Marlowe Martensen

Marlowe Martensen’22

Charlsie Marlowe Martensen has lived in Oak Cliff all her life. She lives in a historic district of Oak Cliff with her parents, Dorsey and Blake Martensen, and her siblings McClain (class of 2018) and Burke (class of 2027). McClain just finished her third year at University of Boulder, CO, and Burke is in seventh grade at Dunne.

Marlowe attended Rosemont Elementary

School for K-5 and came to Dunne in sixth grade.

Marlowe has been interested in GIS (Geographic Information Systems) since her freshman year. She has continued to take GIS classes and work on mapping projects with Mr. Brad Baker. Several of her interests and studies came together for her senior project. The idea was sparked in part by reading the novel Sula by Toni Morrison for Mr. Damian McDonald’s class. The story describes how former slave owners displaced the recently freed enslaved people from land the federal government gave them after the Civil War.

The topic of displacement was already on

Marlowe’s mind because of conversations about gentrification in her neighborhood and in her Spanish classes. After completing three years of Spanish, Marlowe was taking Advanced Spanish class as an independent study with Dr. Diana Torres Rivera her senior year.

Marlowe said she has seen big changes in her neighborhood, but not transformational change. As she explains, “It’s not really a transformation if you don’t take what was there and transform it—incorporate new things with the old.” Instead, it was a tearing down of the old to replace it with something new.

So, with her research on Sula, her independent study with Dr. Torres Rivera, and her own observations, she began asking the question: What are the main causes of displacement? She also believed gentrification was having a negative impact on her neighborhood.

Using data she collected from U.S. census reports and other public records, and analyzing it through GIS software, Marlowe illustrated her hypothesis of the negative impact of gentrification on Oak Cliff neighborhoods. She researched the 2020 census and other public records for her AP English project. She drew on her experience in her Advanced Geotech course with Mr. Baker to collate that data and create maps to show a variety of factors that influence and shape the makeup of Oak Cliff.

With Dr. Torres Rivera, she created a study called “Gentrification and Oak Cliff.” The two presented their study at the annual conference of the National Association of African American Studies and Affiliates on February 15, 2022. Marlowe presented her paper in a bilingual format because Barrio Oak Cliff is bilingual. They presented maps, charts, and other visual information that confirmed the movement and displacement of residents who had lived south of I-30.

Conference participants praised Marlowe’s ease of communication and the clarity of her data. At the heart of the project is Marlowe’s desire to end displacement of residents and to celebrate the culture and diversity of her community. She presented several solutions to the problems gentrification brings, including protecting senior homeowners; prohibiting luxury development in at-risk neighborhoods; and reducing or freezing property taxes.

Marlowe plans to pursue these goals as she continues her education at Texas A&M. She will major in Visualization in the Department of Architecture with a minor in Urban Planning. She is interested in finding realworld applications for projects like this—in city planning, for example. She wants to integrate these things in her future career.

Chaelon Simpson ’22

Bishop Dunne graduate, Chaelon Simpson ’22, is the embodiment of the term selfless leader, always considering the effect of his actions, as he thoughtfully powers his way to the brightest of futures. A leader, an activist, both on campus and in the community, Chaelon considers each day another opportunity to give back, through positive, constructive actions.

A dedicated son, grandson and brother, Chaelon helps care for his younger sister Chailey, who has atypical Rett syndrome, a rare genetic neurological disorder that leads to impairments affecting nearly every aspect of her life. He cares for his sister at home, taking on responsibility for her personal and medical needs. During quarantine in 2020, Chaelon also took on responsibility for his grandfather who had moved in with his family. He understands family comes first.

Chairman of the Bishop Dunne Math department, Gary Pinkerton remarks, “Chaelon has developed into a strong leader. Everything he does promotes a more caring individual. He thrives on new experiences and lives to assist others.”

Chaelon began his career at Bishop Dunne as a seventh-grade student, anxious about a new school with new friends and experiences. “I felt more welcome than I had at any previous school. I remember the kindness extended to me by upperclassmen on the first day of school, when I was lost and struggling to find the lunchroom. The years I’ve spent at Bishop Dunne have been the most formative years of my life. The memories and bonds I’ve made with teachers have not only made me feel safe, but also empowered. In middle school I learned compassion, sympathy, and companionship – skills which continued helping me in high school. As a high school student, I witnessed other new students experience the same nervousness I had, and I knew exactly how to befriend and help them acclimate to Dunne.”

“If you think of a student who is ‘the face’ of Bishop Dunne, Chaelon will come to mind,” said Miranda G. Gilliam, English Department Chair. “Chaelon has a calling and a passion to lead and be a role model for his peers and residents in his community. He perseveres because he is not afraid to use his voice, ask questions, and contribute to the ongoing, and sometimes, uncomfortable discussions he encounters in his life.”

His work as Student Government president helps set the tone for all student school activities. He is president of Dunne’s African American Awareness group which puts together an amazing program each winter to help educate our school community and highlight the important contributions of African Americans. Further, Chaelon served as the lead for the Student Ambassador program, meeting with prospective families to give tours of our campus.

Concurrently, Chaelon is serving as president of NAACP Youth Council, a national organization that works to inform youth of the problems affecting African Americans and other racial and ethnic minorities. His responsibilities include leading monthly meetings, representing the council to other organizations and even leading a motorcade to combat voter suppression. “It’s so important to become engaged in your community, and I’m grateful that I’m able to actively make a difference, rather than watching from the sidelines in inaction.” His induction speech was featured in the July 11, 2021, Dallas Examiner.

He credits Bishop Dunne with helping him to overcome his fear of public speaking. “The school has always promoted peer-to-peer education, allowing students to work with other students to solve challenges. In group settings, I had to make my opinions known. The biggest example of this was my participation in the one-act play, where I played Gunter in Auschwitz Lullaby. It was a huge departure from my comfort zone, but the experience and confidence I gained made it one of my best decisions.

The advantages in education I have been provided during my time at Dunne are immeasurable. During my six years, I’ve been constantly challenged and introduced to new concepts and experiences that have expanded my world view.” Mr. Pinkerton,