to the community. **What is Confidence Lab?** Confidence Lab is a monthly community experience for bold, thoughtful leaders building confidence from the inside out. Whether you’re launching a business, leading a team, navigating change, or simply striving to show up more fully—you belong here. Our work demands clarity, courage, and conviction—but the pace of daily life can erode our sense of self. Confidence Lab creates space to reflect, reconnect, and grow with others doing purpose-driven work. It’s designed for entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders, creatives, corporate professionals, activists, and anyone ready to lead with authenticity and impact. ***Please note:*** *All are welcome! If cost is a concern, please use promo code PUBLIC to access a free ticket—we want you to join us.*

Join membersrs of the Central Ohio UX and digital design community for a casual monthly breakfast.