GVL Connect | Network & Learn

### NOTE: This month is extra special as we partner with the Upstate LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce for their monthly networking event. Expect the room to be a bit more full and colorful this month.

### ✨ Welcome to GVL Connect — Sip, Learn, + Connect! ✨This isn’t your typical networking event — it’s about breaking bread, breaking barriers, and building real community.

Each month in Greenville, we gather as one community to shake hands, learn from each other, ask questions, and grow authentic connections with other locals.
And as our city continues to grow, so does the importance of staying connected—not just socially, but civically.

#### 🌟 What to Expect

First of all — parking is free at Venture X, with a large, paved, well-lit lot for easy access.
After check-in, grab a drink, snack on charcuterie, and start making meaningful connections. If you're an art lover (or a nervous introvert), feel free to wander and enjoy the local artwork displayed gallery-style throughout Venture X.
Around 6:30, our Nonprofit of the Month will share about their impact right here in our community.

Then we transition into what makes GVL Connect unique: Joanna will lead a thought-provoking, interactive discussion. In 2026, our conversations are centered around a single American value—one we often assume we all understand. But do we?
Together, we’ll explore what that value really means… and how the same value can lead people to very different perspectives, choices, and outcomes.

You’ll be joined by a diverse mix of attendees—including local residents, business owners, and civic leaders from across the Upstate—all coming together to better understand one another. Because while we’re exploring American values, we’re also uncovering something closer to home:
👉 What are Greenville’s values?
👉 What makes this community so special?
Afterward, stick around to continue the conversation, deepen connections, sign up with the featured nonprofit, and enjoy another plate before we wrap up around 8:00 PM.

#### Event Organizer—Joanna Reese

Joanna Reese initially launched the GVL Connect event series in 2016 after relocating her marketing agency to Greenville from her hometown of Hendersonville, NC. Nearly a decade and a career change later, Joanna is still a community connector, promoting small businesses, elevating nonprofits, and advocating for others through her role in local government. She is also a full-time realtor committed to strengthening our community.