My career spans more than 20 years working with children and adolescents in education and nonprofits. Since joining Sandy Hook Promise in 2022, my focus has been to develop and implement high-impact school safety initiatives and violence prevention programs. This work has given me a profound insight: true school safety requires a holistic approach, extending well beyond the school grounds.

There’s nothing that enhances a travel experience more than being the recipient or the initiator of a random act of kindness. It’s what we hold onto most dearly when we reflect on our visits to foreign lands, long after the memories of sculptures and monuments fade. In my years of world travel, I’ve had the pleasure of being on the receiving end of many unexpected displays of good will—by a local resident, perhaps, who offers to walk with me to my destination. I love returning the favor, whether I’m traveling abroad or I’m at home in Los Angeles.