10 Questions with... Martin Storrow!

Martin Storrow is the Director of Leadership Development and Alumni Relations at Moishe House. Moishe House trains, supports and sponsors young Jewish leaders as they create vibrant home-based communities for themselves and their peers. Moishe House Ignite, a new leadership initiative combining weekend summits, virtual learning and a fellowship for Jewish adults in their twenties, launches this fall. 

1. What inspires you to get out of bed every day?  The opportunity to be creative. I love the idea that something we do, make or say today could potentially outlive us. I think we often forget the inevitable ripple effect we can have on the world, and many mornings I hop out of bed like I’m jumping into a lake, ready to make a splash.  

2. What hashtag would you use to describe yourself? #punintended

3. What projects are you working on now?   At Moishe House, one project I’m currently very excited about is MH Ignite, our new peer-based leadership initiative for residents, alumni and community members. We’re preparing to launch this month, and we’ve only just begun to tap in to the potential of the program, which is both challenging and exciting. It’s thrilling to be working with such a dedicated, inspiring team at Moishe House. On the personal side, I’ve also begun pre-production on a new album of original folk music.

4. What projects would you like to be working on in 5 years? One thing I’ve learned is to maintain a vision, but not to plan the future too carefully. It’s easy to get blinded by what you thought your mission was and miss something new and important along the way. I hope in five years I’m continuing to do creative work with people I admire, work that opens minds and hearts on a global scale and work that I find meaningful.

5. What it is the biggest risk you’ve taken, personally or professionally, and how did it pay off? When I started as a performing songwriter, I used to play a lot of cutesy love songs. For a long time, I was terrified to write or share any song that was too personal. Finally, I worked up the courage to perform a song I had written about the experience of losing my mother, and the response was incredible. That song was able to touch people and help them heal in a way I never could have anticipated and I was so glad I shared it. The experience taught me the importance of being vulnerable.

6. Where do you go to find community? I have incredible family and friends and when we get together – wherever we are - it instantly feels like home. I have also found a lot of warmth in the Jewish communities I’m affiliated with in San Diego and Los Angeles.

7. Where do you go to find solitude? I meditate daily, which is great for finding a moment of solitude anywhere. I also love to go to the beach or stay up and write late in the evenings.

8. What is one change you would like to see in your lifetime? I would love to see us take serious action to fix the harm we’ve caused to our planet. I don’t think we meant to do so much harm, but it’s important that we start making things better so one day our children and their children can enjoy the beautiful world we enjoy now.

9. Who is your hero? I can’t really say that I have ‘heroes’, but there are a lot of people in this world who I deeply admire. My father is the first person who comes to mind. He is the most ethical person I know.

10. Rock, paper or scissors—and why? Oh, give me any one of them. I’ll find a way to make something exciting out of it.

Read more about Martin's work in his guest post! The Schusterman Philanthropic Network is proud to empower emerging leaders to explore their values, identity and new ways to strengthen their communities. We believe that as we work together to repair the world, it is important to share our diverse experiences and perspectives along the way. We encourage the expression of personal thoughts and reflections here on the Schusterman blog. Each post reflects solely the opinion of its author and does not necessarily represent the views of the Foundation, its partner organizations or all program participants.