Convene is a community-led initiative to shape the future of substance use services in Travis County. The project is hosted and facilitated by Communities for Recovery under contract with Travis County, Central Health, and City of Austin and supported by Cardea Services, which serves as the project evaluator.
Communities for Recovery’s role is to act as a neutral convener and facilitator, helping the community come together, share ideas, and co-create recommendations for the future. Community for Recovery coordinates logistics, meetings, and outreach, but does not guide, influence, or prioritize any specific organization or approach, including its own.
A neutral convener is an organization or entity that brings together diverse groups or stakeholders to collaborate, share ideas, and develop solutions, without promoting or favoring any one group’s interests. Neutral conveners create space where everyone has an equal opportunity to contribute and ensure that all voices are heard. The convener’s role is to guide the process without directing the outcome, making sure the conversations are fair, open, and inclusive for all participants.
Cardea Services makes sure the process is fair and clear by checking how the community’s feedback is collected, reviewed, and shared. This helps ensure that the community’s voice is heard correctly and fairly.
Convene exists to amplify the voice of the community, not any single organization. Together, we aim to build a shared vision for substance use services in Travis County that reflects the priorities, experiences, and needs of the people it serves.
