In a press release from WSU this week, the university noted the anniversary and discussed what the organization has meant to the surrounding community.

“Through partnerships with other institutions, the network supports Ogden’s East Central neighborhood — the area between Adams Avenue to Harrison Boulevard and 20th to 30th streets,” the release said.

Meggie Troili, OgdenCAN director, told the Standard-Examiner on Thursday that the organization came about as a way of better understanding and serving the surrounding community.

“About 12 years ago, Weber State University partnered with Ogden City to engage the community — residents, community partners, other organizations across Ogden and Weber (County) — to better understand the needs and the strengths of the community,” she said. “These conversations took place for about two years, and after that two years, Ogden City and OgdenCAN developed a civic action plan together which created the Ogden Civic Action Network which was started in February 2016.”

She said OgdenCAN has worked with several entities since then.

“Ogden Civic Action Network has been collaborating with health organizations, local nonprofits and residents to focus on improving the health and well-being of folks living in the East Central neighborhood of Ogden,” she said. “OgdenCAN, in the last 10 years, has invested about $1.4 million into the community ranging from health initiatives to leadership programs for residents in East Central to providing housing resources. The list goes on.”

Troili said they have also undertaken education, mental health, substance abuse and literacy initiatives throughout the years.

“You could say OgdenCAN is a coalition of anchor institutions like Weber State University and local partners and neighbors committed to improving the health and well-being of our community,” she said.

She said that the group began with a focus on health, education and housing. Over the years, this has come to include additional pillars such as vibrant economy and community connections.

“All of our partners and anchor institutions and residents are focused on what we’re calling the five pillars of community health,” she said. “Together, we’re trying to tackle a lot of needs in the community alongside the community in those areas.”

Troili said OgdenCAN has also spearheaded the Community Leaders Network.

“That is a paid fellowship for residents of the East Central neighborhood,” she said. “They go through a seven month program and learn leadership skills to participate in the Ogden Civic Action Network and to work alongside their neighbors and community partners to improve the health and well-being of their neighborhood.”

With the 10-year anniversary of OgdenCAN’s foundation upon them, Troili said the group is implementing a social media campaign to celebrate. OgdenCAN has also launched a fundraising campaign and will be hosting a community breakfast for members of the community served by OgdenCAN.

Troili said making it to the decade milestone is huge for OgdenCAN.

“It means that people believe in our mission,” she said. “It means that residents and neighbors in the East Central neighborhood have built a strong relationship with OgdenCAN. And it means that our partners and our anchor institutions have been strongly committed to our mission over the last 10 years.”

She said the next steps for OgdenCan are to grow and sharpen the group’s focus on having a greater community impact.

“Our hope is to continue to grow our Community Leaders Network and to grow into other neighborhoods in Ogden so that we can continue the momentum we’ve had in East Central of building an active community, a collaborative community and a community that is built on working together and building connections to improve the health and well-being of everyone,” she said.

For more information on OgdenCAN, visit https://www.weber.edu/ogdencan/.