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They are guided by four foundational beliefs that make up their vision for the road ahead.
They believe that growing the ranks of citizen-advocates will change the trajectory of children’s lives.
They believe in the power of evidence-based policy and the power of open advocacy.
They believe that nationwide change depends on a network of local advocates.
They believe that to improve education for all students, they need an unwavering commitment and a clear-eyed approach.
Every story has a beginning. Their story starts not with the 50CAN network, but with the founding of ConnCANin 2005. At the time, Connecticut was home to the largest achievement gap in the country. A passionate group of citizens—parents, teachers, policy wonks and philanthropists alike—came together to bring meaningful change to the education system at the local level. Over the next five years, the ConnCAN team built a successful model for state level advocacy.
Marc Porter Magee, Ph.D., ConnCAN’s chief operating officer, took up the challenge of bringing the success of ConnCAN’s campaigns to other states around the country in 2010.
Officially launched as an independent organization in January 2011, 50CAN has grown into a 50+ person strong networkwith campaigns in Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina and Tennessee, affiliates in California and Virginia, a national headquarters in Washington, D.C. and an alumni network of advocates across the country.
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