Featured Image: Bryant campers using their outdoor classroom!

Making Memories of a Lifetime

And fighting summer learning loss!

In the spirit of our Summer Camp theme, "CAN Bands Together," we’ve been having an incredible time making memories, learning from one another, and rocking out with the band! This summer marks our very first music-themed camp, and it’s "tuning" out to be a fantastic experience! Our campers have explored new instruments, tapped into their inner performers, and shared in the enchantment of music.

As summer flies by, we’re gearing up for the start of school with our Back to School Drive and preparing for our Afterschool Program kicking off in September. But for now, we’re fully immersed in every ounce of summer fun we can get! Scroll to see some summer camp highlights!

Highlights of Summer Camp so far!

CAN Updates!

Special Feature

CAN was recently featured in an article that highlights Ann Arbor’s proposed sustainable energy utility, which could be the first of its kind in Michigan if approved. Our very own Derrick Miller emphasized that the utility could significantly reduce energy costs and improve resilience for low-income residents, including those served by our Bryant Community Center. The plan also includes community solar projects to make renewable energy more accessible and affordable. This initiative, part of Ann Arbor’s A2Zero program, could set a precedent for other Michigan communities!

Sustainability Update!

Our sustainability work in the Bryant community is charging ahead at full steam thanks to a recent grant from MSHDA! Through their new MI Neighborhood grant program, CAN received $400,000 for home upgrades that improve the health, comfort, safety, and energy efficiency of homes in the Bryant neighborhood. This award brings us to over $1.7 million from MSHDA for this project! We are thrilled and so grateful for this partnership that has helped us secure enough funds to retrofit more than 70 homes in Bryant. Special shout out to our Director of Community Outreach, Krystal Steward, for her amazing work facilitating this project and events like the community clean-up! 

Bryant Community Clean Up

This past week, CAN held its annual Community Cleanup event in the Bryant neighborhood. In partnership with The City of Ann Arbor's Office of Sustainability and Innovations, we filled three 30-yard dumpsters and assisted roughly 60 residents in disposing of their unwanted items! Thanks to resident Norman Smalley, scrap metal is being recycled, and to our friends at Kiwanis and Jewish Family Servies, many items are going to be reused!

Before

After

Arrowwood Hills Upgrade!

We are so excited to announce that a long-term project at Arrowwood Hills is nearly complete! CAN received funding from KABOOM! in 2020 to give the basketball court and playground space at Arrowwood a face lift. With the goal of community engagement in mind, CAN's then-Director of Art & Design collaborated with students at AWH to design and re-paint the basketball court in 2022. The old equipment was taken out and replaced with new playground equipment, and a pavilion was added (thanks to Sustaining Ann Arbor Together) to give residents a break from the sun! The next step is to run solar power from the community center to the pavilion so it can be a charging station. We can't wait to share all the fun community events that will happen here!

Back to School Champions!

A massive THANK YOU to everyone who has contributed to our Back to School Drive so far! Your generosity is truly overwhelming, and the supplies are rolling in. We’re excitedly preparing for our upcoming events where the kids will select their backpacks!

While we’re enjoying every moment of summer, it’s essential to look ahead and ensure our students are fully prepared for the new school year.

If you’d like to support this initiative, check out the options below! We’re accepting donations until August 15th, and there are many ways to contribute.

Thank you for helping us make a difference!

Want To Support CAN's Mission?

PO Box 130076

Ann Arbor, MI 48113

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Community Action Network partners with children, youth, and families from under-resourced Washtenaw County neighborhoods to create better futures for themselves and improve the communities in which they live.

Community Action Network

info@canwashtenaw.org

www.canwashtenaw.org

(734) 994-2985

PO Box 130076, Ann Arbor, MI 48113