welcome to sage neighbor
Enough is enough. The climate - political, environmental, community - is scorched. Someone needs to put out the fire. Why not you and me?
Sage Neighbor is a call to action and a community for those of us who’ve had enough of the bullsh*t. If we want a future of fair and functional government, clean air and water, a planet that’s not on fire, and communities not riddled with vitriol and hate, we need to start the cleanup in our neighborhoods.
We can be wise. We can be green. We can be builders, creators, and advocates. We can be sage neighbors. We can collaborate through conversation and civic engagement to heal our planet and build more resilient communities for the bumpy road ahead.
One of the best ways to accomplish this is to start at home, getting to know and listening to our neighbors, family, and friends about topics that aren’t always easy. We won’t always reach agreements or change minds by the end of every conversation, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t worth having.
it’s collapsing, and it’s up to us to shape the future
The world today is in rough shape, and society as we know it is collapsing. It sounds existential on the surface, but I’m not convinced that’s the case. Maybe what’s on the other side of collapse is better, stronger, and more peaceful? Perhaps not, but it’s up to us to shape the future, starting in our communities.
Change is difficult, and shifting to a new phase of humanity will be extremely challenging. To influence how our new world will look and feel, we must rebuild community, collective action, and civic engagement. Let’s do it together in a community of like-minded leaders (.a.k.a. sage neighbors).
I’m calling all those who are ready to roll up their sleeves and be the community builders, collective action leaders, and civic engagement supporters in our neck of the woods. Enough is enough. We can’t just watch the destroyers destroy; we can protect and rebuild. And we’re stronger when we do it together.
Ready to join the revolution? Subscribe now to be part of the community rolling up our sleeves to make our communities stronger and more resilient through pro-democracy collective action and civic engagement.
Come along for the ride, even if you’re not ready to get your hands dirty but want to hang out and soak it all up. We’d love to have you. Revel in the energy (and learn a few things) from the movers and shakers making their local spaces more cohesive and resilient.
As June Jordan ended her Poem for South African Women: We are the ones we've been waiting for.
Can’t wait to see you there!
a little about me
I’m Jen Panaro, an insatiably curious and avid reader who believes we have more in common than not, and we need to have honest conversations with people we don’t see eye to eye to find humanity in perspectives other than our own.
Like most of you, I’m a regular mom. I’m married with two sons and have four sisters. I’m not trained in any unique field that makes me an expert in softly persuading my neighbors through words and actions that democracy is good and division is terrible. But someone has to do the work, so why not me? And why not you?
I’m an accountant (CPA) by education with 15 years of experience in the corporate world. Over the last decade, I’ve pursued an interest in and written about environmentalism and climate action at home. I’ve taken on board and committee roles in my local community for non-profit organizations in the social services space.
I read voraciously and love to discuss all things books. After maxing out my library card on more than one occasion, our local library director asked if I wanted to join the Board of Trustees. I was busy but said yes because it was important and there’s never a “perfect time” to start.
be part of the solution
Will you join us? I’d love for you to subscribe and join a coalition of moms and honorary moms ready to step up and pursue the work of building community in your neighborhood, town, or community group. We can share resources and ideas about using our respective skills to their highest and best advantage. I can’t wait to see what we can do together.
