Check Out Shirley Leung’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shirley Leung.

Hi Shirley, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
The Fort Collins Community Action Network (FCCAN) is a solid grassroots organization comprised of independent affiliates. FCCAN has been a driving force in Northern Colorado’s progressive movement for over twenty years; many of its members have been active for longer!

During that time, we have seen Northern Colorado experienced dramatic changes due to growth, development, and shifts in the economic and social bases. We have also seen the rise of single-issue groups with limited resources and a moderate success at coalition building. FCCAN brings cohesion to these community efforts.

Working together, we have created a viable community-oriented center with diverse leadership and participation that serves as an organizational vehicle for democratic and populist activism. FCCAN is operated by a volunteer spokescouncil (board of directors); affiliates have their volunteer steering committees.

FCCAN was incorporated in Colorado in December 2000, with our previous name, “the Center for Justice, Peace, and Environment.” We were established as a not-for-profit tax-exempt organization in December 2001. In December 2011, we changed our name to the Fort Collins Community Action Network.

FCCAN envisions a just, resilient community where everyone can thrive. We live in a healing community where every member is valued for their unique gifts and contributions and no one is disposable. We live in a community organized around collective liberation, reciprocity with the earth, interdependence, and collaboration with our neighbors.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
FCCAN is organized around one central issue. There is a lack of cohesion as well as limited resources in the community for grassroots work. The dominant work is service-oriented and perpetuates a harmful charity-driven practice that doesn’t address the root causes of violence that our community is experiencing while disempowering marginalized community members.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Social Justice, Nonprofit Specifically our niche is: Organizing, Advocating, and providing infrastructure for social change groups to build a coalition in a network and provide healing, creative spaces with Queer and Trans communities (centering BIPOC folks in healing justice).

Some of our Core Strategies/Approaches are:
1. Facilitate Community Dialogues and Political Education.
2. Provide & Build Capacity for affiliate members.
3. Develop and drive campaigns and lead community organizing efforts as a coalition and as an organization.

Contact Info:

• Website: fccan.org
• Instagram: instagram.com/fccan/
• Facebook: facebook.com/fortCollinsCAN/