Sally Newson believes in the power of serving others. She is the founder and executive director of both Wellify Teen and the brand new Karma Club, and also serves on the board of Marin CASA.
What do you do? I am involved in a lot! A parallel entrepreneur of both for- and not-for-profits.
Where do you live? Belvedere Island.
How long have you lived in Marin? 27 years.
Where can we find you when you’re not at work?
Getting caffeinated at Caffe Acri in Tiburon before my morning run along the waterfront. Roaming around West Marin or Sonoma backroads. Hiking with the hiking club I started at the onset of the pandemic, which is still going strong. Taking the Tiburon ferry to Shack15 in the SF Ferry Building.
If you had to convince someone how awesome Marin was, where would you take them?
The back deck of my house to watch a gorgeous sunset with views of Angel Island and Corinthian Island, which looks like a trip to Portofino. We’d take bikes on the ferry to Angel Island, hike along the cliffs of the Marin Headlands, and if they’re lucky, take them to my “secret beach” in Inverness.
What’s one thing Marin is missing?
With the opening of the new Karma Club, a free teen community space in Northgate Mall, we’re no longer missing a safe and inclusive place just for teens.
What’s one bit of advice you’d share with your fellow Marinites? If you’re living in a Marin bubble—only interacting with communities of the same race, same educational level, same income level and same culture—for your better health and happiness, burst it.
If you could invite anyone to a special dinner, who would they be?
I’d give anything for one more Thanksgiving dinner at my Aunt Sally’s ranch with 30 to 40 family members gathered at the tables—a 35-year tradition.
What is some advice you wish you knew 20 years ago?
Define yourself not by what you earn, but who you are serving.
What is something that in 20 years from now will seem cringeworthy? That we didn’t do everything in our power to thwart catastrophe, if we do not take collective action to limit global warming.
Big question. What is one thing you’d do to change the world? I’m working on solutions to our mental health crisis through Wellify Teen and Karma Cub and to help heal the political division by opening up communications with The Beat, an early stage AI start-up.
Keep up with Newson at @sally_nnewson on Instagram, Karma Club @karma_club_northgate and @WellifyTeen.
Nish Nadaraja was on the founding team at Yelp, serves on the San Anselmo Arts Commission and attempts to play pickleball at Fairfax’s Cañon Club.
