Mara Lee Durrell is the Executive Director of Rise Alliance for Children, a global nonprofit dedicated to helping vulnerable children heal from trauma and develop the social-emotional skills needed to learn and thrive. She previously served as a senior staffer in the Obama Administration and the US Congress, and later led international conflict-resolution initiatives, including the PeaceWorks Foundation and the OneVoice Movement. With a career spanning politics, diplomacy, and nonprofit leadership, Mara now focuses on expanding trauma-informed early childhood education and supporting teachers, caregivers, and communities to create safe learning environments for children worldwide.

Children don't just learn from books or classrooms — they learn from how safe they feel in the world around them. When children feel supported, seen, and secure, their brains become more open to curiosity, creativity, and learning. But what happens when safety is missing from a child's environment?

Mara Lee Durrell explains that safety is the true foundation of learning. As an expert in early childhood development and trauma-informed education, she highlights that when children feel unsafe, their brains shift into survival mode — making it nearly impossible to absorb new information. She illustrates how one caring adult can dramatically change a child's life trajectory, whether it's a parent, teacher, or mentor. Simple actions like daily connection, listening, and helping children express emotions can build resilience and unlock their ability to learn and thrive.

In this episode of Defining Moments, Melanie Warner chats with Mara Lee Durrell, Executive Director of Rise Alliance for Children, to discuss how early childhood development shapes lifelong success. Mara discusses why emotional safety drives learning, the power of one supportive adult in a child's life, and how small daily moments of connection can transform a child's future.