The Blog of Matthew Lorin: December 2016

Friday, December 16, 2016

Rock Climbing Basics

As president of XQ Institute, Matthew Lorin is responsible for the nonprofit’s strategic leadership and his functions at the education-focused organization include establishing long-range goals and managing the operating budget. In his leisure time, Matthew Lorin enjoys outdoor activities like sailing, especially in Chatham, Massachusetts, as well as rock climbing ever since his time in Annapurna and Everest.

For thrill-seekers also looking to get a good workout, rock climbing might be the answer. According to REI, here are a few steps to follow if you’re a beginner:

1. Get a guide. A guide can be a professional that you pay or just friends with rock climbing experience. You might be able to find a rock climbing gym that can teach the essentials.

2. Pick a type of climbing. There are three basic types: indoor rock-climbing, bouldering (which is perfect for the height-adverse), or outdoor top-rope climbing. Each offers advantages and disadvantages - conduct research to figure out which is right for your lifestyle.

3. Collect climbing gear. You’ll want to invest in rock climbing shoes, a helmet, and climbing harness as well as climbing ropes and a belay device. Learn more about the kind of gear you’ll need at rei.com/learn.

About Matthew Lorin

Matthew Lorin began his postsecondary education at Tufts University, where he pursued a bachelor of arts in art history. Graduating in 1987, Matthew Lorin went on to attend the School for International Training in Brattleboro, Vermont, where he enrolled in the graduate program for intercultural management and earned a certificate in training trainers. In 1989, he earned admission to the Harvard University, JFK School of Government, from which he earned his MPA in 1991.

Since earning his MPA, Matthew Lorin has served in senior leadership positions with various nonprofits and governmental organizations in New York and Washington, DC. He was the founding Executive Director of the Student Human Rights Exchange delivering technical assistance and communications technology to activists around the world and coordinate global actions to secure the release of political prisoners. He also served as Director on the National Security Council.

In 2001, Matthew Lorin moved to Hawaii, where he initially served as a director and managing partner of the Hawaii Opportunities Group, an incubator for small businesses and social ventures. He has since built expertise in education, serving as Education Program Officer at the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation and founding Executive Director of The Learning Coalition in 2011.

Since June 2016, he has served as the inaugural President of Oakland, California-based XQ Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to reimagining America's public high schools.