Nia

Covid Alert: We will start having classes again at Canal Park on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Please bring your own hand sanitizer, and mask are a must! We'll practice from a safe distance from each other; and progress from there. "DC Kali" is an official training group for FCS Kali. Our curriculum includes knifes, swords, stick-fighting, striking, and grappling; but we place a special emphasis on edged weapons. Please come out and learn some Kali. Our aim is to train hard, learn some sound defense strategies, and make friends along the way. Although FCS Kali is a combat-oriented systems that involves edged weapons, we provide a safe environment for learning w/o sacrificing realism in our training. We teach in small semi-private groups, allowing each individual student to progress as quickly as he or she can absorb the info being taught. Hope to see you all there. Mosi K. Jack, Esq. Training Group Instructor · FCS Manong (under Tuhon Ray Dionaldo) http://www.fcskali.com/ ) FCS Kali: Founded by Tuhon Ray Dionaldo,Filipino Combat Systems is an organization dedicated the preservation and promotion of all Filipino Martial Arts. Filipino Combat Systems(FCS) is an organization/system with members from around the world. FCS is based onTuhon Ray Dionaldo's over 35 years of practicing various FMA (Filipino Martial Arts) styles. He's combine elements of each, into one system that's efficient, fast, concise, and logical. FCS members have extremely diverse backgrounds, and Martial Arts systems. We’ve all come together because of our love of the Filipino Martial Arts, and our unwillingness to become involved in the politics that has so often stifled our growth. Please pick one of the following class and fee combos: Drop-In Fee: $25/per class (after 1st free Saturday class) Monthly fees: $80/month (Wednesday park classes included for free), or Quarterly fees: $210/every 3 months (which comes to $70/month; includes the Wednesday park classes), or Wednesday Park only: $50/month • Credit cards and Paypal are preferred method of payment (online payments via Square are available at: https://squareup.com/market/dc-kali ) • One free trial class is permitted (but must rsvp ahead of class) • Equipment: if you have training knives, rattan sticks, training swords, and/or mma gloves bring them. If not, we may have a few extra. Training Videos http://www.fcskaliphilippines.com/fcs-curriculum-videos.html http://www.bloodnbonesgear.com/id5.html

Girls Club MAY 13th WEDNESDAY “Weekly Run” @Smithsonian Metro (Mall Side) Washington, D.C. LADIES THIS IS A VERY RUNNING GROUP, PLEASE RSVP! Let's meet from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm on WEDNESDAY, MAY 13th for “Weekly Run” @Smithsonian Metro (Mall Side) in -Washington, D.C! This is a very popular run! PLEASE RSVP! We need RSVP 48-hours before the event to get a head count! We will all meet at 6:30PM at the Smithsonian for our weekly run! \*\*REQUIRED\*\*Must be Ages: 20s-30s \*\*REQUIRED\*\* RSVP Here! \*\*REQUIRED\*\*Join Meetup Club Here: [https://www.instagram.com/arlingtondcgirlsclub/](https://www.instagram.com/arlingtondcgirlsclub/) Girls-Club-20s-30s What: Weekly Running! Where: Smithsonian Metro (Mall Side) Washington, D.C. When: Friday, MAY 13th, 6:30pm - 8:30pm Train stations: Orange Line & Silver Line & Blue Line (Smithsonian Metro Train Stop) \*Mall Side SUMMER is ALMOST HERE!!! CHEERS!!! :)) \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*Disclosure\*\*\*\*\*\*\*If it rains, we will reschedule for the following week!

Join us for our May happy hour! For those that don't drink, the bar has mocktails and sodas. **Getting there:** * Punchbowl is on the end of the building, **across from South Block** We plan to be on the first floor bar, right when you walk in. * **Metro:** PB is a block and a half away from the Ballston Metro stop * **Parking:** there is street parking and the mall also offers really cheap parking. $1 an hour for the first three hours.

Come and join Northern Virginia porcelain artists. We will provide all the paints and materials needed. Just bring your smile and creativity. We paint from 10:00 am - 2:00pm every Tuesday & Wednesday. Please RSVP in advance if you like to join oir group. Text: 703-906-9150 We are located few minutes from Tyson’s corner in McLean.

KIZOMBA CLASSES in DC Welcome back to another Kizomba Progressive Sessions. Sessions Foundations: 7:00pm - 8:00pm Improvers/Intermediate 8:10pm - 9:10pm Cost: Foundations $90 (4 Sessions) Improver/Intermediate $$90 (4 Sessions) Combined Foundations + Improver $160 (Subject to teachers approval) Drop in rates are $25 per session or $40 if one takes both level 1&2 on the same day. * **Accepted forms of payment** Zelle: Ollovar.llc@gmail.com CashApp $oscarba20 Cash\, Credit\|Debit Cards accepted NO PAYPAL.

Enjoy a Guided Group Walk from the George Washington Memorial in Alexandria starting at 10 am. There is free parking at the Masonic building (101 Callahan Drive) and a terrific view. Learn more about the unique memorial at [https://gwmemorial.org](https://gwmemorial.org). Old Town Alexandria dates back to the start of our country. The trail goes along city and residential streets, past stately homes and through local parks along the Potomac River. The town is full of American history featuring our first President, George Washington, and Civil War families like the Lees. Pets aren't allowed on Masonic Temple Grounds but can be kept in your vehicle while you register and can be walked to and from your car once you are walking. The walk is $2 for non-members and guests to defray expenses for our sport and $4 for AVA walk credit. Please bring correct change in cash (e-payment is not possible). We feature curated walks by experienced members. Dogs and children are welcome but children under 18 must have a guardian present. Meet walk host Rob Grunewald by 9:45 am by the side entrance of the Masonic Temple to register, so we can leave by 10 am. For more info contact Rob Grunewald, grunewar@yahoo.com, (703) 303-5543. Come explore with us!

***Unemployment and Labor Exploitation Facing Black Women in DC*** Learning lessons from Black women in the Black Panther Party, local struggles in DC, and international liberation movements for alternatives As unemployment, unaffordability, and displacement continue to deepen across Washington, DC, Black women remain among the most exploited and economically marginalized sectors of the working class. These conditions are not accidental but rooted in a long history of racial capitalism that pushed Black women into low-paying, unstable labor while excluding them from wealth, protections, and economic control. This **Assata Shakur Popular Education (ASPE)** session will examine how the exploitation of Black women’s labor impacts entire communities, including the ability to care for families, the expansion of state surveillance through child welfare systems, and broader systems of incarceration and displacement. Drawing from the organizing traditions of Black women in the Black Panther Party, local struggles in DC, and international liberation movements, we will explore what democratic, participatory, and community-controlled alternatives could look like—from worker cooperatives and guaranteed childcare to women-led organizing structures capable of transforming our communities. *Food will be provided!* The ASPE are hybrid sessions with the option to participate via Zoom. **To join via Zoom use this link [https://tinyurl.com/africansstudy](https://tinyurl.com/africansstudy)**

We'll be screening Daughters of the Dust (1991) by L.A. Rebellion filmmaker Julie Dash as part of our monthly series. Bring a friend or join us solo! Water and non-alcoholic drinks provided on a first come first served basis! * **Icebreaker and intro at 2PM** * **Screening at 2:15 PM sharp with a group discussion to follow.** * **Remember to grab your name tag!** 🎥 **Movie Synopsis:** At the dawn of the 20th century, a family in the Gullah community of coastal South Carolina -- former West African slaves who adopted many of their ancestors' Yoruba traditions -- suffers a generational split. Young Haagar wants to move to the mainland away from tradition-bound matriarch Nana. **Run time:** 1h 52m **Themes:** Gullah-Geechee, Faith and Religion, Racism **Fun fact:** Beyonce's Lemonade was inspire by this film! / We hope to see you there!

**LOCATION CHANGE as of APRIL 1, 2026:** **Body Grace has moved to 133 Maple Avenue East, 3rd Floor, above the Bear Branch Tavern.** Whether you're new to Insight meditation or an advanced practitioner looking for like-minded people to sit with, you're welcome to join us at our Sunday morning drop-in group, sponsored by the Insight Meditation Community of Washington. Insight meditation cultivates our natural wisdom and compassion. Meditation practice develops concentration, which allows us to calm and steady the mind. This class includes a 30-minute lightly-guided meditation, followed by a short talk and time for questions and discussion. The size of the group usually runs somewhere between 25-40 people in-person and between 12-25 online. Chairs are provided, or you may bring a sitting cushion or bench. You may also use the blankets and bolsters offered by the yoga studio. **We offer both in-person and online attendance.** To learn more about our topics and teachers, view our videos or **get the Zoom link**, visit our [class page](https://imcw.org/event/?eventId=735&utm_source=MeetUp&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=vienna-drop-in).

Network with an average of 60+ business professionals, all attendees get an opportunity to give a 30 second elevator pitch, enjoy a light breakfast, 10 minute educational presentation on topics that change weekly, and enjoy networking before and after the meet up.

Covid Alert: We will start having classes again at Canal Park on Wednesdays and the dojo on Saturdays. Please bring your own hand sanitizer, and a mask are a must! We'll practice from a safe distance from each other; and progress from there. On Saturdays, class is limited to the first 5 persons to rsvp (until further notice) "DC Kali" is an official training group for FCS Kali. Our curriculum includes knifes, swords, stick-fighting, striking, and grappling; but we place a special emphasis on edged weapons. Please come out and learn some Kali. Our aim is to train hard, learn some sound defense strategies, and make friends along the way. Although FCS Kali is a combat-oriented systems that involves edged weapons, we provide a safe environment for learning w/o sacrificing realism in our training. We teach in small semi-private groups, allowing each individual student to progress as quickly as he or she can absorb the info being taught. Hope to see you all there. Mosi K. Jack, Esq. Training Group Instructor · FCS Manong (under Tuhon Ray Dionaldo) http://www.fcskali.com/ ) Filipino Combat Systems is an organization dedicated the preservation and promotion of all Filipino Martial Arts. Filipino Combat Systems(FCS) is an organization/system with members from around the world. FCS is based on Tuhon Ray Dionaldo's over 35 years of practicing various FMA (Filipino Martial Arts) styles. He's combine elements of each, into one system that's efficient, fast, concise, and logical. FCS members have extremely diverse backgrounds, and Martial Arts systems. We’ve all come together because of our love of the Filipino Martial Arts, and our unwillingness to become involved in the politics that has so often stifled our growth. Please pick one of the following class and fee combos: Drop-In Fee: $25/per class (after 1st free Saturday class) Monthly fees: $80/month (Wednesday park classes included for free), or Quarterly fees: $210/every 3 months (which comes to $70/month; includes the Wednesday park classes), or Wednesday Park only: $50/month • Cash and Paypal are preferred method of payment (online payments via Square are available at: https://squareup.com/market/dc-kali ) • One free trial class is permitted (but must rsvp ahead of class) • Equipment: if you have training knives, rattan sticks, training swords, and/or mma gloves bring them. If not, we may have a few extra. Training Videos http://www.fcskaliphilippines.com/fcs-curriculum-videos.html http://www.bloodnbonesgear.com/id5.html

Let go of the week and welcome the weekend. Join master teacher Ann Kite **in person every Friday** at 8pm for a dynamic, deeply embodied release. Each week, 60–75 people gather to dance together in a supportive, spirited community. Ann has held this group for years, creating a **safe space to sweat, shift, and soften** the ego’s grip so the freer, wilder, more alive part of you can come through. Movement is for everyone, whether you’ve danced for years or are brand new. This **isn’t about performing or getting the “right” steps.** It’s about tuning into your body’s natural rhythms, finding freedom in stillness and motion, and remembering what it feels like to be fully alive. Whether you’re seeking connection, healing, or simply a fresh perspective, you’re **welcome exactly as you are**. Movement is the doorway. We’ll guide you the rest of the way. **Purchase tickets:** [https://www.annkite.com/letgo](https://www.annkite.com/letgo) \*\*\*\*\*Feb 27, Apr 1, Jun 26, Aug 28, and Oct 9, will be led by a substitute teacher as Ann will be away leading a retreat on those dates.

**Our May novel is: *The Quiet Librarian* by Allen Eskens** **This month’s book is set in the 20th century and mixes historical fiction with suspense and thriller elements. It also centers on women’s stories and relationships. The novel is 368 pages in print or 8 hours and 12 minutes on audiobook.** Hana Babic is a quiet, middle-aged librarian in Minnesota who wants nothing more than to be left alone. But when a detective arrives with the news that her best friend has been murdered, Hana knows that something evil has come for her, a dark remnant of the past she and her friend had shared. Thirty years before, Hana was someone else: Nura Divjak, a teenager growing up in the mountains of war-torn Bosnia—until Serbian soldiers arrived to slaughter her entire family before her eyes. The events of that day thrust Nura into the war, leading her to join a band of militia fighters, where she became not only a fierce warrior but a legend—the deadly Night Mora. But a shattering final act forced Nura to flee to the United States with a bounty on her head\*\*.\*\*

It's official, submissions for "Resistance, Resilience, Utopia" are are on their way from being independent pieces to becoming the second volume of gINKgo. This year we are going to have a launch party at Birdie Books on May 15th from 6-8pm open to the whole community! Come on over and help us support the creators with food, drinks, art, writing, open mic, music, community activities and more.

**Let’s have lunch and have some extra fun! Bring your favorite game! 🥳**

Customer identity resolution becomes increasingly complex as organizations scale across multiple systems, regions, and data formats. Traditional rule-based approaches often fail to keep up with data variability, require constant manual tuning, and struggle with real-time processing needs. This session presents a practical approach to building a scalable identity resolution pipeline using AWS services and modern AI techniques. The architecture combines data ingestion through Amazon S3 and AWS Glue, transformation pipelines using Spark on EMR, and machine learning models deployed via SageMaker for entity matching and standardization. Graph-based relationship modeling is implemented using Amazon Neptune to improve resolution accuracy by incorporating household and shared attribute context. We will walk through how machine learning models can be used for name and address normalization, how intelligent blocking strategies improve matching efficiency, and how feedback loops can be introduced to continuously improve accuracy. The session also highlights how serverless components such as AWS Lambda can be used for orchestration and real-time processing. **SPEAKER BIO** Mosaic Syed is a Senior Data Engineering and Cloud Solutions Architect with over 20 years of experience designing and delivering scalable, secure, and high-performance data solutions across global enterprise environments. https://www.linkedin.com/in/mosaic-basha-syed-92300856 **CALL FOR SPEAKERS** Learn more: [https://www.awscolumbus.com/get-involved/](https://www.awscolumbus.com/get-involved/) **THANK YOU** *VEEAM* for hosting our meetup! To learn more about *Veeam*, please visit their website: [https://www.veeam.com/](https://www.veeam.com/) **DIRECTIONS** 8800 Lyra Dr #450 · Columbus, OH go to 4th floor. **Want to sponsor the pizza and/or bar tab?** Please contact me if you would like to sponsor this meetup's pizza and/or bar tab: angelo@mandato.com

Main Library, Meeting Room 2B Join us for a welcoming evening of reflection, gentle music, and meaningful conversation. We’ll begin with a short grounding moment, followed by a brief reading from spiritual or philosophical traditions, and an open reflection circle where participants can share (or simply listen). Libera Animae is an interfaith community focused on inner growth, creativity, and authentic connection. All backgrounds are welcome.