Kaleidoscope.

This little story popped in my head one night while walking the street in town delivering Unity Seeds to homes. It was getting late and the stars had just come out above me when this story came and inspired me to keep walking. I shared it with our daughter Delphine the next night. She liked it so much, saying I should share with others. It’s the story between a grandmother and her granddaughter. A story of Hope and Change.

A story we can all be part of creating together.

- Yasmine

The year is 2050.

Grandma, will you tell me a story before bed? A really wonderful story?

Yes, little one, come cuddle up on my lap and get cozy.

OK, where to begin…

At the beginning Grandma, always the beginning.

Ah, yes the beginning. A long time ago there was a great community. But the community of people didn’t fully see their greatness. Then during one magical autumn in the year 2020, in the middle of a pandemic...

What’s a pandemic, Grandma?

Little one, that’s a whole other story! I will tell you that one tomorrow night.

Ok in the fall of 2020, some leaders and community members decided it was time to finally achieve their greatness. To rise up and bring two schools – two amazing schools – together. To make one united school that could be a light for so many. This school had students of all colors of the rainbow. Kids got to see and experience how all different students lived all different ways.

What did that feel like Grandma?

Hmmm, that’s a good question little one…You know what it feels like to look through a kaleidoscope and turn it and turn it and things change but it makes it so much better. To see differences all together?

Yes, it’s beautiful Grandma. It makes me feel happy inside.

Exactly little one. That is what it felt like at this new school. Kids walked through each other’s worlds every day. They learned how to be kind and compassionate. That their differences made them special. How helping others in need made them stronger.

They left that school and became green scientists, politicians, business owners, artists, environmental leaders. But they did it with fierce compassion. Because they saw the power of life always through this kaleidoscope. Differences integrated together make the world better.

This new unity school also had the best athletes in town. They were known across the land for the school with the most powerful sports teams. No one could bring them down. Parents that had fought for years about schools, were now high fiving at basketball and soccer games. They laughed and cried together watching theatre from artists who lived in their community. It was something little one.

They even turned a neighborhood shopping center – grey and boring with empty stores - into the most extraordinary place. The students and community painted it bright colors, students led workshops, local artisans and green businesses filled the colorful spaces. There were farmers’ markets and flea markets. People came from all over to experience this gateway of vibrant community.

And soon this school grew so big everyone flocked to get in.

Grandma, how did this all happen?

It happened because, in the fall of 2020, there were some visionary leaders living all across the community, women and men, who realized they held a superpower in their hands to make this dream fly. They listened to the whisper in their heart, didn’t waver even when they didn’t have all the answers and it was scary, and walked forward. United.

And that’s the story of this amazing new school.

Wow, I love this school! What is the name of it Grandma?

Why don’t you come back and tell me when you go there next week for your first day of school?

Grandma this is the story of my new school?!!!

Yes, my little one. It is the story of your school. And of the heroes of our past, that overcame division. Overcame fear. Overcame change and uncertainty. And in the magical fall of the year 2020, they chose to come together to make what seemed impossible, possible.

One more question, Grandma, last one I promise.

yeeees….little one.

Can you tell these superpowered women and men thank you? Thank you for giving me and my friends this dream school?

Oh yes, I will. Now off to bed. Happy dreams.

So to all the residents of Sausalito and Marin City that in this election, in the magical fall of 2020, who choose to walk through their fear, through uncertainty, through change, and take the lighted path of hope and change: thank you.

Thank you for helping to make a story like this come true for all our students today. And for the generations of little ones to come. We all hold the power to see the world every day through a kaleidoscope. And create a generation of students that do so as well.

I hope the Unity Seeds I left at your home bring you a kaleidoscope of colorful wildflowers that attract Unity Butterflies (symbols of Hope and Change).