UX Design

**Get ready for the next edition of the Copenhagen Data Engineering Meetup!** On the 18th of February, we are gathering at **Unity’s** Copenhagen headquarters for an evening dedicated to fine-tuning our engines and navigating the future of open data ecosystems. Whether you’re looking to squeeze every ounce of performance out of your Spark jobs or trying to make sense of the rapidly evolving catalog landscape, this is an event you won't want to miss. ### The Lineup We have two deep-dive sessions featuring experts from the front lines of data platform engineering: **Spark Tuning & Best Practices: From Theory to Production-Ready Performance** *Asaf Sneh (Unity)* Moving from a Spark job that "just works" to one that is production-hardened and cost-efficient is no small feat. Asaf will take us through the journey of Spark optimization, bridging the gap between theoretical best practices and the realities of running high-performance workloads at scale within Unity. **Graduating Class of 2026? The Current State of Apache Polaris (incubating)** *William Martin (Dremio)* As the industry moves toward open table formats, the question of "who manages the metadata" has never been more relevant. William will give us an insider look at Apache Polaris. With it being 2026, we’ll explore its progress through the Apache incubator, its role in the Iceberg ecosystem, and whether it’s ready to become the "valedictorian" of your data architecture. And, of course, a Data Engineering meetup wouldn't be complete without the chance to talk shop over a good meal. **Dinner and drinks** will be provided by our generous sponsors, **Unity** and **Dremio**. *** ### 📍 Location & Venue The event is hosted by **Unity** at their offices in Copenhagen. *Stay tuned for specific entry instructions closer to the date.* ### Agenda * **18:00:** People Arriving + Networking * **18:15:** Introduction * **18:20:** Spark Tuning & Best Practices (Asaf Sneh, Unity) * **19:00:** Dinner & Drinks * **19:30:** The Current State of Apache Polaris (William Martin, Dremio) * **20:10:** Networking & Wrap-up We look forward to seeing the community come together for another night of great technical discussions!

**𝗗𝗘𝗔𝗥 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 – the international week-breaker** Your favorite after-work/after-uni bar night to connect, relax, and meet amazing people at ease. for context (as frequently asked): \- we are always many more people than sign up here on meetup as most traffic and updates happen on IG \- average age range is from 20\-30 \(everyone is welcome\) **Happy New Year!** Let's start another amazing year of Dear World the way we know it - together! At Bodega, we stocked up on board games to get cozy and competitive while social of course. 📸 IG @dearworldcph (for impressions from past events!) As the days are colder and shorter, we’re bringing the energy to our nights – with over 100+ at our bar nights and 200+ at our parties, 𝗗𝗘𝗔𝗥 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 keeps growing! For almost 2 years now, we’ve been uniting Copenhagen’s international crowd (and locals) – countless nationalities, shining in different languages 🌍 Think easy-going conversation starters like flags, rotating chat charms & playful questions – all designed to spark great chats and eliminate any awkwardness. 📍 BODEGA DANZA, Flæsketorvet 13A, 1711 Copenhagen 🕖 When: starting at 19:00 (hosts & stickers until 22:30, the night continues however long you like) Let’s raise a glass, meet familiar and new faces, and break the week – together 🥂 𝗗𝗘𝗔𝗥 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 The space for internationals and open-minded locals to connect in Copenhagen. Whether you’re looking to socialize, network, make friends, or simply vibe – just show up. Come solo or bring your crew – we’ve got you. Got questions? DM us on Instagram @dearworldcph or reach out to the host here. Let’s make Wednesdays the new favorite day of the week 🌇

In English 18th - 21st from 20:00 - 21:15 Matinee 21st from 16:00 - 17:15 50-225 kr: [Tickets here](https://h2ocph.billetten.dk/index/eventdetails/eventno/140611) "Mr Tesla Played" is an intimate monologue about Nikola Tesla - the visionary inventor whose ideas shaped modern life, from electricity to wireless communication. In a New York hotel room in his final days, Tesla reflects on his legacy and the cost of his genius. A moving portrait of the man behind the myth - far more than a name on a car. Written by: Tanja Mastilo Performed by: Nathan Meister Directed by: Sue Hansen-Styles Reviews: 5-stars - "Nathan Meister may have been alone in his portrayal of this giant of science, but his electric chemistry on stage was clear to everyone to behold." - CPHPost 5-stars - "Nathan Meister som Nikola Tesla gjorde det fremragende" - Kulturtid "Et kammerspil, mesterligt spillet af den herboende new zealandske skuespiller Nathan Meister" - Michael Svennevig "Jeg er efterhånden levet rimelig afhængig af Why Not Theatre Companys fine små forestillinger, der ofte spiller på overraskende lokationer." - KOPKultur **H2O** is proud to support this work of Why Not Theatre and the writings of Tanja Mastilo, who won Reumert Award for her play The Cheyenne are Leaving in 2021. Tanja and Why Not present through their continued dedication to the form the value of the expat experience in bringing new and untold stories to the Danish stage.

Speak to Lead Toastmasters helps people to improve their public speaking and leadership skills in a supportive and fun environment. No matter what your age, background, and level of confidence are, it is a place for you. If you are scared as hell of public speaking, then you should definitely come! If you are new to our club and would like to attend one of our club meetings, go to our [website](https://sites.google.com/view/speaktoleadtoastmasters) or [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/SpeaktoLeadToastmasters) / [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/speak-to-lead-toastmasters-copenhagen/) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/speaktolead.toastmasters/) pages for our current updates, send us a message on Messenger and see how our previous meetings have been. Email: speaktolead.membership@toastmasters.dk if you have any questions. Guests are welcome, ​and it is for free as a guest. If you find it interesting, you can later sign up as a member by paying a small monthly fee (non-profit). As a member, you will get access to online educational programs and manuals, will be able to give speeches, take on different roles, participate in contests and international conferences as well as befriend lots of cool people. We meet on Wednesdays from 18:00 at: **Kulturstationen Vanløse, Jernbane Allé 38, 2720 Vanløse.** The room​ is on the first floor. How to get there: 1\. Once you exit the Vanløse station turn 2\. towards the Burger King & Netto\, then 3\. On the left side is a white building with an elevator and staircase 4\. Go up to the first floor and use your CPR card to get in 5\. You will see the room with a Toastmasters sign Please note that the meeting is in English. In addition, the number of attendees on Meetup is not a representation of the number of people at the event. We are looking forward to​ seeing you!

Let's grab a coffee and job hunt together at the library ☕ 💻 Would love to make this a weekly meetup if a few people show up! We'll be seating in the group area with long tables on the third floor. Don't forget to cancel if you aren't coming so that people on the waiting list can come.

Join us for an unforgettable evening at Rendezvous, as The Tiptons Sax Quartet & Drums take the stage for their LIVE Portland Release Tour Kick-Off. Let the smooth sounds of jazz warm your winter night while enjoying handcrafted cocktails in an intimate, stylish setting. **Les Amis** is a women-only community of friendly souls. We provide access to hundreds of experiences that explore your passions and connect you with other event participants. **Check our website to learn more, and apply to join our community and events**: [lesamis.cc/apply](https://www.lesamis.cc/apply)

**Join us at AI Meetup Copenhagen 19/02/2026** Connect with innovators, designers, academics, suits and developers in a relaxed and positive environment. Enjoy talks from exciting speakers and demo your own ideas on stage. Be a part of our vibrant community! This is a multidisciplinary community and meetup for innovators, creators, and techies who are passionate about learning and talking about artificial intelligence. The event is open from 16:45. The program starts 17:15. **Lightning talks (15 minutes)** * [Thomas Bolander](https://www2.compute.dtu.dk/~tobo/), PhD, Professor at DTU Compute (Technical University of Denmark) * [Sofie Grue Haumann](https://www.connectedwomeninai.dk/speaker/sofie-grue-haumann/), AI Enablement Lead, Enterprise AI, Novo Nordisk * [Ananth Gopal](https://www.linkedin.com/in/agopk/), PhD, Team lead, AI & Data platform, Nilfisk **Demos (10 minutes)** * Christian Zigler & Sebastian Stilou, [Tapp](https://www.usetapp.io/) ***SPEAKER BIOS & TOPICS:*** **Thomas Bolander**, PhD, is a professor at [DTU Compute](https://www.compute.dtu.dk/). His main research focus is on the modelling of social phenomena and social intelligence with the aim of creating explainable computer systems that can interact robustly and intelligently with humans and other computer systems. He is one of the founders and main researchers within the area of *Epistemic Planning* \- providing AI agents\, e\.g\. robots\, with the ability to take the perspective of other agents into account when planning\. He is also one of the central public communicators of AI in Denmark with several hundreds of popular science talks and media appearances. In 2019, he received the H.C. Ørsted award for excellence in science communication. Thomas has also served on a number of commissions and think tanks working on the societal aspects of digitalisation and AI (including the SIRI commission, the TechDK commission, the Tiger Council, and the Governmental Expert Group on Tech Giants). In 2024, he received the DAIR "Lifetime achievement in AI" award for his research and research communication. Topic: Intentions, attention and social intelligence. Human social intelligence relies heavily on our ability to infer what others intend to do or what their focus of attention is. Fluent human-robot interaction requires robots to have similar abilities. But how to give them that? What are the relevant paradigms and methods within AI, and what can we learn from philosophy and cognitive psychology to help us built more socially intelligent and situation-aware robots for the future? **Sofie Grue Haumann** has been working with AI adoption since 2016, starting her career in a startup and now holding the role of AI Enablement Lead, Enterprise AI at Novo Nordisk. She has a background from CBS and her focus has always been on enhancing people-centric AI adoption, bridging the gap between innovative technology, user engagement and enablement. She is passionate about inspiring people to get started with their AI journey, regardless of their technical and has a strong track record of driving inspiring, educating and empowering initiatives that promote integration of AI. Topic: "How Novo Nordisk is driving AI adoption across the enterprise — and how we measure the impact." **Ananth Gopal**, leads a data & AI team in [Nilfisk](https://www.nilfisk.com/global/professional/)'s "Autonomous & Digital Solutions" division. He earned his PhD in computing applied to robotics, and has since worked in roles across both academia and industry. His current interests lie in applying vision-language models and reinforcement learning to control robots. Topic: "Teaching Robots to Learn: A Live Reinforcement Learning Demo" **Christian Zigler** is a Danish entrepreneur with a passion for leveraging technology to empower small businesses and also the founder of Tapp. **Sebastian Stilou** is a deeptech AI software developer and architect and a leading voice in the world of proactive AI. Topic: "Tapp is an AI-enabled POS for independent cafés, kitchens and retailers." ... ***Venue:*** [EK Erhvervsakademi København](https://www.ek.dk/english) \- Guldbergsgade Campus \(formerly known as "KEA"\)\. ***Sponsorship opportunities:*** Please contact the group administrator ([Martin Schultz](https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinschultz/)) if you would like to be an event sponsor, a sponsor of food and/or beverages or if you would like be a future venue sponsor. This is a non-profit event. ***Sponsors:*** Thanks to [EK Erhvervsakademi København](https://www.ek.dk/english) for sponsoring beverages and snacks. A big thanks to our foundational sponsor [Transmission](https://www.transmission.dk/). ***Please note:*** 1. Attendance is capped at 145 participants to maintain quality interaction, and we reserve the right to select attendees to optimize group dynamics. 2. Photos and perhaps video will be taken at the meetup and shared on our Meetup.com group, on various LinkedIn channels, our LinkedIn newsletter, the AI Meetup Copenhagen website, possibly by the event host and other participants and sponsors. Let us know at the event if you don't want to be in the photos or videos (that's not a problem). 3. If you're signed up, but find that you're unable to attend, you're *expected to cancel* your attendance (your RSVP status) here on the Meetup platform. You can still join future meetups - you only cancel your attendance for this meetup. 4. Speaker bios are submitted by the speakers themselves and reviewed only for basic accuracy. AI Meetup Copenhagen does not independently verify all information provided.

**Join us for an evening session about using Claude Code to support product work.** Discover how Claude Code can become your AI-powered co-pilot for product work. We'll demo and discuss practical ways to integrate it into your daily workflow - from discovery to delivery. **Examples of what we'll explore (depending on time):** * Prototype ideas and validate concepts * Analyze user research data, transcripts, and feedback * Generate PRDs, specs, and documentation * Build internal tools and dashboards **This session is for PMs who are:** * Curious about integrating gen AI tools (Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, etc.) into their workflows * Just getting started or already experimenting and want to compare approaches with peers * Looking for practical ideas to try back at work Come ready to learn, share, and leave with new techniques. **Agenda:** * ⏰ **Doors Open** · 16:40 * ⏰ **Doors Close ·** 17:00 * 👋 **Welcome & Introduction** · 17:00 * 🤖 **Demo: Using Claude Code as a Product Manager** · 17:10 * 💬 **Breakout Discussions** · 17:35 * ☕ **Coffee & Connection Break** · 18:05 * 📢 **Sharing Insights** · 18:15 * 🎉 **Wrap-up & Networking** · 18:40 * 🚪 **Close Doors** · 19:00

𝗥𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗡𝗢𝗪 for the 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 & 𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗽 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, on 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝘁𝗵, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 at 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗼𝗳𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝗻𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: **[https://lnkd.in/eejFeYiQ](https://lnkd.in/eejFeYiQ)** 𝐼𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑒, 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑦-𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑡, 𝑓𝑜𝑐𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑛 𝑀𝑖𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑜𝑓𝑡’𝑠 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑃𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐴𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠, 𝑓𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑠-𝑜𝑛 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 (𝑁𝐸𝑊), 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑛𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑦. 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: February 20 2026 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 09.00-16.00 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Microsoft, Kanalvej 7, 2800 Kongens Lyngby 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝟬𝟯 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀... 𝘀𝗼, 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁... **[Global Power Platform Bootcamp](https://www.linkedin.com/company/global-power-platform-bootcamp/)** **[Microsoft](https://www.linkedin.com/company/microsoft/)** \| **[Microsoft Power Platform Community](https://www.linkedin.com/company/microsoft-power-platform-community/)**

Welcome to a new AWS Meetup event for Copenhagen User Group. In collaboration with AWS, we are pleased to host a physical meetup at the new Copenhagen brand new AWS office in Vesteport, in an afternoon where you will hear main AWS Re:Invent Recap news. **Important** To access the venue is required to: 1. Register with your real name and lastname on this page: https://aws-experience.com/emea/north/e/9c1d0/reinvent-recap-copenhagen 2. On the day of the event, go to 5th floor, where reception is located, and show your ID card or yellow card to the receptionists. 3. After that, they will allow you to access the area where presentations will be hosted (6th floor). **What to Expect** AWS re:Invent 2025 showcased a lot of innovations and trends in cloud computing, in domains ranging from Generative AI and Machine Learning to Data and Analytics, Security and Identity and industry-specific solutions. We will try to cover as much ground as possible, but the agenda will be ultimately tailored to the profile of the attendees that registered for the session.

You are only confirmed when u have paid. Every one will be moved to waitlist, until payment is received. Playing 7v7. Already 5 registered (not here on meetup) 💰 Cost: 120 kr Mobilepay: 9539SH Revolut: revolut.me/frederwnn

Stop by and meet people in a positive and save space, very Friday at 8:30 pm just after our abstract workshop we start our **Speed Portrait and Cocktails event.** Before continuing your journey into the vibrant Copenhagen we invite you for a creative stop, to develop some quality interaction and create a truly hygge atmosphere in an artistic space. Set in a contemporary art gallery turned into a creative studio for the night, our **Speed portrait & cocktails** event blends with the city night life adding to Copenhagen artistic vibe and cozy atmosphere. An event that mixes caribbean hospitality, minimal aesthetic and Copenhagen coziness. As well we offer locals and temporary locals an artistic retreat from the intensity of the city. Note: Some materials are free but not the drinks.

Artwork by Mexican Artist Gabriel de la Mora from his solo exhibition at Fundación Jumex (Collected worned down shoe soles) Instagram profile: https://www.instagram.com/gabrieldelamora118?igsh=MTZpbXAwdnJ6YmFwcQ== http://gabrieldelamora.com The meetup lasts 2 full hours with optional overtime Before starting, you can find our table and leave your things so Lou can grab a drink at the café. Once we are all seated, we introduce ourselves and start cutting and pasting.
 • 1s hour- the first round of collage is called freestyle to help us warm up. No restrictions, start finding images to cut out and paste.
 • 2nd hour - for the second round, someone proposes some simple "trigger instructions".
In the end, we show our collages and appreciate the diversity of styles.
 • After the session, we have the option to extend it a bit to get a drink or some food we can bring or order food so we can hang out a bit more. (Mellemrummet is very relaxing regarding bringing your own food from home or other venues; there is a poke place right in front.) Everyone is free to do fewer or more collages as wished, the triggers and frameworks are only a reference. We dedicate some time to appreciating techniques, shapes, colours, and textures to learn and get inspired by each other. Alongside, we chat and relax.
These sessions are not a class but rather a community gathering. We try to nurture a friendly atmosphere and take care of each other. --
Logistics:
• Bring your tools - paper, scrapbook, scissors, cutter, glue, tape, magazines, books, etc. Have it at your side on the day.
• Buy your favourite drink and introduce yourself to the rest of the people, we are kind of an international mix of all ages.
--

**🚨 RSVP is open on Luma:** [https://luma.com/6e17269k](https://luma.com/6e17269k?utm_source=Meetup) 🚨 Subscribe to our Luma calendar for future events: [https://luma.com/bkproductdesign](https://luma.com/bkproductdesign) 🚨 **We will be moving our group off of Meetup after this event. Please join us on Luma and follow us on social media for event and group updates.** Join us for a night of talks and meeting fellow designers at BrainStation in Manhattan! This event is sponsored and hosted by BrainStation, the global leader in digital skills learning. To further support the Brooklyn Product Design community, BrainStation is thrilled to provide access to a number of scholarships for their bootcamps and courses ranging across UX Design, Software Engineering, Data Science, Product Management, Digital Marketing and more. [Sign up through this page](https://brainstation.io/partner/brooklyn-product-design) to learn more about the opportunity and a BrainStation Advisor will be in touch with you regarding next steps. **About BrainStation:** Founded in 2012, BrainStation works with industry leaders from the most innovative companies, developing cutting-edge digital education that has empowered more than 100,000 professionals and some of the largest corporations in the world. BrainStation's courses provide students with the skills employers are looking for in today’s job market. From the stunning SoHo campus, BrainStation trains thousands of professionals across New York every year, preparing them for the fastest-growing jobs in technology. **Schedule:** **6:30pm:** Check-in and mingle **7pm:** Event kickoff and intros **7:05pm:** Design, but make it real. with Julian Garcia **7:30pm:** Break **7:35pm:** The design process is dead. Here’s the new one. with Aleksei Kipin **8:00pm:** Continue networking at [Vig Bar](https://maps.app.goo.gl/G68Q9yHZcwsA5W8bA)! ▶️── 🔈 Talk 1 ──▶️ **Design, but make it real.** **​by Julian Garcia** Software design roles have emerged and expanded alongside shifting economic and organizational demands. In the early days of software, programmers handled nearly all aspects of product creation. Over time, specialized design roles formed around interaction, research, and experience, and today those roles are shifting once again. In this talk, I explore how design work is evolving as the use of code and generative AI tools become standard. **Julian Garcia** is a product designer and engineer based in New York. [Website](https://www.gooddesign2go.com/) \| [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/julian-garcia-click) ▶️── 🔈 Talk 2 ──▶️ **The design process is dead. Here’s the new one.** **by Aleksei Kipin** AI makes generating design options cheap and fast, breaking the old artifact-driven workflow. We’ll discuss what’s fading in the traditional process, what’s replacing it, and which skills matter most now. **Aleksei Kipin** is a Product Designer with nearly two decades of experience across graphic and product design. He has led teams at startups in Singapore and at a major tech company, and now works in New York on AI-driven recruiting products. [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kipin/) **🚨 RSVP is open on Luma:** [https://luma.com/6e17269k](https://luma.com/6e17269k?utm_source=Meetup) 🚨 Subscribe to our Luma calendar for future events: [https://luma.com/bkproductdesign](https://luma.com/bkproductdesign) 🚨 **We will be moving our group off of Meetup after this event. Please join us on Luma and follow us on social media for event and group updates.** +++ By attending our events, you are entering an area where photography, audio, and video recording may occur. We foster curiosity and connections through our events and are a harassment-free zone 💜 ​Tag and follow us **@bkproductdesign** on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/bkproductdesign) \| [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/bkproductdesign/) \| [YouTube Archives](https://www.youtube.com/@bkproductdesign) \| [productdesign.community/brooklyn](https://productdesign.community/brooklyn) \| brooklyn@productdesign\.community

Mingle, network, and imbibe with fellow UXers and whoever else wants to join. Everyone is welcome regardless of your levels! We're normally seated by the ATM at the back,. If you can't find us, ask the bartender. **Interested in sponsoring this event?** Contact Danny (one of the organizers) for our sponsorship rate card

Join up for an opportunity to work together on optimizing our sites. Have a site you'd like us to analyze? Add it here - [https://bit.ly/meet4speed-submit](https://bit.ly/meet4speed-submit) You can benefit even if you can't edit your site right now - we will be happy to share the knowledge. We'll all learn how to see what's slow and how to make it fast! Here is what you can learn: * Identify optimization opportunities using WebPageTest and Chrome DevTools * Become a master in reading the network waterfall. * Understand the most of the performance flame chart. * Learn the latest trends in measuring site speed. To be able to attend our events, you will need to show your ID at the security desk. Please make sure to provide your full name if your name on Meetup platform doesn't match your ID.

Join us for an interactive networking session designed specifically for Java enthusiasts. Meet new people, catch up with ones you know and grow your local Java community. We’ll kick things off with a fun, structured game/activity that makes it easy to break the ice, discover shared interests, and spark meaningful technical conversations. Come ready to participate, connect, and leave with new contacts and fresh perspectives. Hosted by Jeanne Sign up at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nyjavasig-online-networking-and-icebreaker-game-tickets-1982643222249?aff=oddtdtcreator to connect to the zoom

WE ARE BACK IN PERSON!

This event will be online at [YouTube](https://youtu.be/YL9RuBmoJEY) and in-person (New York City). **The speaker and live stream starts at 7:30 pm ET**. In-person attendees may arrive as early as 7 pm ET. If arriving late, please leave a comment on this page and someone will come down ASAP. **Description** This talk, from the perspective of speech pathologists who specialize in communication language, focuses on strategies and perspectives that support all people, with or without a clinical or therapeutic background, in meaningfully engaging with individuals who are non-speaking or minimally-speaking to uplift and celebrate their unique personalities as well as provide space and opportunity for autonomy, self-expression, and connection with others. They'll provide an overview of total communication to broaden understanding of how all individuals use different forms of communication depending on our anatomy, physiology, cognition, preferences, and personality, as well as how we may code-switch depending on the setting, context, and our current state. The importance of being an informed and welcoming communication partner will be discussed to broaden perspectives on the significance of human connection. They'll outline specific, language-based strategies and provide examples. Attendees will have an opportunity to practice self-awareness of their own preferred communication methods, handling discomfort when interactions may push those boundaries, and opening their minds to the idea that connection transcends speech! We'll cover: * What is AAC? (Many different forms) * Strategies such as attributing meaning and verbal referencing * Following someone's lead * Partner-Assisted Scanning (PAS) * Expressive, receptive, and social language * Self-awareness of preferred communication methods **Presenter bios** [Molly Ziegler](https://www.linkedin.com/in/molly-c-ziegler-89351b1a7/) is a communication enthusiast with a passion for assistive technology. She hails from a suburb of Chicago, IL, and loves her life in NYC as much as she loves her Midwestern roots. She specializes in finding creative ways for people of all abilities to access personally meaningful language for creative, self-expressive, social, and self-care purposes, with a specific interest in finding person-specific strategies that allow individuals to direct their care. She works with teenagers and young adults with multiple disabilities and medical complexities as well as their families and caregivers to ensure connection and communication across all environments using methods that are unique to each individual and support system. [Christina Lompado](https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-lompado-m-s-ccc-slp-tssld-atp-a291449b/) has worked in the field of assistive technology for over 8 years, servicing individuals with significant disabilities and complex communication needs. She is a speech and language pathologist and assistive technology provider conducting services in the educational and home settings. Christina has provided training to educational teams and therapy departments focusing on the implementation of a range of lite to high-technology devices, communication partner strategies, and material development for academic success. Christina is passionate about AAC, literacy, and access to communication all day, every day! **Accessibility** The presentation will have human captions [CC], not automatic captions. For ASL preferred speakers, learn about the [Aira ASL App](https://aira.io/aira-asl-app/), and download it before the event. For the Blind and Low Vision community, learn about the [Aira Explorer App](https://aira.io/aira-explorer-app/) and download it before the event. To access the online webinar for audio description, use the A11yNYC Access Offer to call, or simply inform your Visual Interpreter that you'd like that offer applied when you connect. For additional accessibility requirements, please email meryl@equalentry.com **two weeks** **before** the event. **Livestream** [YouTube link](https://youtu.be/YL9RuBmoJEY). Provided by Internet Society Accessibility SIG. **Location details** The event is on the 4th floor. Everyone must be accompanied to the event on the 4th floor. Because everyone needs to be escorted, please arrive early or on time. When you enter the ground floor, a representative from A11yNYC will be there to provide elevator access. The building is near several transit stops: 6 train * Spring Street (non-accessible stop): 100 feet * Canal Street (accessible stop): 0.4 miles NQRW trains * Prince Street (non-accessible stop): 0.2 miles * Canal Street (accessible stop): 0.3 miles M1 / M55 Bus lines * Broadway/Spring Street stop: 500 feet Cabs and rideshares can let passengers out right near the building entrance **Important note** Google Maps currently incorrectly pins the location around the corner on Crosby Street. The entrance is not on Crosby. The entrance is on Spring Street, inside the Marc Jacobs International building. It is roughly halfway between Crosby and Lafayette, almost directly across Spring Street from the Chipotle restaurant. **Accreditation** All A11yNYC meetups are pre-approved for IAAP Continuing Accessibility Education Credits (CAEC). **Sponsors** Thanks to [AKQA](https://www.akqa.com/), [Deque](https://www.deque.com/), [Evinced](https://www.evinced.com/), [Equal Entry](https://equalentry.com/), and [Fable](https://makeitfable.com/) for sponsoring. Want to be a sponsor? Contact meryl@equalentry.com