Community Advisory Board

The Canopy Roots Community Advisory Board (CAB) is a group of community members and thought partners who advise Canopy Roots on its crisis response services. The CAB provides feedback on existing programs and services, helps develop new programs and services, and advises on community outreach and engagement.

What is the purpose of the CAB?

The CAB helps Canopy Roots to:

  • Identify areas for improvement to meet the needs of community

  • Represent varied cultural and lived experiences from historically marginalized and underserved communities in Minnesota

  • Provide thought leadership around advocacy to increase support and funding for unarmed response services locally and nationally

Who serves on the CAB?

The CAB is composed of 9-11 members who primarily identify as:

  • Black, Indigenous, People of Color, LGBTQIA+,

  • Individuals with lived experience in mental health or behavioral crisis

  • Mental health advocates

  • Those who have worked to re-imagine public safety.

Members are appointed by Canopy Roots based on their expertise, lived and professional experience, and commitment to serving the community.

What are the responsibilities?

The major responsibilities of the CAB include, but are not limited to:

  • Advising on Canopy Roots’ community outreach and engagement strategies, with a focus on mental health and crisis response

  • Advocating for the needs of the community related to Canopy Roots’ crisis response services

  • Increasing Canopy Roots’ visibility in advocacy, professional, and academic spaces related to the adoption and normalization of unarmed response services

  • Representing community voices and providing feedback based on lived experience to improve existing Canopy Roots programs

How can I join?

CAB appointments are made annually on a rolling basis. We are not currently accepting new applications, but check back for updates on when applications will re-open.