Advocate for kids

For more than a decade, 50CAN has run local advocacy campaigns in 17 states, achieving over 235 policy victories that collectively reach more than 1 in 6 American students.

Believe in Better

The local advocacy campaigns across the 50CAN network are based in states all across the country, from Hawaii to Georgia, and Connecticut to Louisiana. Despite the differences in local contexts, our campaigns are united in working to deliver on 5 promises to America’s children:

Learn more about the Believe in Better promises
The education that’s right for you.
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Tutoring and care for every student.
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A world of open and connected learning.
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A family’s right to know what’s working.
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A clear path to the career you choose.
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Explore & Join our Local Advocacy Campaigns

Executive Director: Michael O'Sullivan

GeorgiaCAN

Michael O'Sullivan, Executive Director

GeorgiaCAN seeks to identify and advance common-sense policies that put the needs of students first. We engage local stakeholders—from community members to policy makers—to advocate for student success throughout the entire public education system.

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Executive Director: Kelli Bottger

Louisiana Kids Matter Campaign

Kelli Bottger, Executive Director

Louisiana Kids Matter Campaign was created to ensure every student in Louisiana receives a high-quality education regardless of their zip code.

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Executive Director: Marcus Brandon

CarolinaCAN

Marcus Brandon, Executive Director

NorthCarolinaCAN advocates for the success of every North Carolina student, from pre-K through college and career. We improve policy to help all students thrive and share promising practices and stories to demonstrate that all kids CAN succeed.

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Executive Director: Chelsea Crawford

TennesseeCAN

TennesseeCAN empowers local stakeholders—from community members to policymakers—to advocate for improved K-12 education policies that put Tennessee children first. Together, we are working to ensure students have access to high-quality schools, teachers and resources that prioritize their unique educational talents and needs.
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Executive Director: Paula White

JerseyCAN

Paula White, Executive Director

JerseyCAN believes that all families must have access to high-quality schools and that students need continuous support with appropriate resources and excellent teaching, regardless of their zip code, cultural background or socioeconomic status.

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Executive Director: Steven Hernández, Esq.

ConnCAN

Steven Hernández, Esq., Executive Director

ConnCAN is leading a movement to improve education outcomes for Connecticut’s kids. We bring advocates, policymakers, parents and educators together to give all kids access to the great public schools they deserve.

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Executive Director: Britney Mumford

DelawareKidsCAN

Britney Mumford, Executive Director

We believe it will take a community of advocates pushing the system to make sure all schools help kids achieve their potential. And we believe Delaware needs to act NOW to create the type of education system students deserve.

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Executive Director: David Sun-Miyashiro

HawaiiKidsCAN

David Sun-Miyashiro, Executive Director

HawaiiKidsCAN will empower communities with accessible information about our schools, and help elevate their voices and concerns to build the conditions for all students in Hawaii to thrive.

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Executive Director: Nicholas Martinez

Transform Education Now (TEN)

Nicholas Martinez, Executive Director

TEN will empower communities with accessible information about our schools, and help elevate their voices and concerns to build the conditions for all students in Colorado to thrive.

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Executive Director: Amanda Aragon

NewMexicoKidsCAN

Amanda Aragon, Executive Director

NewMexicoKidsCAN serves as a catalyst and conduit to advocate for community-informed, student-centered and research-backed education policies that work best for the children of New Mexico. By connecting policy, instructional practice and politics, we reimagine what is possible in New Mexico’s public education system.

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Our Teams

50CAN is, ultimately, about people. We are working to build an organization where talented advocates are able to do the best work of their lives in a culture that supports and sustains them.
Meet the Team
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border_radii_content=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” border_radii_photo=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” global_colors_info=”{}”][/brcr_team_carousel_child][brcr_team_carousel_child photo=”https://divi-stage.50can.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/PaulaWhite_SeriousCustom_NJ.png” member_name=”Paula White” job_title=”Executive Director, JerseyCAN” email=”paula.white@jerseycan.org” twitter=”https://twitter.com/JerseyCAN” photo_alignment=”center” content_alignment=”center” social_icon_color=”#4E7FFF” links_bg=”#DCE5FF” links_margin_between=”8px” content_bg_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _dynamic_attributes=”link_option_url” _module_preset=”b4247078-5bfb-41bc-a964-85ee9d5ffa84″ link_option_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9saW5rX3VybF9zdGFmZiIsInNldHRpbmdzIjp7InBvc3RfaWQiOiIyMzIyNDAwNiJ9fQ==@” border_radii_content=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” border_radii_photo=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” global_colors_info=”{}”][/brcr_team_carousel_child][brcr_team_carousel_child photo=”https://divi-stage.50can.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/BritneyMumford_SeriousCustom_DE.png” member_name=”Britney Mumford” job_title=”Executive Director, DelawareCAN” email=”Britney.Mumford@DelawareCAN.org” photo_alignment=”center” content_alignment=”center” social_icon_color=”#4E7FFF” links_bg=”#DCE5FF” links_margin_between=”8px” content_bg_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _dynamic_attributes=”link_option_url” _module_preset=”b4247078-5bfb-41bc-a964-85ee9d5ffa84″ link_option_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9saW5rX3VybF9zdGFmZiIsInNldHRpbmdzIjp7InBvc3RfaWQiOiIyMzIyMzcwMCJ9fQ==@” border_radii_content=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” border_radii_photo=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” global_colors_info=”{}”][/brcr_team_carousel_child][brcr_team_carousel_child photo=”https://divi-stage.50can.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/HamishMacPhail_SeriousCustom_CTNavy.png” member_name=”Hamish MacPhail” job_title=”Interem Executive Director, ConnCAN” email=”hamish.macphail@conncan.org” photo_alignment=”center” content_alignment=”center” social_icon_color=”#4E7FFF” links_bg=”#DCE5FF” links_margin_between=”8px” content_bg_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _dynamic_attributes=”link_option_url” _module_preset=”b4247078-5bfb-41bc-a964-85ee9d5ffa84″ link_option_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9saW5rX3VybF9wb3N0Iiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsicG9zdF9pZCI6IjQ3NyJ9fQ==@” border_radii_content=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” border_radii_photo=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” global_colors_info=”{}”][/brcr_team_carousel_child][brcr_team_carousel_child photo=”https://divi-stage.50can.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/MichaelOSullivan_SeriousCustom_GA.png” member_name=”Michael O’Sullivan” job_title=”Executive Director, GeorgiaCAN” email=”michael.osullivan@gacan.org” twitter=”https://twitter.com/Mi_OSullivan” photo_alignment=”center” content_alignment=”center” social_icon_color=”#4E7FFF” links_bg=”#DCE5FF” links_margin_between=”8px” content_bg_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _dynamic_attributes=”link_option_url” _module_preset=”b4247078-5bfb-41bc-a964-85ee9d5ffa84″ link_option_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9saW5rX3VybF9zdGFmZiIsInNldHRpbmdzIjp7InBvc3RfaWQiOiIyMzIyMzcwOCJ9fQ==@” border_radii_content=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” border_radii_photo=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” global_colors_info=”{}”][/brcr_team_carousel_child][brcr_team_carousel_child photo=”https://divi-stage.50can.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/NicholasMartinez_SeriousCustom_TEN.png” member_name=”Nicholas Martinez” job_title=”Executive Director, TEN, Denver” email=”nicholas.martinez@transformeducationnow.org” photo_alignment=”center” content_alignment=”center” social_icon_color=”#4E7FFF” links_bg=”#DCE5FF” links_margin_between=”8px” content_bg_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _dynamic_attributes=”link_option_url” _module_preset=”b4247078-5bfb-41bc-a964-85ee9d5ffa84″ link_option_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9saW5rX3VybF9zdGFmZiIsInNldHRpbmdzIjp7InBvc3RfaWQiOiIyMzIyNDExNCJ9fQ==@” border_radii_content=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” border_radii_team=”on||||” border_radii_photo=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” global_colors_info=”{}”][/brcr_team_carousel_child][brcr_team_carousel_child photo=”https://divi-stage.50can.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/MarcusBrandon_SeriousCustom_NC.png” member_name=”Marcus Brandon” job_title=”Executive Director, CarolinaCAN” email=”marcus.brandon@carolinacan.org” twitter=”https://twitter.com/kmarcusbrandon” photo_alignment=”center” content_alignment=”center” social_icon_color=”#4E7FFF” links_bg=”#DCE5FF” links_margin_between=”8px” content_bg_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _dynamic_attributes=”link_option_url” _module_preset=”b4247078-5bfb-41bc-a964-85ee9d5ffa84″ 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photo=”https://50can.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/ChelseaCrawford_500x500.png” member_name=”Chelsea Crawford” job_title=”Executive Director, TennesseeCAN” email=”chelsea.crawford@tn-can.org” twitter=”https://twitter.com/tennesseecan” photo_alignment=”center” content_alignment=”center” social_icon_color=”#4E7FFF” links_bg=”#DCE5FF” links_margin_between=”8px” content_bg_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”b4247078-5bfb-41bc-a964-85ee9d5ffa84″ border_radii_content=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” border_radii_photo=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” global_colors_info=”{}”][/brcr_team_carousel_child][/brcr_team_carousel]

Our Policy Wins

Each year, we change or pass dozens of laws to meet the needs of students and families. Read about our latest victories:
Learn about Policy Wins as they happen. Stay up to date and subscribe to the New Reality Roundup.
Subscribe to The New Reality Roundup

The 50CAN Guidebooks

Learn Advocacy

We believe that the world and country will be a better place with more effective advocates. For that reason, we’re committed to sharing everything we learn about the tactics that achieve results. Whether you’re a new, aspiring or seasoned advocate, we invite you to learn alongside us.

View Guidebooks

The Science of Advocacy

AdvocacyLabs

In partnership with FutureEd and Georgetown University, 50CAN’s CEO Marc Porter Magee analyzes what social science research tells us about effective advocacy campaigns. Explore what science tells us about how to change the world:

View all Reports

Be The Change

Interested in starting a CAN?

For a state to build the education system of the future, they need effective advocates to listen to families, spur innovations and inform legislation. Interested in starting a CAN campaign in your own state?

We’ve found that enduring education advocacy campaigns have three foundational factors in place:

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A first-in-class advocate who understands our education system and the statehouse.

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Local funding partners who are committed to supporting long-term advocacy work.

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A strong advisory board, to provide guidance and accountability.

If you think there’s momentum for each of these factors to be in place in your state, we’d love to set up a conversation. Inquiries are accepted on a rolling basis, with review and response windows in May, July and October.

New CAN Inquiry Form

Get started by providing your email.

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