[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 “emerging sage leaders” (Pam Davidson being one of these emerging sage leaders). The other 50 interviews were conducted with “senior sage leaders” in Nevada County. All of those who were interviewed are actively involved in the ongoing development of their community.]
You have been identified by friends and colleagues as one of our community’s 50 top emerging sage leaders. 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.
1. To begin, how many years have you lived in Nevada County? Where in the county do you reside?
I have lived in Nevada County for five years and live near the Transfer Station off McCourtney Road in Grass Valley.
2. May I ask how old you are?
I am 53 years old.
I was born and raised in a small town in Pennsylvania where the population was 3,000. It was not very diverse, mostly white and working class. My parents were married young when both were 18 years old. My father worked as a mechanic and my mother stayed home and took care of the family. I went to public schools, where the average class size was 20 -25. I was the middle child with an older sister and a younger brother. My parents divorced when I was four years old. After the divorce, my father moved to New Jersey and ended up living in El Cajon, California. I really didn’t see my dad growing up. However, the rest of my father’s family still lived in my hometown.
Being a child of divorced parents in the early 60’s was rare and at times an awkward situation for a young child. My mother was remarried when I was in the 5th grade and my step-father worked for the railroad. They remained married today. We spent a lot of time camping and taking vacations to Washington D.C., New York and Virginia Beach. Most people in my hometown worked for two primary industries, the coal mines and steel mills. It was a very small and close community. On Sundays, you would go to church and then spend the rest of the day visiting friends and relatives. I had a large extended family and was very close to my great-grandmother. If somebody was sick in the family, you’d watch their kids, take them food or run errands for them.
I enjoyed and did really well in school. At that time, girls were not pushed to go to college. Most of the girls I went to school with got married and started raising families. My mom didn’t graduate from high school and our family could not afford to send me to college. When I graduated from high school, I felt stuck. If you didn’t go to college or vocational school, you were left with little options. These options included getting married, which didn’t work for me, or getting an entry level job. I worked for a few months in a jacket factory but knew I wanted something different. My family has a long history of males serving in the military but I had never considered this as an option until an older female cousin enlisted. There was some resistance from family members about her joining but she paved the way for the rest of us! I enlisted in the Army when I was 18.
When deciding my military occupational specialty I did not want to be locked into a traditional female job such as nursing or clerical. The Military Police had just opened up to women and that appealed to my sense of adventure. When I finished my training, I was stationed at Fort Ord which was near Monterey. I walked off the plane and knew right then I wasn’t leaving California. The military was probably the best training that I received in a lot of ways. Going from a little non-diverse town to the military was a real eye-opener for me. Being introduced to different ethnic groups and sub-cultures provided me with a new perspective of the world.
After transitioning out of the service, I went to the community college in Salinas. From there I transferred to the University of California, Santa Cruz, where I majored in psychology. I received the GI Bill and worked full time while attending school. At that point in my life, I thought I wanted to get into family/marriage counseling and work with kids. I had volunteered with the Women’s Crisis Center as an advocate and I really liked working with kids. It dawned on me that often times the children who go into therapy are not “the problem that needed to be fixed” and the real issues resided in the whole family dynamic. I wasn’t sure this was the field for me.
Out of college I applied and accepted a job at the Women’s Crisis Center coordinating a child abuse prevention program. For four years I worked closely with Child Protective Services and the schools. In many ways, that was my favorite job since I felt I was making a difference in the lives of children. I also provided advocacy for rape victims and battered women. I did that for about another four years, both as a volunteer and as paid staff.
At the Women’s Crisis Center, I learned a lot of the lessons about how you work as a team, how you advocate for people who often have no voice, and how legislation really determines the amount of money available for programs. I also learned how organizations that have the same mission compete for limited resources often times in an “ugly” way. I learned that politics drove the process and that there were a lot of people who did not support the work I believed in whole heartedly.
I transitioned from the crisis center and accepted another job with a drug and alcohol counseling agency. I was the first white woman who worked there who did not speak Spanish. This non-profit was located in East Salinas, which was considered the barrio. I worked there for a year, providing substance abuse and domestic diversion counseling. The domestic diversion was really frustrating because it was geared for people who were mandated to go by the courts.
In 1988, a new employment and training program (GAIN) was started for welfare recipients. I got a job as an Employment and Training Worker with Monterey County DSS. I worked in GAIN for eight years and was quickly promoted to a Job Club leader and then a supervisor. I transferred to Santa Cruz County when a Program Manager position opened up in GAIN.
It was interesting to compare Santa Cruz and Monterey counties to see how they interacted with the community. In Monterey, programs operated in their independent silos. Monterey was the main funder to a lot of organizations. They called the shots and dictated a lot of the policy. Santa Cruz was similar to Nevada County in that they both valued collaboration. In Santa Cruz, administrators from the county, education, and community agencies would meet monthly to discuss how they would coordinate programs and not compete for money. It built trust among the partners and allowed for wonderful collaboration. Understanding this difference in philosophy was a really good learning experience for me.
When I was attending the community college in Salinas, I met my husband Tom and we married 8 years later. When our first daughter was born we decided to move to Santa Cruz. Our second daughter was born when I was still working for Monterey County. My daily commute to Salinas stopped when I got a program manager position with Santa Cruz County. I was finally working and living in the same community. This made a huge different because when I lived in one place and worked in another, my two worlds never really connected. I never really knew the community where I lived since most of my day was spent in my working community and commuting.
I left Santa Cruz County and went to work for Cabrillo College. I was responsible for coordinating programs to teach people English in a vocational setting. We created a very successful program. A federal research program (MDRC) selected our program for an evaluation and they really liked our innovative approach. One of the things we were trying to do was come up with programs with equitable treatment. With Welfare Reform, all recipients had five years to transition from welfare to work. If someone did not speak English or if someone had a Master’s, they both had five years. We wanted to come up with some creative programs to help limited English proficient clients maximize their five years. We developed an integrated curriculum so students could learn job skills and English at the same time. This was an intense collaborative effort between the County, college, adult schools, ROP and the community.
I worked as a consultant for Cabrillo College for 5 years. My flexible work schedule enabled me to work mostly from home and I spent a lot more time with my family. I was able to do a lot of my reports, project evaluations, and program coordination at night. I was also able to travel to Salinas to help take care of my in-laws who both had chronic illnesses and were periodically hospitalized. Tragedy hit my family when first my father-in-law died in 2001 and then my mother-in-law in 2003. Losing both of these loving people in such a short time was devastating to my family.
In 2005, my husband’s place of employment closed due to the declining demand for commercial printing. He was the pre-press operations manager for a big commercial press. We decided this was the time to do something different. We had inherited some money, sold our house, and decided to relocate to Nevada County. We had visited Nevada County for the Draft Horse Classic and loved it. We wanted to live in a small town with distinct seasons.
I applied for and accepted a job with 49er ROP. Through this job I was able to learn about the community because I worked with students and staff from both the Placer and Nevada County schools. I also worked with numerous community agencies. However, the work was not my passion. Although I appreciated the value of vocational education, I knew I didn’t want to spend the rest of my career working in this area.
I happened to see an ad in the newspaper for a Program Manager position for the Nevada County CalWORKs Employment & Training program. It was perfect. All of my prior experience prepared me for this job.
4. Is there a history of community service in your family background? Briefly, how would you describe it?
Being in a small town, we didn’t have any formal organizations like homeless shelters or food banks. However, families helped families. If somebody was sick or their house burned down, the community would rally around together. It was a more informal process.
Every night my mom cooked dinner for my great-grandmother and I would take it to her house and visit. She lived independently in her own house until she passed away at age 99. This is one example of family taking care of family.
5. What do you consider to be the major strengths and capabilities that have made you an effective civic community leader? Are they rooted in action, in your personal style, in your organizational, political, and personal relationships, or in something else?
My personal strength is having passion. When you have a passion about something, a firm belief, then, your energy is well-spent. Even when there are times of frustration, and you don’t move forward, you still feel that you are trying to make a difference in the area that you are committed to.
I believe my personal strengths are rooted in action, personal style and in my organizational, political and personal relationships. I look at all of these things and think you can’t really have one without the other. You have to take action to get something done but you also need to establish good relationships with others to make things happen.
What I do is I shop for allies; I look for people who share a similar philosophy, commitment, mission, or a belief system that I really believe in. Those are the people that you can align yourself with. I think any time you want to make a change, if you have that, then, you can just build upon this base. Finding allies provides me with a support system and reinforces my commitment to the work I do.
6. There are five key roles that civic leaders often play in their community:
Mentor: teaching and engaging others
Mediator: helping to resolve conflict
Monitor: serving as a community watchdog
Mobilizer: working to bring about change
Motivator: urging people to pursue worthy goals
As you think about your own civic involvement in our community, which of these roles have you played and which do you consider to be your strongest?
At some point in my career, I have served in each role as a mentor, mediator, monitor, mobilizer and motivator. I think the one area that I’m the strongest in is being a mobilizer.
Sometimes you get involved with a group and they either don’t have a focus or they’re all over the map, or there are varying opinions of what needs to be done. I think my strength is joining a group, helping to identify the key issue(s), identifying our mission, and prioritizing what we need to spend our energy on first. Then, I like jumping in and setting up procedures for to make things happen.
One example is when I was involved in my daughter’s high school. It is a wonderful charter school with an undeserved reputation as a “hippy school.” They had a real identity crisis, were not able to focus their energy, and couldn’t sell themselves to the community. So, as part of the marketing team, we identified the school’s strengths, looked at our unique style and philosophy, and took a hard look at what our critic’s were saying about us. We stopped pretending that everything was great and hoping that people would just “get us.” Our declining enrollment told us that the community didn’t get us, so we started focusing on marketing ourselves in a way that people clearly understood the school values. I like problem solving, being creative, and initiating projects. I do not enjoy as much the work that goes into the follow through or sustaining projects.
7. This project has to do with the involvement of sage leaders like yourself in civic organizations that seek to improve the quality of life and well-being of Grass Valley and Nevada City. This includes nine types of civic organizations:
Fraternal and service clubs
Social services organizations
Educational organizations
Governmental and political organizations
Arts organizations
Media organizations
Faith-based organizations
Environmental organizations
Other nonprofit organizations
In which of the nine types of civic organizations on the list are you currently involved? Overall, how many total hours a month do you give to these organizations?
Hours: About 30 hours/month in addition to my full time job with the county.
Social Services Organizations
I am currently involved in Social Service organizations and am the Program Manager for CalWORKs Employment & Training. I also serve as the Veterans Services Officer for the County.
Educational Organizations
I have been involved in my children’s schools as a parent volunteer and actively participate on various committees
Governmental and Political Organizations
I serve on the Child Abuse Prevention Council as a board member and secretary. The Council coordinates programs in the community to raise healthy families and provides community education. I am also a board member and treasurer for Welcome Home Vets which is a new organization that provides funding for therapeutic services for veterans and their family members dealing with military related trauma. Lastly, I serve as an Advisory Committee member of the KARE Crisis Nursery.
Arts Organizations
None
Media Organizations
None
Faith Based Organizations
None
Environmental Organizations
As a member of the California League of Conservation Voters I help campaign for strong environmental legislation.
Other Non-Profits
None
8. What is the name of the one organization on the list in which you are most involved and committed? Were you invited to become involved or did you approach the organization(s) and volunteer your services? Are you paid or unpaid? On average, how many hours a month do you give to this organization or organizations?
I am most involved in Social Service programs. I applied and was offered a position with the organization. I am paid for the work I do and currently work an estimated 200 hours per month.
9. I’d like to learn more about your involvement in this organization:
First, describe the leadership role that you play.
I am the Program Manager of CalWORKs Employment & Training. My job is to oversee the delivery of services, supervise and train staff, and ensure staff members have the resources they need in order to get the job done.
Building community partnerships is also a critical piece of my job. I work closely with local community based organizations to identify gaps in services and look at ways we can collaborate to address these gaps without wasting time and resources.
Second, in what ways do you believe you have most helped the organization?
I have helped the organization by providing structure around programs and initiatives. I am also helpful in reinforcing the Department’s Mission with staff and providing staff with the resources and training they need to do the job.
I also believe the relationships I have developed in the community are very beneficial. I really like working in the community and believe in partnering with others and not working in isolation.
Third, as you think back over your involvement in the organization, what roadblocks have been most challenging?
The biggest road block is the lack of time. It is hard to prioritize because most of what we do is important.
Fourth, what experiences within the organization have given you the most meaning and satisfaction?
It is meaningful to know that what we’re doing makes a difference and how we’re doing it makes a bigger difference. Somebody can come in and not be eligible for a program or service, but it’s how you tell them and the respect you give that person that they will remember. Good customer service is critical.
For me, it is frustrating to have a staff member come in and simply say something didn’t work. Instead, I am creating an environment where staff comes in and talks about why something didn’t work and possible ways to make it work. It is important that people don’t feel diminished. I think if we can provide excellent customer service as an agency, that’s a great gift to the community.
10. I want to ask you three additional questions about your various community involvements:
First, what motivates or inspires you to engage in civic activities and causes?
My passion for the work is what motivates me. Ever since I was very young, I always had this sense of justice. What’s fair, what’s equitable, and what’s not right? I think that’s been my whole work as an adult. My college education reinforced that and my work has always been, “How can I help address issues or practices that aren’t just?”
Second, do you feel that you are sacrificing anything in your life by being deeply involved in our community’s civic organizations?
Yes, as a mother, you always feel guilty. I look back and wish I would have been there more for my children. My oldest daughter still reminds me of the time I missed one of her cheerleading competitions. Plus, I missed numerous school events and social gatherings. I don’t think most people in the community realize how demanding county work can be. During my career, I would often return to work at night, come in on the weekends, or stay late. I tried to incorporate my family life into my work as much as I could. For example, Santa Cruz County had a child care center located on its campus. My younger daughter went to preschool there in the afternoons. I would go have lunch with her most days and would read her stories before she took her nap. We would wave at each other when she was playing outside in the afternoon. We would pick random roads on the way home and go exploring.
Third, what personal benefits do you get from your civic involvements?
Making a difference and believing that I add value to the groups that I’m involved with. I also get to meet people who have similar commitments.
11. Let’s turn to a different topic: Is there a relationship between your role as a working professional and your personal involvement in our community’s civic organizations? If so, how would you describe it?
There is definitely a relationship between my role as a working professional and my personal involvement in our community’s civic organizations. I want our community to be the best it can be, because I work here and because my family lives here. As a County employee, I feel I need to remain professionally neutral and do not get involved in some issues or community activities. For example, regardless of my personal beliefs, I would not participate in anti-war protests.
12. Do you see yourself continuing along the same career path with increasing responsibilities and leadership roles? Or at some point do you see a different path for yourself?
I actually see myself in the same position with the same responsibilities and leadership role. There isn’t another career path that I would like to follow.
When I was an Employment & Training worker and later a Job Club facilitator, I enjoyed the interaction with the clients. My promotion to supervision took me a step away from direct client contact, but gave me the opportunity to influence the quality of services. As a Program Manager I am another step away but I enjoy working in the community. The next step in my career path would be the DSS Director position but I am not interested in promoting. My current position in the county plays to my strengths and interests – I can provide support to the director, mentor my peers, build positive working relationships with community partners, and create a great work environment without the political pressure and broader responsibilities that are attached to the director position.
13. What leadership qualities do you most admire in effective leaders that you have known? Which of these qualities do you believe best describe your leadership?
I admire leaders who advocate for staff and clients. I worked for a Division Director in Santa Cruz who often had to fight hard to keep staff and program resources. He firmly believed that the community ultimately benefitted from having highly skilled staff and effective programs. Advocacy is hard to do sometimes because of funding cuts and competing needs, but he fought the battle year after year.
I also appreciate leaders that believe in the Agency’s mission. They want good customer service, believe the community deserves quality services, and work collaboratively with the community. That’s what I really like about working here because those things are in alignment with what I believe in.
What, if any, spiritual traditions or practices do you most draw upon in exercising leadership?
I do not participate in organized religion, but I do believe in treating all spiritual traditions respectfully. I focus on learning and becoming the best person I can be and do not force my beliefs on others. I believe there is an innate goodness in people that we need to reach out to and embrace.
One of the benefits of growing older is that we are increasingly able to reflect on our experiences and learn from them. Have you found any patterns of personal behavior no longer useful in your leadership role? If so, what are these and how have you changed?
Early in my career, I used to take things more personally. If people didn’t like my idea or suggestion, it must mean I wasn’t smart enough or creative enough. I soon learned that sharing ideas and working toward a goal were the things that really mattered. I also thought that if I worked hard and long enough, I could help “motivate” someone to make a change. I learned that I can create an environment that is respectful, encouraging and fun but each person is responsible for their own motivation. Finally, I learned that I needed to set boundaries for myself or I would never leave work! I used to feel responsible for getting everything done on time and at a high standard. I didn’t want to disappoint my supervisors or want to ask staff to do even more work when they were already swamped. This was a painful process for me but I learned to more effectively delegate tasks, prioritize tasks, submit work that was acceptable but not always stellar, and negotiate new deadlines for some projects.
14. How has your leadership style changed as you have progressed in your career?
My leadership style has progressed mostly out of necessity, not out of preference. When you are only responsible for managing a few workers or one program, you have more time and resources to more fully address those issues that impact the workers or program. With increased responsibilities, I’ve become more decisive and less willing to spend valuable time covering the same issues. There can be value in this change since the task often expands to fill the time allotted. I believe in acknowledging the issue and moving on.
15. What is the one mistake you see leaders making more frequently than others?
Losing focus on the mission is one mistake I see leaders making. We get so busy with what’s on our plate that we forget why we’re here.
16. What are you doing to continue growing and developing as a leader?
I went through the Nevada County Community Leadership Institute (NCCLI) last year. That was a wonderful experience and an excellent use of my time. I try to keep learning and meeting new people. I also try very hard to stay connected to the community.
17. What are the one or two peak experiences that set you on the path you’re on today?
My military experience exposed me to diversity. I was raised in a small town with certain beliefs and values. The military provided me an appreciation for people from all walks of life.
Making the transition from a worker to a supervisor.
18. The three characteristics most often associated with sage leadership are unusual experience, sound judgment, and wisdom. What does having wisdom mean to you?
Wisdom means embracing differences and finding common ground.
19. As you look back over your life what would you do differently?
I don’t think I would do anything differently. I think that every experience I had just opened up new doors. If I wouldn’t have taken one path, even the one that I didn’t like, I would not have ended up where I am today. Making poor choices can be a humbling experience but it helps you relate to others and encourages you to be tolerant.
20. You probably know other individuals who have emerging sage leadership talents and skills, but are not currently involved in the public life of our community. Why do you believe they choose to be uninvolved? What might be done to encourage their involvement?
There are many factors that keep people uninvolved in the traditional sense. Different people are at different points in their lives. Some may want to focus their energy on raising a family or finishing their education. Sometimes it might be not knowing where to start, or thinking they do not have the skills and abilities that anybody is going appreciate. I think that can be a barrier. We could try to reach folks to get them involved in one area of interest and then help them grow professionally. Or, we could get them involved in something they feel passionately about as the first step. We also need to recognize that not everyone is a leader is the same way. Raising tolerant children, working hard at your job every day, and taking good care of a neighbor all benefit our community even if this person is not seen as a “leader in the traditional sense.
21. One final question: It is often said that the quality of life in our community is highly attractive and unusual. Do you believe this to be true? (If yes): What are the three or four things about our community that you most value and make you want to continue living here?
I value the fact that it’s a small community. I consider it a safe community and a great place to raise children. There is a sense of community and people are trying to improve the quality of life for everyone that lives here.
Is there anything else you’d like to say or ask as we close?
None
Many thanks for your time and insights. This has been a great interview.