Civic Engagement Near Me

Lets Meet at "Olive & Lime Cafe"

We will be Dining Out again, this time at "Olive & Lime Cafe" Dining out seems to be one of our most popular activities, so we hope to have a good turnout! 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 evening of language, culture, food, of course, and connections! (Everyone will choose individually from the menu and pay for their meal.) One of our members had good things to say about this place so we decided to give it a try. They specialize in Lebanese - Mediterranean foods. We hope you will join us! See you there!!

Gaming for Democracy with OCOS

Join for a fundraiser promoting issue 8 and the fight for fair districts in Columbus. To RSVP, donate a minimum of $5 at the below link There will be open gaming with tabletops games library and a fun DnD experience where you can influence the outcomes of the characters. [RSVP here](https://secure.actblue.com/donate/chris4ocos)

topic to be announced

topic to be announced **THANK YOU** *Franklin University* for hosting our meetup! To learn more about *Franklin University*, please visit their website: [https://www.franklin.edu/](https://www.franklin.edu/) **DIRECTIONS** Franklin University Fisher Hall 300 E. Main St, Columbus, OH 43215 Map: [https://maps.app.goo.gl/jxjBA2hUmS5qrvhq8](https://maps.app.goo.gl/jxjBA2hUmS5qrvhq8) Parking is FREE! Please park in Lot C in front of Fisher Hall. See attached map. NOTE: Map the address only. When mapping with Google Maps it may use the Fisher Hall at OSU, which is NOT correct. **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

Open Barn Day in September at Sunrise Sanctuary!

## Time & Location Sep 19, 2026, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM Marysville, 16730 Martin Welch Rd, Marysville, OH 43040, USA ## About the event Open Barns are a chance for us to open our doors to the public. You can come and meet our 140+ beloved animal residents, tour our scenic property, ask our dedicated volunteers questions, and capture it all on camera. Tickets are required. $10 for adults, $5 for ages 4-17, and under 4 are free. ***As a vegan, volunteer-run nonprofit, all*** ***proceeds from our Open Barns go directly to the care and keeping of our precious animals.*** ***Advance tickets are required.*** To register for tickets[ ](https://sunrisesanctuary.app.neoncrm.com/forms/september-19th-2026-open-barn-day-registration?event=1263&&fbclid=IwY2xjawStIuZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFSOE5FM0hFenFRcm9GZjg1c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHjNL-3pyDbZKTQBRblmshYCP9VPrnZuRoHYf81oadvNRGuyQ7-E81rtSClJI_aem_hIeSy01ebVyG1ac_G8Xajw)**[CLICK HERE](https://sunrisesanctuary.app.neoncrm.com/forms/september-19th-2026-open-barn-day-registration?event=1263&&fbclid=IwY2xjawStIuZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFSOE5FM0hFenFRcm9GZjg1c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHjNL-3pyDbZKTQBRblmshYCP9VPrnZuRoHYf81oadvNRGuyQ7-E81rtSClJI_aem_hIeSy01ebVyG1ac_G8Xajw)**. We also love produce donations, especially melons, apples, pears, carrots, pineapple, squash, pumpkins, and lettuce. For the safety of our dogs, please no grapes.

Local AI and AI Harnesses by Jaime Pardo

Building a Local AI Companion – From Hardware to Autonomous Agents The era of relying entirely on cloud-based AI is shifting, opening the door for users to build and run their own powerful models at home. This presentation explores the transition from renting cloud space to constructing a personal, localized AI assistant—think less along the lines of a corporate chatbot and more like building a custom, cinematic "Jarvis." For beginners, we will demystify the core benefits of running AI locally: absolute data privacy, zero recurring subscription fees, and the freedom from server outages or internet latency. It is about taking back ownership of your data and your digital tools. To bridge the gap between concept and reality, we will look under the hood at the hardware that makes this possible. We will break down exactly what an enthusiast needs to get started without needing an enterprise budget, highlighting the importance of a solid foundation—like an AM5 motherboard and plenty of fast DDR5 RAM—and the crucial role of GPU VRAM. Using a dual-GPU setup as a real-world example, the audience will learn how concepts like quantization compress massive open-source models so they can run efficiently on consumer hardware. Once the hardware is understood, we will dive into the software ecosystem that brings the machine to life. We will explore user-friendly inference servers like Ollama and LM Studio that make loading up models as easy as installing an app. For the enthusiasts looking to go deeper, we will touch on Unsloth Studio for fine-tuning models and creating custom LoRAs. The goal is to show the audience how to navigate platforms like Hugging Face, select the right model weights, and understand the metrics that matter, such as tokens per second and prompt processing times. Finally, we will look at the true potential of a local AI setup: autonomous agents. We will explore how to give a local model "hands" by connecting it to tools, local CLI environments, and secure Docker sandboxes. By setting up gateways to platforms like Telegram and giving the AI access to read and write local Markdown wikis, it transitions from a passive chat window into a self-improving, continuous digital assistant. The presentation leaves the audience with a practical blueprint for a living project, demonstrating that setting up local AI is an evolving story well worth writing. LOGISTICS AND PARKING: The talk starts at 7:00 PM. The first half hour is reserved for everyone to get set up and mingle. Free pizza and drinks! The cheapest parking option is to find street parking, which will only cost you a few bucks. Otherwise, park in the nearby veteran's museum lot for $8. It's highly recommended you avoid the nearby $15 garage parking.

Cat Caper 5K Run/Walk with Kind Meals passing out free vegan cookies!

Cat Welfare Association is having their 20th anniversary 5K Run/Walk at the Westerville Sports Complex on Sunday, September 13th. For more info on how to sign up for the race **[CLICK HERE](https://catwelfareassoc.org/cat-caper-5k)**. **Kind Meals** is one of the proud sponsors of Cat Capers this year, and will be passing out **FREE VEGAN** **BAKED GOODS** before, during and after the race. We are looking for vegans who love to bake to prepare anywhere from 2-5 dozen cookies, brownies, etc, to pass out at our table. Please contact Joy if you are interested by contacting me at 614.406.5613. If you don't bake just come and hang with us at the **KIND MEALS** table. **PORTIA'S CAFE FOODIE TRUCK** will be there too, serving up her famous vegan dishes! No vegans will go hungry at this event. **COLUMBUS ANIMAL ADVOCATES** will have a table too! Come join all of us as we support animal welfare, rights and the vegan community! Walk, run, of be like a cat....just hangout and enjoy! Come a little earlier than 10 since we want to have a great group of vegans to support our furry obligate carnivores for a day of fun, socializing and supporting one of our favorite cat rescues in town... **[CAT WELFARE ASSOCIATION](https://catwelfareassoc.org)**. Check out **[KIND MEALS](kindmealscolumbus.org)** online and see all the wonderful things we do to promote healthy vegan food to the community and support fellow nonprofit groups! We hope you can join us!

Walk & Talk About Life's Big Questions

[The Board Walks](http://www.theboardwalks.com/) are for curious people who love deep conversations. If that sounds like you, **bring a thoughtful topic** and join us for a 5-mile walk (10,000+ steps!). **HOW IT WORKS** **Step 1: Bring a topic** Before you arrive, think of **one** topic you want to explore. A question. A thought that's been on your mind. An obsession you want to geek out on. This is your ticket to the event. **Step 2: Circle up & share** We gather in a circle. Your friendly walk host gives a speech to set the tone. Everyone shares: your name, what you're grateful for, and your topic. That's it. 60 seconds. **Step 3: Walk, talk & float** We walk 5 miles. You naturally drift into conversation with 2-3 people at a time, pulled by topics that spark your curiosity. When you're ready to move on, just say: "I'm going to float!" **Step 4: Feel more alive** Two hours flies by. You're back where you started — but you feel different. More alive. More energized. More connected to yourself and others. That's why regulars join 20+ times. *For more details, read our [Orientation Guide.](https://www.theboardwalks.com/orientation)* **HOW TO BRING A GREAT TOPIC** A great topic = something you're genuinely curious about. Recent topics include: * "What are you passionate about right now?" * "What makes a good friend?" * "What's a belief you used to hold that you've completely changed?" * "How do you want to be remembered?" * "What would you do if money wasn't a factor?" Think of your topic like the dish you're bringing to our conversational potluck. If everyone brings an A+ dish (i.e. energizing, uplifting, expansive), we'll all walk away feeling lighter and brighter. **WHAT TO EXPECT** This isn't a fitness event with casual chitchat. It's a walking think tank where we explore life's big questions together, beyond small talk. *If you're looking for light banter or a standard networking event, this probably isn't the right fit.* But if you crave depth, genuine connection, and conversations that make you feel alive? You'll love it here. **FAQ** * Wear casual athletic attire and sneakers. It's a long walk! * We have multiple first-timers at each event. We work hard to create a welcoming, inclusive, clique-free space. * We welcome people of **all** ages, backgrounds, and industries who align with the [intention](https://www.theboardwalks.com/ground-rules) of this space. * Rain or shine, we've been out here nearly every week since July 2022. If the event is cancelled, we'll let you know. * Dogs, babies in strollers, parents, and friends are welcome — please text/email them the event link so they can RSVP and prepare a topic! **LOGISTICS** * If you'll arrive over 10 minutes late, we suggest skipping the event. It's hard to find us once we start walking, and your host can't answer messages during the event. * This walk is designed for everyone to *move together at the same steady pace* (about 20 min/mile). This format works best when the whole group moves in unison. If you have mobility limitations, we kindly encourage you to find an event better suited to your needs. * Read our [Orientation Guide](https://www.theboardwalks.com/orientation) for full details. * If you enjoy the event, send **[this](http://www.theboardwalks.com/)** to a friend or sign up for our **[newsletter](https://theboardwalks.beehiiv.com/)**. We're in multiple cities with more on the way. 🤠👋 **IF YOU WANT TO GO DEEPER...** [The Board](https://stan.store/ellebeecher/p/the-board) is the next step: a high-trust collective for renaissance people devoted to creating, connecting, and building lives that light us up. * This is a global HQ for people who crave big talk, deep connection, and dream collaborations with people across industries. If the walks feel like a spark... The Board is the fire. Apply [here](https://stan.store/ellebeecher/p/the-board).

Let’s Bring Back Regular Events!

Humanist Program

In September we will hear from Fish Stark the American Humanist Association’s Executive Director. "The Religious Right Is Fighting a Holy War. Here's Our Plan To Win. The religious right is waging the most aggressive assault on secular values in a generation — defunding public schools, pushing religion into government, and attacking empathy itself as a weakness and a sin. But the picture isn't all bleak. Efforts to force the Bible into public school classrooms are being defeated in court. The AHA just won major federal cases in Florida and Arkansas. The Congressional Freethought Caucus we helped start is now larger than the Freedom Caucus. And from Minneapolis to Biloxi, humanists are showing what is possible when we show up for our communities." "AHA Executive Director Fish Stark will break down the threats the AHA's legal and policy teams are tracking right now, where the most serious attacks on the First Amendment are coming from, and what humanists can do to fight back and win — in the courts, in Congress, in the culture, and in our communities." The location for this meeting is Graystone Wine Cellar (544 South Front Street Columbus OH 43215). This meeting will be hybrid. You can meet us in-person or attend online. The formal presentation will start at noon. Soft drinks and coffee will be provided by the venue. Additionally, we will be providing catered appetizers from Blue Bow Tie Catering and so we would like an accurate count for that. We appreciate your response. Feel free to show up at 11:30am to hang out and talk. The Humanist Monthly Program is our longest running event and still a community favorite. In the old days it used to be called "Going to HCCO" and we still like to think of it as our flagship event. We do request that you RSVP for this event as seating is limited. Join Zoom Meeting [https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1](https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1) Meeting ID: 878 3656 4953 Passcode: 760812 One tap mobile +19292056099,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (New York) +13017158592,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (Washington DC)

Drunken Philosophy: "What is Art?"

Welcome to Drunken Philosophy, a casual, curious, social discussion club. Come grab a drink and a seat at The Oracle. Optional Discussion Questions * Defining Art: Plato viewed art as an imitation of reality can art even be objectively defined, or is it entirely subjective? * Artist vs. Audience: Arthur Danto suggests art is defined by its interpretation within the "artworld." Who ultimately decides what counts as art the creator, the critic, the viewer, or society? * Limits of Art: Duchamp’s "Fountain" challenged our boundaries of art. Can anything even ordinary objects or actions become art? * Art and Meaning: Kant argued true art should evoke "disinterested pleasure." Does art need to have a message or deeper meaning, or can it exist purely to please aesthetically? * Art for the Masses: According to Benjamin, mass-produced art (film, photography, digital media) can democratize culture. Does widespread accessibility improve art or diminish its value? * Art and Truth: Heidegger suggests art reveals hidden truths about existence. Has an artwork ever fundamentally changed how you understand the world? Can a work of art change the way an entire society views the world? * Art and Emotion: Tolstoy believed the purpose of art is to transfer emotions. Must art evoke emotion to be valid? * Cultural Impact: How do cultural backgrounds influence our definition of art? Could something be art in one culture but not in another? * Art and Skill: Does art require technical skill or craftsmanship? Should a portrait of a crude person be painted crudely? * Art Museums: Are museums gatekeepers of culture, preservers of history, or something else entirely? What role do art museums serve? * NFT Art: Does art lose its value or authenticity if it only exists digitally? * Moral Art: Should art strive to morally improve us as Plato and Tolstoy argued, or should it be free from moral duties, as Wilde proposed? * Beauty and Meaning: Can art still be meaningful if it isn't traditionally "beautiful"? What qualities might make an artwork significant beyond aesthetic beauty? * Rejection of New Ideas: Why do new artistic ideas often face initial rejection? Are groundbreaking works inherently challenging to accepted tastes, or is rejection more about comfort and familiarity?

Unity of Columbus Resource Group for the Homeless – Volunteers Needed

The Unity of Columbus Resource Group for the Homeless is seeking compassionate volunteers who would like to help serve and uplift members of our homeless community. This group is dedicated to sharing kindness, resources, and support with individuals who may be experiencing difficult circumstances. Anyone with a heart for service is welcome to join us as we work together to make a positive difference in the lives of others. Community members are also invited to contribute by bringing helpful items for those in need. Donations of items can be contributed at the meeting and will be distributed to assist members of the homeless community. Please consider joining us and sharing this opportunity with friends, family, or associates who may also wish to help. Learn more about Unity of Columbus at www.unityofcolumbus.org or call (614) 267-4959. Together we can extend compassion, dignity, and support to our community. 💛

Reps for the Pets for CHA Animal Shelter

This is a donation-based workout put on by Ali S. at Snap Fitness, in the Mallway Park in Upper Arlington. Join us for a fun, community workout and help support local animals in need! The Reps for Pets is from 10am until 11am in the Mallway Park. All fitness levels welcome! Meet adoptable dogs! Bring a friend and a water bottle. Be prepare to sweat! To register **[CLICK HERE](https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/reps-for-the-pets)**. Suggested donation $10. For more into please contact Ali at 614.561.1955 Thank you for supporting our mission you support is invaluable. Can't wait to see you there! For more info on Snap Fitness **[CLICK HERE](www.snapfitness.com)** For more info on Citizens for Humane Action (CHA) **[CLICK HERE](chaanimalshelter.org)**