The alumni featured in this magazine illustrate the profound impact of cREative thinking. In our cover story, you will learn how Danny Lafuente ’05 doggedly pursued his quest for ethical entrepreneurship, brainstorming about business plans that would address food insecurity until landing on the idea of sustainably made spirits. One of the co-founders of LAB Miami in Wynwood, Danny founded Simple Spirits after making frequent visits to Miami Rescue Mission to drop off food donations. Read more in the story by award-winning journalist Linda Robertson. 

Our feature on Allison Freidin ’03 highlights another creative spirit. Inspired by the graffiti in Wynwood while working at the state attorney’s office in Miami, Allison sought to tell the story of this important and often misunderstood urban art form. Teaming up with a renowned historian on graffiti, Allison helped found one of the world’s most unique museums: the Museum of Graffiti. Learn more in the colorful story by Sofia Andrade ’19. 

A thoughtful, reflective piece by English Department Coordinator Matt Margini – The Art of Writing – explores the art of the written word at Ransom Everglades, and how it continues to bolster and distinguish our humanities curriculum. The story features engaging interviews with some of our most creative alumni, and gorgeous illustrations by current student and burgeoning graphic artist Noa Garcia ’27. 

That story provides a seamless segue into the column by Jess Merrick, RE’s new Director of Teaching & Learning. Jess provides insight into RE’s strategic approach to crafting an impactful curriculum that helps our students develop the skills and creative approaches that will help them flourish in the world. We have striven to incorporate student feedback as we devise courses and co-curricular opportunities for students to engage with topics of special interest and, of course, AI. This summer marks the first opportunity for select rising seniors to participate in our just-announced AI Innovation Fellowships program, which will serve as a STEM-based partner to the Dan Leslie Bowden Fellowships in the Humanities. When RE students engage with AI, we ensure they use the tools ethically, innovatively and creatively. 

I urge you to peruse the piece on our new Explorer Externship Program by program director Jenny Gragg Carson ’03, who explains how RE is using real-world immersion and professional encounters to help our students identify careers of interest and areas of passion. Her column is informative and also serves as a call to action for RE alumni and parents to share their talents and externship opportunities to benefit our students.

One of the RE Log departments you may be familiar with is Why I Give, which invites alumni to explain their rationale for supporting Ransom Everglades. We have not previously featured alumni as young as Marissa Schwartz Gimelstein ’06, Nicole Roederer ’16 and Sophia Reyes ’16, and we are proud to provide a platform for these three amazing women to tell their stories. See the insightful interview by RE Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement Luz Stella Perez de Corcho ’11, where you will learn what motivates this youthful trio to give to the school’s financial aid program.  

I hope you enjoy catching up with faculty emeritus Guillermo Urbina and reading up on some of the great events this past fall, including our first Under the Stars: A Night of Music and Art concert and art exhibition at La Brisa. And don’t miss the various news stories and alumni class notes, which provide ample evidence that this institution is truly an incubator of creative thinking – and deserving of its ranking as a top 10 private school in North America by the Spear’s School Index. 

We all know the true mark of Ransom Everglades graduates: leaving the world better than they find it. Sometimes that’s hard to do. Sometimes solutions aren’t easy to find. The creative thinking at the heart of a Ransom Everglades education allows our graduates to take on every challenge and make a difference.