Makers

**Welcome to the Finnish Testing Meetup Group** **February 2026 Helsinki edition!** FTMG continues to deliver popular and successful events for people interested in testing, QA, sharing, learning and improving your skills and knowledge. **Host** Meetup February Helsinki edition is hosted by [Eficode](https://www.eficode.com/) who help customers transform into AI-led software organizations Host from Eficode will be: * [Szilard Szell](https://www.linkedin.com/in/szellszilard/) **Venue:** Eficode Helsinki, Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu 25 **Event program:** 17:00-17:30 Arrival, Registering at the Reception, refreshments and mingling 17:30-17:45 Opening words by FTMG hosts and Eficode 17:45-18:30 "Quality with Intent: Building to Learn vs. Building to Last" by Clément Louarn + questions & discussions 18:30-19:00 Refreshments and mingling 19:00-19:45 "GenAI infuses testing at ISTQB " by Kari Kakkonen + questions & discussions 19:45-20:30 mingling, discussions and networking 20:30 Venue cleared **Let's be polite:** Please respect host and arrival time slot. Host will be asking participants to register their names to a guest list Please remember to update your RVSP in time case you cannot participate. It should be easy for you to know well in advance if you cannot participate but it may be very difficult for people on waitlist to clear time for joining in the last minutes before the event. **Presentations:** In this session we will have two presentations from: * Talk 1 - "Quality with Intent: Building to Learn vs. Building to Last" by [Clément Louarn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/cl%C3%A9ment-louarn-finland/) "Quality depends on why a product or a feature is being built. In this talk, I’ll share a product manager’s perspective on how quality work differs during the different phases of product creation. This is not a framework or a science talk. It’s a set of product-driven insights and trade-offs intended to help QA professionals better support their product partners with the right focus at the right time. * Talk 2 - "GenAI infuses testing at ISTQB " how about that? by [Kari Kakkonen](https://www.linkedin.com/in/karikakkonen/) "GenAI helps testing in almost all tasks that a tester has. Here we talk about some highlights from the popular ISTQB Testing with GenAI course, and how it was developed " **Warmly welcoming you all again,** **Brgds FTMG organizers ;** [Nina](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ninaperta/), [Szilard](https://www.linkedin.com/in/szellszilard/), [Jani ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jani-gronman/)and [Mikko](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikko-paloheimo/)

The WordPress Helsinki meetup group aims to bring people together of all skill levels, from beginners to WordPress professionals. WordPress Helsinki is purely organised by community volunteers, and operates under the WordPress code of conduct. This month, we welcome Sami Keijonen to talk about native meta fields in the block editor, the Block Bindings API, and the Interactivity API. Many digital agencies use the Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) plugin to handle custom meta fields in WordPress. In this meetup, we will showcase how to work with custom meta fields data in the block editor, and how to connect meta fields data using Block Bindings API. If time allows let's also showcase Interactivity API. See you there! **Agenda** 17:15 – Doors open 17:30 – Opening words 17:40 – Presentation: Native meta fields in block editor & connect data using Blocks Bindings API 19:00 – Drinks & networking 19:30 – After meetup drinks at a nearby bar This session will be in English. Venue provided to us by [Knowit](https://www.knowit.fi/). Drinks & snacks will be sponsored by [Zoner](https://www.zoner.fi/). If you have any questions, leave a comment or contact us directly through the contact form on [Meetup.com](http://meetup.com/). You can also find us on X [@WPHelsinki](https://twitter.com/WPHelsinki) and [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/WPHelsinki/). If you prefer a more direct approach, you can find most of the community members on the #meetups-helsinki channel on Slack. \-\-\- The WordPress Helsinki meetup group aims to bring together people of all skill levels, from beginners to WordPress professionals. **Talks** If you’d like to speak at an upcoming meetup or suggest some topics you’d like to hear about, leave a comment on our [meetup board](https://www.meetup.com/WPHelsinki/messages/boards/thread/49133846) or contact us on the #meetups-helsinki channel on Slack. **Slack** The local Finnish Slack community is a great place to meet other WordPress enthusiasts online and get help and advice with WordPress-related issues. We’ve written a brief introduction on our meetup page if you’re interested in joining: [https://fi.wordpress.org/chat/](https://fi.wordpress.org/chat/) **Sponsorship** Our meetups are run by volunteers and could always use some support from the professional community. If your company is interested in sponsoring an upcoming meetup or hearing more about it, leave a message on the #meetups-helsinki channel on Slack or contact us directly through our meetup page. **Meetups in other cities in Finland** [Jyväskylä](http://meetup.com/Jyvaskyla-WordPress-Meetup/) [Seinäjoki](https://www.meetup.com/Seinajoki-WordPress-Meetup/) [Tampere](http://meetup.com/Tampere-WordPress-Meetup/) [Turku](http://meetup.com/Turku-WordPress-Meetup/) **Local communities on X (Twitter)** Helsinki, [x.com/WPHelsinki](https://x.com/WPHelsinki) ([#WPHEL](https://x.com/hashtag/WPHEL)) Jyväskylä [x.com/WPJyvaskyla](https://x.com/WPJyvaskyla) ([#WPJKL](https://x.com/hashtag/WPJKL)) Oulu [x.com/WPOulu](https://x.com/WPOulu) ([#WPOUL](https://x.com/hashtag/WPOUL)) Seinäjoki [x.com/WPSeinajoki](https://x.com/WPSeinajoki) ([#WPSJK](https://x.com/hashtag/WPSJK)) Tampere [x.com/WPTampere](https://x.com/WPTampere) ([#WPTRE](https://x.com/hashtag/WPTRE)) Turku [x.com/WPTurku](https://x.com/WPTurku) ([#WPTKU](https://x.com/hashtag/WPTKU)) To reach the whole WordPress community in Finland, use the hashtag [#WPFI](https://x.com/hashtag/WPFI).

All are welcome! We meet at Lapinlahti’s sauna, and the run begins promptly at 6:00 PM. **Please arrive early to get ready.** • There is a changing room, a few lockers, and a bathroom available. • We will run from the sauna to the Sibelius Monument and back — a total distance of 6–6.5 km. • The sauna house will be locked while we are out running. After the run, we will swim, hang out, and enjoy the sauna until 8:00 PM. * We kindly ask everyone to leave by 8:00 PM. * **To enable fair participation, if you are no longer able to join, please cancel 3 hours in advance so individuals on the waitlist may attend.** **Hosted by: Nia & Olli** Contact: Nia – +358 408223934 **HOW TO FIND US:** When arriving at the main gates of Lapinlahden Lähde, turn right and head towards the water. Lapinlahti's sauna is located halfway between the yellow main building and the red Venetsia building We want everyone to feel welcome and safe. **By participating, you agree to:** • Respect others – Be mindful of personal boundaries, privacy, and consent. • Listen actively – Give space for all voices and avoid dominating conversations. • Use inclusive language – Avoid offensive, discriminatory, or exclusionary remarks. • Be considerate in the sauna – Some people may prefer quiet or need space. • Address issues kindly – If a problem arises, bring it up respectfully or with the hosts. Tervetuloa Run to Saunaan! Tapaamme Lapinlahden saunalla ja lähdemme juoksemaan noin kello 18.00. Tulethan ajoissa! • Käytössä on pukuhuone, lokeroita ja vessat. • Juoksemme saunalta Sibelius-monumentille ja takaisin. Kokonaismatka on noin 6-6,5 km. • Sauna on lukossa juoksun ajan. Juoksun jälkeen saunomme, uimme ja vietämme aikaa yhdessä kello 20.00 saakka. Kello 20.00 jälkeen meidän täytyy poistua. Tapahtuman järjestävät: Nia ja Olli Voit soittaa Nialle: +358 408223934 MITEN MEIDÄT LÖYTÄÄ: Kun saavut Lapinlahden Lähteen pääporteille, käänny oikealle kohti merta. Lapinlahden sauna on keltaisen päärakennuksen ja punaisen Venetsia-rakennuksen puolivälissä. Haluamme, että kaikilla on turvallinen olo. Run to Sauna -tapahtumissa noudatamme seuraavia periaatteita: • Kunnioitamme toistemme rajoja ja yksityisyyttä. • Annamme kaikille tilaa osallistua keskusteluun. • Puhumme kaikista ihmisistä ja ihmisryhmistä kunnioittavasti. • Olemme ystävällisiä toisillemme. • Ongelmatapauksissa voit kääntyä ohjaajien puoleen. **MIITTI’s Principles for safer space:** MIITTI wants to nourish a safe and pleasant environment for everyone, where everyone can feel safe as themselves. By joining as a volunteer, employee or participant of the event or activity, you agree to follow the guidelines below *Non-discrimination* I do not make assumptions about people based on their external characteristics or names. I treat all participants with respect, and I don’t use language or take actions that discriminate based on race, gender, sexuality, disability, age, religion, or any other characteristic. I respect pronouns and names. *Boundaries* I respect others' personal space and boundaries, both physical and mental. I acknowledge that I cannot know someone else's boundaries without asking first. I ask before touching. I listen to others and adapt my behavior if someone indicates that my behavior makes them feel uncomfortable. *Creating Safe Environment* Everyone is responsible for contributing to a safe and respectful environment. If I witness harassment, I do my part to support those who experience inappropriate or offensive treatment. *Zero Tolerance for Harassment* Our space upholds a strict zero-tolerance policy towards any form of harassment. Harassment, whether verbal, physical, or online, will not be tolerated. If you experience or witness inappropriate behavior or harassment at our events, please report it to the MIITTI or Lapinlahden Lähde staff. If you want to be part of the MIITTI community, follow us on our other platforms: IG: [instagram.com/miitti1](http://instagram.com/miitti1) Facebook: [facebook.com/miitti1](http://facebook.com/miitti1) Web: [lapinlahdenlahde.fi/projekti/miitti](http://lapinlahdenlahde.fi/projekti/miitti) Whatsapp: Join our Whatsapp community network to join your favourite group and stay connected with the other members! When you participate in one of our groups or events, just ask the group facilitator to add you to the community!

Ven a Finlandia Toastmasters a practicar y aprender habilidades de presentación 🗣️, storytelling 🎬y pitching 🎤. Estos son pilares fundamentales para tener éxito en el mundo laboral de hoy. El programa de cada reunión incluye discursos y presentaciones, retroalimentación (feedback), improvisaciones y, como si fuera poco, la vas a pasar muy bien 😄. ¡Bienvenidos a conocernos! 🤝 Nos vemos este miércoles 4 de febrero en **la Biblioteca Oodi, sala grupal 6 (segundo piso)** Finlandia Toastmasters es parte de la red Toastmasters International.

Opitaan suomea ja arabiaa sekä kohdataan kahvikupposen äärellä! Kielenvaihtokulmassa opit tandem-menetelmällä arabiaa sitä äidinkielenään puhuvalta ja itse opetat samalla suomea, molemmat opettavat toisilleen. Tule kielenvaihtokulmaan jakamaan osaamistasi! Location: Maunula talo Metsäpurontie 4 00630 Helsinki Tervetuloa mukaan silloin kun sinulle sopii! If you want to be part of the MIITTI community, follow us on our other platforms: IG: instagram.com/miitti1 Facebook: facebook.com/miitti1 Web: lapinlahdenlahde.fi/projekti/miitti Whatsapp: Join our Whatsapp community network to join your favourite group and stay connected with the other members! When you participate in one of our groups or events, just ask the group facilitator to add you to the community!

Come and enjoy our get-together! Grab a cold drink and sit down with some fresh faces and our conversation-hungry regulars. Whether you're new in town or just looking to meet some new friendly folks, everyone's welcome to our meetups. This time we will go to Kraken Bar in Kamppi for a pub quiz and Karaoke after the quiz. Event description: "The Pub Quiz in English, Get your team together for a great night out; the quiz is in English and will be held in Helsinki city centre. If you don't have anyone to come with or do not have a full team, don’t worry, as it is always easy to join a team (and make new friends!) on the night. Pub Quiz details: Your host: Simon Uphill When: Wednesday, February 4th 2026. Hietaniemenkatu 2 00100 Helsinki, Finland ( Opposite Hotel Helka in Kamppi) Prizes: Each month we have some great prizes to give away. The quiz is free of charge and each team is allowed a maximum of 5 members. For the whole quiz 15% OFF All taps. Beer, East IPA, cider, long drink and Blanc, white and red wine. There will also be Karaoke after the quiz if anyone fancies it."

Learning Finnish in Finland can be difficult because Finns tend to switch to English. That is one of the reasons people like our Finnish language café: you get to practice Finnish with Finns :) The events are completely free and there is always a native speaker to facilitate the conversation and to help find the right words. The coffee is good too ☕😋🇦🇹 Tervetuloa! When? ⏰ Usually Tuesday to Friday from 15:00 - 16:00 Where? 📍 In a cozy Viennese coffee house: The Good Coffee Company, Eerikinkatu 33, Helsinki The Good Coffee Company A Taste of Vienna 🇦🇹 Eerikinkatu 33, 00180 Helsinki Please visit our Facebook page for updates and changes: https://www.facebook.com/TheGoodCoffeeCompany/events

Nortal hosts our in-person meetup on the 5th of February. The location is Nortal's office in Mikonkatu 15B, Helsinki. Agenda: \- 17:00 \- 18:00 From ClickOps to Code\-First: CI/CD in Microsoft Fabric by Anssi Pannula \- 18:00 \- 19:00 Networking & Food Sponsored by Nortal \- 19:00 \- 20:00 Microsoft SQL with MCP Servers by Vesa Tikkanen and Oskari Heikkinen Would you like to speak at the next event? Please do get in touch with either Vesa Tikkanen, Oskari Heikkinen, Heini Ilmarinen or Aleksi Partanen.

Laid back get together to network and exchange over a couple of drinks.

A creative exploration, using a mix of artistic materials to express emotions freely- perfect for everyone craving a slower Sunday. IMPORTANT: Registration is necessary and done through Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/creative-sunday-for-wellbeing-nature-as-nurture-tickets-1982164401082?aff=oddtdtcreator Finding your Flow is the third workshop of the series Creative Sunday for Wellbeing. In this third Creative Sunday for Wellbeing workshop, we explore observation and mindfulness through a gentle walk in the nearby park. Nature becomes our teacher and our muse- shapes, textures, rhythms, and cycles transforming into metaphors for life. Through guided reflection and creative expression, we will stimulate imagination, deepen presence, and reconnect with ourselves using the natural world as inspiration. No artistic experience needed- just curiosity and an open mind. Come and be nurtured by nature. Through simple exercises, creative prompts inspired by theater games, and the use of a wide range of artistic materials, participants are invited to explore creativity in an open and supportive space. This is not art therapy and not an art class- there is no pressure to perform, produce, or “be good” at anything. Instead, the focus is on experimentation, imagination, and personal exploration. While the sessions are not therapeutic, they might offer moments of reflection, renewed energy, and a fresh perspective on wellbeing through creative practices. The topics of the workshops are the following: 25.1.2026 The Art of Slowing Down 1.2.2026 Finding your Flow 8.2.2026 Nature as Nurture 15.2.2026 Words for Wellbeing 22.2.2026 Colors, Emotions and Creative Visioning WHEN & WHERE: 8th of February at 15.30-17.30 Valo tila, Lapinlahden Lähde Lapinlahdenpolku 8 00180 Helsinki (How to find us: When entering through the café to the gallery hallway, turn left and head up the stairs. Valo tila is through the first door on the right hand side.) Meet Giulia Lepori Giulia Lepori is an Italian sociologist whose work lives in the intersection of mental health, art, and creative exploration. During her university years in Turin, she co-founded an artistic laboratory that became a living space for experimentation, dialogue, and collective creation. Over seven years, she worked across multiple artistic languages, curating workshops, exhibitions, courses, and public events. Her path led her to one-year art therapy training grounded in psychodynamic approach, deepening her interest in creativity as a tool for care, expression, and transformation. Giulia has facilitated creative workshops with adults, adolescents, children, and people with disabilities, shaping spaces where art becomes a shared process rather than a finished product. In 2024, she brought her practice to Helsinki, organizing her first creative workshop in collaboration with MIELI Without Borders during Mental Health Art Week. The workshop is a collaboration between @mieliwithoutborders and @miitti1

**Founders Running Club** (FRC) brings founders, investors, tech, creative people and startup enthusiasts together for weekly easy runs and networking. We like to be comfortable when we run and finish with coffee and conversations. Choose your pace or follow a pacer—pets, friends, family, are welcome. 🗓️ Launched in San Francisco, July 16, 2022 🌍 Now in 35+ cities 📅 Running + Networking events + Community **Join the community** [http://foundersrc.com/chats](http://foundersrc.com/chats) **Stay updated**: Instagram [http://instagram.com/foundersrc/](http://instagram.com/foundersrc/) Podcast [http://podcast.foundersrc.com/](http://podcast.foundersrc.com/) LinkedIn [http://linkedin.com/company/foundersrc/](http://linkedin.com/company/foundersrc/) Strava [http://strava.com/clubs/foundersRC](http://strava.com/clubs/foundersRC) Website [http://foundersrc.com/](http://foundersrc.com/)

Welcome to join our Ren Xue Yuan Gong practice throughout the summer at Lapinlahden Lähde! The practice is simple but yet practical and powerful. It is easy to learn and will help you: -gain energy, feel less tired and stressed -more mental clarity, easier to concentrate -boost your immune system Time: Sundays 15:30 - 17:00 WHERE: Tallipääty, MIITTI office Lapinlahden Lähde Lapinlahdenpolku 8 00180 Helsinki About REN XUE Ren Xue is a comprehensive system for uplifting human life. It includes a unique form of Qigong (Yuan Qigong); three foundational theories (Theory of Qi, Theory of Consciousness, Theory of Totality) and a large body of teachings. It was created by world-renowned teacher and healer Yuan Tze who continues to offer online and in-person events worldwide. Ren Xue combines ancient Chinese wisdom traditions with modern insights into health and well-being. The goal of Ren Xue is to help individuals improve their physical, emotional, and mental health through a holistic approach that emphasizes the connection between the mind, body, and spirit. REN XUE FINLAND Ren Xue Finland (RXF) is the Finnish branch of the global movement, an organization dedicated to the promotion and teaching of Ren Xue and its associated practices, including Yuan Gong and Yuan Ming Medicine. It provides easy entry into the Ren Xue system through local in-person sessions, online courses and workshops/retreats. Other learning methods can be found here: Ren Xue TV, a YouTube channel and Learn Ren Xue website. More about Ren Xue: [https://www.renxueinternational.org](https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.renxueinternational.org%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR06uJQRSC7BE3zhPePQ7X_KO7WXa60cr7NK25KdOqfbSIHpYqBLO3dYgVM_aem_alDR7a6KhbNhG3u9NhCUVA&h=AT18asmYaRkvHCJemaC7rr9GVu579uflDCg7T6mLNodWdtMVhuxwFhIyz0p5ONeJbm3WQ3ZGIwONIa0_pDvih4t9BCCJUBkjhK4BdIMEl4aQ_qPzR5ykW-aiOndhYDPeAW9_2_eWZaMsv889HKbp8_c&__tn__=q&c%5B0%5D=AT35KTjVjr2kCnYHrXXjXPxEGFK-RFbZnFVdDmWrTe5WwbSZZ5ulNxFEjPPhejS8Pf4xetwkU1hhM1P2K_ABugpnXL6w-CKE25ARXwtLSexv-4fPJ4s2_Kcqgj3g2XWjCVkPPgcjwrPoNWOvdKa2f1VqyVa-2kcTojodTS3wn9zrnRjZLcG7)/

**Hello and welcome to join the training to become a TOIVO facilitator! We are excited to grow our community!** **IMPORTANT:** Registration is necessary and is done through this form: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=fFa_vgaJZUa6jSMe-t2DcoYNf__ba_JIocm2rheQWPlUNTlGQ1RFUTFKVUhMS0E2SzkzNTVIRFIxRC4u Please note that participation on both course dates is required in order to receive the facilitator certificate! **1\. What is TOIVO?** TOIVO peer group model was developed with the thought of “act-feel-apprehend”. This means, that TOIVO groups plan activities related to well-being and discuss how the activities impact their lives and mental well-being together. TOIVO groups are designed to enable groups to make small changes in their daily lives that would affect their mental health positively. After this training, you will be able to form your own TOIVO group with a co-facilitator where MIITTI and MIELI Without Borders will fund your group activities. **2\. TOIVO groups** * Groups meet between 8-10 times * Every meeting will cover a different well-being theme (i.e. healthy food, physical exercise, sleep, relationships, stress, emotions, etc.) * TOIVO groups are closed groups which means once the group is formed, no new members are added to the group. **3\. Training program schedule** 9-hour training * Day 1 - Friday, February 6, 2026: 17:30 - 20:30 * Day 2 - Saturday, February 7, 2026: 10:00 -16:00 (1 hour break for lunch) **4\. Location** * Lapinlahde lähde (Lapinlahden polku 8) - Taallipääty * Link to maps --> [https://maps.app.goo.gl/dKtTwzXWnwMZ19hv5](https://maps.app.goo.gl/dKtTwzXWnwMZ19hv5) If you have any questions, you may contact your trainers via email: Hope Makara - [hope.makara@mieliwithoutborders.fi](mailto:hope.makara@mieliwithoutborders.fi) Nadia El-Radhi - [nadia.el-radhi@lapinlahdenlahde.fi](mailto:nadia.el-radhi@lapinlahdenlahde.fi)

Join us on **Fridays, 18:00 - 19:30** at **Lapinlahden Lähde** for a free session where we’ll explore the topic of the week - **Presence**. After 19:30, you're welcome to hang out with us. Depending on what the group decides, we sometimes: \- stay in\, enjoy tea and cookies and play board games \- go out for dinner ✅ Your **RSVP counts as your registration**, we expect you to **honour it**. 🤝 All conversations are confidential. What’s shared, stays in the group. 🌿 Small group, big heart: Everyone gets a chance to share. 🧘‍♀️ Come comfy, come curious. 💧 Bring water. Skip heavy meals & caffeine. 📍 **Tallipääty, Lapinlahdenpolku 8, Helsinki** (Through the gate, first door on the left!) **Kind reminder:** Last-minute cancellations or no-shows mean others miss out. To keep it fair, repeated cases may result in losing the spot in future sessions. If you want to be part of the MIITTI community, follow us on our other platforms: IG: [instagram.com/miitti1](http://instagram.com/miitti1) Facebook: [facebook.com/miitti1](http://facebook.com/miitti1) Web: [lapinlahdenlahde.fi/projekti/miitti](http://lapinlahdenlahde.fi/projekti/miitti) Whatsapp: Join our Whatsapp community network to join your favourite group and stay connected with the other members! When you participate in one of our groups or events, just ask the group facilitator to add you to the community!

Bring your Raspberry Pi, Arduino, microcontroller, or any other electronic project and join fellow electronics makers for a night of creativity and collaboration! This session is open forum to share your current projects—whether complete or in progress, it’s all interesting! Whether you’re deep into embedded systems, exploring new ideas, or just getting started, you’ll find a welcoming space to collaborate, share, and get inspired. This session will be at the Worthington Park Library in the Olentangy Meeting Room.

Join members of the local UX and Digital Design community for a casual monthly breakfast. There _might_ be a little snow, but there _will_ be effectively infinite serve-yourself coffee, so it evens out if you ask me. Just a reminder, while the other locations are great too, we’re at the Lane Ave one this time.

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

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/2/a/9/6/600_348310902.jpeg Instructor - Crow, HPS Class fee is $30 at the door or approved exchange RSVP with Advance pay of $25 (discounted) by PayPal on the web or by contacting Enchanted Elements (614) 437-2642. Reservations made directly to Enchanted Elements will be added to the class list manually not online. Private Instruction ~ Closed to the Public ~ Initiated Members Only Please come prepared for ritual. Blessings ~ Crow

Inspired by the successful events like "Pot Luck in the Park" and "Saturday Mornings @ East Market," this meetup promises a fun and engaging atmosphere where like-minded individuals can connect over a shared love for languages and cultures. Whether you're a language learner, ESL student, or simply passionate about exploring new cultures, this event is perfect for anyone looking to immerse themselves in a diverse and welcoming community. Come join us for an enlightening afternoon of language, culture, food, of course, and connections! (Everyone will individually choose from the buffet and pay for their own meal, by weight.)

### Tools in your AI's Toolbox : An introduction to MCP Servers The generative AI revolution has unlocked unprecedented capabilities, but the next frontier is agency: empowering models to interact with, query, and act upon the world. The current challenge is the “N x M integration problem,” where every AI model requires a custom, brittle integration for each external tool or data source. This approach simply doesn’t scale. How can we give an AI access to our sales leads, code repositories, or IoT devices in a standardized, secure, and reusable way? This session introduces Anthropic’s Model Context Protocol (MCP), the open-source framework designed to solve this challenge and become the universal connector—the USB-C port—for AI. MCP standardizes how AI models discover and use external tools, moving beyond simple function-calling to a robust, client-server architecture. We will dive into how this open protocol is creating a new ecosystem for building powerful, context-aware AI agents. Join this session for a developer-focused introduction where you will learn how to: Understand the core concepts of the open-source Model Context Protocol and its architecture. Utilize pre-built, open-source MCP servers to instantly connect AI to tools like Git, Slack, and databases. Build a custom MCP server to securely expose your own proprietary data and APIs as tools for any compliant AI. Move beyond bespoke integrations and contribute to a standardized, collaborative, and open ecosystem. Stop building one-off connectors and start building intelligent agents. This session will give you the practical knowledge to leverage MCP and create the next generation of AI that doesn’t just talk, but does. Want to be a speaker? submit your talk to our Call for Presenters!!! [https://sessionize.com/azure-cbus-2026/](https://sessionize.com/azure-cbus-2026/)

It’s time to take control of your mental health. How do you get rid of stress, anxiety and uncertainty? These emotions are buried deep in your reactive mind. Find out what the reactive mind is, and in the process find yourself. Have you ever suffered from a traumatic experience, a deep loss or been through a painful breakup? Has your ability to communicate suffered as a result? And after that, even though you "moved on" did you find that things were never quite the same? Have you ever looked at childhood photos, or reminisced your early life and wondered where that happiness and spark went? Are your emotions out of your own control? Have you ever felt, even if you aren’t aware of it, that possibly you are getting in your own way of your happiness and success? How does this affect your self-confidence? Find out what is at the root of all stress, anxiety, depression and self-doubt. Find out how and why you hold yourself back from achieving your goals and having the life you have dreamed of. As soon as you learn what is at the root of these unwanted conditions, you’ll see it is something you can DO something about. You will not be labeled or categorized at this MeetUp.