Westport, CT -- Westport Continuing Education (WCE) presents a new summer online course: The Art of Innovation: Cultivating Qualities for the Emerging Future for students entering grades 10 through college. The workshop will be held from July 13 - 17 from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm and seeks to promote 21st century skill-building for students to navigate our changing world and contribute to our communities. Registration is open to any student who can access the class online. Scholarships are also available. The program is funded in part by the Westport Innovation Fund. Students may register online through Thursday, July 9 to avoid a late fee at Westport Continuing Education’s website here.
What skills do young people need to navigate today’s world? What civic virtues do we need to positively contribute to our society? The summer workshop The Art of Innovation: Cultivating Qualities for the Emerging Future fosters creative thinking through collaboration, deep listening, and increasing self-awareness. Developed in collaboration with John Cusano, a systems change agent, students will discuss the belief systems and cultural backgrounds of our diverse society, finding common ground and appreciating multiple perspectives. The workshop is guided by the mission of Westport Public Schools to empower and inspire students to reach their full potential as lifelong learners and socially responsible contributors to our global community. The workshop also supports the goals of Westport 2025 and 21st century skill-building for students, including critical thinking, collaboration, perseverance, and global thinking.
Interim Superintendent for Westport Public Schools, Dr. Anthony Buono says, "Westport Public Schools' Innovation Fund is designed to support programs like 'The Art of Innovation' to promote the imaginations of our students to 'think outside of the box,' pursuing new ideas and solving problems in new ways."
Instructor and Facilitator John Cusano, is a systems change agent working primarily in community engagement and organizational development within the social benefit field. He is currently a Project & Research Consultant for the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County. Cusano previously served as the Community Development Coordinator for the State of Connecticut, Office of the Arts, Culture and Tourism, where he helped to inaugurate a state-wide network of regional cultural service agencies, designed and managed social impact grant programs, and provided professional development. He has a Master of Arts in Consciousness Studies from The Graduate Institute, where he focused on Systems Science, Integral Theory, and Human Development.
She has presented her research at a variety of conferences including Yale University’s Ethnic Studies Symposium and The National Council on Public History. She holds a Bachelors of Secondary Education in History, and also holds a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Theatre from Central Connecticut State University. Recently, her thesis, Borders and Bodies: The El Paso Quarantine and Mexican Women's Resistance, was published by the University of Alabama's journal of history, The Crimson Review. For more information on intersectional history, visit her website here.
The Art of Innovation workshop will be held online and registration is available on the Westport Continuing Education’s website here. The workshop is for students entering grades 10 through college in fall 2020. Scholarships are available, please email conted@westportps.org to request an appliation. To avoid a $25 late fee, students must register by Thursday, July 9. For more information, students can contact Westport Continuing Education by emailing conted@westportps.org or calling 203-341-1209.
About Westport Continuing Education - Westport Continuing Education (WCE) provides high quality educational and enrichment programs to the residents of Westport and Fairfield County, annually serving nearly 6,000 adults and kids with over 700 programs. Classes, workshops, and camps are offered throughout the year after school, in the evenings, and on weekends for adults and children. WCE is a division of Westport Public Schools, whose mission is to empower and inspire students to reach their full potential as lifelong learners and socially responsible contributors to our global community.