Dear John,

The core work at 50CAN has always been to support exceptional local advocates as they strive to make the future of American education a reality in their states. The executive directors of the 50CAN network are exceptionally savvy and have the strong local knowledge necessary to get results for kids. We’re delighted to support all of them.

It’s hard to find any place where this has been truer than in Connecticut, home of the first “CAN,” where ConnCAN has a tradition of selecting truly excellent policy and advocacy leaders who have achieved demonstrable change in the Nutmeg State. Alex Johnston, Jen Alexander and, most recently, Subira Gordon, have each left their indelible mark on the oldest campaign in the 50CAN network and each have gone on to have a significant impact on the sector overall. Their collective record speaks for itself.

That's why, today, we’re excited to announce the next executive director to carry on this legacy: Steven Hernández.

Steve spent his career fighting for fair and equitable access to education for Connecticut’s low-income families and children of color, most recently as the Executive Director of the Connecticut Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity. He has deep relationships across the state and a commitment to ideas that work for families of all stripes despite growing political partisanship. We’re excited to have Steve as a member of the 50CAN network and we believe he is precisely the leader that can carry ConnCAN forward into its next chapter.

Please join me in congratulating Steve. We look forward to sharing more about the team’s vision and progress throughout 2024.