xMinds + NeuroNest

Character Creation Workshops Series (Ages 12-22)

Workshops will span 3 separate sessions.  The first Session will be led by Ash Ariel, your NeuroNest Instructor! Subsequent sessions will be held in collaboration with our friends at xMinds! 

Session 1 - Create Your Character

• Saturday, October 24, 2026 2pm-3:30pm 

Session 2 - Sculpt Your Character

• Saturday, November 21, 2026 2pm-3:30pm 

Session 3 - Create Your Character's Story or Comic

• Saturday December 12, 2026, 3pm-4:30pm

Cozy Connect

Autistic Black Womxn, NB + AFAB Adults Group

Cozy Connect is an informal virtual space for Black Autistic Women, NB, and AFAB Adults (18+) to connect, converse, and be in community together regardless of diagnostic timeline, whether formally diagnosed, self-identified, or still exploring.

Who's this group for? This group welcomes a range of experiences, existing as a space that centers the experiences of adults who may have been socialized as girls, regardless of gender identity. Women, non-binary, and AFAB (Assigned female at birth) adults of all gender identities are welcome, including trans, GNC, genderqueer, and Autigender adults. 

Why this space? Women & AFAB Autistic people are more likely to be misdiagnosed, missed entirely, or diagnosed later in life. Black Autistic girls, women, and others at multiple intersections of marginalization, are further underrepresented in Autism research. This group exists for community, talking honestly about experience, and most of all, for joy and connection. 

Schedule: Monthly Connect meets the last Tuesday of every month, with additional groups in between, like Cozy Connect + Craft.

'Womxn, NB, + AFAB' is currently used because it best reflects the experiences this group discusses. If this doesn’t feel right to you, or you have a suggestion, we’d love to hear it- the groups name may change based on community feedback.

Upcoming Groups: 

October 20th, 2026  (Cozy Connect + Craft) 

October 27th, 2026 (Monthly Connect)

November 24th, 2026 (Monthly Connect)

Cozy Connect

Autistic & Neurodivergent Black Women + AFAB Group

Tuesday Sept 29th, 2026 - 6:30-7:30 pm

We're keeping the connections going!

This is an informal virtual space for Black Autistic AFAB, and GNC adults to connect, meet, and be in community with each other. 

This group will continue to meet on the 3rd Tuesday of every month. 

Cozy Connect (+Craft)

Autistic & Neurodivergent Black Women + AFAB Group

Tuesday Sept 22nd, 2026 - 6:30-7:30 pm

Bring your own craft + create together virtually! 

Cozy Connect is an informal virtual space for Black Autistic Women, AFAB, and GNC adults to connect, and be in community with each other. 

Cozy Connections: 

Autistic & Neurodivergent Black Women + AFAB Group

We're excited to wrap up August with our second Cozy Connections virtual group! 

This is an informal space for Black Autistic AFAB, & GNC adults to connect, meet, and be in community with each other.

xMinds & NeuroNest Art Creative Space 

We're excited to share we'll be collaborating with xMinds for a Teens & Tweens Creative Space event this August. 

July - August Groups & Events

Take a look at some of our summer groups and programs! 

2026 Sumer Workshops & Programs 

May Workshops

Come create with us this May! 

*support persons/guardians, and regulation tools are always welcome! 

* All prices are suggested contributions to support program development, future workshops, instruction, and art materials- Contributions are not required. Pay what you can! 

Zine Workshop

Wednesday, May 13, 2026 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm - Suggested $23 

Group Size: 8

Collage Workshop 

Saturday May 16, 2026 - 11:00am - 12:30pm - Suggested $25 

Group Size 8 

Open Studio

Wednesday May 20, 2026 6:30pm - 8:00pm - Suggested $23

Group Size: 7

Guided Studio: Creative Choice (Small Group)

Saturday, May 23, 2026 - 11:00pm - 1:00pm - Suggested $45

Group Size: 4-5 

Zine Making Pilot

Art & Zine Making Workshop 

Date | Time: February 27, 2026 - 4:30 - 6:00PM 

Location: Cloverly St, Silver Spring MD

Winter Workshops