Attend or Host a Workshop

Informal get-togethers to spark a meaningful discussion about our community’s future, while sharing drinks, dessert or a meal.

These conversations can be hosted by anyone and almost anywhere, such as your living room, community center or business. We can also facilitate these conversations online. Guests share their concerns for younger and future generations, and explore solutions.

Each event has its own energy and pace, and the format can be adapted to your interests. Our only expectation is that guests feel comfortable sharing their personal stories and views in a cordial and supportive atmosphere.

These events are facilitated by SAGE. The format can be adapted for a 1 to 2-hour program. Materials provided.

Learn about the personal rewards and health benefits of civic engagement, affirm the causes you care about, and create an action plan to engage.

This workshop includes short presentations and several interactive activities and discussions. Participants create their own personal action plan for civic engagement, and have an opportunity to share with the group. SAGE also highlights meaningful service roles with several nonprofit partners that advance educational, environmental and economic security causes.

This workshop is facilitated by SAGE. The format can be adapted for a 1 to 2-hour program. Materials provided.

During this event, we play a game called Generational Jeopardy to test your knowledge of challenges facing the future in education, the environment, and the economy. We offer a prize to the winner. We also share good news about how people are making a difference, and examples of nonprofit organizations where you can engage.

We conclude with three practical tips to follow your passion.

This event is facilitated by SAGE. The format can be adapted for a 1-hour program. Materials provided.
 

Today’s news can make us feel like our communities are more polarized and less able to bring people together to take on projects and solve problems. What do you think? Can we work across differences and lead good projects together?

In this gathering, guests explore whether they share long-term goals in their community and, if so, what projects might come about to pursue these goals.

Guests are encouraged to share their own ideas, insights, and actions. We also share tips and ideas for action, and we highlight the work of organizations across Oregon that help communities address public problems or take advantage of new opportunities.

This event is facilitated by SAGE. The format can be adapted for a 1 to 2-hour program. Materials provided.

Every American is affected by the divisions and outrage that prevent us from making progress on urgent problems. We are finding it harder and harder to even talk with one another, and it is damaging in many ways. During this event, we help participants deliberate together about how we should approach this long-term challenge.
 
We recognize there are no easy answers to the problem. Should we require more accurate, respectful discussion in the media and online, or would that stifle free speech? Should we reform politics and government to encourage compromise, or will that mean giving up on the changes we really need and want? Should local communities set policies in areas like health care and the environment, or would that risk the progress we’ve made and make further progress nearly impossible? Should we crack down on money in politics, or will people just find new ways to evade the rules?
 
SAGE's part of the solution to these divisions is to bring people together from diverse backgrounds to listen and learn from one another. During this event, we present three options for deliberation about difficult problems. Each option offers advantages as well as risks. And each refects different ways of understanding what is at stake, forcing us to think about what matters most to us.
 
At the close of the event, you can expect to have learned more about the pros and cons of the options from different viewpoints. We also hope that you will make personal connections with other participants and that some participants will use practices from the event to host similar conversations.

To support this event, we rely on a facilitation guide produced by the National Issues Forum called A House Divided.

This event is facilitated by SAGE. The format can be adapted for a 1.5 to 2-hour program. Materials provided.

Many young people think the United States is on the wrong track and fear that decisions by today’s leaders are robbing them, and those who come after them, of a better future. Distrust in political parties combined with concerns about racial inequality and the lack of fundamental fairness in our society are inspiring protests—many led by children and young adults—and fueling grassroots efforts to challenge the status quo.

During this event, you will have a chance to discuss and deliberate three options for creating a better future and stable economy for all young Americans. Option one is to equip people to succeed. Option two is to give everyone a fair chance. And Option three is to focus on our economic security.

All these options are important, but there are tradeoffs in how we implement them, and participants will discuss the key ideas and consider how we act on specific proposals that could bring about changes that will affect Americans of every age, gender, race, and socioeconomic background.

Succeeding generations should inherit a society that is fairer and fiscally sound. Guests who join us share their views and ideas for how we create a brighter future.

To support this event, we rely on a facilitation guide produced by the National Issues Forum called Youth & Opportunity.

This event is facilitated by SAGE. The format can be adapted for a 1.5 to 2-hour program. Materials provided.

There’s plenty in the news about what divides us, but let’s talk about what unites us. Turns out, that despite the rancor in the news and on social media, many of us share common values that unite us in service of a greater good.

In this conversation, we discuss common values as a foundation for working across divides. We also practice listening to each other so we can better understand our concerns and how each of us can make a difference.

This event is facilitated by SAGE. The format can be adapted for a 1 to 2-hour program. Materials provided.

This is an intergenerational conversation on climate choices: how should we meet the challenges of a warming planet?

Together, guests share how climate change affects them, their families and friends. We then consider various options to address this challenge, using actions and drawbacks to illustrate what each option entails.

To support this event, we rely on a facilitation guide produced by the National Issues Forum called Climate choices.

This event is facilitated by SAGE. The format can be adapted for a 1.5 to 2-hour program. Materials provided.
 

We all want to make a difference and leave the world better than we found it. What role can we personally play to create a better future?

At this workshop, we explore five strategies for making a positive difference in the world, with emphasis on bringing life to your personal mission. We also discuss the role that older adults play in strengthening our communities, and improving opportunity for coming generations.

This workshop is facilitated by SAGE. The format can be adapted for a 3 to 5-hour program. Materials provided.

Clarify and affirm your priorities, and learn how retirees leverage their time and talent to pursue paid and unpaid opportunities in retirement.

Thinking about retirement? We may have 10, 20, or 30 years to reimagine how we want to go down this road. At this workshop, we share new opportunities for entrepreneurship, paid and service opportunities. Participants have time for self-reflection, and reevaluating priorities as they navigate their retirement journey.

The workshop is facilitated by SAGE. The format can be adapted for a 1 to 2 hour program. Materials provided.

Practice writing techniques to convey the values and principles that guide you, and that you want to share with future generations.

In this 4-session workshop, you gain confidence in your ability to write about the things that are important to you. It doesn’t matter if you have never considered yourself a “writer”; the activities we’ll do are simple –– and lots of fun! You will not be required to share aloud what you have written. The course concludes with a discussion about how you can continue to share your values with others in meaningful, productive ways.

The workshop is facilitated by Jeanette Leardi, a professional writer. The program last for 4, 2-hour sessions. The workshop fee is $150 per person with a minimum of 8 participants. Materials provided.

Many children and young adults benefit from the care and support of a mentor. For the mentors themselves, the experience can be one of life’s most rewarding roles.

This workshop provides an overview and discussion about a range of mentoring opportunities in Oregon, including meaningful roles with nonprofit organizations that teach children to read, help middle schoolers succeed in school, and advise young adults on college, finance, and careers. We also share strategies to overcome barriers to mentoring, and stories about the mentoring experiences.

The workshop is facilitated by SAGE. The format can be adapted for a 1 to 2 hour program. Materials provided.

SAGE convenes Leadership Roundtables to address complex challenges facing younger and future generations.

To date, we have offered roundtables on poverty alleviation, intercultural volunteering, climate change, and citizenship in times of crisis. Guests exchange ideas, debate options and find consensus on personal and collective actions to make a difference.

Contact us to discuss opportunities to partner with SAGE on a roundtable. We can work with you to develop an agenda, co-facilitate the event, and manage logistics and invitations. In general, roundtables can last 90 minutes to 4 hours.