Subira Gordon
ConnCAN Executive Director
Subira Gordon was born and raised in Jamaica, in a small rural community with a 2 percent literacy rate. Her mother was one of the few people who could read, and Subira quickly realized the value of schooling, as her mother was often asked to assist neighbors with undertakings that required more than a first-grade education.
Upon graduation from high school, Subira attended Bates College where she earned a bachelor’s degree in history and spent years afterward organizing workers in Connecticut to advocate for their rights. This was her passageway to political mobilization, policy change and the ins-and-outs of the legislative process, eventually leading her to the Connecticut General Assembly’s Commission on Equity and Opportunity.
At the Capitol, Subira worked closely with grassroots advocates and legislators to create equitable solutions for communities of color. With a focus on education, criminal justice, and housing, Subira created a space for honest conversations around equity and inclusion for those underrepresented or marginalized in The Constitution State. Issues that she championed include a diverse educator pipeline, affordable housing options, and comprehensive criminal justice reform.