the
MARK 555 Middlefield Road, Atherton, CA
Special Edition: Stedman Graham & the Sonima Foundation visit M-A
march 2015
leading students through love by Sara Solomon estselling author, educator and entrepreneur Stedman Graham kicked off his day at Menlo-Atherton High School this morning with an inspiring interactive session for staff and community members at the school’s Performing Arts Center. He returned later, along with Justin Tuck and Caroline Jones, to present their mission to the students.
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Graham is a part of the Sonima Foundation, a health and wellness curriculum that encourages students to become
future leaders by devel- Ravenswood School Disoping their identities. As trict. [They] were looking part of his connection to to visit a Bay Area high the Sonima Foundation, school… and because Graham visM-A is now its around the home 70 schools “It’s really a luxury school for nationally Ravenswood, to have an identity each year to our partdeliver inand to know who ner district spirationsuggested you are.” al speeches, they visit supporting us. When we and encouraging stu- heard of the opportunity, dents to fully understand Principal Kennel recogthemselves in order to nized the value immedihave a prosperous life. ately.”
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Guidance Counselor Laura Duran explains, “Stedman and his team were working with
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Graham believes that “it’s really a luxury to have an identity and to know who you
Junior Ahjenea Hughes-James felt right at home when Graham asked, “Who are you?”
are because most people are stuck and I would say that 99 percent of the people in the world are followers… and also slaves.” Graham built off the question, ‘Who are you?’ because you cannot be successful unless you have rightfully defined yourself. If you do not define yourself, you have “give[n] your power over to someone else, [and] they will define you as something else.” The main takeaway from Graham’s oration is that love is the only way you can find and understand yourself because what you love comes from the heart, rather than what society wants you to be or says you are. Michelle Breen, math teacher at M-A, notes: “I think it is a fantastic and inspiring day. It is a great thing when the whole M-A community, from the students to the staff can focus on what motivates them, what they love, and who we are as individuals. With a better understanding of who we are
as individuals, it will only make our community stronger.� While Stedman Graham is well known for his connection to Oprah Winfrey, few know that their good friend Gayle King, the current co-anchor of CBS This Morning and editor-at-large for O, The Oprah Magazine, is an M-A alumna (‘72).
Graham asks teachers to list items they love, as many as they can, in 30 seconds. Math teacher CJ Carlson rattles off his loves as others look on.
JUSTIN TUCK by Sami Andrew Justin Tuck, two-time Super Bowl champion and Oakland Raiders defensive tackle, made a guest appearance at M-A to talk to kids during the Sonima Foundation visit. His message was to do what you enjoy and try to be the best person you can be. He wanted to make sure kids knew that they have a chance to do whatever they want and they should not listen to the people that tell them they cannot achieve their goals.
Caroline Jones
by Kristin Cwirla Caroline Jones, above, joins the M-A choir on stage. She introduced her first guitar as “Surf Rider,” and then began to sing with her truly beautiful voice. She began with an original composition, before merging into a rendition of Nat King Cole’s classic, “L.O.V.E.” Jones gave brief histories of each songs she sang, speaking of the time her sister stole away the guy she liked in high school as well as how the Great Migration brought black blues singers from the Mississippi Delta up to Chicago where they began to spread their own type of music, taking the time to switch instruments between songs. As a protege of Stedman Graham, Jones carries out his message in her life and work.
WHO
O ARE YOU ?
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If you do not define yourself, you have give[n] your power over to someone else, [and] they will define you as something else.
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-Stedman Graham Special edition by The Mark staff. All photography courtesy of Betsy Snow.