Interaction Design

AI can generate a thousand images in a minute. But can it make you feel something? Join us for a live panel exploring why immersive experiences and spatial storytelling matter more than ever, and what the XR age really looks like beyond the hype. Featuring voices from the World Bank, community-driven cultural XR, and filmmaking, this conversation cuts through the noise to ask: when content is cheap, what makes an experience valuable? Recorded live as an episode of Beyond the Byte before a studio audience. Come be part of the conversation. **Featured speakers:** * [Sophia Moshasha](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiamoshasha/)\, Interactive Media @ The World Bank \| XR & AI * [Ines Said](https://www.linkedin.com/in/inessaid/)\, XR Immersive Artist \| EE 30 Under 30 \| Lead XR Developer @ Froliq \| Founder @ Tanit XR **Location:** AWS Skills Center, 1550-G Crystal Dr, Arlington, VA 22202 **Drinks and Networking After:** Tacombi, 1550 Crystal Dr, Arlington, VA 22202 **Description:** Join us at AI Innovators Network for our upcoming meetup in the Mosaic, which is dedicated to exploring the latest trends in Artificial Intelligence. Whether you're an AI enthusiast, a professional, or someone curious about the intersection of technology and AI, this event is perfect for networking, learning, and sharing insights. Connect with like-minded individuals from DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland as we dive deep into the opportunities and challenges of integrating AI. Don't miss this opportunity to be part of the conversation driving innovation and progress in Artificial Intelligence.

\#\# A low\-cost\, 6\-week beginner\-level Mongolian course with the non\-profit organization\, the Global Language Network\. Ready to dive into the world of Mongolian? Join our fun and interactive class designed especially for those new to the language. **Details** Mongolian Foreigner with Dorjpagam Wednesdays from 5:30pm - 7:30pm ET Apr 8th to May 13th In-person, Farragut Square DC Ready to learn? **Register [HERE](http://%5Bhttps://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSem9IdJEYqsE91SvfEEjIe8FuvoAjOusgE2ab_qkvm3apyjzg/viewform%5D(https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSem9IdJEYqsE91SvfEEjIe8FuvoAjOusgE2ab_qkvm3apyjzg/viewform) "\[https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSem9IdJEYqsE91SvfEEjIe8FuvoAjOusgE2ab_qkvm3apyjzg/viewform\](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSem9IdJEYqsE91SvfEEjIe8FuvoAjOusgE2ab_qkvm3apyjzg/viewform)").** **Additional Information** * GLN classes are open to everyone over 18 years of age. * Have a credit or stipend to apply to your payment? Learn more about our credit, stipend, and refund policy on the [Pricing & Course Levels page.](http://%5Bhttps://thegln.org/pricing-%26-course-levels%5D(https://thegln.org/pricing-%26-course-levels) "\[https://thegln.org/pricing-%26-course-levels\](https://thegln.org/pricing-%26-course-levels)") **About GLN** We are a Washington, DC-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to "Use Language as a Tool to Help Fix Our World." Since 2015 we have been rated #1 Best Language Classes in Washington, DC by Yelp! We are so happy and grateful to have you join our network and we appreciate your support of our mission.

\-\-\-\-\-\- [REGISTER FOR THE EVENT HERE (ON LUMA)!](https://luma.com/g7s8n8sz) \-\-\-\-\-\- Join us for an evening of collaborative problem-solving as we work on a variety of civic tech projects together. Project needs vary but often include brainstorming, researching, writing, coding, or analyzing data. Check out [our website](https://www.civictechdc.org/projects) for a list of projects which may make an appearance! Meet other civic tech enthusiasts. Learn new skills. Contribute to a project to improve a local civic issue. **All are welcome and collaboration is encouraged.** Laptops are recommended but not required. **Where do I register?** To better serve our growing community, we’re transitioning our event registrations to Luma! **We still love Meetup** Meetup has been an incredible platform for us to build and connect with our community. We’ll continue sharing upcoming events there so that new people can find us, but Luma will be our primary registration platform moving forward. **Why we're making the switch** Meetup’s registration system has some limitations, and we need more flexibility to manage sign-ups and engagement. \-\-\-\-\-\- [REGISTER FOR THE EVENT HERE (ON LUMA)!](https://luma.com/g7s8n8sz) \-\-\-\-\-\-

\#\# A low\-cost\, 6\-week beginner\-level Korean course with the non\-profit organization\, the Global Language Network\. Ready to dive into the world of Korean? Join our fun and interactive class designed especially for those new to the language. **Details** Korean Foreigner with Jeong Yong Wednesdays from 5:30pm - 7:30pm ET Apr 8th to May 13th In-person, Farragut Square DC Ready to learn? **Register [HERE](http://%5Bhttps://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSem9IdJEYqsE91SvfEEjIe8FuvoAjOusgE2ab_qkvm3apyjzg/viewform%5D(https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSem9IdJEYqsE91SvfEEjIe8FuvoAjOusgE2ab_qkvm3apyjzg/viewform) "\[https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSem9IdJEYqsE91SvfEEjIe8FuvoAjOusgE2ab_qkvm3apyjzg/viewform\](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSem9IdJEYqsE91SvfEEjIe8FuvoAjOusgE2ab_qkvm3apyjzg/viewform)").** **Additional Information** * GLN classes are open to everyone over 18 years of age. * Have a credit or stipend to apply to your payment? Learn more about our credit, stipend, and refund policy on the [Pricing & Course Levels page.](http://%5Bhttps://thegln.org/pricing-%26-course-levels%5D(https://thegln.org/pricing-%26-course-levels) "\[https://thegln.org/pricing-%26-course-levels\](https://thegln.org/pricing-%26-course-levels)") **About GLN** We are a Washington, DC-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to "Use Language as a Tool to Help Fix Our World." Since 2015 we have been rated #1 Best Language Classes in Washington, DC by Yelp! We are so happy and grateful to have you join our network and we appreciate your support of our mission.

**April’s event will give you a sneak peek of [FedGeoDay 2026](https://www.fedgeo.us/)!** GeoDC’s guest speakers for the evening will be members of the organizing team for **[FedGeoDay](https://www.fedgeo.us)**, a conference about how federal programs and stakeholders build, support and use geospatial open-source software, open data, open science and open mapping. **FedGeoDay 2026: *Building Ecosystems for Supporting Federal Data Stewardship*** Do you use US Census data, NASA satellite imagery or federal GIS tools? Curious how policy changes and AI innovation are shaping the way we think/talk about or solve problems with location and maps? **FedGeoDay 2026**, a conference on April 22–23 in the DC area, will answer these questions and more. **[FedGeoDay](https://www.fedgeo.us)** is the premier conference devoted to how federal programs and stakeholders cultivate and harness “open geospatial ecosystems.” Themed ***Building Ecosystems for Supporting Federal Data Stewardship***, FedGeoDay 2026 will feature more content than ever and more ways for attendees to engage and shape the dialogue. Organizing team members including **[Eddie Pickle](https://www.linkedin.com/in/eddie-pickle-b67545)** from Snowflake will answer your questions and tell you more about the conference, including the hands-on workshops on day two and the first-ever FedGeoDay "unconference," which gives the power to shape the discussion back to the attendees in the spirit of open source. FedGeoDay's planning team also includes GeoDC's very own Chad Blevins and Puneet Kollipara. FedGeoDay is April 22–23 in Suitland, MD at the Census Bureau HQ, just off the Green Line. Check out the website for an at-a-glance view of the [program](https://www.fedgeo.us/program), keynoted by **[Denice Ross](https://www.fedgeo.us/denice-ross)** (former U.S. Chief Data Scientist, now at Federation of American Scientists). Get your **[early-bird tickets](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fedgeoday-2026-tickets-1980250906769)** by this **Friday, 4/10**. **Agenda** * **6–7 pm:** Happy Hour / Networking \*Sudhouse has great HH specials! * **7–8:30 pm:** Announcements / Events /Jobs-Internships and FedGeoDay Preview Presentation Happy Spring, and we look forward to seeing you at Sudhouse DC! If you're interested in presenting for the May GeoDC event, we've got a few spaces remaining. Please complete an [interest form](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/10Yj1-BOBXHqtoepJNW2X1WRzmdMjvbBPB8F5fgu5Lhk).

At this event you'll discover how to better understand and control your subconscious mind, helping you overcome doubts and fears. If you have anger issues, depressions and anxieties. this event will show you how to overcome them.

We are meeting in person at Elwood Smith Community Center, Rockville! \*\*\* The community-singing event where where everything's made up and the point — to sing for our lives — matters. Our leaders will teach you parts to sing for spontaneously-composed choral pieces. We play a variety of listening/music/singing games, and create safe opportunities for participants to improvise as little or as much as they might like. Good for all skill levels, shower-singers to seasoned pros, no sheet-music-reading required. \*\*\* We usually meet on the second Sunday of the month, and will continue to meet in-person as long as it makes sense. We encourage and provide masks. We will also plan on continuing our Zoom circles from time to time. So please check the day before/day of the meetup each month to confirm date & details. This world needs more song; join in the fun, and be the music you want to hear in the world. Hope to see you there! \~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~ L❤️ving this? Donate! : ) Your donations help keep our mission alive! We love doing this with you. Thank you to all who support us. Suggested donation is $15-20. Please include "VX" in the memo/notes! Via paypal: [ParisKern@comcast.net](https://paypal.me/Pariskern) Via Venmo: [@Pariskern](https://account.venmo.com/u/Pariskern) Check? Email: [ParisKern@comcast.net](mailto:ParisKern@comcast.net) IMAGE RIGHTS: We may take pictures and record videos of our in-person events, and record our Zoom meetings online. This material will be available for us to use to publicize upcoming circles and workshops and performances. By attending our events, you are agreeing with the image rights agreement. \~\~ This event is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council ([msac.org](https://msac.org/)). \~\~

SAM BASU IN-PERSON; NOTE: THIS IS THU, NOT TUE AS NORMAL Code is cheap, but software is expensive. Modern AI is a big opportunity to streamline and automate developer workflows for better productivity. There are some challenges though – AI Models often lack knowledge and AI Agents need expertise/guidance to reliably pull off complex workflows. Context is everything for modern AI and you can bring it. Model Context Protocol (MCP) aims to provide a standardized way to connect AI Agents to different data sources, tools and non-public information - the point is to provide deeply contextual information/expertise to AI. Skills are higher-level behaviors and instructional guardrails, that define how and when AI Agents should leverage tools to accomplish something meaningful. Subagents in AI are specialized, task-focused agents designed to handle specific, well-defined tasks within a larger AI system. In terms of the food industry: AI Agent = Chef 👨‍🍳👩‍🍳 MCP Tools = Raw Ingredients 🥔 🥩 Skills = Recipe Cards 📝 📇 SubAgents = Sous Chef 🔪 🍳 Loops = Door Watcher 💂👀 Developer = Restaurant Owner 👑. So, what should developers use to bring context and guardrails to make AI work their way? Well, it depends and sometimes, the answer might be whatever combination makes developers most productive. With official SDKs and well-thought-out guidance, it is a breeze to work with MCPs, Skills or SubAgents. Developers could bring their own data, APIs, services, coding patterns and structured guidance to make AI Agents work their way. And AI Agentic workflows work the same way in IDEs or Terminals, paving the way autonomous ways of getting work done with AI. With contextual expertise to light up unique coding workflows, AI Agents can make developers ultra productive – upwards and onwards.

### Reinvent Your Income. Rebuild Your Life. Relocate Strategically. Many professional women reach a moment where they realize something needs to change. Maybe you're feeling burned out from corporate life, exhausted from navigating toxic workplaces, or simply ready for a different lifestyle. You may have even thought about relocating or starting a business—but you’re not sure how to make the transition without disrupting your financial stability. This live **4-hour intensive** is designed to help you begin thinking strategically about your next chapter. Instead of reacting emotionally or making rushed decisions, you’ll explore how to design a thoughtful plan for your future—one that aligns your **income, career, and lifestyle goals.** During this session we’ll explore: • Why high-achieving women often feel stuck in careers that no longer feel aligned • How to design a strategic exit instead of quitting impulsively • The concept of **income architecture** and how to redesign your earning power • Career pivot and business possibilities based on your existing skills • How to create income streams that support lifestyle changes or relocation • How to begin mapping a **12–18 month transition plan** This experience will include guided discussion, reflection exercises, and a mid-session break with snacks.

**Circlesinging Workshop: Discover Your Musical Voice (90 minutes)** **Register here**! [https://pci.jotform.com/form/260257392651156](https://pci.jotform.com/form/260257392651156) Join members of VoiceExchange on April 12 for an introduction to -- or continued practice of -- the art of collaborative vocal improvisation. In this 90-minute workshop, we'll explore the captivating practice of circlesinging—where voices intertwine to create spontaneous, layered musical landscapes without instruments, written music, or rehearsal. **The Workshop Experience** Standing together in a circle, you'll discover your innate capacity to create music with nothing but your voice. We'll guide you through foundational techniques for developing simple musical patterns that blend with others, creating beautiful moments of shared sound. Through focused instruction and guided practice, you'll experience the unique joy of co-creating improvised vocal music. This workshop draws from practices developed by Bobby McFerrin, Rhiannon, and Música do Círculo, introducing you to the essential elements that make collaborative vocal improvisation both accessible and deeply rewarding. **What You'll Learn** * Basic techniques to unlock your personal capacity for musical invention * How to create simple looped musical ideas that combine with others * Foundational skills including listening techniques and basic vocal layering **Who Should Attend** This workshop welcomes anyone comfortable with their singing voice—particularly those who've found themselves naturally harmonizing with songs on the radio or humming improvised melodies. No formal music training or ability to read sheet music required—just bring your curiosity and willingness to explore. **What You'll Take Away** * **First Steps in Musical Discovery:** Begin to uncover your unique musical voice and capacity for spontaneous creation * **Taste of Community Creation:** Experience the connection that forms when voices unite in collaborative musical conversation * **Introduction to Mindful Listening:** Practice attentive listening and responding through sound **Workshop Details** **Date**: Sunday, April 12, 2026 **Time**: 1:00-2:30 PM **Location**: Elwood Smith Community Center, 601 Harrington Rd, Rockville, MD 20852 **Parking**: Available in lot outside the building **Register here**! https://pci.jotform.com/form/260257392651156[https://pci.jotform.com/form/260257392651156](https://pci.jotform.com/form/260257392651156) Presented by members of VoiceExchange, a vocal improvisation ensemble dedicated to exploring and sharing the joy of collaborative vocal creation. **Contact**: [circlesinging.maryland@gmail.com](mailto:circlesinging.maryland@gmail.com) \~\~ This event is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council ([msac.org](https://msac.org/)). \~\~

🚀 **Tech Fluent: Build with AI — Hands-On, No Experience Required** 📅 April 10 \| 📍 Washington\, DC \(National Union Building\) If you’ve been *AI-curious* but haven’t actually built anything yet, this is exactly the kind of experience we’ve been talking about in **AI in Practice**. This is **not** another theory-heavy session. It’s a **hands-on, interactive workshop** where you’ll actually *build something* — alongside other professionals exploring how to apply AI in real-world workflows. 👉 **What to expect:** * AI 101 + how these tools actually work (beyond the hype) * Guided, hands-on build session — you’ll create something real * Practical sessions on design, workflows, and the future of work * A cross-industry group (legal, finance, architecture, small business, etc.) * Wrap-up happy hour to connect and share what you built 💡 **Great fit for AI in Practice members if you:** * Are actively exploring how to apply AI in your work * Use tools like ChatGPT but want to go *deeper and more practical* * Want to move from *ideas → actual implementation* * Are not a developer (this is designed for you) ⚠️ If you’re already highly technical (building complex systems, deep dev work), this may feel introductory — the focus is on *practical upskilling for non-technical professionals.* *** 🎟️ **Registration & Details:** [https://varia.law/techfluent](https://varia.law/techfluent) 👉 **Important:** When you sign up, note **“AI in Practice”** in the application to receive a **$25 discount code** *** 🍻 **Bonus:** We’ll also have a casual **post-event happy hour** — great chance to connect with others actually *doing* AI, not just talking about it. *** Spots are intentionally limited (≈25–40 people), so if you’re interested, don’t wait. See you there.

DC Code and Coffee is an inclusive, informal co-working session. It's community-led and community-run by devs, for devs. People of all skill levels attend. Whether you’re dev-curious, aspiring, or a professional developer, we’d love to have you! Come chat or learn to code on a Sunday afternoon with coffee and cool-inclusive people. Bring your laptop! We typically meet every month on the weekend. **Join our online community!** For all things Tech in DC and to get latest updates and tech events from the DMV area, join the [DCTech Slack](https://dctech.chat/). All DC Code & Coffee announcements are in the #dccodecoffee channel **How it works** Near the beginning of the event, we do an introduction circle. You say your name, what you can help others with, and what you would like help with. You can also share job opportunities. After the introduction circle, everything is self-organized.

🍻 **Post-Event Happy Hour — Tech Fluent** 📅 April 10 \| 🕠 5:30 PM 📍 Gordon Ramsay Street Pizza After a full day of building, learning, and experimenting with AI, join us for a **casual happy hour** to unwind, connect, and keep the conversations going. This is open to: * Tech Fluent attendees * DC Legal Tech Meetup members * AI-curious professionals who just want to join for drinks + conversation No agenda — just good people, good pizza, and a chance to meet others exploring AI across legal, business, and beyond. *** 💡 **Why come?** * Meet others who are actually *doing* something with AI * Continue conversations from the workshop in a relaxed setting * Join even if you couldn’t attend the full event *** RSVP appreciated for the happy hour.

We meet to learn and practice American Sign Language and to grow our familiarity with Deaf culture. Facilitated by hearing folks (with a connection to a professional interpreter) using Deaf-created content. People of all ASL skill levels are welcome! As we learn, we hope to connect more with the Deaf community in Central Ohio. Join us as you're able! Come regularly or just once - whatever you're looking for! Each meetup will explore different topics related to ASL/Deaf culture, and will feature time to practice conversation with one another. Just bring yourself and a willingness to learn!

Pay attention! We’re delaying a week for those of you who may be on Spring break and/or celebrating the holiday. Ok, no pancakes, but waffles-a-plenty. Join the local UX and Digital Design community for a casual monthly breakfast. Look for us upstairs!

AI is changing how art is made. But when does it stop being your work and start being the machine’s? This month we're going to be doing a panel with with digital image, music, and written word artists, talking about at what point, while using AI in the creation process, does the work become not the artist creation? We encourage audience participation during this event that will be moderated by Chris Slee. Whether you’re deep in the field or just getting curious, come connect with others building and exploring AI in Columbus. Sponsored by [Transform Labs](https://www.transformlabs.com/services) Sign up also accessible via [Transform Labs Luma](https://luma.com/55umjqta)

**The Data-Driven Brand: Using Analytics to Shape Perception** Can you use analytics to improve tacos? This being CBUSDAW, we think the answer is probably “yes”, but we’re not sure how to implement or test this theory. For our April meetup we’ve got Sara Kear, CMO of Condado Tacos, to investigate this delicious question. Sara will explore how she blends quantitative data and qualitative customer feedback to shape brand positioning and drive business decisions. We all know that marketing and analytics go way beyond attribution. Sara will show how Condado uses customer insights to inform product and pricing strategy. She’ll also highlight how Condado leverages customer feedback at scale to influence operational priorities, positioning marketing as the voice of the customer across the organization. In the last 12 years Condado has gone from one location in Columbus to 52 locations across 10 states, so we’re guessing there’s more to that growth than really good guac (though the guac probably helps). Ultimately, this talk focuses on the intersection of art and science—using data to inform creativity and build a brand that resonates with customers in a measurable way. **About Our Speaker** Sara Kear is Chief Marketing Officer at Condado Tacos, where she oversees brand, restaurant design, menu and pricing strategy, off-premise including catering, and customer data strategy. Since joining in 2021, she has helped grow the brand from 19 to 52 locations while building a data-driven marketing organization focused on loyalty and customer insights. Condado has since been named to the Inc. 5000, recognized as Breakout Retailer by Chain Store Age, and consistently ranked among FastCasual’s Top 100 Movers & Shakers. Thanks to our 2026 sponsors: [Clarivoy](https://www.clarivoy.com), [What Box Consulting Group](https://www.whatboxconsultinggroup.com), [Conductrics](https://www.conductrics.com), and [Piwik PRO](https://piwik.pro) More info at [cbusdaw.com](https://cbusdaw.com)

**TBA**

Columbus Code & Coffee is an inclusive, informal co-working session. People of all skill levels attend, and we love it that way. Many people (optionally) bring projects to work on, and many other people (optionally) socialize the entire time. It's entirely up to you! **What to Expect at the Intro Circle** \~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~ Near the beginning of the event (1:30 pm), we do a standup: * Organizer announcements, updates, and logistics Round 1 - (7 secs max): * Your name * What you're working on * What you can help others with Round 2: * Community events you wanna plug. If none, that's cool too. Round 3: * Job opportunities you're hiring for OR announce that you are looking for one. If none, that's cool. After the introduction circle, everything is self-organized! Feel free to work alone, pair up, attend one of our workshops/presentations, or mingle!

**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** GitHub Copilot is powerful, but what if you could scale from a solo AI assistant to an entire team of specialized agents working in parallel? This session introduces Squad: an open-source framework for multi-agent orchestration that lets you define teams of AI agents with specific roles, responsibilities, and expertise. We'll progress from Copilot basics to the Copilot CLI, explore how Agents add autonomy, and see how Instructions and Skills let you customize agent behavior. Then, the climax: a live demo where a Squad team of 3 agents (Lead, Developer, Tester) stands up and builds a working application in real-time, showcasing true multi-agent collaboration. Whether you're new to AI or exploring how to scale your use of Copilot, this session will show you what's possible when agents work as a team. **YouTube Link** TBD