The SAGE Legacy Fellowship is a nine-month leadership program to train and support individuals and teams to lead community benefit projects of their own design. These projects can be independent (in a neighborhood or workplace, for example) or for an existing nonprofit.

There is a $1,500 tuition for the program, which covers the coaching, workshops, and meals. Proceeds from tonight’s event fund scholarships for Legacy Fellows who cannot otherwise afford the tuition. SAGE prioritizes scholarships for fellows with projects that strengthen education, restore our environment, and promote economic security.

WANTED Legacy Fellows to Change Our World...One Project at a Time

Read on to learn about nine compelling project ideas

developed by SAGE’s Young Adult Leadership

Advisory Board (the LAB). LAB Leaders view these

ideas as a conversation starter to expand and

develop the projects. In many cases, LAB Leaders

also consulted with nonprofit

partners to develop these

projects. Notably, the LAB also

applied their own Equity Lens to

identify projects to help our most

vulnerable communities.

Learn more about the Equity Lens

at Wearesage.org/lab-equity.

Here’s what else you should know: To complement tonight’s event, you are invited to join the LAB Leaders on April 6 for a more in-depth conversation about these projects and the Legacy Fellowship program. To learn more and to register for the LAB’s April 6

event, go to Wearesage.org/LAB.

And, if you too want to change the world, consider

joining the SAGE Legacy Fellowship. You can also

nominate a fellow who would be great for these

projects. Our fifth fellowship starts on October 20.

Learn more at Wearesage.org/fellowship.

Special thanks to SAGE’s amazing LAB

Leaders for developing nine inspiring ideas

to create opportunities for the future.

LAB Priority: In Portland and throughout the state, generational poverty impacts people of all ages, including children and young adults. Currently, more than 16% of Oregon children live in families with incomes below the federal poverty level. Many organizations have come together to tackle the problem, but there is still work to be done to support children and families living in poverty.

Consequently, the LAB identified three Legacy Projects that raise awareness about existing organizations, strengthen their capacity, and directly engage community members in the important work of breaking the cycle of poverty.

Microloans Economic inequality and stagnating wages, coupled with an increased cost of living, have forced many Americans to live “paycheck to paycheck.” When emergencies arise, often the only recourse is payday loans, which carry astronomically high interest rates and other conditions. The LAB has put together a blueprint for a small-scale alternative to payday loans, which a fellow could further develop and implement with the support of community partners.

Food security Several neighborhoods and low-income communi-ties in Portland struggle with access to healthy and nutritious food. For families without access to a car, it can be challenging to buy in bulk or receive the maximum quantity of food from a food bank. A fellow could conduct outreach to further investigate this issue and partner with organizations such as the Oregon Food Bank to identify ways of connecting local food producers with those most in need and enable food bank customers to obtain as much food as they need for themselves and their families.

Learn about the economic challenges facing the future at Wearesage.org/economy

Breaking the Cycle of Generational Poverty

Financial literacy With limited financial education in schools, it can be challenging to navigate our complex financial system – from understanding credit and student loans to taxes and retirement. Working with Financial Beginnings, a nonprofit providing financial education to both children and adults, a fellow could conduct outreach and program evaluation and increase volunteer retention to build the organization’s capacity and help expand services in communities across the state.

Spotlight on a Legacy Fellow

John Daggett raises funds for PDX Bridge, a program to propel Portland area juvenile justice, foster, and homeless youth onto a pathway from high school to and through college.

While Portland is an environmental leader, the LAB found ongoing challenges that seriously impact public health and the environment, with disproportionate impacts on children and youth.

There are thousands of projects that address these issues. The LAB developed three Legacy Projects that focus on transitioning our economy off fossil fuels, engaging the public in clean air protection, and improving access to the outdoors.

Community solar Portland and Multnomah County are committed to transitioning our region to 100 % renewable energy by 2050. There’s great promise in community solar, but many communities lack funds to pursue a project. A fellow could work with partners to raise money and in-kind support for a community in need. These projects also promote clean air, cost savings, and educational opportunities.

Clean air Children and the elderly are particularly impacted by air pollution because their bodies are more vulnerable to its toxic effects. In Portland, there is no integrated place for organizations and community members to come together, learn from one another, and to tackle shared air quality problems. BREATHE is a new, innovative partnership on air quality and community science to create a hub to address questions and solutions around air quality. A fellow could work with BREATHE to support the partnership in its first year of operations, and to build a base for success.

Learn about the environmental challenges facing the future at Wearesage.org/environment

LAB Priority: Environmental Leadership

Connect with nature Many of us can remember a time in nature that inspired us to want to conserve natural resources and protect our environment. Unfortunately, today’s young adults do not spend as much time outdoors, so they have not learned as much as they could about conservation and the personal rewards from being outside. There are programs to connect young adults to nature, but they are underfunded. A fellow could help establish a fund for low-income youth to participate in outdoor programs that enrich their lives and spark an interest in conservation.

Spotlight on a Legacy Fellow

Sami Springs creates nature-based schoolyards that

feature nature play, gardens and habit for plants

and animals.

We make approximately 35,000 decisions each day. In a world where students are bombarded with infor-mation, success is most achievable for those who can think critically about the choices they face. There are many ways to help students develop criti-cal thinking skills. One approach is science literacy – the knowledge and understanding of scientific con-cepts to support personal decision-making. By cre-ating opportunities for youth to understand and em-ploy science literacy, we can aid and energize them to reach their full potential. The LAB identified three projects to advance science literacy in classrooms and beyond – focusing on curriculum, mentorship and community resource development. Curriculum that works

When people talk about K-12 education, they often talk about science and about literacy. So why do they seldom talk about science literacy? Higher education institutions, like the University of Oregon, have robust science literacy curricu-lum; but critical thinking skills are best developed at a younger age. A fellow could explore ways to apply college-level science literacy coursework to K-12 curriculum, integrating key concepts into lesson plans across core subjects, not just in science classes.

Mentorship The Oregon Department of Education published eight critical elements to increase high school graduation rates. Mentors could support these efforts by helping students to stay engaged and to think critically about the many challenges they face. A fellow could develop a science literacy club or mentorship program that connects college,

Learn about the educational challenges facing the future at Wearesage.org/education

LAB Priority: It’s Critical, Science Literacy Leads to Success

Spotlight on a Legacy Fellow

high school and elementary school students. The fellow could also lead an initiative to increase volunteering in schools, more broadly, as a teaching assistant, coach or mentor.

Community resource development Many teachers are trained on science literacy, but it can be difficult to find time and support to deeply integrate these concepts into their daily work. A fellow could mobilize volunteers to build the capacity of teachers, as well as parents and guardians. This would advance science literacy in schools and at home, and create a peer network of science literacy advocates with diverse careers and insights.

Carol Sweeney serves as an Experience Corps mentor where she helps children develop as readers and critical thinkers.