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Reaching Out to Our Community

Dear Northwood Family, 

While the American death toll from COVID-19 has tipped 100,000 and more than 40 million Americans are unemployed, the unexplainable killing of one individual two weeks ago has rocked our nation to its core. I am personally struggling to understand and process the senseless actions on that video, and I simply cannot tune out George Floyd’s desperate cries for air.

This singular event has left me overwhelmed, almost numb. I have to assume that the students, faculty, and staff at Northwood are experiencing the same confusion and outrage and are searching for answers as to the underlying causes of our current social and political dysfunction. 

As members of the Northwood family, you might be concerned about how external divisions may affect our community and our ability to openly discuss them. With the acknowledgment that each of us has our own views and will experience what is happening in our own way, I  write to affirm Northwood’s commitment to fostering an inclusive community, one that accepts and welcomes students, faculty, and staff from all walks of life. 

During these turbulent times, I feel privileged to be a part of such a supportive community, knowing that at any time we can draw strength from each other. It’s a good time to self-reflect, to ask questions, to listen to one another, and to learn from those with different views and, in the process, grow in empathy for each other.

The key to a better tomorrow is being mindful of our core principles and values. By taking responsibility for the health and safety of our community, showing respect for each other at all times, conducting our lives with integrity and purpose, and courageously confronting injustice, we go a long way in terms of ensuring a sense of belonging that must be at the center of community life. 

During this painful time, I am thinking about all of you and urging all of us to look out for each other and offer support and kindness - widely and unconditionally. 

Mike Maher

Head of School