🧜‍♀️ The AI Collective Hampton Roads

New AI tools are dropping every week. Bookmarks are piling up. “To-be-studied” lists are growing faster than we can keep up with.

Sound familiar?

Peninsula Builders Study Group is a local initiative for students and developers of the Peninsula area who want to stop meaning to learn and start actually doing it—together.

There’s no pressure to be an expert, and no bootcamp intensity. Just a consistent habit, a room full of curious people, and the accountability that comes from showing up. Every session we pick a topic and dive deeper into it until we are fully clear on it.

Session details:
🕕 Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
📍 Location: Christopher Newport University (Luter 170)
🔁 Frequency: Bi-weekly (Tuesdays)

Stay connected:
Join Slack: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSflVL1WYj3NpiSZ2o7QjJW17-HojU3wPyeeQVIWhKI_4OtFPQ/viewform?usp=dialog

New AI tools are dropping every week. Bookmarks are piling up. “To-be-studied” lists are growing faster than we can keep up with.

Sound familiar?

Peninsula Builders Study Group is a local initiative for students and developers of the Peninsula area who want to stop meaning to learn and start actually doing it—together.

There’s no pressure to be an expert, and no bootcamp intensity. Just a consistent habit, a room full of curious people, and the accountability that comes from showing up. Every session we pick a topic and dive deeper into it until we are fully clear on it.

Session details:
🕕 Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
📍 Location: Christopher Newport University (Luter 170)
🔁 Frequency: Bi-weekly (Tuesdays)

Stay connected:
Join Slack: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSflVL1WYj3NpiSZ2o7QjJW17-HojU3wPyeeQVIWhKI_4OtFPQ/viewform?usp=dialog

Meet people and pick up your weekly groceries.

🤝 A casual networking hangout in the grocery store cafe
Chats, connections, & grocery carts is a relaxed, social-first networking event for curious, friendly people across Hampton Roads who enjoy good conversation and knocking out life errands at the same time.

This is not a lecture.
This is not a pitch night.
And you definitely do not need to “prepare” anything.

It is simply a low-pressure space to meet new people, have real conversations, and casually connect while wandering the aisles and picking up your weekly groceries.

Whether you are deeply into AI and automation, adjacent to tech and creativity, or just someone who enjoys thoughtful conversations with interesting humans, you belong here.

✨ What to expect
- Casual, open networking with a mix of builders, creatives, technologists, founders, students, and professionals
- Easy, organic conversations while shopping at your own pace
- Light, optional conversation prompts to help break the ice if you want them
- No presentations, no panels, no pressure to “network correctly”
- A friendly, welcoming environment for all backgrounds and experience levels
- Come as you are. Grab a cart or a basket. Pick up dinner for the week. - - Meet a few new people along the way.

👥 Who should attend
Chats, Connections, & Grocery Carts is for:

People who enjoy meeting others without forced networking vibes
Builders, creatives, technologists, and curious minds
AI, automation, no-code, and tech-adjacent folks
Students and career switchers exploring what is next
Founders, consultants, operators, and professionals
Anyone who likes good conversation and low-stakes socializing

If you enjoy thoughtful chats and meeting people in unexpected places, you will fit right in.

🏪 Why a grocery store
You were probably going to the store anyway.

Hosting this event in a grocery store keeps things human, practical, and approachable. It removes the pressure of traditional networking and turns it into something simple, efficient, and a little fun.

Two errands. One cart.

💡 Why this event exists
Community grows best in relaxed, everyday spaces.

Chats, Connections, & Grocery Carts exists to create an easy, human-centered way for people to connect without titles, talks, or expectations. It is about building relationships, sharing ideas naturally, and strengthening the local community one conversation at a time.

Come say hi. Leave with groceries. Make a few new connections along the way.

ℹ️ Other bits of info & FAQs

• This is a free community event
• Drinks or food are available for purchase depending on the venue
• Photos or videos may be taken for community and marketing purposes
• Come solo or bring a friend
• ​​​Is there free parking in the area? Yes. They’ve got lots of spots available in their parking lot.
• ​​​Is this free? Yes, but space is limited. Make sure to RSVP.

New AI tools are dropping every week. Bookmarks are piling up. “To-be-studied” lists are growing faster than we can keep up with.

Sound familiar?

Peninsula Builders Study Group is a local initiative for students and developers of the Peninsula area who want to stop meaning to learn and start actually doing it—together.

There’s no pressure to be an expert, and no bootcamp intensity. Just a consistent habit, a room full of curious people, and the accountability that comes from showing up. Every session we pick a topic and dive deeper into it until we are fully clear on it.

Session details:
🕕 Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
📍 Location: Christopher Newport University (Luter 170)
🔁 Frequency: Bi-weekly (Tuesdays)

Stay connected:
Join Slack: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSflVL1WYj3NpiSZ2o7QjJW17-HojU3wPyeeQVIWhKI_4OtFPQ/viewform?usp=dialog