Mission

Wayland Community Action Network (WaylandCAN) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that fosters connection and belonging in Wayland, MA through education, dialogue, and shared experiences. As an apolitical organization, WaylandCAN responds with compassion and action during times of division, and encourages residents to engage across differences. By empowering members to be the change they wish to see in our community, WaylandCAN works toward a more equitable and connected Wayland.

History

WaylandCAN formed in November 2023 after a series of hate crimes occurred in Wayland. The organization was started by several members of the community who took these incidents as opportunities to facilitate community-wide conversations about belonging and the ways in which we can all feel more connected in our town in the face of hateful graffiti.

What followed was magical.

People came together to "be the change," volunteering their time and expertise to run a series of workshops on talking to our children about bias and discrimination, and the group grew from there. After another hate crime occurred in March 2025, WaylandCAN organized a rally and another townwide meeting where community members gathered to share their experiences and present ideas for how we can combat this hate.

WaylandCAN is turning vision into action. Join us as we build a stronger, more connected Wayland, where belonging is felt by every neighbor.

Fundraising

Every dollar raised by WaylandCAN will go towards educational programming, workshops, and other events to our community.

Past WaylandCAN events made possible by the generosity of community donations include:

Creating Change Through Transformative Conversation led by The Sustained Dialogue Institute
How to Talk to Your Children About Discrimination led by the Manso Brown Group

Help us create a Wayland where every voice matters, every perspective is valued, and every community member has the opportunity to contribute to positive change.

WaylandCAN General Donations