Rebeka García - 50CAN National

↳ The Perfectionist

50CAN National Team

Rebeka García

Development Operations Associate

Rebeka grew up in Guatemala, the eldest daughter of two teachers determined to provide more access to high-quality education by opening their own K-12 school. Rebeka was one of the first twelve students who attended that school its inaugural year, and watched it grow to several hundred students by the time she graduated. As she walked across the stage with her best friend, who was the first girl to ever graduate high school from her small village, the magnitude of the impact education can have on a community had never been clearer.

After moving to Florida in 2012, Rebeka attended a public high school for a year, and went on to graduate from Berry College in Rome, GA, with a degree in Visual Communication. Rebeka began her career in marketing at a small publishing company, then went on to work in marketing and development in the animal welfare field. Though the path was unexpected, Rebeka discovered a passion for the nonprofit sector and behind-the-scenes development work along the way, and being part of 50CAN’s mission toward high-quality education feels like a full circle moment.

Rebeka now resides in Asheville, NC, with her wife, three dogs, and a gecko.

More about Rebeka García

I aspire to be like Leslie Knope. Here's why:

I have always seen myself in her relentless work ethic and overwhelming passion for everything she does. If she's going to do something, she's going to do it 200%, and optimism against all odds is contagious to (almost) everyone around her.

Why I love my job:

I am so excited and grateful to be part of a team that believes in doing hard things, and doing them well. To be able to spend my days doing the detail-driven work that fills my cup, along with folks who make me want to be better, all while deeply impacting generations to come? What's not to love!

My connection to public schools:

I have always been surrounded by teachers: my parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, sisters, friends. My mother and sister currently teach in the American public school systems, in communities and zip codes that are polar opposites. Through their eyes I've been able to see the shocking difference that a zip code can have on resources and opportunities for students, as well as the struggles that remain universal.

What I’m bad at:

Being bad at things. Learning that it's okay to do things just for fun, and that you don't have to be the best at every little thing, is a lifelong journey I'm still working on.

The image that represents why I work at 50CAN:

This is little me, trying to help my younger sister with some homework. The one-size-fits-all education system always seemed to work against her, and she had to work harder than she should have, all without enough support or resources from her schools. Still, all she ever wanted to be was a teacher, and she has spent her adulthood working in under-resourced public schools. Though she still has to fight an uphill battle everyday, she remains relentlessly joyful, caring, and deeply committed to providing every single one of her students with a safe space, a kind smile, and the best education possible.