Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1479836
87 MOLLY MARTINS Most people wouldn't want to open a high school, and even fewer people would actually do it, but those people aren't Molly Martins, president of the Academy at Penguin Hall, an independent, all-girls college preparatory school in Wenham. But Martins saw a need on the North Shore for an independent, all-girls school. "I live by the words, 'To whom much is given, much is expected,'" says Martins, a mother of five daughters and a former vice president of finance and administration at two colleges. "And I truly believe that I''ve been very blessed in my life in so many ways." She believes the Academy at Penguin Hall provides an opportunity for young women to build their confidence and competence in a place that is "supportive yet challenging," as well as giving them the freedom to take risks and try new things, which often happens in a single- gender environment, especially for girls. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE WORD EDUCATION, WHAT COMES TO MIND? It's not just the books. It is how we expand our minds, it's how we look at the world. In our curriculum, which I think is really interesting, our approach is one that [asks], "What," "So what," and "Now what." For me the education is really happening when you get to the "now what." You build on the "what" in the technical pieces: the information, the facts and figures, the dates, and people. Then you learn "so what": What does that matter? And then from there, take it to the "now what." What are you going to do with that information? How are you going to use it make this world a better place? How are you going to expand your mind? So I think of education in that way. It's not just the memorization of information but taking it into those steps. Again, that's very consistent with what we do here, both in and out of the classroom. WHAT DOES COMMUNITY MEAN TO YOU? Well, I love the idea of thinking of all different types of community, and that is very much what we have done here at the school within our largest community, being everyone who is here. And then our school is broken down into smaller parts of that community, and I think that is important. I think that's the same with being part of the North Shore, being part of Wenham, and being part of larger and smaller types of communities. But it's all about the connections that you're making within each of those groups, whatever the combination of people might be. It's those connections, it's those things that bring us together around a topic, around a cause, around something that is important for us. And we continue to work with our students and talk about the importance of partnering and being part of a lot of different communities, from a couple of people to a much larger one: how important that is and what they can bring to that. It's most important what they're bringing, not what they're taking. SUSAN KANOFF They say everyone has the same 24 hours in a day, but talking to Susan Kanoff might make you doubt that's true when it comes to her. Kanoff is the founder of Uncommon Threads, a nonprofit in Lawrence that provides low-income women, who are referred through local social services agencies, with beautiful clothing, stylist services, empowerment workshops, and other programs. It's served more than 2,700 women in fiscal year 2022, 17 percent more than in 2021. Now, Uncommon Threads is going national. "My vision has always been to replicate Uncommon Threads in other areas of the country, and I've been working diligently on a plan for program expansion," she says. "It looks like this could become a reality, as we hope to have a second chapter launched on the West Coast within the next six months." In addition to Uncommon Threads, Kanoff, who has been living with a form of leukemia since 2018, cofounded Kicking Cancer in Heels, a community for women impacted by cancer to "live their best lives through information, connection, hope, and support." WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT WORK? It truly fulfills me knowing that I'm making a difference in the lives of others, whether it be by supporting low-income women at Uncommon Threads, through Kicking Cancer in Heels (my patient advocacy work), or by breaking down the stereotypes associated with aging on The Midlife Fashionista (her fashion blog/Instagram). Although each sector of my work is different, there are also many common threads (no pun intended). WHAT MAKES YOU MOTIVATED EACH DAY? Well, I can''t say that I'm motivated every day, although a strong cup of coffee helps! However, my desire to help others keeps me moving forward with purpose. It certainly has been challenging working remotely for the past two and a half years since I''m a people person, but the virtual connections I make on a daily basis with incredible people, inspires me to do even more. I am also driven by my ideas, which happen to keep me up at night. I have a hard time turning my brain off, but I love creating and making things happen! WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY ON THE NORTH SHORE? In addition to our beautiful location (close to the beach, mountains, Boston, etc.), our community is exceptionally kind and giving. People truly care about others and generously pitch in to support those in need. When I started Uncommon Threads, I was blown away by how many community members and businesses stepped forward to offer assistance . . . and they still do! Kindness lives! PHOTOGRAPHS, LEFT TO RIGHT BY ERIC ROTH, BY SARAH JORDAN MCCAFFERY