We found that six barriers were often present when our emerging sage leaders reflected during their interview on their experiences of civic engagement.

In this issue we specifically explore the obstacles that face sage leaders in their civic engagement and the ways they find meaning and satisfaction in this engagement—despite the obstacles. We also offer two more interviews.

The difference in the corporate world is that you can direct changes that need to be made if you have the authority. In the nonprofit world, you must show volunteers that you know what you are talking about and convince them of changes that need to be made. Otherwise it just won’t happen. Senior Sage Leader Themes The 50 senior …

There is a balancing among emerging leaders suggests a process of reciprocity: youthful energy in exchange for the lessons learned from older sage wisdom

Most of the emerging sages are still working full-time and have major family responsibilities. Their civic engagement takes place through their formal job in government or in nonprofit human service agencies.

Interview Conducted by Gary Quehl [Note: This interview is one of 100 conducted in Nevada County, California by Gary Quehl and his colleagues. One half of the interviews were conducted with “senior sage leaders” (Keith Porter being one of these senior sage leaders). The other 50 interviews were conducted with “emerging sage leaders” in Nevada County. All of those who were …

A sage leader is a person who brings unusual experience, sound judgment, and wisdom in working to advance the civic well-being of our community. Galen Ellis is certainly one of these leaders.

The 50 senior sage leaders had peak life experiences in ten major areas that moved them toward sagacity and civic engagement: overcoming tragedy and hardship, work, international travel, mentors, education, recreation, nonprofit organizations, the Civil Rights Movement, religion and spiritual awareness, and marriage.

Peak experiences of the 50 emerging sage leaders cluster around eight themes: overcoming tragedy and hardship, personal challenges, birthing and parenting, work, politics, international experiences, mentors, and educational achievement.

It was just part of growing up in our family. We had a philosophy that “those who are given much must return.”