Sam McCann - Communications Specialist
My name is Sam McCann and I am a communications strategist, writer, and researcher based in New York City.
I am currently a Senior Writer at the Vera Institute of Justice. In that role, I pitch, research, and write content for Vera, seizing political windows to push the organization's strategic priorities. I build and maintain relationships with sources who have been harmed by the criminal legal system, as well as with researchers, legislators, and practitioners throughout the legal system.
Prior to joining Vera, I ran communications at Neighborhood Defender Service, a public defender organization with offices in Harlem and Detroit. In that capacity I handled all outward facing communications: I developed and implemented media strategy, analyzed and framed policy advocacy, wrote and placed op-eds, and pitched journalists. I also ran social media, managed our website, organized events and contributed to development.
Before my time at NDS, I served on the communications team at the International Center for Transitional Justice, an organization that works with activists and governments to implement truth-telling processes, reparations, and other justice mechanisms following massive rights violations. I also worked as a researcher on Michael Moore's most recent film, Fahrenheit 11/9.
Outside of my professional life, I organize my community in Queens. I served as co-chair of Queens DSA's Electoral Working Group and managed candidate recruitment across multiple cycles. As a Queens DSA member, I contributed to the successful fight against New York's attempt to give billions of dollars of taxpayer money to Amazon. I also served on the core team for Zohran Mamdani's 2020 State Assembly campaign and organized heavily on behalf of Tiffany Cabán's campaign for Queens District Attorney, Kristen Gonzalez's State Senate campaign, and Claire Valdez's campaign for State Assembly.
Take a look around the site for more information about me. If you have any questions, please drop me a line at [email protected] or on Twitter at @SamMcCann.
I am currently a Senior Writer at the Vera Institute of Justice. In that role, I pitch, research, and write content for Vera, seizing political windows to push the organization's strategic priorities. I build and maintain relationships with sources who have been harmed by the criminal legal system, as well as with researchers, legislators, and practitioners throughout the legal system.
Prior to joining Vera, I ran communications at Neighborhood Defender Service, a public defender organization with offices in Harlem and Detroit. In that capacity I handled all outward facing communications: I developed and implemented media strategy, analyzed and framed policy advocacy, wrote and placed op-eds, and pitched journalists. I also ran social media, managed our website, organized events and contributed to development.
Before my time at NDS, I served on the communications team at the International Center for Transitional Justice, an organization that works with activists and governments to implement truth-telling processes, reparations, and other justice mechanisms following massive rights violations. I also worked as a researcher on Michael Moore's most recent film, Fahrenheit 11/9.
Outside of my professional life, I organize my community in Queens. I served as co-chair of Queens DSA's Electoral Working Group and managed candidate recruitment across multiple cycles. As a Queens DSA member, I contributed to the successful fight against New York's attempt to give billions of dollars of taxpayer money to Amazon. I also served on the core team for Zohran Mamdani's 2020 State Assembly campaign and organized heavily on behalf of Tiffany Cabán's campaign for Queens District Attorney, Kristen Gonzalez's State Senate campaign, and Claire Valdez's campaign for State Assembly.
Take a look around the site for more information about me. If you have any questions, please drop me a line at [email protected] or on Twitter at @SamMcCann.