A diverse group of people who come together to learn about and address civic challenges
Interested in learning more about your community and assisting in collaborative efforts to address our region’s greatest needs? Apply today to join the CAN Community Council!
The CAN Community Council is a self-appointed board comprised of up to 30 individuals who reflect the diversity of interests, concerns, organizations, issues, and populations of the Central Texas community. The role of the Community Council is to provide a link between the community at large and the policy makers and elected officials who serve on the CAN Board of Directors.
Here is what CAN Community Council Vice Chair, Eileen Schrandt, has to say about her experience:
When I applied to be a member of the CAN Community Council in September of 2011, I was excited for the opportunity, and thankful that Austin had such an amazing organization to convene and connect stakeholders interested in working together to strategize best practices for improvements in our community. From housing to healthcare to graduation rates and voter turnout, CAN was the organization that always seemed to be talking about the topics that I was interested in, and that were relevant to my work. I wanted to be a part of it!
| Community Council leaders: Eileen Schrandt, Vice Chair; Anne Harutunian, Chair; Kirsha Haverlah, Past-Chair |
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I’m happy to say that I was selected for the Council in 2012, and in my fourth year I am serving as the Vice Chair of the group – and participation has definitely met my expectations. I get excited to go to CAN Community Council meetings because I always feel re-invigorated – learning about the amazing work community organizations are doing in Austin and regionally. Each meeting I have an “a-ha” moment where the wheels start turning, and I think about how different organizations might be able to work together and leverage resources to fill a gap and serve a group in need. I am also intrigued by the questions my peers ask, how they differ than mine, and how they uncover nuggets of information that help to build a framework for options and solutions. Finally, I get excited when I see community members and guests attend our Community Council meetings to learn more about CAN, our community, and its resources, and how they might get involved to move Austin forward as a place where we can all achieve our potential.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve taken something I’ve learned at a CAN Community Council meeting, and used it to form a partnership for the organization I work for, or have shared it with someone else to do the same. CAN has been ever-present in my line of work since I moved to Austin in March 2007 to join the Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA). As HACA’s Grants Manager at the time, I used CAN reports and research to support many of my proposals, and when the Community Dashboard was released in 2010 I did the same. I attended special CAN meetings to learn more about the regional strengths and challenges that affect the lives of all Central Texas residents. I sincerely look forward to serving as the Chair of the CAN Community Council in 2016.
The CAN Community Council generally meets on the third Monday of every month from 5:30 – 7:30 pm. The meeting agenda focuses on important issues facing our community. Over the past two years, the Community Council has focused on specific issues facing vulnerable populations, including children and youth, veterans, people who have been previously incarcerated, persons with disabilities, the elderly and aging population, and African American, Asian, and Hispanic populations. Building on what was learned in 2014, the Community Council is diving deeper into how organizations promote a person-centered approach to serving people in our community. The Community Council’s work will culminate in a forum for community leaders, service providers, funders, and policy makers, this October to discuss the importance of emphasizing and providing person-centered care in our community.
If you’re interested in joining this group of motivated individuals to enhance collaboration and raise community awareness about important information and needs, please consider applying to join the CAN Community Council. Applications will be accepted online through September 15th and can be accessed at: canatx.org/CAN-Councils/Community_Council/Application/member_app.php. If you have any questions, please contact CAN Program Coordinator, Hannah Brown, at Hannah.brown@austinisd.org.