Local Economy

Event is 21+ http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/a/1/d/1/600_443321425.jpeg

Join me, local author and educator Valerie D. Johnson, for a book signing and meet-and-greet! Bring family and friends to meet me, hear the inspiration behind my books, take photos, and purchase signed copies. Make an afternoon of it—purchase delicious bites and specialty drinks while you browse, read, and celebrate books, learning, and community. I look forward to meeting you there! Learn more: * Website: [westoaklanekids](https://www.westoaklanekids.com/) * Math Champions for Kids: [Gift Books to Title I Schools](https://www.gofundme.com/gift-books-to-title-i-schools?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

The Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB) leads the DMV region’s efforts to provide equitable access to food and opportunity to people struggling with hunger and food insecurity. Each year, it sources and distributes the food for over 45 million meals. Let's aim for a group of **12 volunteers** on June 27th to help sort and distribute food donations to visitors in need with CAFB at their Arlington Marketplace! **To join, you must RSVP and message me (Ryan) as soon as possible with your email address so I can add you onto the ADAG volunteer team.** Only those who are registered via this process will be officially on our team. Volunteer spots are limited so we can only take 12 and will have to forfeit even some of those spots if we have an excess available close to the date. **Please be committed to joining us if you register!** Additional info from their website: *Volunteers will help provide emergency groceries to residents of Northern Virginia at the CAFB Community Marketplace. This volunteer experience involves some heavy lifting and lots of standing and walking. The marketplace is located at Arlington Mill Community Center; 909 S. Dinwiddie St., Arlington, VA 22204. We are in particular need of Spanish speakers at this market.* Link to the organization's volunteer website if you want to learn more: [https://volunteer.capitalareafoodbank.org/](https://volunteer.capitalareafoodbank.org/) As always, the hangout may continue elsewhere afterwards if our collective so deems it. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- If you have Instagram, you can check out our account at asiandiningandadventuregroup for photos and announcements of group outings!

This offering, *Rest. Restore. Reconnect: When Slowing Down Feels Hard*, was born from a truth I know intimately — that rest isn’t always easy. That stillness can feel unfamiliar. That slowing down can bring us face-to-face with everything we’ve been carrying. **And yet… it’s also where the healing begins.** **[REGISTER HERE](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rest-restore-reconnect-3-week-yin-restorative-popup-yoga-experience-tickets-1988229785811?aff=oddtdtcreator)** **DROP INS: $20.00 PER SESSION** **ALL THREE SESSIONS: $60.00** **TWO FOR ONE ALL THREE SESSIONS: $70.00 (invite a friend)** **DATES: Saturday, June 13, Saturday, June 20, and Saturday, June 27** **TIMES: 10 AM - 11 AM** Over the course of three Saturdays, we’ll gather in a space at the **Black Owned Teahouse: [Adjourn Teahouse](https://adjournteahouse.com) in Lanham, MD,** intentionally curated for softness, support, and gentle return. Through yin + restorative yoga therapy, you’ll be guided to release tension, regulate your nervous system, and reconnect with your body in a way that feels safe and sustainable. This is not about doing more. This is about allowing yourself to *be*. And because your experience matters beyond the mat, each session will close with a beautiful tea time — a moment to integrate, connect, and savor. There will be other thoughtful touches woven throughout… little surprises to deepen your experience and make each gathering feel like a retreat from the noise of everyday life. If you’ve been feeling stretched, overwhelmed, or disconnected… If your body has been asking you to slow down, but you haven’t known how… This space was created with you in mind. **[REGISTER HERE](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rest-restore-reconnect-3-week-yin-restorative-popup-yoga-experience-tickets-1988229785811?aff=oddtdtcreator)** **DROP INS: $20.00 PER SESSION** **ALL THREE SESSIONS: $60.00** **TWO FOR ONE ALL THREE SESSIONS: $70.00 (invite a friend)** **DATES: Saturday, June 13, Saturday, June 20, and Saturday, June 27** **TIMES: 10 AM - 11 AM** ALL ARE WELCOMED Limited spots available — because intimacy, presence, and care are at the heart of this experience. I can’t wait to hold space for you 🌿✨

Farmers Market in the College Park Mom's Organic Parking lot. Address: 9801 Rhode Island Ave, College Park, MD 20740 Time: 10 am to 2 pm.

heading to Misha's coffee in old town due to weather forecast!

*A series of pop-up arcades of locally-made games!* The Washington, D.C. Chapter of the International Game Developers Association (IGDA DC) has partnered with the D.C. Public Library to host a series of showcases at library branches across the city. **At these showcases you can come play games made by local developers and learn about how those games were made!** Saturday, June 27, 2026 1-5pm Dorothy I. Height/Benning Neighborhood Library 3935 Benning Rd NE, Washington, DC 20019 (Near the Minnesota Avenue Metro Station) Family-friendly and appropriate for all ages (recommended for children ages 7 and up mainly because video game controllers are hard for younger children to use.) Come out and support your local community of game developers!

**Want to help bring your city’s community together?** We’re looking for local hosts to organize small group lunches, evening drinks, mixers, movie get-togethers and curated experiences. **No experience necessary,** just a friendly attitude, some local knowledge, and a willingness to meet a few new people. After each event, we’ll send a short feedback form so we can improve and support you. The host will also be able to provide feedback so we can learn what worked and what didn't. **[Click here](https://form.questionscout.com/6926c9ab87a828a5c11a79fc)** to apply and get started: if you’re selected, we’ll reach out for a quick screening call.

D.C.’s healthcare system, like the rest of the U.S., is profit-driven and structurally racist. Black residents—especially those east of the Anacostia River—suffer from higher rates of chronic illness and maternal mortality and life expectancy gaps of over 15 years compared to white residents. Pan-African Community Action (PACA) has launched a revolutionary survival program to provide practical services while building political power. **[The People’s Pan-African Wellness Front (PPWF)](https://pacapower.org/our-work/programs/ppwf/)** is a community-based grassroots program led by PACA to confront the health disparities impacting African/Black working-class communities in Southeast Washington, D.C. Inspired by revolutionary legacies like the Black Panther Party’s People’s Free Medical Clinics and the Cuban healthcare model, this program seeks to deliver immediate relief while organizing toward long-term self-determination and community control of health. The PPWF will provide: * Free high blood pressure screenings * Free glucose tests (diabetes screening) (available upon request) * Free hygiene products and medical supplies * Free health information and guidance for preventative care As well as political education on community control of health and radical health programs, including the Black Panther Party’s Free Medical Clinics and the Lincoln Detox Center. Medical professionals will also be available to answer health-related questions. Come out March 22nd either to receive services and/or to learn how to come involved with later phases of the program to scale up services, expand into more neighborhoods, and anchor broader campaigns around community control. This effort is part of PACA’s broader strategy to build forums for participatory democracy and build a mass movement for power. *This is more than a health program—it’s a step toward Black self-determination. We welcome healthcare workers, students, community members, and all who are ready to organize, learn, and build power*.

Welp, it's official. I'm moving to Taiwan on June 30. It would be great to see everyone before I go!

We’re not just bringing it back… we’re turning it ALL THE WAY UP. Disco Night 1.0 was a movie. Packed dance floor. Nonstop energy. People didn’t want to leave. Now we run it back - bigger, louder, and even more electric. Fernando is taking over the music again, dropping hit after hit from his signature playlist. No breaks. No slow moments. Just pure dance-floor energy from start to finish. Lights. Music. Movement. That moment when your “one song” turns into five more. If you were there last time - you already know what’s coming. If you missed it - don’t make the same mistake twice. This is not a stand-around event. This is a show up, move, and lose track of time kind of night. Social Sips & Bites… we’re taking over the dance floor again.

Greetings from the capital! Every Saturday at 7:30 PM, people from all walks of life — students, diplomats, travelers, locals — gather to unwind and connect. [[Click this whatsapp groupchat link to join](https://chat.whatsapp.com/JFESzopY1OgJ5z4r3RINfL)] Our age range is mostly 20s to 30s. If you enjoy discussing culture, politics, travel, or just want to practice a new language, this group is for you. A perfect blend of diversity and dialogue, right in the heart of D.C.

**🎉 Book Swap: Bring Your Books to the West End Neighborhood Library! 📚** 📅 **Date:** Sunday, June 28th 2026 🕒 **Time:** 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM 📍 **Location:** West End Neighborhood Library - 2301 L St NW, Washington, DC 20037 Conference Room 2 **Agenda:** * **2:00 PM - 2:30 PM** \- Check\-in and chat * **2:30 PM - 2:45 PM** \- Introductions * **2:45 PM - 4:00 PM** \- Book swap **Please note**: * Gently used books are ideal for swapping. * If a book you bring isn’t swapped, you are responsible for taking it home. * This is a “stay-and-swap” event, so please join with the intention of engaging and connecting with the group.

### America’s food & music festival is an only-in-DC moment The Giant National Capital BBQ Battle is an experience that could only take place in Washington, DC, where the country’s culinary traditions unfold against the backdrop of the U.S. Capitol and the National Mall. The festival embodies an “Only in DC” spirit as it offers visitors from around the world a chance to savor barbecue shaped by America’s diverse cultural roots in the nation's capital. ### BBQ teams from across the country will compete Top pitmasters and celebrity chefs from all over the U.S. fire up their smokers to battle for national bragging rights and more than $50,000 in cash and prizes. From Memphis ribs to Carolina pulled pork and everything in between, you can taste regional specialties from some of the best barbecue vendors in the business at the festival. There are many different things to do at this event, follow the link below for a full description. The exact location will be determined on the day of event. https://dc250.us/events/giant-national-capital-bbq-battle

Monthly working lunch for Columbus business owners. One specific topic, one to three actions you can run this week. You can be the best at what you do and still be invisible. If local buyers cannot find you, the phone does not ring. Marketing Monday Lunch + Learn is a monthly working lunch for Columbus business owners focused on building relationships, local networking, and local marketing. Every kind of local business welcome. No pitch round, no pressure, no upsell. **This month** Most local businesses pick one or two places to be visible and call it good. The result is inconsistent calls and a feeling that marketing is not working. We will walk through the three places every local business needs to show up, plus the fourth place most owners ignore that quietly produces the warmest leads. **What to expect** Doors open at noon. Order lunch and drinks at the cafe counter or bring your own. You get real conversation with other local owners and a focused marketing lesson. You leave knowing people and with one to three actions to run that week. The room is reserved through 1:30 PM. **Who this is for** Any local business owner who wants clearer marketing direction and real local relationships. Service businesses, retail, home services, professional services, online owners building local presence, anyone serious about being part of the Columbus business community. **Not the right fit if** You are here to pitch the room or recruit for an MLM. **Details** * Second Monday of every month * 12:00 to 1:30 PM * Good Cafe Easton, 4400 Easton Commons, Ste 150, Columbus, OH 43219 * Order lunch and drinks at the counter when you arrive * Free to attend, RSVP required, space is limited **About the host** Rita Suzanne is a local marketing strategist and the founder of Local Marketing Method. She runs Visibility is Profitability, the membership where local business owners build the system that keeps their phone ringing. Learn more at learnlocalmarketing.com. Register here: [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1989964540509?aff=oddtdtcreator](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1989964540509?aff=oddtdtcreator)

This is an in-person meeting. Would you like to know the Real You, not just a shadow of yourself? Does your life energy feel somehow trapped within? Does your self-confidence get easily shaken? Do you get in the way of your own goals? We will discuss the real source of all this, what holds you back in life, and how to handle it so you can achieve more successful and happier living. Perhaps you get weighed down with negative emotions you can't seem to shrug off. Or find yourself doing strange and irrational things - not really being yourself. We will cover why that is and tools that work to help you unearth your self, your self-confidence and motivation. This meeting will help you learn about how to effectively overcome: -Out-of-control unwanted emotions -Low self-esteem -Anxiety -Negativity -Stress -Irrational fears -Traumatic or painfully emotional incidents -Breakups -Betrayals -Feeling like you're not really yourself -Self-doubt... We will discuss how to unleash the inner you and tap into your true potential. So come to this online meetup! This meeting is sponsored by the Hubbard Dianetics Foundation of Central Ohio

🚀 **Go Fully Remote in 14 Days — Remote Ready — The fastest route to working from anywhere.** *A bootcamp built by people who have made the transition themselves* For professionals ready to build an income that is not tied to a single postcode, this bootcamp was designed to get you there faster than going it alone. With daily structured sessions over two weeks, you build a replicable system for earning remotely from wherever you want to be. **⚠️ Important:** Clicking rsvp does not complete your registration, so use the link below to register and secure your spot in the session — spaces are purposely limited so move fast, and only a completed sign-up confirms your attendance. ### [🔗 SIGN UP NOW](https://aiventurelab.org/product/RemoteReadyBootcamp?city=Columbus&groupurlname=club-of-bold-book-discussions-and-socials&startgmtdatetime=2026-06-27T22:00:00Z) --- **14-day outcomes:** - Practical frameworks for building income that follows you wherever you go - A step-by-step blueprint for replacing office income with remote income - The mindset and methods to sustain remote income long after the bootcamp ends - The tools and workflows that keep remote professionals productive globally Your office is optional — claim your seat and follow the plan that thousands have used before you, since small groups mean real results not just big presentations. 🗺️ *Choose your city. Keep your earnings.*

Do you want more motivation and confidence to build Lasting Relationships? This is a free, in-person meeting on the subject of betrayals, losses and how to get over them so you can build lasting relationships. Are you burdened by a stressful relationship? Unhealthy relationships can trigger feelings of anger, despair or self-doubt. They can create dwindling spirals of fights and seeking to make-up, or trying to “pin the blame” on someone or something. If you don’t find the RIGHT reasons, or select the correct sources of the problem, the problem can just get worse and worse. Whether in love or personal ties, with friends or at work, our life really IS affected by the quality of our relationships. Good ones can promote pleasure and survival, while less optimum ones can lead to annoyance, anger, self-doubt, stress, or even affect our health and ability to survive well. Whether you are suffering from a divorce, or a painful break-up, don’t know who to trust (or who to CHOOSE) as a partner, friend, boss or employee - the anxiety of relationship troubles can really make a mess of things. Maybe you’ve suffered a betrayal, or are dealing with hostility or criticalness or invalidation. Dwindling relationships can involve destructive behavior, where we hurt those we love, or start succumbing to self-destructive thoughts, attitudes or behaviors that spiral out of control and affect much more than our immediate relationship. Past losses in love or life can affect how we act or react to new people and situations and hold us back from even starting to create new, possibly great relationships! How can one get back onto a saner course of action? Come to our Meetup, where we can introduce you to some of the knowledge, tools and techniques of the breakthroughs in the field of the mind that we can apply to this ever important area of life: human relationships! Break free from self imposed limitations Here we will discuss: • How to “erase” the trauma of past hurts and betrayals so that one isn’t always repeating past mistakes. • Why and how do the negative emotions of others affect you? • Why is my partner withdrawing and what can I do about it? • Why do we sometimes feel compelled to hurt the ones we love? • Fights & arguments - what's really behind them? • What underlies “corrosive criticism” or the need to invalidate self or others? • How one can stably change one’s outlook on life so they can affect positive change? • Where do compulsive destructive behaviors come from and what can be done about them? • How to form closer bonds & keep growing the relationships with the people you care about? • How to enhance one’s own ability to survive and create positive healthy relationships whether in love, family & friendships or in work, business or one’s career? Relationships can be hard and life itself IS challenging. Why not arm yourself with the knowledge and breakthroughs that have been made about the mind, mental reactions & interpersonal relationships, so that one has better awareness and control over themselves and life in general. Learn where painful experiences are “stored” and how they can unknowingly affect us. You will also find out how one can “erase” those past painful experiences so that one is free to move forward without being tripped up by the past. Learn too, about what can lead some people to become “toxic” personalities and how to identify those traits in others so you won’t be tripped up trusting the wrong person. Our free Meet-ups occur in a safe environment where one can learn, without fear of judgment or criticism, and without the recommendation of harmful mental techniques or therapies, just how YOU can get yourself onto a happier & more successful path: in love & in life. Be sure to click on the red "Attend" button below to come to this local event. We look forward to seeing you there. This class is held at the Dianetics and Scientology Life Improvement Center.

**[Official registration site --> https://luma.com/du41v0tg](https://luma.com/du41v0tg)** **[You must register and will receive an approval/confirmation](https://luma.com/du41v0tg).** We’re taking HustleBus from Columbus to **Black Tech Week in Cincinnati** for a high-signal, founder-only experience focused on community, collaboration, and momentum. ​ **Why Black Tech Week?** ​Black Tech Week is one of the best rooms in Ohio to meet builders, operators, investors, and ecosystem leaders. Expect meaningful connections, great energy, and programming that spotlights founders and what’s being built. ​ What’s included (thank you to our sponsors Huntington Bank, Burton D Morgan Foundation, and Lightship Foundation) * ​Founder-only HustleBus transportation (free) * ​**Black Tech Week ticket comped** for HustleBus participants (must register with code) * And much more! There are limited seats on the Hustle Bus, so if this sounds like something you want to get in on, register today * Learn more and Register here --> [https://luma.com/du41v0tg](https://luma.com/du41v0tg)

Feeling down? Sometimes depressed? Can't focus? Negativity & stress? Recent losses? Creativity in career and personal life hindered by mental blocks? Sometimes we never fully recover from traumatic experiences. Whether it was yesterday, last week or a year ago, traumatic experiences - a loss of a loved one, losing a job, a breakup - can leave you scarred. You talk about it and feel a little better, but it never goes away. After you hang up the phone, it's still there; the sadness, the cloud, the over-thinking, the worry, the guilt. You try to focus, but you're blocked. You try to look forward into new experiences, new relationships but a cloud is hanging over you, casting a shadow on what you once considered a bright, cheerful future. What happened to your courage? Your strength of character? You're 'why not' attitude? Whoever said 'time heals' must have had a special time machine, because after weeks, months, years, you're wondering - when exactly does that kick in? Sometimes it seems like drinking or drugs are the way to go. But they wear off, and now the problem is still there with added side effects from the drugs. At this free local Meetup event we will talk about: * What causes grief, anxiety and depression to become chronic. * Is it possible to regain your joy and happiness even after traumatic experiences? * How to break away from negativity and focus on the future * What are the steps to take to get control of your mind and your emotions? Learn about a safe, gentle, do-it-yourself counseling that can be done in the comfort of your own home. Let's explore safe, effective solutions for healing from traumatic experiences. Be sure to click on the red "Attend" button below to come to the event. We look forward to seeing you there. This group is sponsored by the Dianetics & Scientology Life Improvement Center.

Our next much-awaited **COLUMBUS** meetup is **Tuesday June 30th from 7-10 pm EST at ACE OF CUPS**. Meet patients, cultivators, processors, dispensary managers/staff, physicians, home growers, educators, activists, nonprofits, artists, attorneys, business owners, writers, students, and supporters to network, share our knowledge, collaborate, support each other and make new ones! Hope you will be there too! Save the date and pass the word. **Please RSVP** so we know who is coming and how many to expect. Find us to say hi and we will introduce you to others. We should be easy to spot. (The happy-looking group wearing cool nametags! See photos from our past events.) Sign in, grab a name tag, start your own bar/food tab, meet old friends and make new ones! Everyone is welcome. SEE YOU THERE!