2014 CAN Butler Awards 

The 2014 CAN Butler Awards, named in honor of former CAN Executive Director Fred Butler, are presented to three community engagement initiatives and to one private entity that has promoted public-private partnership.

"Beauty will Save the World" Fence Mural Project receives Community Engagement Award
"Beauty Will Save the World" Fence Mural Project

The "Beauty Will Save the World" Fence Mural Project is an example of people using art to bring their neighbors together and to inspire pride and a sense of community. Residents in this north Austin neighborhood have been painting the words "Beauty Will Save the World" on fences along North Lamar Boulevard between Peyton Gin Road and Rundberg Lane.  In the Georgian Acres neighborhood, this area is one of the most linguistically diverse in Austin, and is  sometimes referred to as "The International District." The video about this effort was created by CultureMap in partnership with KLRU for their documentary series Arts in Context. Some of the key community leaders behind this project, also featured in the video, are Grace Borengasser, Mateo Jaimes, and Rigel Thurston.   


 

Eastside Memorial High School Ambassadors Program receives Community Engagement Award
Eastside HS Ambassadors Blanca Sanchez Luna and Haley Del Rio join Principal Bryan Miller in accepting the Bulter Award, presented by CAN Board Chair  John-Michael Cortez.

Eastside Memorial High School, which was formerly Johnston High School, has a long and sometimes difficult history that includes court-ordered busing in the 1980's, closure in 2008, and reorganization in 2012.  Leaders often arise in trying times, and the difficulties faced by the school have brought this community closer together.  This video, which features a student's poem, was made by students fighting against closure of their school. Action taken by students and community members helped convince the Austin School Board to reject a plan to turn over management of the school to a private charter company and eventually led to an agreement to bring in the Johns Hopkins Talent Development Secondary Program to help turn the school around. The Eastside Memorial High School Ambassadors Program is one initiative that has helped to strengthen the school community by developing student leaders. 

 

 

Rosewood Resident Leaders Training Program receives Community Engagement Award
Rosewood Resident Leadership Program
Rosewood Resident Leadership Program

Built in 1939, Rosewood Courts was among the first public housing properties built in the United States. The Housing Authority of the City of Austin, or "HACA," received a 2012 Choice Neighborhoods grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to plan for the future of Rosewood Courts and improvements to the neighborhood surrounding it. The participation of residents in this process was critical - not only to developing a good plan, but also to ensuring that the plan is sustainable with "boots on the ground" leaders who can carry it forward. HACA contracted with Austin Interfaith to help create and implement the Rosewood Resident Leadership Training Program.  This program has helped to unleash some very strong and powerful voices for community change and improvement.

 

IBC Bank-Austin receives 2014 Butler Award for Public-Private Partnership
IBC-Bank's Jennifer Jessen and President/CEO Robert Barnes accept the award, presented by CAN Board Chair John-Michale Cortez and CAN Executive Director Vanessa Sarria.

The primary role of CAN is to connect, inform and convene. Community partners like IBC Bank-Austin help make this possible. More than 500 people attended CAN hosted events at IBC First Equity, located at 8998 Research Boulevard, in 2014. Four Safety Net Forums brought stakeholders together to learn about Cultural Proficiency and Interpretation/Translation Services; Employment, Training & Work Supports; and Affordable, Safe Housing.  CAN also hosted a half-day retreat to gain insights into how we can build on work accomplished this year in the years to come.  By providing the use of their facilities, not to mention the excellent hospitality, IBC Bank allowed CAN to reach out to more people in our community and to facilitate conversations that can help our community address its many needs.



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