Strategic Philanthropy

**Hello PyData People!** We are excited to announce our **second event of 2026**! This time, we will be hosted at **iliad Italia**'s headquarters in Milan for an evening dedicated to AI at scale—ranging from Foundation Models for credit risk to sovereign and open-source data architectures. 📅 **When:** Wednesday, February 18, 2026 📍 **Where:** iliad Italia, Viale Francesco Restelli, 1A, 20124 · Milano **⚠️ Important:** Spots are limited. Please keep your RSVP updated to allow others to participate if you can no longer attend. *** ## 🕒 Agenda * **18:30:** 🚪 Doors open & Check-in * **19:00:** 🎤 **Talk 1:** Open Source & Sovereign Architecture – Riccardo Lorenzon * **19:45:** 🎤 **Talk 2:** Klarna’s Foundation Model – Valeria Verzi, Sudhakar Periyasamy, Goran Dizdarevic * **20:30:** 🍕 **Networking & Aperitivo** offered by Iliad! *** ## 🎤 The Talks ## 1️⃣An Open Source and Sovereign Architecture for Data, ML and AI **Speaker:** Riccardo Lorenzon (Head of Data @ iliad Italia) Iliad Group invests billions in sovereign AI ecosystems, open-source tech, and low-carbon data centers to reduce reliance on non-European providers and bolster Europe's technological autonomy. True to Iliad Group's 'make-over-buy' culture of full control, iliad Italia is building a data architecture in a hybrid on-prem and Scaleway (Iliad Group cloud) setup, combining open-source tech and managed services. This powers data management, self-service analytics, and ML/AI use cases for our 12m+ user base and 1000+ employees. During this speech, we will guide you through the tech journeys we have built and are building. **About the Speaker:** Riccardo Lorenzon serves as Head of Data at iliad Italia, where he works on evolving the data function into a modern setup covering the full data value chain from sources to business decisions. He previously led data teams at Vedrai, an AI startup, and Whirlpool EMEA, handling projects in analytics, machine learning, and cloud platforms across areas like consumer service, supply chain, and sales. With a Master’s in Mathematical Engineering from Politecnico di Milano and studies at ETH Zürich, he combines a hands-on approach to delivery with a strong focus on strategic value for the business. *** ## 2️⃣ Building the Klarna Foundation Model: A Unified Transformer for Customer Behavior Modeling at Scale **Speaker:** Valeria Verzi (Principal Data Scientist @ Klarna), Sudhakar Periyasamy, Goran Dizdarevic In this session, we introduce Klarna’s Foundation Model (KFM): a lightweight Transformer trained on more than 130 million customer events to learn a unified representation of customer behavior. Rather than building separate, task-specific models, KFM operates as a common sequence-modeling backbone that encodes behavioral patterns across different touchpoints of a customer’s interaction history with Klarna. We will walk through the technical design of the system, including event tokenization, sequence construction, and Transformer architecture, as well as how the learned embeddings are exposed as a shared layer for multiple downstream use cases. Attendees will gain a concrete understanding of how foundation models can be applied to behavioral sequence data in fintech, and how a single model can serve as a reusable, extensible representation layer across heterogeneous modeling tasks. **About the Speaker:** Valeria Verzi is a Principal AI Scientist at Klarna, where she leads the development of next-generation models, from foundation models to advanced deep learning or agentic systems. She has nearly a decade of experience applying machine learning to high-stakes decisioning across fintech and insurance. Before her current role, Valeria served as Klarna’s Head of Data Science for Fraud Prevention. Prior to Klarna, she held senior data science roles at Generali and NTT Data. Valeria holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science Engineering from Politecnico di Milano. *** See you there! 🚀 *The PyData Milano Team*

Calling all founders, operators, and startup ecosystem players!Whether you’re a pool regular or just enjoy a good game and better conversations, join us for an evening of pool, relaxed competition, and meaningful networking. This is a social night where the strategy and focus of pool meet the energy of the startup world. No pitches, no panels — just good games, sharp minds, and authentic connections. Because some of the best ideas (and partnerships) start away from desks and screens. 🎯 What to Expect Casual Pool Games & Mini Matches — Open to all levels, beginners very welcome. Founder-to-Founder Connections — Meet fellow founders, VCs, operators, and creatives in a laid-back setting. Drinks & Conversations — Easy networking, real talk, no awkward name-tag vibes. Fun Challenges & Small Surprises — Friendly competition, nothing too serious (except pride 😉). 💸 PricingPay on the spot at the end, based on time played (around €10/hour per person). Whether you come to play, connect, or just unwind with people who get the startup life, this night is about building community through sport and play. **You can register here too to receive updates - [https://luma.com/uou49hef](https://luma.com/uou49hef)**

Unisciti a *Voci Insieme per Spartito Preso*, il coro amatoriale aperto a chiunque ami cantare, indipendentemente dall’esperienza! Se hai l’età che vuoi, i gusti musicali che vuoi, i capelli che vuoi e la vita che vuoi… scrivici per far parte di un gruppo di anime e voci belle! Ogni mercoledì alle 20 ci incontriamo al CFUP di Viale Monza 140 (Milano) per cantare insieme brani pop, soul, musical, folk e gospel – in italiano e in inglese – con arrangiamenti a più voci. Non serve saper leggere la musica o avere una “voce da solista”: basta la voglia di mettersi in gioco, divertirsi e condividere la passione per il canto in un ambiente accogliente, rispettoso e inclusivo. 🎵 **Cosa offriamo:** * Canzoni emozionanti e coinvolgenti * Arrangiamenti semplici e d'effetto * Un gruppo affiatato e aperto * Un momento settimanale tutto per te * Crescita musicale e umana, insieme 🌈 **Per chi:** Per chi canta sotto la doccia, a squarciagola in macchina o al karaoke, e vuole farlo con altre persone che amano cantare senza giudizio. Età dai 20 ai 65 anni, provenienze diverse, spiriti affini. Scrivici per info su costi e canzoni da imparare!

**Vuoi migliorare la tua capacità di parlare in pubblico, ma non sai da dove iniziare?** Unisciti a noi per una serata energica e stimolante con **The Xplorers Toastmasters Club Milano**. Che tu sia un manager, uno studente o semplicemente una persona che vuole vincere la paura del public speaking, questa è la serata giusta per te. **📅 COSA ASPETTARSI:** I nostri incontri sono divisi in tre parti dinamiche: 1. **Discorsi Preparati:** I nostri soci presentano discorsi su vari argomenti per allenare le loro skill (Storytelling, body language, struttura). 2. **Improvvisazione (Table Topics):** La parte più divertente! Esercizi di 1-2 minuti per imparare a pensare velocemente. * *Nota:* Anche gli ospiti possono provare a buttarsi, ma **solo se lo desiderano**. Nessuno ti forzerà! 3. **Valutazioni:** Ogni speaker riceve un feedback costruttivo per capire cosa ha fatto bene e cosa può migliorare. **🎒 COSA PORTARE:** * Non serve portare nulla di specifico (penna e quaderno se vuoi prendere appunti). * Porta solo la tua curiosità e, se vuoi, un amico! **📍 COME TROVARCI:** Ci riuniamo presso **OiT** in **Via Nicola Antonio Porpora, 14** (Zona Loreto/Città Studi) ogni 1° e 3° mercoledì del mese. * Arriva verso le **19:00** per fare due chiacchiere e prendere posto. Iniziamo puntualissimi alle 19:15! **🎟️ COSTI:** L'ingresso per gli ospiti è **GRATUITO al 100%**. Ti aspettiamo per una serata di crescita e divertimento! A mercoledì! 👋

A creative and mystical journey into your heart and inner world. This soulful, hands-on workshop invites you to explore your personal love story — whether it unfolds in partnership, self-love, or emotional healing — and consciously manifest the relationship energy you wish to welcome in the coming year. Through the symbolic wisdom of tarot and the expressive power of intuitive collage, you’ll connect with your desires, patterns, and emotional truths around love. Together, we’ll uncover what wants to be healed, strengthened, or invited — and transform these insights into a visual love map for the year ahead. Using guided tarot prompts and symbolic imagery, you’ll create your own Love Manifestation Collage — part vision board, part personal oracle — a meaningful artwork that reflects the relationships you are ready to cultivate, starting with the one you have with yourself. ✨ What You’ll Experience: 💞 A gentle group tarot reading focused on love, connection, and emotional patterns 🔮 Guided tarot prompts exploring self-love, partnership, and relational desires ✂️ An intuitive collage session using rich visual materials and symbols ✍️ Time for reflection and journaling to clarify intentions around love 🖼️ Create a symbolic collage to take home as a love compass for the year 🌙 A warm, creative atmosphere with music and supportive energy No experience with tarot or art is needed — just openness, curiosity, and a willingness to connect with your heart. Come discover what your intuition wants to reveal about love — through symbols, creativity, and the language of the soul. **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)

Costruire una data platform in contesti enterprise è spesso una battaglia quotidiana. Dati duplicati, pipeline fragili e trasformazioni poco tracciabili. Processi di sviluppo sul dato difficili da testare, versionare e rilasciare in sicurezza. Cataloghi presenti ma scollegati dai flussi reali, governance dichiarata ma non operativa. Piattaforme che crescono nel tempo, aumentando complessità e perdita di controllo. Il paradigma Data Lakehouse open source promette ordine, scalabilità e flessibilità — ma come si traduce davvero in produzione, quando entrano in gioco: \- requisiti enterprise \- qualità del dato \- testing \- CI/CD \- governance reale \- responsabilità e ownership? 👉 Questo meetup nasce per rispondere a questa domanda, partendo da un caso d’uso reale, sviluppato e messo in produzione. **Agenda** * 18:30 – 18:45 **Benvenuto e Networking** * 18:45 – 19: 40 **Lakehouse Open Source in produzione: architettura, governance e developer experience in un caso reale** * 19:40 – 20:00 **Community Slot** (Proponi il tuo talk) * 20:00 – 20:30 **Q&A e Saluti** Registrati subito al meetup per ricevere tutti gli aggiornamenti sull'agenda. **Lakehouse Open Source in produzione: architettura, governance e developer experience in un caso reale** Il paradigma del data lakehouse open source rappresenta oggi una scelta strategica anche in contesti enterprise complessi. In questo meetup presenteremo uno use case reale, mostrando come sia possibile costruire una data platform moderna basata su tecnologie open source. Il talk si concentrerà sull’adozione di pratiche data-driven e developer-oriented, evidenziando il ruolo di **dbt** nel garantire replicabilità, qualità del dato, testing e integrazione con pipeline CI/CD. A completare il quadro, affronteremo i temi di data governance e data discovery attraverso **DataHub** e **OpenMetadata**, illustrando come un data catalog centralizzato abiliti tracciabilità, ownership e governance nel dato. Un percorso pratico per portare i data lakehouse open source verso una vera data platform moderna che possa rispondere a esigenze enterprise reali. **Lorenzo Pasco - Data Engineer @Seacom Società Benefit:** Laureato in Artificial Intelligence and Data Engineering a Pisa, fin da giovane, ho alimentato la mia passione per l’informatica e i videogiochi, unendo la tecnologia alla mia vita quotidiana. Al di là del digitale, il mio cuore batte per lo sport, in particolare il calcio, e sperimento la creatività in cucina. **Se stai cercando di capire come rendere i Data Lakehouse davvero “enterprise-ready”, questo meetup è l’occasione per confrontarti su un’esperienza reale, fatta di architettura, codice, governance e persone.** Come sempre, ci sarà ampio spazio per il confronto, le domande e le discussioni aperte

Shower singers, pop divas and total disasters: all welcome. The stage is yours… unfortunately for the rest of us. ⋯⋯⋯ Ostello Bello Milano Centrale - Via Lepetit 33, Milano 🎫 Posti limitati. - Ingresso gratuito tramite registrazione Ti ricordiamo che nel corso dell’evento potranno essere effettuate delle riprese di immagini fotografiche e audio-video con diritti di utilizzo ad uso esclusivo del locale. www.ostellobello.com https://www.instagram.com/ostellobello.milanocentrale/

**(7:00 PM)** 🔹**Please fill in your details to confirm your attendance.** https://forms.gle/GmCTgY1SDqeHS6cG9 **Talk: The power of color in personal branding** How to build a memorable color identity Color is not an aesthetic choice. It's a strategic lever. Too often, a brand or personal brand is built following simplistic, outdated rules: "blue conveys trust," "red means energy," "green feels natural." The truth? It doesn't work that way. In this talk, we'll move beyond color psychology clichés to explore a deeper, more scientific and truly personal approach. According to neuroscience, color perception isn't universal: it's tied to each person's experiences, memories and emotions. This is exactly where the difference lies between a brand that follows conventions and a brand that gets recognized, remembered and chosen. What will you take away? ● A fresh perspective on the strategic role of color in your personal brand ● A method to build an authentic palette that reflects who you are and what you want to communicate ● The tools to set yourself apart from competitors relying on standard solutions ● Hands-on examples, perception tests and real rebranding case studies we'll analyze together All without ever losing sight of what truly matters: readability, accessibility and functionality. Because a brand that works isn't just beautiful. It's effective. **About the speaker** **Gabriele Lakhal** Gabriele Lakhal is a Design Strategist for freelancers and SMEs. He helps professionals and businesses who fear becoming invisible in an increasingly competitive market stand out with authority and win clients. His approach combines brand strategy, user-centered design, color psychology and funnel marketing to achieve tangible business results. ***📍 Join Our Community*** 📱 WhatsApp: [https://chat.whatsapp.com/LptflUCjNOk8BsU43ZE8HG](https://chat.whatsapp.com/LptflUCjNOk8BsU43ZE8HG) 💼 LinkedIn: [Digital Marketing Group Lisbon](https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9249844/) ✈️ Telegram: [https://t.me/+YrJYhbXrDDYwYjg0](https://t.me/+YrJYhbXrDDYwYjg0) 🎟️ Register: [https://dmktribe.com/register/](https://dmktribe.com/register/) **🌍 About DMK Tribe** **DMK Tribe** is an international community of marketers, creatives, entrepreneurs, and curious minds who believe in the power of genuine human connection. With two inspiring years of growth behind us in Lisbon, Barcelona, Cascais, and Milan, our journey of expanding reach and impact continues. Our mission is to empower professionals and businesses through authentic connections, continuous learning, and purposeful collaboration. With over **6.000 active members**, we organise regular events, workshops, and masterminds focused on digital marketing trends, personal branding, content creation, AI, and entrepreneurship. We’re more than a network – we’re a movement of value-driven professionals building lasting impact. ***We're a global community of marketing professionals united by our values*** ***❤️ Love \| 🤝 Caring \| 🎁 Serving \| 📚 Learning \| 🌍 Inclusion*** 👉 Curious to see what we’ve been up to in Portugal, Spain and Milan? Check out our latest magazine here: [https://dmktribe.com/magazine/](https://dmktribe.com/magazine/) ***Come network with Milan's most dynamic marketers! Let's grow together***.

Looking to meet new people in Milan and experience one of the city’s most authentic traditions? On **Saturday, February 21**, join us for a special **Ambrosian Carnival Social Night** at **Rowing Milano**, right in the heart of the Navigli district — one of Milan’s most vibrant and international areas. This event is designed especially for **expats, international professionals, students, and globally minded locals** who want to connect in a relaxed, festive environment. *** ### 🌍 An International Social Experience The evening starts with an **aperitivo buffet**, giving you the perfect opportunity to mingle, network, and break the ice naturally. As the night progresses, the atmosphere shifts into a lively **DJ set & party**, where music, costumes, and Carnival energy bring everyone together. Whether you’ve just moved to Milan or have been here for years, this is the perfect setting to expand your circle in a fun and informal way. *** ### 💰 Entry – Milano Expat Guest List **€20 per person**, including: ✔ 1 drink ✔ Aperitivo buffet ✔ DJ set & party access Access is available with **Eventi Milano guest list reservation**. *** ### 🎭 Dress Code Ambrosian Carnival theme — masks and creative outfits are welcome. Participation in costume is encouraged, but not mandatory.

Bla Bla Milano is the multi language event in the city! Join both locals than expats, talk different languages, and make new connections in a friendly atmosphere. Multiple tables with different languages created on the go! Anyone is welcome, just join us and get your drink! If you are hungry we have a dedicated formula with the place, dish + drink @ 13 euro. See you at Henry's cafe in via Col di Lana, close to Darsena and Navigli, Tram number 3 or metro Porta Genova. Join us at any time and... Bring your friends! Our whatsapp group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/JpPUx7VB0HGBgCcMEUCGmP (please momentarily add an "+" before Info description in order to be accepted)

## **4 hours. One crew. The easiest way to experience Milan nightlife.** Milan is iconic after dark—but if you don’t know where to go, it’s easy to waste the night in the wrong places (or spend it queueing). **Riviera Bar Crawl Milan** is built for travelers, expats, students, and **solo travelers** who want a **fun, social, stress-free** night out with an international crowd. Show up, meet people fast, and let the night unfold—together. ## ✅ WHY THIS MILAN BAR CRAWL WORKS **1) Meet people instantly (even if you come solo)** This is the easiest way to turn a random night in Milan into a night with a real crew. **2) No planning, no guesswork** You don’t need to research bars, neighborhoods, or “where to go next.” You just enjoy the experience. **3) The energy of a real travel community** Riviera Bar Crawl Tours has welcomed **100,000+ delighted clients** and features **1291 reviews** across the website—so you’re joining something proven, not a gamble. ## 🕒 THE EXPERIENCE * **Tour name:** Riviera Bar Crawl Milan * **Duration:** **4H00** * **From:** **EUR 25.00** ## 📍 MEETING POINT **Ostello Bello** **Via Medici, 4, Milan (Metropolitan City of Milan, Italy)** ## 🎟️ WHAT’S INCLUDED Your ticket includes the **organized bar crawl experience** (details like number of venues, drinks, shots, and deals depend on the specific Milan product setup). ## 💬 QUICK OBJECTIONS * **“I’m solo.”** Perfect—this is exactly what a **pub crawl in Milan** is for: easy social vibes and instant connections. * **“I don’t know Milan nightlife.”** That’s the point—no planning, no stress. * **“What if it’s quiet?”** Riviera runs experiences in top destinations and has strong social proof across the brand—this is designed to be a real group night out. ## 🚀 BOOK NOW Spots go quickly on popular nights—don’t wait until you’re standing outside wondering where to go. [👉 ](https://rivierabarcrawltours.com/tour/pub-crawl-milan/)**[Book Riviera Bar Crawl Milan now](https://rivierabarcrawltours.com/tour/pub-crawl-milan/)** **Riviera Bar Crawl Milan** — your simplest, most social way to experience **Milan nightlife**, meet new people, and make the most of your trip.

Sei in cerca di nuove opportunità professionali o stai valutando un cambio di direzione? Non affrontare questa fase da solo. Un pranzo informale ma strategico per: - Connetterti con altre persone in transizione professionale - Condividere esperienze, strategie e contatti in un clima di reciproco supporto - Raccogliere spunti pratici per orientare la tua ricerca - Scoprire come presentarti al meglio e valorizzare il tuo percorso L’obiettivo è quello di creare uno spazio dove il networking diventa davvero utile - non solo scambio di biglietti da visita, ma connessioni autentiche e consigli concreti da chi sta vivendo la stessa fase. A chi è rivolto: Chi cerca attivamente lavoro, chi valuta un cambio di ruolo o settore, chi vuole espandere la propria rete professionale in modo strategico. Cosa include: Pranzo, facilitazione dell'incontro, materiali di orientamento per la ricerca lavoro. L’evento è gratuito con consumazione obbligatoria del pranzo da pagare direttamente al Bar. Posti limitati - Conferma la tua presenza entro il 17 febbraio. 💼 Vieni a tavola con il tuo CV, ma soprattutto con la voglia di costruire connessioni che contano. CHI FACILITA L'INCONTRO: Francesca Zampone è executive coach e founder di Accademia della Felicità. Con oltre 27 anni di esperienza internazionale in trasformazione organizzativa e sviluppo del talento presso multinazionali come Dell, EMI Music e ASG Software (USA, UK, Italia), oggi opera come consulente indipendente di strategia HR e collabora con Birn+Partners sui programmi di coaching aziendale. Autrice pubblicata con Rizzoli e Giunti, il suo approccio integra psicologia junghiana, metodologia del Viaggio dell'Eroe e principi di leadership trasformativa. Per info mail: francescazampone@gmail.com

Discover Your Perfect Palette: Color Analysis Workshop 🎨✨ Unveil the colors that truly bring out your best at our Color Analysis Workshop! This unique event will help you identify the shades that enhance your natural features, elevating your clothing and makeup choices to align perfectly with your personal style. Kick off the experience with a welcoming coffee, the perfect opportunity to relax and connect with others. From there, dive into the art of color analysis, learning which hues complement your features and simplify your shopping for clothes and beauty products. The workshop also highlights seasonal trend colors, giving you the tools to stay on top of the latest fashion while seamlessly incorporating them into your wardrobe. As a special takeaway, you’ll receive your very own personalized color palette, tailored just for you, ensuring confident and stylish decisions in the future. Step into the world of color, creativity, and confidence—this workshop is your key to effortless style! 🌸👗✨ **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)

**🍻 SOCIAL DRINKING GAMES** Ice-breakers? Boring. We prefer cups, rules you’ll forget in 5 minutes, and instant friendships. Lose the game, take a sip. Win the game, take a sip anyway. ⋯⋯⋯ Ostello Bello Milano Centrale - Via Lepetit 33, Milano 🎫 Posti limitati. - Ingresso gratuito tramite registrazione Ti ricordiamo che nel corso dell’evento potranno essere effettuate delle riprese di immagini fotografiche e audio-video con diritti di utilizzo ad uso esclusivo del locale. www.ostellobello.com https://www.instagram.com/ostellobello.milanocentrale/

Join us as we get together to get together to help those in need at this CMG Gives Back event! For this event, we’ll help prepare food, serve meals, assist residents, wash dishes and clean surfaces at Fath Mission – Grant Kitchen. We have a great little community of Movie Group friends so rather than see a movie this time, we’ll help “Create a better world” by helping serve those in need. Here are complete details and our plan for this event: FAITH MISSION – GRANT KITCHEN: The Faith Mission kitchen and dining room serves residents 3 meals a day, every day of the year. Our group will help prepare food, serve meals, assist residents in the dining room, wash dishes, and clean surfaces. PLAN: We will be preparing / serving / cleaning for BRUNCH from 10:30am to 12:30pm and have space for a total of 7 volunteers. Please arrive at 10:15am and wear closed-toe shoes and long pants. LOCATION: Faith Mission – Grant Kitchen is located at 245 N. Grant Ave. Enter the kitchen at Dock 1, indicated in the attached map. On-site and street parking are available in the surrounding area. Below are some links / attachments with additional info/details: \* LSS Volunteer Guidelines: Uploaded to photos. \* Parking Map Info: Uploaded to photos. \* LSS Faith Mission Orientation Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp46_6ay6iA \* Link with Additional Details / Info: https://lss.vomo.org/opportunity/faith-mission-grant-kitchen-2025 IMPORTANT REMINDER: Our group will be providing the all of the volunteers on this day so a firm RSVP count is essential. Please only sign up if you are certain you’ll be able to attend. If something unavoidable comes up, please update your RSVP no later than one week prior to the event. With very few exceptions, no shows or cancelations within 1 week of the event will not be eligible for future CMG Gives Back events. I appreciate your understanding as we try to ensure the agencies have the volunteers needed to provide the essential services they provide to the vulnerable population they serve. THANK YOU: This CMG Gives Back event provides an opportunity for YOU to get involved in helping others! Benefits go well beyond the help we give to others. Volunteering provides a wide range of personal benefits, including positive effects on mental and physical health, reduced stress/depression/anxiety, increased happiness and improved purpose, life-satisfaction and personal well-being! Plus, the opportunity to get involved, connect with others and help those in need. PARTNER AGENCY: This event is hosted by Lutheran Social Services (LSS), which serves thousands of people in need each day in 27 Ohio counties by addressing the four core societal issues of food, shelter, safety and healing. LSS offers food through the LSS Food Pantries, housing and supportive services through LSS Faith Mission and LSS Faith Mission of Fairfield County homeless shelters, domestic violence services through LSS CHOICES for Victims of Domestic Violence, senior living and health care, affordable housing communities, and other services that uplift families and strengthen communities. Look forward to seeing you there, Dan

As you may or may not know--I didn't until late last year--Aristotle wrote extensively on "friendship" in the Nicomachean Ethics. After 69 years the concept of friendship still creates questions and uncertainty. I had close friends in high school and for a few years after high school but our interests diverged and people moved all over the country so it was hard to maintain connections. * So if I/you haven't talked with a friend for several years, are you still friends? Are we friends who meet at Drunken Philosophy or Omnipresent Atheists? * Can you be friends with someone with whom you have virulently divergent political views? Sartre and Camus could not. * Aristotle regarded friendship as essential to a good life, not merely an added "bonus." Do you agree? * In the Nicomachean Ethics (Books VIII and IX), he claims that wealth and power are meaningless without friends. Trump has wealth and power but seems to have no real friends, but wealth and power seem meaningful to him in perverted ways. Can you have meaning in your life without friends? * Do men and women view and maintain friendships in different ways? * Aristotle categorizes friendship into three types, based on what forms the bond: * **Utility**: Based on mutual benefit, but this type is fragile and ends when the usefulness ceases. * **Pleasure**: Based on shared enjoyment (e.g., humor, hobbies). Common among youth but fades as interests change. * **Virtue (The "Complete" Friendship)**: Based on mutual respect for each other's character and goodness. You wish good for the other for their sake, not yours. * **Key Principles of "True" (Virtuous) Friendship:** * **Permanence**: Virtuous friendships last a lifetime whereas those based on utility and pleasure are fleeting. * **Reciprocity**: Requires mutual goodwill; secret or unreciprocated affection does not qualify. * **The "Second Self"**: A true friend is "another self"—their virtue helps you understand and improve yourself. * **Time and Intimacy**: Deep ("complete") friendships are few, built on time and shared experiences. * **Self-Love and Friendship:** * Good friendship starts with being a friend to yourself. * They distinguish shallow egoism (chasing honors) from real self-love (pursuing virtue). * A virtuous person’s pleasant self-company allows them to be a stable, good friend to others. * Aristotle argues that one's social circle ultimately reflects one's character—a view with striking relevance today. Well--the Drunken Philosophy social circle certainly reflects good character!

Why are we unhappy? Where does emotional pain come from? Studies show that people who suffer from long-term emotional pain have painful experiences in their lives that were never fully resolved in their mind. In other words, there were issues in the past that were not completely dealt with. This can include abuse in childhood, breakups, divorce, death of a loved one, to name a few. How do you know whether you have gotten over something painful? Here is an easy test: Do you still have attention on what had happened to you? For instance, do you still find yourself thinking about something painful that you went through? If you are, then you are not over it. In fact, in severe cases, people find themselves playing a "tape" in their mind over and over again. So how do you heal from your past? How do you stop the "tape" playing in your mind? In this meeting, you will learn a technique to help you with that. Come join us! Be sure to click on the red "Attend" button below to come to this local event. We look forward to seeing you there. This group is created by the Dianetics and Scientology life improvement center.

**When:** Saturday\, February 21 \| 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM **Where:** [1124 Parsons Ave, Columbus, OH 43206](https://twodollarradiohq.com/about-us) Looking for a night of meaningful connection and great vegan food? Join us at [Two Dollar Radio Headquarters](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=/g/11fkn49_yq&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj14_nkjsWSAxVt4ckDHdRCH4oQqdYPegYIAQgFEAI) for a special community gathering! **What’s on the menu?** While [2$R](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=/g/11fkn49_yq&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj14_nkjsWSAxVt4ckDHdRCH4oQqdYPegYIAQgGEAI) typically serves a selection of [house-made sandwiches](https://twodollarradiohq.com/weekly-food) and vegan pastries, they are creating a **special menu** specifically for our event. You can also grab a coffee, tea, or a drink from their [full bar](https://twodollarradiohq.com/) of cocktails and beer. **The Main Event:** * **Play:** Bring a favorite game from home to share or dive into the ones available at the shop. * **Connect:** Meet new and old friends in a space that values independent culture and plant-based living. * **Support:** Help us champion a local, family-owned vegan business that doubles as a powerhouse [indie book publisher](https://twodollarradio.com/pages/headquarters). **Parking Instructions:** * **Street Parking:** There is free public street parking available on both sides of Parsons Avenue and on the surrounding residential side streets. * **Lot Parking:** The [Columbus Metropolitan Library](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=/g/126262ks5&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj14_nkjsWSAxVt4ckDHdRCH4oQqdYPegYIAQgKEAM) lot (1113 Parsons Ave) is located directly across the street and is available for guest use **only after the library has closed**. On Saturdays, the lot is typically available starting at 6:00 PM. * **Bike Parking:** For those cycling, there is a bike rack conveniently located at the corner of Cline and Parsons.

Join us for a vibrant gathering that honors the heart and hustle of local entrepreneurs. It Takes a Village is more than an event it’s a movement to uplift and spotlight small business owners who pour passion into their craft and creativity into our community. From authors and bakers to jewelry makers, t-shirt designers, candle crafters, and beyond. This is your chance to meet the makers, support their work and celebrate the spirit of collaboration. **_Expect_** * Local vendors showcasing handmade goods * Live demos and storytelling from featured creators * Food, music, and community vibes * Opportunities to shop, connect and be inspired * Celebrate the power of small businesses and we all rise

Interested? Contact Preston Moore k.preston.moore@gmail.com 614-300-5989 ———————————— Engaging in men’s work is the new way to forge friendships while being open-minded to personal growth. Many men experience healthier relationships, personally and professionally, by engaging in this work. Open Men’s Group is a container for men to share vulnerably without receiving judgment or feedback. We believe that emotionally mature, powerful, compassionate, and purpose-driven men will help heal some of society’s deepest wounds. We support the powerful brilliance of men and we are willing to look at, and take full responsibility for, the pain we are also capable of creating – and suffering. We care deeply about men, our families, communities, and the planet. Visit ManKind Project USA to discover more. https://mkpusa.org/

At Evolve Synergy Sessions, you'll be part of a supportive mastermind where we share challenges, brainstorm solutions, and inspire one another to take bold steps in our businesses. Grow your network, gain fresh perspectives, and build meaningful relationships with like-minded women who are committed to success. Whether you’re looking to move the needle in your business or simply need a space to connect and recharge, this is the perfect place to fuel your entrepreneurial journey. [Add Event to Calendar](https://evolvecolumbus.eventcalendarapp.com/) \*\* Please note, we will be arriving around 8:15a for open networking! Get there early and get connected! Contact Alexis Morley at [alexis.morley@edwardjones.com](mailto:alexis.morley@edwardjones.com) or Terri Lawson at [terri.lawson@e-merge.com](mailto:terri.lawson@e-merge.com) for more information.