June 2025 Edition: Queer Stories, Real Business, No Apologies

🎤 Theme: Proud Voices — Queer Stories, Real Business, No Apologies

It’s Pride Month, and this time the mic goes to our queer speakers and loudest allies. Not rainbow capitalism. Not hollow performative support. Just real humans, telling real stories, showing how queerness and business brilliance are not mutually exclusive.

From chosen family origin stories to spicy branding moments, this month is about claiming space, embracing weirdness, and proving (once again) that visibility is more than a vibe—it’s a business strategy.

🌈 Speakers (so far)

• Michael Jonas - Narwhal Law and Business Strategy
• Alexander (Alex) Hopkins - Practically Magic Bookkeeping
• Robynne Weaver - Robynne Weaver Coaching

🌈 Want the mic?

Applications to speak are OPEN and due by Friday, June 21.
Apply here ➔

🎤 How it works:

• 20 slides. 20 seconds each.
• No text slides—just images and your voice.
• Fast, punchy, real AF.

(And no, you don’t have to speak to attend—come soak in the stories, snack, and connect with rad humans.)

🤝 It’s networking without the cringe.
No stiff sales pitches. No business card “spray and pray.”
Just real talk, real connection, and a hell of a lot of laughter.

We follow the Pecha Kucha model:
20 slides. 20 seconds each.
Which means you get real stories, real fast—no dragging, no awkward rambles, no soul-crushing boredom.

Our mission:
✔ Have fun. (Business doesn't have to be boring.)
✔ Loosen up. (Real connection needs real humans.)
✔ Activate your humanity in business. (Because robots don’t build communities.)

🌍 Radical Inclusion Always:
We welcome all gender identities, all orientations, and voices that don’t always get the mic.
We don’t operate in bubbles—we break them.

🍷 Oh yeah—and it’s FREE. Plus, snacks.
Because nothing builds trust like a good story and something to sip.

📆 Tuesday, June 24, 2025
🕔 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
📍 Graybox | 107 SE Washington St #700, Portland, OR 97214

🚪 Getting Inside:

• We recommend arriving before 6:00 PM, as the building doors lock after that.
• If you arrive between 6:00–6:15 PM, no worries—we'll have someone stationed at the Stark Street entrance to let you in!
• Pro tip: No matter which street-level door you enter, walk straight through the building to the Stark Street elevator.
• Take the elevator up to the 7th floor—we’ll be there with all the vibes.

🗓️ Run of Show:

• 5:30 PM: Grab snacks, meet other awesome humans, and don’t miss the rooftop selfies. 📸
• 6:00 PM: Speakers take the mic—20 slides, 20 seconds each, real talk only. 🎤
• 7:00 PM: We wrap up the talks but keep the convo flowing.
• 7:30 PM: Event officially ends—but your new friendships are just getting started. 🚀

🎤 WANT THE MIC? Apply by Friday, June 21! ➔ [Speaker Application Link]
🍷 Just want to vibe with great people and great stories? Snag your free spot below!