Avery’s connection to CAN is deeply personal, having grown up as a participant in the Hikone Community Center and later serving on the Youth Leadership Council. This firsthand experience with CAN’s programming, combined with early civic leadership on the Ann Arbor Youth Council, gave him a foundational understanding of how community-based governance and funding impact local families. Now a healthcare professional, he views a seat on the board as a full-circle opportunity to give back to the organization that shaped his life while advancing his professional commitment to equity and advocacy.