How do we approach our work from the perspective of the people we serve?  This question was front and center at CAN's October 10th retreat that included Board members, Community Council members and issues experts.  

Based on what was learned from a series of four Safety Net Forums and seven Community Council Forums, CAN has identified seven themes, or tenets, that we should all consider as we approach community development and service delivery.

CAN will use the input from the retreat, and the Board discussion that immediately followed, to develop a draft Work Plan for 2015 for consideration by the CAN Board of Directors. 

Click here to find out what participants had to say about the retreat and to see the final reports outs from each group.

www.getenrolledATX.com has information in English, Spanish and Vietnamese.

Registration for 2015 health coverage begins November 15th. A coalition of community organizations and service providers are working together to help Central Texas families and individuals understand their options and get the health coverage they need. 

The Enroll ATX community partnership, led by Central Health and 2-1-1 has a new website to help people find information about health coverage. Several community enrollment events are planned where individuals can talk to people one on one about health coverage options. 

Getting to Net ZERO Greenhouse Gas Emissions share ideas on how Austin can meet this goal by 2050

The Austin City Council passed a resolution earlier this year setting a goal of becoming a net zero greenhouse gas community by 2050. A local Steering Committee is developing a plan to achieve this goal and is inviting public input on draft strategies. 

Vote on the strategies you think are most appropriate and let the City know what you think about the strategies on these three on-line forums, each dealing with a specific area of the plan.

• Electricity and Natural Gas
• Transportation
• Materials (and waste) Management

IT'S TIME TEXAS is partnering with the United Way for Greater Austin and The University of Texas School of Public Health Austin Regional Campus to provide a Choose Healthier Coach hotline. When a community member calls in, a trained Health Coach will connect the caller to information and resources on healthy eating programs, farmers' markets, locations for parks or fitness programs, healthy cooking classes, medical providers, and more. The Coach will also work with individuals and families to develop healthy lifestyle goals and plans of action to support healthy behaviors.

Your help is needed to test this new community tool.  Call 1(844) 26C-OACH between November 18th and December 18th and then complete a brief survey about your experience.  Those who complete the survey will be entered in a drawing to win a $30 VISA gift card. Visit www.surveymonkey.com/s/itstimetexas for more information.

Chestnut Neighborhood Village is hosting walking neighborhood tours this Saturday, November 8th to share new plans for the development of a park and other neighborhood improvements.  Tours depart from the People Fund Building at 2921 E. 17th Street at 10 a.m. The tours are provided in partnership with the Huston-Tillotson School of Business and Technology.

The Mobility 35 Planning and Environmental Linkages Study has proposed adding two new travel mainlines (one in each direction) for I-35.  You are invited to share your ideas on the various alternatives being evaluated at three public meetings to be held next week, or at a virtual public meeting that will be online from November 10th through 24th at www.Mobility35.org.

Public meetings will be from 5 to 7:30 p.m.:

• Nov 10 @ Kealing Middle School, 1607 Pennsylvania Ave.
• Nov 12 @ Akins High School, 10701 S First St.
• Nov 13 @ Frank Fickett Scout Center, 12500 North I-35

More information is available at www.Mobility35.org.

House the Homeless will celebrate its 25th anniversary with the unveiling of The Homecoming, a trio of statues, designed to put a face on homelessness, by internationally known sculptor Timothy P. Schmalz. The trio include a nine-year-old child (the average age of the homeless nationally), her dad - a US Veteran, and an older woman. The unveiling will take place at Umlauf Sculpture Garden on November 13th, with music by Sarah Byrd.  For more information, contact Cecilia Blanford at 512-565-1388 or visit www.housethehomeless.org.

Research shows that early childhood stressors have a negative impact on the developing brain and health of a child - and the consequences are long-term. The Child and Family Research Partnership, TexProtects, and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission will host Dr. Andrew Garner, a leading neuroscientist and pediatrician, who will discuss how toxic stress impacts children, their families, and the public. 

Learn more about this free, half-day session at the Texas Capitol on Friday, November 14th.