Marcus Brandon is the executive director of CarolinaCAN: The North Carolina Campaign for Achievement Now, a statewide movement working to give every North Carolina child access to a great public school. Marcus hails from a long line of North Carolinians. Growing up in Guilford County with a family entrenched in the civil rights movement, Marcus learned the value of public service at an early age. Ever since he could walk, he was out working to better his community: passing out fliers, knocking on doors and organizing with his family to advocate for equal opportunity and equal access.
Marcus attended Southern Guilford High School and graduated from North Carolina A&T in Greensboro with a degree in Liberal Studies: Race, Culture and Class. At these institutions Marcus honed the skills learned as a youngster into the leadership abilities necessary to create positive change for his community. Marcus served as a leader in various organizations, working with students of all backgrounds to better their school and community.
Marcus demonstrated his long-held passion for service to his community by serving two terms as state representative in the North Carolina House of Representatives. Marcus focused his work on education reform and poverty, which he called “structural issues that impact the community.” Serving as vice chair of the House Education Committee, Marcus was able to pass key pieces of legislation regarding school choice: Tax Credits for Special Needs, Opportunity Scholarships for Low Income Families and the Teacher Paperwork Reduction Act. Marcus was recognized for his leadership and awarded Legislator of the Year by Parents for Educational Freedom, Black Alliance for Educational Options and Democrats for Education Reform. He was also recognized by Governing magazine in their “Top 12 Legislators to Watch Nationally” list.
Before becoming a legislator, Marcus worked in national politics for progressive candidates and organizations. He served as national fundraiser for Dennis Kucinich, major gifts officer for Progressive Majority, deputy director of Equality Virginia and finance director for U.S. Senate candidate Jack Carter, son of President Jimmy Carter.
Marcus left the General Assembly in 2014 to join CarolinaCAN to continue the work he started in the House Education Committee and put North Carolina schools back on top.
I ASPIRE TO BE LIKE JIM VALVANO. HERE’S WHY:
Jim Valvano—Coach V—was the basketball coach at N.C. State that won the historic 1983 NCAA championship. I was only eight years old at the time, but Coach V taught me to believe in my dreams and to never give up. Coach V taught us that you can reach your dreams and goals despite your circumstance. The 1983 season was filled with impossible victories and amazing comebacks, and culminated in the most miraculous NCAA championship game in history. After being diagnosed with cancer that eventually ended his life, Coach V continued to teach us these same lessons. He inspired his team to believe, and in turn inspired an eight-year-old to believe.
WHY I LOVE MY JOB:
I am blessed beyond measure to have the opportunity to get up every day and fight for an issue that has become my life’s work. I am humbled to have the opportunity to work with so many talented people in this movement. And I’m excited to meet and collaborate with others who have dedicated their life to this issue. I love my job because it’s not a job at all. It’s who I am.
MY CONNECTION TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS:
I went to public school my entire life. My high school was my first love. I was on student council, drum major of the band and (true story) homecoming king. It is where great people like my guidance counselor Mrs. Harris and my football coach and FCA leader Coach Atkinson gave me the opportunity to flourish as a leader. However, my school system labeled me learning disabled because I approached assignments differently than others. It wasn’t until I won the seventh-grade spelling bee that my school recognized my ability to succeed. I had incredible parents that made sure I didn’t become a statistic, that forced me to work harder, smarter and differently. They taught me that there is no excuse not to succeed. I do this work because I know there are a lot of Marcus Brandons in public school.
WHAT I’M BAD AT:
I am a self-proclaimed terrible driver! And a whole host of other things.
THE IMAGE THAT REPRESENTS WHY I WORK AT 50CAN
This image represents equality. Ever since I learned to walk, I have been fighting for equal opportunity and equal access. The work that we do is the most important catalyst for this premise. (Image source: Vaxzine on Flickr http://bit.ly/1wuLrs3)
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