​Better Futures Club is a weekly event (alternating Tuesdays and Thursdays) focused on imagining and making better futures.

Imagine an artist community, a think tank, and a research center in the same building. People in all of those fields working alongside each other imagining and creating different futures together. Cross pollination and inspiration. Liberal Arts and STEM and R&D. Photographers, physicists, authors, astronomers, musicians, makers, mathematicians, designers, developers, fashionistas, climatologists and all manner of imaginative optimists.

All Better Futures Club events are covered by the Contributor Covenant Code of Conduct (https://www.contributor-covenant.org)

Join us for our free Spring Maseeh Exchange, and see how advances in AI are being applied to real-world challenges at Maseeh College. As these technologies move from research into everyday use, they are reshaping how engineers, scientists, and organizations approach design, analysis, and decision-making. Across disciplines, our researchers are translating complex information into practical decisions — improving systems, informing design, strengthening infrastructure, and expanding what’s possible through thoughtful application of emerging technologies. Spring features the works of A Creative and Emerging Technology Institute (CETI). This event brings our community together to explore the role of creativity, critical thinking, and technical expertise in shaping solutions that matter.

A meeting of folks interested in BSD operating systems and related technologies to get together, eat pizza, drink beer, and talk about what interesting things have been going on.

Please register on either Meetup (https://www.meetup.com/pnw-software-quality-professionals-pnsqc/events/314648123/) or Luma (https://luma.com/60m4kgqw) so we can count attendance!

Converge with your fellow software professionals this May at Steeplejack on NE Broadway!

What are project managers actually saying about AI, quality, and delivery — and what does it mean for us in QA? Jahzeel Ormeño, Founder and Principal Consultant of SimplexityPM, is bringing the conversation from the PMI Portland Annual Conference straight to our Meetup with her informal talk "From the PMI Conference Floor: What the PM World Is Saying About Quality, AI, and Getting Work Done Right".

Jahzeel is excited to debrief her experience from the conference with an honest conversation about what PMs are actually talking about: where AI is showing up (and where it isn’t), what else dominated the room, and how the PM practices most of us take for granted connect directly to software quality outcomes. Come ready to share what you’re seeing on your end too — the best part will be comparing notes.

You don’t need to be a PM to get something out of this. It’s a good fit if you’re curious about any of the following: • What PMs and quality folks have in common (and where they still talk past each other) • How AI is actually landing in delivery teams — beyond the hype • Which PM habits quietly prevent quality problems before they start • Continuing the conversations from PMI Portland 2026

This will be a hybrid meetup, so mingle in person or tune in online. Doors (and virtual lobby) open at 6pm for a half hour of pre-talk networking.

Schedule:

6pm - 6:30pm Networking (online included) 6:30pm - 7:30pm ‎Open discussion led by Jahzeel

(While free to attend, food and drinks from the delicious Steeplejack menu will not be covered.)

Topic

Writing proper alt text is hard. But it doesn't have to be. There's a minimum standard and an advanced approach. People who need alt text will appreciate you for the former and love you for the latter. Alt text is also a whole lot more than the alt attribute. That's just one of the many ways to make content accessible. In fact, there are a number of considerations for writing great alt text.

In this presentation, Mark Wyner will help you understand the spectrum of options so you can take good care of your audience. We'll walk through implementation methods, phonetics, composition, complex sources, and tackling social media.

Let’s give screen readers and other assistive technologies something to talk about.

Agenda

The event begins at 6 pm; join early, starting at 5:45 pm for networking.

• 5:45 Networking
• 6:00 Introductions and announcements
• 6:15 Presentation
• 6:45 Q&A and discussion

About the presenter

Mark Wyner is an autodidactic polymath with over two decades of experience in design and development. His approach prioritizes usability, accessibility, and inclusivity. He’s also an antifascist humanitarian. So diversity and equity are overarching principles for everything he does in this space. Currently, as the Lead Product Designer at BookNook. His pronouns are he/him/his. You can follow him on Mastodon or his accessibility writings on his website.

Accommodation requests

If you have any accommodation requests, don't hesitate to contact us before the event to discuss.

PDXOSGeo connects again this week, Wednesday May 20, 6:30p Hot Lips Pizza @ the Natural Capital Center 721 NW 9th Ave, Portland OR. Join us for some show and tell and good open geo discussion!

We're striving to post our speaker a couple weeks in advance of the meeting, so watch this space!

Portland Indie Game Convention (PIGCON) is a brand new convention celebrating independent game developers from Portland and beyond! A weekend for indie developers to learn, share, and connect, PIGCON will consist of two days of showcases, workshops, talks, an artist alley, as well as events featuring familiar and under-the-radar indie game development talent. Saturday hours are 10AM-10PM and will feature an all-day talk track as well as a curated showfloor featuring ~40 indie games and an artist alley. Sunday hours are 10AM-7PM, featuring a second all-day talk track, an all-day workshop track, and a free and open-to-the-public BYO Game showcase where anyone can come to play games, and even bring their own games to set up and showcase! No sign up is required for the BYO game showcase, just show up and grab some table space and power.

Additional special events will be hosted on site both Saturday and Sunday night.

Join us for OBI’s Accelerate Biotech Happy Hour on Thursday, June 4, from 5:30 to 7:00 PM.

Kick off June with OBI’s Accelerate Happy Hour! Good conversations, great people, and a relaxed space to connect. This month’s happy hour is fueled by our beverage sponsors, Ramsey Cox Media Relations and Public Affairs and Nucleate.

It’s a chance to connect with others in the community, build new relationships, and share ideas that move your work forward.

Whether you’re new to OBI or have been part of the community for a while, we’d love to see you there.

When: Thursday, June 4 | 5:30 to 7:00 PM Where: OBI Event Space | Suite 230

RSVP and join us for an easy, welcoming evening built around connection and good company.

Thanks to Roseline Coffee for providing a physical location! Find inside the hotel and to the right, likely on the couches

Coffee, bagels and people working on their careers and code! We have 2-5 mentors every month ready to help people get started in the industry, get help with a particular problem, or get career advice. We offer resume reviews, portfolio reviews, and sometimes mock interviews (time permitting).

Online Teams Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YTljOWRlMDAtNThmZS00NzljLWE1YTEtZDhlODMyYzI0OTRi%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2282ea9e81-6f10-49e0-a1f1-d75b0b4c2e7c%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22143ee9d3-21a4-4da7-a1e8-2472c358110e%22%7d

Or call in (audio only)

+1 872-240-8681,,882162595# United States, Chicago

Phone Conference ID: 882 162 595#

Thanks to Capital One Café for providing a physical location!

Discord https://discord.gg/nSCxgbcG7U

Have you ever wondered if your product truly has the upside you believe—or have sold to your investors? Given the remarkable failure rate of new products, it’s worth understanding what separates the winners from the losers, and how you can see more clearly which of those paths you’re on.

“From Half-Baked to Fully-Baked: Getting Your Product Right for Faster Market Uptake” is for entrepreneurs who run lean and can’t afford a new product failure. The talk is based on case studies with local Inc.-5000 companies that, while smart, made product blunders costing millions of dollars because of overconfidence and hubris.

Get up-to-date information at: https://luma.com/dltup2wh

Address: Hawthorne Asylum Food Cart Pod Portland, Oregon United States

Hosted by Erin M Miles Rasmussen

The PNSQC and Portland AWS User Group are joining forces this June at ProFocus Headquarters for an evening of technical learning with cloud, security, and quality professionals from across the region.

This month, Trevor Gudeman, Senior Software Engineer at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, takes us inside how AWS can level up code quality across CI/CD workflows. With a focus on CodeBuild and CodePipeline, Trevor will show how AWS-native tools can take the manual effort out of key quality checks — think linting, unit testing, code coverage, static analysis, security scanning, and quality gates — so your team can catch issues earlier and ship with more confidence.

This will be a hybrid meetup, so mingle in person or tune in online. Doors (and virtual lobby) open at 5:30pm for a half hour of pre-talk networking.

Drinks provided by ProFocus. Free to attend! ‎ Schedule:

5:30pm - 6pm Networking 6pm - 7:30pm Tech Talk

Details

What to Expect:

Code and Coffee is an inclusive, informal co-working session. Drink some coffee, bring your laptop, and have engaging conversations. This is a great opportunity to learn from others, share your knowledge, and possibly collaborate on side projects, online courses, or even your day-to-day work tasks. Still uncertain? Let's chat on Discord!

Venue:

The Venue is at Roseline Café, who is graciously allowing us to host a space. WIFI, power outlets Recommended Parking: Smart Park, $7 all day https://www.portland.gov/transportation/parking/smartpark

Coffee:

Roseline Café has drip coffee and fixings available for it

Agenda:

10 AM - Arrival 10:15 AM - Introductions: Share your name Discuss your current projects or interests. If you don’t have a specific project, share what intrigues you! Mention your expertise and how you can assist others. Are you job hunting or hiring? Let us know! Community events you wanna plug. If none, that's cool too. 12:30 AM - Wrapping Up: You can stay longer, but we'll officially be done! We usually grab lunch as a group at near by food carts

Thanks to Roseline Coffee for providing a physical location! Find inside the hotel and to the right, likely on the couches

Coffee, bagels and people working on their careers and code! We have 2-5 mentors every month ready to help people get started in the industry, get help with a particular problem, or get career advice. We offer resume reviews, portfolio reviews, and sometimes mock interviews (time permitting).

Online Teams Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YTljOWRlMDAtNThmZS00NzljLWE1YTEtZDhlODMyYzI0OTRi%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2282ea9e81-6f10-49e0-a1f1-d75b0b4c2e7c%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22143ee9d3-21a4-4da7-a1e8-2472c358110e%22%7d

Or call in (audio only)

+1 872-240-8681,,882162595# United States, Chicago

Phone Conference ID: 882 162 595#

Thanks to Capital One Café for providing a physical location!

Discord https://discord.gg/nSCxgbcG7U

Share

Get up-to-date information at: https://luma.com/ok3tf9ls

Address: Hawthorne Asylum Food Cart Pod Portland, Oregon United States

Hosted by Erin M Miles Rasmussen

Details

What to Expect:

Code and Coffee is an inclusive, informal co-working session. Drink some coffee, bring your laptop, and have engaging conversations. This is a great opportunity to learn from others, share your knowledge, and possibly collaborate on side projects, online courses, or even your day-to-day work tasks. Still uncertain? Let's chat on Discord!

Venue:

The Venue is at Roseline Café, who is graciously allowing us to host a space. WIFI, power outlets Recommended Parking: Smart Park, $7 all day https://www.portland.gov/transportation/parking/smartpark

Coffee:

Roseline Café has drip coffee and fixings available for it

Agenda:

10 AM - Arrival 10:15 AM - Introductions: Share your name Discuss your current projects or interests. If you don’t have a specific project, share what intrigues you! Mention your expertise and how you can assist others. Are you job hunting or hiring? Let us know! Community events you wanna plug. If none, that's cool too. 12:30 AM - Wrapping Up: You can stay longer, but we'll officially be done! We usually grab lunch as a group at near by food carts

Thanks to Roseline Coffee for providing a physical location! Find inside the hotel and to the right, likely on the couches

Coffee, bagels and people working on their careers and code! We have 2-5 mentors every month ready to help people get started in the industry, get help with a particular problem, or get career advice. We offer resume reviews, portfolio reviews, and sometimes mock interviews (time permitting).

Online Teams Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YTljOWRlMDAtNThmZS00NzljLWE1YTEtZDhlODMyYzI0OTRi%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2282ea9e81-6f10-49e0-a1f1-d75b0b4c2e7c%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22143ee9d3-21a4-4da7-a1e8-2472c358110e%22%7d

Or call in (audio only)

+1 872-240-8681,,882162595# United States, Chicago

Phone Conference ID: 882 162 595#

Thanks to Capital One Café for providing a physical location!

Discord https://discord.gg/nSCxgbcG7U

Share

Get up-to-date information at: https://luma.com/weiq3t3f

Address: Hawthorne Asylum Food Cart Pod Portland, Oregon United States

Hosted by Erin M Miles Rasmussen

Details

What to Expect:

Code and Coffee is an inclusive, informal co-working session. Drink some coffee, bring your laptop, and have engaging conversations. This is a great opportunity to learn from others, share your knowledge, and possibly collaborate on side projects, online courses, or even your day-to-day work tasks. Still uncertain? Let's chat on Discord!

Venue:

The Venue is at Roseline Café, who is graciously allowing us to host a space. WIFI, power outlets Recommended Parking: Smart Park, $7 all day https://www.portland.gov/transportation/parking/smartpark

Coffee:

Roseline Café has drip coffee and fixings available for it

Agenda:

10 AM - Arrival 10:15 AM - Introductions: Share your name Discuss your current projects or interests. If you don’t have a specific project, share what intrigues you! Mention your expertise and how you can assist others. Are you job hunting or hiring? Let us know! Community events you wanna plug. If none, that's cool too. 12:30 AM - Wrapping Up: You can stay longer, but we'll officially be done! We usually grab lunch as a group at near by food carts

Thanks to Roseline Coffee for providing a physical location! Find inside the hotel and to the right, likely on the couches

Coffee, bagels and people working on their careers and code! We have 2-5 mentors every month ready to help people get started in the industry, get help with a particular problem, or get career advice. We offer resume reviews, portfolio reviews, and sometimes mock interviews (time permitting).

Online Teams Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YTljOWRlMDAtNThmZS00NzljLWE1YTEtZDhlODMyYzI0OTRi%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2282ea9e81-6f10-49e0-a1f1-d75b0b4c2e7c%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22143ee9d3-21a4-4da7-a1e8-2472c358110e%22%7d

Or call in (audio only)

+1 872-240-8681,,882162595# United States, Chicago

Phone Conference ID: 882 162 595#

Thanks to Capital One Café for providing a physical location!

Discord https://discord.gg/nSCxgbcG7U

Share

Get up-to-date information at: https://luma.com/fgpd1gc8

Address: Hawthorne Asylum Food Cart Pod Portland, Oregon United States

Hosted by Erin M Miles Rasmussen

Details

What to Expect:

Code and Coffee is an inclusive, informal co-working session. Drink some coffee, bring your laptop, and have engaging conversations. This is a great opportunity to learn from others, share your knowledge, and possibly collaborate on side projects, online courses, or even your day-to-day work tasks. Still uncertain? Let's chat on Discord!

Venue:

The Venue is at Roseline Café, who is graciously allowing us to host a space. WIFI, power outlets Recommended Parking: Smart Park, $7 all day https://www.portland.gov/transportation/parking/smartpark

Coffee:

Roseline Café has drip coffee and fixings available for it

Agenda:

10 AM - Arrival 10:15 AM - Introductions: Share your name Discuss your current projects or interests. If you don’t have a specific project, share what intrigues you! Mention your expertise and how you can assist others. Are you job hunting or hiring? Let us know! Community events you wanna plug. If none, that's cool too. 12:30 AM - Wrapping Up: You can stay longer, but we'll officially be done! We usually grab lunch as a group at near by food carts

Thanks to Roseline Coffee for providing a physical location! Find inside the hotel and to the right, likely on the couches

Coffee, bagels and people working on their careers and code! We have 2-5 mentors every month ready to help people get started in the industry, get help with a particular problem, or get career advice. We offer resume reviews, portfolio reviews, and sometimes mock interviews (time permitting).

Online Teams Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YTljOWRlMDAtNThmZS00NzljLWE1YTEtZDhlODMyYzI0OTRi%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2282ea9e81-6f10-49e0-a1f1-d75b0b4c2e7c%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22143ee9d3-21a4-4da7-a1e8-2472c358110e%22%7d

Or call in (audio only)

+1 872-240-8681,,882162595# United States, Chicago

Phone Conference ID: 882 162 595#

Thanks to Capital One Café for providing a physical location!

Discord https://discord.gg/nSCxgbcG7U

Share

Get up-to-date information at: https://luma.com/3e2o26k9

Address: Hawthorne Asylum Food Cart Pod Portland, Oregon United States

Hosted by Erin M Miles Rasmussen

Details

What to Expect:

Code and Coffee is an inclusive, informal co-working session. Drink some coffee, bring your laptop, and have engaging conversations. This is a great opportunity to learn from others, share your knowledge, and possibly collaborate on side projects, online courses, or even your day-to-day work tasks. Still uncertain? Let's chat on Discord!

Venue:

The Venue is at Roseline Café, who is graciously allowing us to host a space. WIFI, power outlets Recommended Parking: Smart Park, $7 all day https://www.portland.gov/transportation/parking/smartpark

Coffee:

Roseline Café has drip coffee and fixings available for it

Agenda:

10 AM - Arrival 10:15 AM - Introductions: Share your name Discuss your current projects or interests. If you don’t have a specific project, share what intrigues you! Mention your expertise and how you can assist others. Are you job hunting or hiring? Let us know! Community events you wanna plug. If none, that's cool too. 12:30 AM - Wrapping Up: You can stay longer, but we'll officially be done! We usually grab lunch as a group at near by food carts

Thanks to Roseline Coffee for providing a physical location! Find inside the hotel and to the right, likely on the couches

Coffee, bagels and people working on their careers and code! We have 2-5 mentors every month ready to help people get started in the industry, get help with a particular problem, or get career advice. We offer resume reviews, portfolio reviews, and sometimes mock interviews (time permitting).

Online Teams Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YTljOWRlMDAtNThmZS00NzljLWE1YTEtZDhlODMyYzI0OTRi%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2282ea9e81-6f10-49e0-a1f1-d75b0b4c2e7c%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22143ee9d3-21a4-4da7-a1e8-2472c358110e%22%7d

Or call in (audio only)

+1 872-240-8681,,882162595# United States, Chicago

Phone Conference ID: 882 162 595#

Thanks to Capital One Café for providing a physical location!

Discord https://discord.gg/nSCxgbcG7U

Share

Get up-to-date information at: https://luma.com/wf629e9l

Address: Hawthorne Asylum Food Cart Pod Portland, Oregon United States

Hosted by Erin M Miles Rasmussen

DigiMarCon Rocky Mountains – The #1 Digital Marketing, Media and Advertising Conference & Exhibition in the Rocky Mountains.

Get ready to be inspired and informed at DigiMarCon Rocky Mountains, the premier annual conference and exhibition for digital marketing, media, advertising and business professionals in the Rocky Mountains, returning November 12-13, 2026 to the Hilton Salt Lake City Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Experience three action-packed days including keynotes, master classes and panels from experts and thought leaders with cutting-edge strategies and numerous networking opportunities. Also check out the next generation of technology & innovation; Internet, Mobile, AdTech, MarTech & SaaS Technology. Attend in-person or online to access the next wave of digital innovation, including insights in AI and ChatGPT, marketing automation, content creation, growth hacking, social media marketing, SEO, and more.

Highlights:

 •   Top Industry Keynotes: Hear from visionary speakers who push the boundaries of digital marketing.
 •   Networking Opportunities: Connect with thought leaders, reunite with your peers, and expand your professional network.
 •   Emerging Trends: Discover strategies and latest technologies to move your business to the next level.
 •   Hands-On Learning: Master classes, case studies, and strategy sessions to equip you with practical solutions for immediate impact.

This year’s edition will feature topics such as:

 •   Artificial Intelligence, ChatGPT, and Marketing Automation
 •   Content Marketing, Email Marketing, Social Media Marketing, and Influencer Marketing
 •   Conversion Rate Optimization, Mobile Marketing, and Video Marketing
 •   Data Science, Big Data, Programmatic Advertising and Predictive Analytics
 •   UI / UX Design, User Experience, Omnichannel Marketing, and much more!

Challenge traditional ideas, gain actionable insights, and discover how to thrive and succeed as a marketer in a rapidly evolving digital world. See why people keep coming back year after year to this must-attend event for any marketer wanting to stay ahead!

Register and secure your seat today at https://digimarconrockymountains.com.

Details

What to Expect:

Code and Coffee is an inclusive, informal co-working session. Drink some coffee, bring your laptop, and have engaging conversations. This is a great opportunity to learn from others, share your knowledge, and possibly collaborate on side projects, online courses, or even your day-to-day work tasks. Still uncertain? Let's chat on Discord!

Venue:

The Venue is at Roseline Café, who is graciously allowing us to host a space. WIFI, power outlets Recommended Parking: Smart Park, $7 all day https://www.portland.gov/transportation/parking/smartpark

Coffee:

Roseline Café has drip coffee and fixings available for it

Agenda:

10 AM - Arrival 10:15 AM - Introductions: Share your name Discuss your current projects or interests. If you don’t have a specific project, share what intrigues you! Mention your expertise and how you can assist others. Are you job hunting or hiring? Let us know! Community events you wanna plug. If none, that's cool too. 12:30 AM - Wrapping Up: You can stay longer, but we'll officially be done! We usually grab lunch as a group at near by food carts

Thanks to Roseline Coffee for providing a physical location! Find inside the hotel and to the right, likely on the couches

Coffee, bagels and people working on their careers and code! We have 2-5 mentors every month ready to help people get started in the industry, get help with a particular problem, or get career advice. We offer resume reviews, portfolio reviews, and sometimes mock interviews (time permitting).

Online Teams Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YTljOWRlMDAtNThmZS00NzljLWE1YTEtZDhlODMyYzI0OTRi%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2282ea9e81-6f10-49e0-a1f1-d75b0b4c2e7c%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22143ee9d3-21a4-4da7-a1e8-2472c358110e%22%7d

Or call in (audio only)

+1 872-240-8681,,882162595# United States, Chicago

Phone Conference ID: 882 162 595#

Thanks to Capital One Café for providing a physical location!

Discord https://discord.gg/nSCxgbcG7U

Share

Get up-to-date information at: https://luma.com/waifbpzl

Address: Hawthorne Asylum Food Cart Pod Portland, Oregon United States

Hosted by Erin M Miles Rasmussen