As I reflect on the remarkable convergence of milestones — the 250th birthday of America, the 150th of San Rafael, and the 80th anniversary of the United Nations — I feel deep gratitude and purpose as a pioneer daughter of Marin County. This area has long been a beacon of harmony — rooted in spiritual practice, environmental stewardship and cultural innovation. From Spirit Rock and Green Gulch Zen Center to the UNESCO-designated Point Reyes Seashore, Marin reflects a commitment to unity with both nature and one another.
For these reasons, I am humbled to introduce Pegasus Gardens — a living sanctuary that fuses ancestral legacy with a future-facing vision for global harmony.
Looking to the past to build the future
Pegasus Gardens is the living expression of my belief that the roots of peace are planted in the soil and soul of empathy, action and unity — it’s a convergence of hope, history and innovation. And when dreaming up and creating these new gardens, I drew my inspiration from within my own experiences and family history, along with local history.
Together with my daughter, Kyleigh Kühn, I’ve embarked on this intergenerational journey to honor the past while healing the future. We are not just mother and daughter — we are partners in purpose, bound by our love for this land and a dream for a more peaceful planet. Through our nonprofit, Roots of Peace, we’ve traveled from Afghanistan to Angola, Croatia to Vietnam, transforming land once ravaged by war into fields of hope. Pegasus Gardens now carries that same spirit of renewal.
I looked to my involvement in Roots of Peace, an organization I founded in 1997; my great-grandfather, Captain John Augustus McNear’s response to the injustices of his time, specifically the Chinese Exclusion Act; and the 1945 meeting in Muir Woods where over five hundred UNCIO delegates, representing 46 different nations, converged among the redwoods to honor the recently deceased President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and plant the roots for the United Nations.
Even when considering the name of this new shared space, I drew both on mythology and my own family legacy. In addition to being the winged horse of Greek mythology, the use of the name Pegasus also honors my father, Robert Thomas, who spent his youth on horseback across our family ranch. That land, now known as Glenwood, Peacock Gap, McNear’s Beach, Miwok Meadows and China Camp — grounded my love of nature, storytelling and service.
The result is a space that is more than a regenerative garden or gathering place. It is my childhood home, the historic McNear Estate, transformed into a sanctuary for peace, shared purpose, and cultural celebration. A place where global leaders, artists, chefs and changemakers gather to exchange ideas, honor heritage, and cultivate hope for a more compassionate future.
It will bridge the intellectual spark of Silicon Valley with the cultural richness of Napa Valley. Already, more than 70 Consulates General and Honorary Consulates from San Francisco have expressed interest — proof that the yearning for peace transcends borders.
Pegasus now stands as a beacon of peace — a place where people from all walks of life can come together to build bridges of understanding through dialogue, shared meals, and cultural celebration.
A look at what’s to come
In collaboration with Dominican University of California and the University of California, Berkeley, Pegasus Gardens will also become an academic hub. Together, we will launch The Kühn Initiative for Post-Conflict Development Studies at UC Berkeley in September 2025. Through cultural exchange, policy forums and education, we are preparing the next generation to lead with wisdom, empathy and courage.
As Pegasus takes flight from the soil of Marin County, so too does this vision. May it carry hope across oceans, plant compassion in the hearts of leaders, and inspire us all to rise — boldly, lovingly and with great purpose.
For those interested in joining our Pegasus Community for early access and inspiration, please visit Pegasus Gardens.
