the organization
our history
leadership
the future
Aqus Community is a social incubator. Its goals are to create the conditions that lead to a sense of connectedness at the personal and at the community level, leading to robust social and civic health. It designs activities and events intentionally, to develop belonging, trust and civic engagement. In a March 2026 survey of 500 people, 86% reported that their quality of life was positively impacted by Aqus Community programming, calling it “essential” or “very important”.
A social incubator provides the opportunities to gather, to create relationships and ideas; it fosters an environment in which collective action can hatch and grow. Conversation is the process. Relationships are the product, building a more resilient and happy society.
Pub Crawls, Kite Days, Community Dinners, Foreign Language Meet-ups, Unplugged Weekends, Neighborhood Walks, Facilitated Conversations, Professional Mixers: these are just a few of the many activities Aqus Community has hosted over the past 25 years. Every one of them had built-in icebreakers and conversation starters – it’s almost impossible to attend an Aqus Community event and not meet someone new. Over time, familiar faces seen around town become the basis of friendships. “Hey, didn’t I see you at an Aqus event?” is a commonly-heard question in Petaluma.
We are a registered 501C3 Charitable Organization.
statement of belonging and inclusivity
Aqus Community is committed to fostering a community where every person is welcomed, respected, and valued regardless of race, ethnicity, language, culture, national origin, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, socioeconomic status, religion, or life experience. We recognize that diversity strengthens communities and that equitable access to opportunities for connection and participation is essential to building trust and belonging.
As a Petaluma-based organization, we acknowledge and celebrate the rich cultural diversity of our region, including, notably, the significant Spanish-speaking Latine community that has long contributed to the fabric of our area. We strive to create welcoming spaces where people can come together across differences, share experiences, learn from one another, and build relationships rooted in mutual respect. Through intentional outreach, inclusive practices, and community-centered partnerships, we work to ensure that all individuals have the opportunity to participate fully in community life.
“I love that you exist, and all that is already being done. And I reckon there is space and need for even more.” — Marianne
Aqus Community’s origins are in Petaluma, CA, in the early 2000s, when founder John Crowley, missing the multi-generational gatherings in pubs in his native Ireland, started a series of Pub Crawls designed to build community. Every Crawl had a theme such as “bring a book that changed your life” or “bring a small piece of art to exchange”. These themes made it easy to enter into conversations with strangers; this intentional structuring of events in which it’s easy to meet people has continued to be the hallmark of everything Aqus Community does.
In 2006, John opened Aqus Café at Foundry Wharf which he designed as a physical “third space” for locals to gather, connect, and build social capital. Over the years, the cafe spawned foreign language dinners, knitting circles, music jams, and dozens of other interest-based groups that made their homes at the café.
Over the following years, Crowley launched several community-wide events, moving outside the physical space of the café: the Petaluma Palooza Community Expo to expand local networking and showcase nonprofits, a series of Professional Mixers, Petaluma Conversations with facilitated small groups discussing difficult topics, Partner Juggling for Teambuilding, to name just a few.
In 2015, John and his wife Diane launched Aqus Community, a 501c3 nonprofit with the mission of building social capital; he has become a recognized expert in the field of Social Capital, making presentations at conferences around the USA and internationally. Today, Aqus Community is helping lead a growing movement to rebuild connection, belonging, and civic life—one conversation, one gathering, and one relationship at a time.
“As an RN, I prescribed visits to Aqus Cafe instead of anti-depressants.” — Paula
Aqus Community Leadership Team
The Aqus Community Leadership Team 2026 consists of John Crowley, Executive Director, Val Richman, Board President, and a 10-person Steering Committee.
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Founder and executive director
John Crowley is the founder and Executive Director of Aqus Community and the founder of Aqus Café in Petaluma, California. Born in Dublin, Ireland, John began his career as a computer scientist, working internationally in the software industry before dedicating himself to community building and civic engagement.
For more than two decades, John has focused on building social capital by creating opportunities for people to meet, connect, and develop meaningful, lasting relationships. Through Aqus Community, he has developed and hosted hundreds of community gatherings, including mixers, community dinners, civic conversations, language tables, arts events, nonprofit networking events, and other programs designed to strengthen trust, belonging, and civic life.
John is an international speaker and author on social capital, third places, and community building. In 2026, he was a speaker at the International Social Capital Association Conference and the Human Algorithm Summit in San Francisco, where he shared practical approaches to strengthening social capital and fostering community resilience. He has also presented to civic leaders, nonprofit organizations, and community groups throughout the United States.
His work has been recognized throughout Petaluma, including receiving the city’s Good Egg Award for community service. John believes that strong communities begin with simple conversations, and that meaningful relationships are the foundation of healthier neighborhoods, organizations, and societies. Everything starts with a conversation.
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steering committee
Donna grew up in idyllic Petaluma, when the population was 15,500, the town was safe, and people were caring. But things can’t help but change—even in a place as remarkable as Petaluma, now four times as large as it was in the mid-20th century. As a member of the Aqus Community Steering Committee and Board, Donna is eager to help her hometown become a resilient, diverse, caring, and connected community for the 21st century.
Donna has enjoyed a rewarding career in administrative leadership at nonprofit organizations, including the Trust for Public Land (land conservation), the American Philosophical Association (advancing the profession and discipline of philosophy), and the Trauma Foundation (injury prevention and youth violence prevention policy). Working closely with boards, committees, and staff, she has taken on management roles spanning personnel, publications, policy, grants, and special projects—skills she now brings to Aqus Community.
With a doctorate in philosophy and studies in philosophy for children, Donna has shared the love of wisdom with children as young as six and university students of all ages. Along with philosophy, reading, writing, politics, poetry, classical music, the arts, humor, family, and friends, Donna cherishes the beauty of nature and the promise of community to make a difference in our lives.
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Steering Committee
Moving to Petaluma from the East Coast ten years ago, Sue attended several functions at the Aqus Café and loved its warm and welcoming atmosphere. Joining Petaluma Conversations further solidified her interest in Aqus and its mission of building Social Capital, leading her to joining the Steering and Program Committees. Connecting, engaging with people, and building community is Sue’s passion.
Sue began her professional career as a Social Worker, working in many positions from therapist to managing non-profit agencies. After earning an MBA, she completed a fellowship with NYS Budget, ultimately leading to a career in managed care. Sue worked at Kaiser Permanente for over 20 years, retiring as a National Vice President of Medicare Program. Her responsibilities ranged from strategy, finance, regulatory, sales & marketing, execution of large programs, mergers / acquisitions, coaching and mentoring future leaders.
Volunteerism has always been a part of Sue’s life. Since moving to Petaluma, Sue has volunteered for the Petaluma People Services, been a mentor and works at Meadow School that her grandchildren attend. An active member of Shir Shalom in Sonoma, she is currently on the Board, served as Sisterhood President and led several events as a member of its Social Action Committee, partnering with other community organizations.
Aside from volunteering, Sue loves hiking, gardening, reading, music, traveling and especially spending time with family and friends
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Steering Committee
As a member of the Aqus Steering Team, Eileen is committed to creating lasting value and meaningful connections across the community. She loves to collaborate, dig in, and deliver practical, inspiring social activities. She believes deeply in giving back and helping ensure Petaluma remains a safe, vibrant, and inclusive place to live.
Getting involved locally and making a difference where she lives has become the focus of Eileen’s next chapter in Petaluma. After retiring from a corporate career built on bringing people together to solve problems, she continues to focus on understanding what solutions people need and how to deliver them effectively.
Beyond this work, Eileen is engaged with other civic-minded nonprofits in town, serves on her HOA Board, and volunteers as a local Block Leader for Cool Petaluma. Whether she is sharing porch wine with neighbors, hiking Petaluma’s incredible hills, or enjoying live music, Eileen stays grounded through family nearby, including her three grandsons, while working to create a lasting impact.
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Steering Committee
Diane Elise Gentile grew up in San Rafael in the aftermath of the hippie generation, imprinted by the golden hills and the ethos of peace, love, diversity, and unity. This foundation inspired her 14-year career teaching English as a foreign language, allowing her to live and work across diverse cultures.
Many years later, Diane returned to California, landing in Petaluma and inspired by her partner, John Crowley, she co-founded Aqus Community. Over the past 13 years, they have created hundreds of events and unique opportunities for people to form genuine connections. Today, she remains a force for local collaboration and meaningful civic engagement.
Beyond Aqus, Diane has devoted decades to animal welfare and conservation. Applying her community-building experience, she united a grassroots coalition of citizen advocates, biologists, filmmakers, and civic leaders through educational panels, rallies and commentary. This initiative sparked rallies, and attracted national media, inspiring a network that remains actively dedicated to restoring the local environment.
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steering committee
Tom is founder and chairman of CourseCo, Inc, a golf course management company operating some 50 golf courses in the western U.S. He serves on the boards of the Petaluma/Rohnert Park Health Center (a federally qualified health center), Sonoma State University Foundation, Village Network Petaluma and is Chairman Emeritus of the First Tee of the North Coast.
He is a graduate of Stanford University and has done graduate study in both environmental studies and finance at Sonoma State University where he was once assistant to the president.
Tom has a varied background in public service. He was formerly research director for Operating Engineers Local Union #3, the largest building and construction local in the world; director of the California State Assembly Office of Majority Services; and chief administrative officer of the State Assembly, as well as finance chairman for the mayoralty campaigns of Mayor Art Agnos of San Francisco. He is a lifelong resident of Petaluma.
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steering committee
David seemed to take a long while getting to Petaluma, via England, Jamaica, the East Coast, Chicago, and San Francisco, but lo and behold, he and his wife Cynthia have now been living in Petaluma for almost 30 years. They have two adult children who both seem to be navigating life successfully so far. He has primarily been a career educator, from kindergarten to high school as well as a decade as high school principal at Petaluma High.
David likes connecting dots, even ones that seem quite far away. That work is critical to the linking of people across a community like Petaluma. Because he is almost literally a person without a country, he sees life through a more humanist, equitable lens. No person or country is better or worse; we are all simply as we are.
With a doctorate in educational leadership, David continues to work on issues related to student equity and access. He is on the board of Friends of the Petaluma River as well as Gather Petaluma, which like Aqus Community, encourages togetherness and connection. He believes that a good conversation and friendship starts first from a place of equals. He writes almost everyday and publishes from time to time on Substack.
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Steering Committee Chair
Val serves as the Chair of the Steering Committee for Aqus Community and is currently the Interim Operations Director. She joined the Steering Committee in January 2026 and will transition to Board President in the fall. Val focuses on creating an inclusive, fun, collaborative environment where diverse perspectives drive impactful decision-making and action. The mission of Aqus Community, building social capital, is important to her: gathering people together to converse, make new connections, and build trust, leading to a vibrant community – this is critical to the survival of our species.
Now retired, Val brings a depth of local knowledge and non-profit expertise to the organization. Over the past 35 years, she has been active in Petaluma as an executive director, a board member, and a school-based volunteer. She was co-founder and first executive director of Mentor Me Petaluma, board president of Gan Israel Preschool, board member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Wine Country Chapter, and executive director of Petaluma Arts Center. She was education and marketing director at Cinnabar Theater and co-founded Le Cercle Français de Petaluma, a French conversation group.
In her spare time Val loves to read, travel, and enjoy all the arts. She is also known as DJVal and can be found spinning tunes at local fundraisers and dance parties.
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Steering Committee
Ed is a retired National Park Service ranger with over 40 years of experience. He has worked at 12 different national parks throughout his career, building a track record of steady leadership, sound judgment, and clear communication in field operations, program management, and park partnerships.
Ed’s education began at the University of Maine in Orono, where he earned a degree in forest management. He finished his senior year through a student exchange program with the University of Montana. It was at Glacier National Park where the next adventure began. Ed received training in structural and wildland firefighting, law enforcement, search and rescue, and emergency medical services to become a park ranger. He met his wife, Deb — also a career park ranger — while at Glacier National Park. Together, over the last 38 years, they have traveled and worked for the National Park Service. They eventually settled and raised their daughter at Yosemite, surrounded by the wonders of the natural world and a wonderful community. They called it home for 18 years before retiring to Petaluma.
Since retiring, Ed has been exploring what this next chapter might bring — and looking for new challenges outside of his 40-year “comfort zone.” He attended an Aqus Community mixer with Petaluma’s nonprofits in February 2026. The organization’s work resonated with him immediately. After applying for a volunteer position soon after the February event, Ed was asked to join the steering committee/board in June 2026.
Ed thoroughly enjoys getting to know everyone in the Aqus Community and looks forward to being part of the opportunities and growth ahead for this organization in Petaluma and the surrounding area.
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Steering Committee
Ethan Schiff is a passionate community builder and creative marketer who moved to Petaluma in 2020. For the last three years, he has served as the Community Engagement & Marketing Lead for Blue Zones Project Petaluma, where he was both developing – and marketing – a wide range of community wellness programs ranging from Yoga & Breathwork Classes to Youth Volunteer Fairs and Nonprofit Gatherings.
Prior to this role, he owned an Integrative Health Coaching practice, working with individuals and groups around the connection between their emotional health and physical behavior.
Outside of work, you can find him playing gigs all over the Bay Area as a professional drummer, or hosting the North Bay Get Down, a monthly community funk jam and dance party. He is a regular volunteer at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, and excited to be part of the Aqus Community Foundation team.
The future is always created on the shoulders of the past and the present: Aqus Community’s current stellar reputation in Petaluma is fueling the efforts of the 2.0 project.
The Aqus Community team is excited about the future, and is constructing a visionary plan for the upcoming years, built on a solid foundation of community-building in Petaluma since 2001.
Like a traditional social club, Aqus Community recognizes the importance of human connection. However, where social clubs typically end, Aqus Community begins – looking outward to the collective. Aqus Community is intentionally designed to continue the journey… into the future.
Beginning its third decade of helping turn strangers into friends, a newly-expanded Board of Directors, a new Advisory Council, and scores of stalwart volunteers are working together to launch an era of growth and sustainability which will allow Aqus Community to reach more people, support more social entrepreneurs, empower more connections, and create an even greater impact tomorrow.
