John Cusano co-creates collaborative partnerships with organizations that aspire to navigate this century’s interconnected challenges with creativity, introspection, and innovation. His approach embodies the values of inquiry, equity, and engagement, grounded in the principles of collective meaning-making, self-organizing systems, integral studies, and human development. Cusano’s role spans the margins of facilitator, advisor, partner, and consultant. He can recommend key associates when additional guidance, expertise, or support is needed.Collaborative work with organizations:– Deepens knowledge of overall circumstances by broadening and enhancing a collective awareness and comprehension of the intricacies of context, history, and relationships,– Engages myriad domains of knowing by involving a diversity of voices, feedback, and experience that builds trust, expands relationships, and makes sense of relevance through multiple lenses,– Assesses the influences, consequences, and limitations of current organizational structures and processes to evolve more effective ways of working together and– Employs collective values-wayfinding as a dynamic strategy to support decision-making and map threshold concepts and actions to activate aspirational goals for the future.He served 11 years as the Community Development Coordinator at the CT Office of the Arts (DECD), where he engaged constituents statewide to inaugurate a network of regional service organizations. He served as executive director, consulted for nonprofits and municipalities, and directed his art gallery as the first tenant in the SoNo redevelopment (South Norwalk, CT). A Civic Ambassador with Everyday Democracy, he co-designed and -facilitated the ‘Facing Racism in Stamford’ public dialogue series and the Collective Action for Equity network for the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County. He has a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design and a Master of Arts in Consciousness Studies.

URBAN Connecticut is a community of change-makers who explore and connect across differences. We work at the intersection of equity and methodology and use engaged inquiry to address big questions about equity and liberation. We come together to express new ways of being and working together to amplify civic possibility and the influence of residents.

Dialogue design support plus small- and large-group facilitation for the public workshops series (four series which ran once per week for 6-7 weeks) titled, "Facing Racism in Stamford." The project was supported by Everday Democracy and operated at four different sites throughout the city.

Provide design and implementation support for region- and county-wide projects with a focus on equity and transformative collaboration. Currently focused on supporting the Collective Action for Equity (CAFE) community of practice.

Compass is a social benefit organization serving youth in the Hartford region through Peace Builders (anti-gang violence) and Community School & after-school programs. Past President of the Board.

Collaboratively developed and inaugurated a statewide network of cultural service agencies with a focus on collective impact (cross-sector + arts partnerships) and community development, especially cultural activities that resulted in positive social impacts. Designed & managed various grant programs, provided professional development.

Led organizational restructuring, managed budgets, expanded and evaluated programs, wrote and supervised grants. Partnered with schools and nonprofits, developed key relationships with municipal leadership and the business community, worked with foundations and private funders. Hired, managed and evaluated staff, advanced educational and community programming (outreach education, community school of the arts, artist studios, galleries).

Led a social service organization (Action for Bridgeprot Community Development, Inc.) in the start-up of a federally-funded entrepreneurial work training and job creation program for artisan owned micro-enterprises. Partnered with government agencies and developed relationships with local businesses and municipal leadership.

Analyzed and designed program expansion of the Regional Center for the Arts. Conducted needs assessment, led collective planning, provided design recommendations for reorganization, provided on-going support, managed relocation and supported a multi-year partnership with the General Electric Fund.Also designed and managed an interdistrict grant program: Developed, directed and evaluated interdistrict (15 towns) middle school grant program. Designed and facilitated review process and authored criteria and guidelines. Expanded cross-sector partnerships, provided curriculum design assistance to grantees. Managed state grant award.