We are CAN | Madysn Gross
Stepping into Madysn Gross's office, you are greeted with an overwhelming sense of calm. Her brown wooden desk is tucked into a corner with built-in shelves and warm, soft lights, paired with the relaxing scent of her diffuser. Her bulletin board is filled with homemade cards and crafts, along with the month and scripture written in perfect handwriting. Peeking above the laptop, you'll find Madysn, with her red hair and glasses, echoing the same warmth her space gives freely. She's ready to answer your questions, help with whatever you need, or share a giggle.
In that cozy little space, Prevention Education magic happens. As Prevention Education Assistant and the backbone of the Prevention team, Madysn handles all operations: checking emails, entering data, organizing materials, answering calls, scheduling presentations and trainings, printing handouts, ordering concrete supports, and packaging monthly diapers for Parent Café families. The work doesn't seek attention, but nothing moves without it, which is exactly how she sees her role. "I get to be the Samwise Gamgee to their Frodo Baggins, the Luther to their Ethan Hunt, and the JARVIS to their Tony Stark," she explains. In this position, she has found her exact fit within the organization, a helper who serves, assists, and uplifts everyone on her team.
For Madysn, the path to CAN Council began long before she applied for a position. Throughout her childhood and teenage years, she watched her mother dedicate herself to various nonprofits, CAN Council among them. As a high school student, Madysn would tag along to outreach events, absorbing the atmosphere of community service and advocacy that surrounded the organization.
When she graduated from college and discovered CAN Council was hiring, the decision felt almost predestined. It was as though a familiar hand rested on her shoulder, guiding her toward exactly where she needed to be for this season of her life. That intuitive pull has proven true day after day.
Away from the office, Madysn laughingly admits to being a former serial hobbyist who no longer has time or energy for all her past pursuits. She still maintains a wide range of creative activities – crochet, creative writing, nail art, baking, and cozy gaming among them. She's also a published poet and flash-fiction author, with pieces appearing in various local art and writing magazines. The craft supplies collecting dust in her home stand as testament to her many interests.
Madysn attends church with her family, roots enthusiastically for the Lions, and enjoys wandering aimlessly through TJMaxx with an iced decaf coffee in hand. She finds herself completely mesmerized by snails, thunderstorms, bonfires, and fireworks. She maintains, with considerable confidence, that she makes the best grilled cheese this side of heaven. Perhaps most telling about Madysn is the way she approaches life itself—always looking for little moments of joy to share with others. She carries googly eyes in her purse, ready to enhance random items at opportune moments (saltshakers, beware). She expresses warm and heartfelt words of hope and encouragement. She looks for ways to make others smile and feel seen, appreciated, and loved.
Back in her office nook, Madysn stays motivated by the impact she sees and by the colleagues around her who prove daily that one person really can make a difference. For those curious about CAN Council, her advice is simple: come take a tour. "Just come and see all the ways in which we care for, fight for, and advocate for children, and I guarantee that you will leave here differently than you came."