Contact Us

Contact CAN Staff

Mailing address:
P.O. Box 6816
Austin, TX 78762

Phone: 512-910-5372
Email: info@canatx.org

Raul Alvarez, Executive Director

Raul

Raul has served as the Executive Director of the Community Advancement Network (CAN) since 2015. CAN is a network of 25 government and non-profit agencies collaborating to address critical needs and advance overall well-being in our community. Raul served as an Austin City Council member from 2000-2006. After serving on the City Council, Raul was elected to serve on the ACC Board of Trustees. He also has served: on the Capital Metro Board of Directors; on the Electric Utility Commission; as Chair of the Early Childhood Council; as Co-chair of the Anti-Displacement Task Force; and as Co-Chair of the MBK Scholars Program. He is the board president of the East Austin Conservancy, an organization working to address displacement of residents in Central East Austin. Prior to CAN, Raul worked for Austin ISD as an Administrative Supervisor in the Office of Teaching and Learning. Raul holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University and a Master of Science in Community/Regional Planning from the University of Texas.


Jelina Tunstill, Program Coordinator

Jelina Tunstill began working for Community Advancement Network as Program Coordinator in November 2017.  She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Baylor University in 2013, taught kindergarten for three years in Killeen, Tx, and earned a Master’s Degree in Counseling from St. Edward’s University in August 2019. Jelina is excited to advance community well being through her work with CAN, especially in the arena of mental health, race equity, youth and education.

Jelina writes CANews, an email newsletter that is published monthly highlighting research, reports and opportunities to participate in community planning. She also facilitates and provides staff support to many CAN initiatives and events. Jelina serves in a leadership role regarding CAN’s work relating to language access, deliberative dialogues and the Central Texas Regional Summit.  She also represents CAN in collaborative efforts relating to early childhood education, adult and youth mental health, opportunity youth and workforce development.


Carlos Soto, Research Analyst

Carlos

Carlos A Soto became part of the CAN team in March 2016 when he was hired to be the CAN’s Research Analyst. Pursuing a desire to make a difference in the lives of children and families with limited English proficiency (LEP), Carlos began his public service career in 2010 working as a bilingual elementary school teacher serving the low income and recent immigrant populations in AISD. Carlos holds a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and a Master of Science in Geography from Texas State University.