About Filled Cups
Meaningful Connections for Adults Who Want More Than Small Talk
Filled Cups helps adults build real friendships and explore intentional dating through curated in-person events, educational resources, and the Connectedness podcast. Our in-person events are currently hosted in Charlotte, NC, with plans to expand to other cities.
Filled Cups is growing into a comprehensive platform for relational education — blending community, conversation, and skill-building into one ecosystem.
Not just more superficial connections. Real connection — the kind that fills your cup.
Connection Is Harder Than It Should Be
Loneliness isn’t just about being alone. It’s about feeling unseen in a crowded room. It’s about scrolling through social media and wondering why meaningful connection feels harder as an adult. Filled Cups was created to change that.
What Is Filled Cups?
Filled Cups is a connection-focused community that combines:
Curated friendship and dating gatherings in Charlotte designed to foster meaningful conversations.
Conversations about emotional maturity, relationships, vulnerability, and modern connection.
Practical education to help you build social confidence, communication skills, and healthy relationships.
Workshops & Courses (coming soon)
Our Events: Social, But Deeper
Our in-person gatherings are intentionally designed to help people connect in ways that feel natural, thoughtful, and engaging.
Some events focus on friendship. Some focus on dating. All focus on emotional quality.
You won’t find chaotic speed dating or awkward free-for-alls. Instead, you’ll find guided activities, conversation prompts, and structured moments that lower anxiety and increase authenticity.
We create spaces where:
It’s okay to come alone.
It’s normal to want deeper connection.
And vulnerability is welcomed, not weird.
Beyond Events: Education for Emotional Growth
We believe connection is a skill — and skills can be learned.
That’s why Filled Cups also produces educational content through:
Workshops & Courses (Coming Soon)
We are expanding into interactive workshops and digital courses focused on:
Social confidence
Communication skills
Navigating dating discomfort
Building secure, healthy relationships
Creating fulfilling friendships as adults
Because meaningful relationships don’t just happen — they’re built.
The Connectedness Podcast
Hosted by founder Fernanda Brasileiro, this podcast explores topics like emotional maturity, modern dating challenges, adult friendships, vulnerability, boundaries, and relational growth.
Through solo episodes and guest interviews, we break down the “why” behind connection, and the “how” to do it better.
Our Mission & Vision
Our mission is to reduce loneliness by helping adults build emotionally fulfilling relationships through intentional connection.
We envision a world where:
People know how to build quality friendships.
Dating feels purposeful instead of exhausting.
Emotional growth is normalized.
And no one feels alone in the middle of a crowded city.
Meet the Founder
Filled Cups was founded by Fernanda Brasileiro, a connections educator and community builder passionate about helping people build strong, healthy relationships.
What started as a dream to address the loneliness epidemic evolved into a multi-layered platform combining events, education, and media.
Fernanda brings together her experience in community-building, emotional development, and relational education to create spaces that are both structured and heartfelt. At the heart of it all, she believes connection changes lives — because it changed hers.
Her husband, Frank Gutierrez, MA, NCMHC, CADC, a licensed psychotherapist, has served as an advisor from the beginning, offering clinical perspective and guidance as the vision took shape.
Together — along with dedicated volunteers and collaborators — they’ve helped Filled Cups grow into a community-centered movement in Charlotte and beyond.
Why "Filled Cups"?
Because when your relational life is full — when you have people who see you, support you, laugh with you — everything else feels lighter.
We believe emotional fulfillment isn’t optional. It’s foundational.
Special Thanks
Our amazing supporters, event volunteers and collaborators - we've had special folks supporting Filled Cups along the way and we're so thankful! Special thanks to Scott, Andrea, Lisa C, Hannah, Kelly, Lindsay, Gina, Julian, Lisa G, Kay and Kevin. Filled Cups wouldn't be here without your help.
Don’t Navigate Connection Alone
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