As an executive leader and consultant, Cheryl Hughes transforms innovative ideas into impactful initiatives, programs, and large-scale events. Her expertise spans civic engagement, democracy initiatives, the arts, youth development, urban renewal, science education, and organizational change. A skilled change agent, Cheryl fosters collaboration among diverse stakeholders by identifying shared interests and shaping strategic goals.

She has a proven track record of delivering on-time, on-budget projects that exceed expectations. Her initiatives, including On the Table and Gallery 37 (now After School Matters), have been successfully replicated in cities across North America, Europe, and Australia. Hughes graduated from The Ohio State University with a BS in Education, and she earned a master degree in Social Science from the University of Chicago. She was selected as Loeb Fellow by the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University. Co-teaching a course on Urban Ephemera at the M.I.T. Department Urban Studies and Planning. Hughes expanded her professional knowledge by attending the Summer Institute of Civic Studies at Tufts University. She has completed certifications in Foundations in Effective Public Participation from the International Association for Public Participation and a Professional Certification in Advanced Public Engagement for Local Government from the Davenport Institute at Pepperdine University’s School of Public Policy.

A long-time Chicago resident she is now based in Berkeley, CA, In her free time she is an avid hiker and flea market enthusiast.