About DGK
Daniel Gray-Kontar stands out as an experienced consultant dedicated to harnessing the power of the arts for community development and youth empowerment. With a deep understanding of the transformative potential of artistic expression, he collaborates with organizations seeking to create meaningful and sustainable change.
Daniel excels in building partnerships between the arts sector, community development corporations, and youth-serving organizations. He recognizes that collaboration is essential for creating a supportive ecosystem where neighborhoods can thrive. By facilitating connections between different sectors, he helps organizations leverage their collective resources, expertise, and networks to maximize their impact.
Work Experience
November 2022 - November 2023
Lecturer & Community Arts Partner
Institute for Diversity in the Arts (IDA), Stanford University
September 2021 - February 2022
Interim Director of Community Empowerment
Midtown Cleveland
The Lecturer/Community Arts Partner engages in a yearlong process of writing and research leading to the creation of an arts community engagement plan strategically connecting IDA to BIPOC artists, arts leaders, and arts organizations across the Bay Area. The purpose of the arts community engagement plan is to consider a best practice model that integrates IDA's mission with the civic arts agendas developed by leaders in San José, East Palo Alto, San Francisco, and Oakland.
This short‐term role supported MidTown Cleveland's (MTC) efforts to connect with, engage, and build equitable relationships with residents in and around the racially and ethnically diverse MidTown neighborhood while supervising and building the MidTown community empowerment team. Merging the literary, performative, and visual arts with community empowerment was an essential part of this role. The interim director role also meant shaping the final job description and context of the permanent Community Empowerment position for long‐term success and growth.
May 2016 - November 2022
Founder & Executive Artistic Director
Twelve Literary Arts
Provided overall leadership and direct oversight and management of all Twelve Literary Arts artistic and non‐artistic areas. Executed operating strategies and plans, managed administrative staff, and established relationships with local, regional, and national literary arts and community development organizations.
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