This session offers a hands-on exploration of how to build social capital through low-cost, high-impact community initiatives. Drawing from real-world examples in Petaluma, California—Aqus Café, Aqus Community, and Cool Petaluma—John Crowley shares field-tested strategies that transform everyday spaces and events into engines of connection.
Participants will walk away with:
- Practical frameworks for creating recurring gatherings that foster belonging
- Proven formats like themed community dinners that connect people around shared interests
- Approaches to turn climate action and emergency preparedness into relationship-building tools
- A blueprint for the Joiners Initiative—a campaign encouraging people to join one local organization per year for five years
- Tips for designing “third spaces” that invite organic interactions across diverse populations
Ideal for nonprofits, city planners, community organizers, and anyone looking to strengthen the social fabric, this session delivers actionable tools—not just theory—for building more connected and resilient communities.
About the presenter:
John Crowley is a dedicated community builder based in Petaluma, California. He is the founder of Aqus Café—a nationally recognized third space and cultural hub—and executive director of the Aqus Community Foundation. He also co-founded Cool Petaluma, a citywide initiative that blends climate resilience with social connection. With a background in computer science and a passion for fostering meaningful connections, John has been instrumental in creating spaces and initiatives that strengthen community ties. His efforts have earned him Petaluma’s highest civic honor, the Good Egg Award, for his contributions to local engagement through events, gatherings, and civic initiatives.
