We are CAN | Ryan Landrey
Ryan Landrey returned home searching for something more than just a job. He found himself yearning for work that carried weight, that could make a tangible difference in the lives of young people. When he discovered CAN Council, something clicked. Here was an organization whose mission aligned with his passions: art, community, education, and most importantly, keeping children safe. He had found exactly where he was meant to be.
Ryan's path to CAN Council drew from diverse experiences. With a background in Art Education and Art Therapy, he'd spent years working with people of all ages from young children to seniors, including leading painting parties during the pandemic. But he was searching for work that could channel his creativity and passion for connection into something deeper: preventing child abuse and neglect.
As CAN Council’s Community Engagement Manager, Ryan’s morning often begins the same way. He sits at his desk, typing at his computer, only pausing to take a long sip of piping hot coffee. It's in these quiet moments that his outreach work takes form. He navigates the month's commitments across Bay, Arenac, Huron and Saginaw counties, planning Can Council’s presence in the community. With careful consideration of the audience, he plans on the materials to bring and how to best connect. Each handshake, each exchange, represents more than networking—it's the possibility of collaboration in service of something greater. Where at a chamber event connecting with potential volunteers and donors, or at community resource fairs meeting families directly. Ryan is building a network of people who now have the language and knowledge to keep kids safe. The real heart of Ryan's work happens beyond the office walls.
"My favorite part of the role is connecting with families at Community Resource Fairs. Often, they've never heard of CAN Council. When I can share information about our resources with a family that may need them, it's powerful to see that lightbulb moment," said Ryan. "For most parents who are unaware of what we do, there's heaviness in the room. But there's comfort in knowing—for both of us—that help is available for their child if they ever need it."
When Ryan steps away from work, he hears the familiar call of the mountains. As an avid skier, he finds clarity and presence on the slopes. It's an opportunity to clear his mind and be truly present. A self-proclaimed 007 enthusiast, Ryan can beat anyone at a game of Bond trivia and enjoys watching James Bond films in his downtime.
Ryan chose a path that matters. Every day, he works to ensure that children in his community have access to protection and parents have the resources they deserve. Through his dedication to building connections, educating families, and advocating for the most vulnerable, Ryan embodies the very mission that drew him to CAN Council: creating a community where children can be free from abuse and neglect.