CHANGEMAKING IS IN OUR DNA

CHANGEMAKING IS IN OUR DNA

BY TRAVIS BROWNLEY, HEAD OF SCHOOL

Our world has changed, the last year propelling

us further into a future marked by unknowns. The pandemic ongoing, inequality deepening, the climate crisis accelerating, constant political turmoil, there are days when we wake up feeling lost and alone. And yet, as Emily Dickenson offers:

“Hope” is the thing with feathers —

That perches in the soul —

And sings the tune without the words —

And never stops — at all —

We at Marin Academy have a gift and a responsibility to innovate for the greater good. Changemaking is in our DNA, fundamental to our mission of challenging each other to accept the responsibilities posed by education in a democratic society. We are dedicated to cultivating a deep-rooted sense of empathy and providing the resources and opportunities to take action. Whether pushing our school to question, examine, and take responsibility for our missteps or dedicating our lives to supporting migrant children in detention at the border, we, agents of change, must be tenacious but flexible and collaborative. Perhaps most importantly, we need to be courageous and to remain undaunted.

In this issue of NEXUS, we follow our last issue’s exploration of Marin Academy’s intentional shift towards an equity-driven, competency-based education and share insights and stories of students, programs, and alumni that inspire us. We are honored to be a part of their journey. The size and complexity of the challenges we face in 2021 dictate our need for new voices and changemakers of all kinds.

I hope you enjoy this edition of NEXUS, where we celebrate the pathfinding Class of 2021, the generosity of our visionaries in the Annual Report, the Wildcat trailblazers, and the vanguard artists that come together to make our beloved school. I sincerely hope that you will join us in renewing our commitment to challenging ourselves and staying compassionate and curious.

Warm Regards,

Travis Brownley