In 2023, John Wesley served as Lead Co-Writer of the successful grant proposal that secured $310,000 in funding from the Mellon Foundation for Dance Is Life, supporting the organization’s mission to preserve dance history, expand public programming, and create accessible cultural experiences rooted in community.
Working alongside Dance Is Life’s founders, John helped shape the narrative framework of the proposal — articulating the organization’s cultural significance, community impact, and vision for the future. The grant positioned Dance Is Life as an important steward of New York’s social dance heritage, highlighting the organization’s commitment to preserving the legacy of Latin Hustle while creating inclusive spaces for connection, creativity, and collective expression.
Founded in 2021 by Natasha Diggs and Abdiel, Dance Is Life emerged as a response to global isolation, using music and dance as tools for rebuilding community. What began as virtual gatherings evolved into public activations throughout New York City, transforming parks, cultural spaces, and community venues into vibrant environments for movement and connection.
Through his role as Lead Co-Writer, John contributed to advancing Dance Is Life’s vision of dance as a living cultural archive — one that preserves history while creating new opportunities for communities to gather, celebrate, and belong.
