Our Mission
Sages & Seekers’ mission is to develop empathy, combat social isolation and dissolve age-related segregation within our communities, while meeting the universal and compelling need of both young adults and elders to make sense of their lives. This is achieved by creating a sense of intergenerational community in our programs, through the art of authentic conversation.
Why connect these generations?
Many of the issues both teens and older adults deal with are mutual in nature, even though they seem miles apart. Both generations are searching for meaning and relevance, fighting feelings of loneliness and “not fitting in”, and facing issues around independence.
Today, mental health among youth is proving to be an increasing challenge, largely attributed to the pandemic and demonstrated by increased rates of youth suicide, substance abuse and depression. However, prior to 2020, there was already evidence that mental health problems in teens were on the rise. The prevalence of major depressive disorder in U.S. adolescents has increased, and suicide rates have also hit a 10-year high among young people ages 10 to 24, from 6.8 per 100,000 people in 2007 to 10.6 per 100,000 in 2017, according to the CDC.
At the same time, a 2018 national survey reported by the American Psychological Association showed that loneliness levels among older adults have reached an all-time high, with nearly half of participants reporting they sometimes or always feel isolated and that they do not have meaningful relationships. Such numbers are alarming because of the physical and mental health risks associated with loneliness. According to a meta-analysis, a lack of social connection heightens health risks as much as smoking 15 cigarettes a day or having alcohol use disorder.
Sages & Seekers addresses these concerns for two generations at once. We provide both students and seniors an alternative to isolation: a sense of purpose and a connection to the larger picture of society and the world. Sages & Seekers also fills a gap in local schools, where teachers and administrators focus on A-G requirements and have little time to promote communication skills and other foundations of social emotional learning.
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Our Story
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Sages & Seekers was created in 2009, when founder Elly Katz, at that time living in Boston, was inspired to leave her career as a graphic designer to dedicate herself to diminishing ageism. She initiated an afterschool service-learning project at the Noble & Greenough School in Dedham, Massachusetts, and by the following year, four private schools were piloting the program.
In the fall of 2013, the Sages & Seekers program was first presented at the university level, when Brandeis University students were paired with Brandeis Lifelong Learning seniors. By 2014, Sages & Seekers had enrolled more than 1,200 teens and seniors, with many participating two or more times. That same year, Elly moved the Sages & Seekers headquarter to Los Angeles, California. In its new West Coast location, Sages & Seekers began running programs in the USC Gerontology Department. At the same time, program delivery on the East Coast continued, and The Rivers School in the Boston area elected to make Sages & Seekers a mandatory part of their sophomore English curriculum – a requirement that continues to this day, reaching 180 Sages and students every year. |
In late 2014, the S&S Manual was produced, which provides a blueprint for any school, library, senior facility, or university that seeks to offer Sages & Seekers in their community. In 2017, the University of Southern California (USC) conducted a professional impact evaluation of our program through funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. This evaluation provided an evidence-based framework and justification for our model that cemented the program as evidence-based.
Today our non-profit reaches across borders virtually, to include participants at public and private facilities from Canada to Colombia, offering multi-cultural and generational connection, to strengthen the bonds of humanity.Sages & Seekers was created in 2009, when Founder Elly Katz, at that time living in Boston, was inspired to leave her career as a graphic designer to dedicate herself to diminishing ageism. She initiated an afterschool service-learning project at the Noble & Greenough School in Dedham, Massachusetts, and by the following year, four private schools were piloting the program.
Today our non-profit reaches across borders virtually, to include participants at public and private facilities from Canada to Colombia, offering multi-cultural and generational connection, to strengthen the bonds of humanity.Sages & Seekers was created in 2009, when Founder Elly Katz, at that time living in Boston, was inspired to leave her career as a graphic designer to dedicate herself to diminishing ageism. She initiated an afterschool service-learning project at the Noble & Greenough School in Dedham, Massachusetts, and by the following year, four private schools were piloting the program.
Who We Serve
Sages & Seekers has reached over 6000 teens and seniors since its inception. During the 2022-2023 school year, we served over 600 students and seniors in our in-person and online programs. Sages & Seekers is based in Los Angeles, but our programs reach teens and older adults in 29 states and 6 countries, including Colombia, Mexico, Argentina and Australia.
Our Sages and Seekers are a diverse group of people representing a variety of races, genders and socio-economic backgrounds. 63% of Seekers identify as BIPOC as do 20% of Sages. Overall, 46% of our participants identify as BIPOC.
Sages and Seekers from 29 different states participate in our programs.
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Press
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Sages & Seekers was featured in this national news story that aired on local television stations throughout the U.S.
National Reporter: Elizabeth Ruiz, E.W. Scripps Company |
Our Team
Our Partners
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Resource Partnerships
Are you a Sage looking for something to do when you're not attending a Sages & Seekers session? Our partner organizations offer a variety of different services and activities. Whether you are based in Los Angeles or elsewhere in the country, these organizations are great resources. Click on their logo below to check out their website.
WISE & Healthy Aging, a community-based, nonprofit organization based in Santa Monica, CA, advances the dignity and quality of life of older adults through leadership, advocacy and high-quality, innovative services.
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A village is a membership organization that connects older adults to the community, programming, and expertise they need to continue living lives of purpose and promise. Special thanks to Pasadena, Ashby, San Francisco, and ChaiVillageLA for your support of Sages & Seekers. Check out the Village Movement website to find a village in your California community.
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Los Angeles Education Partnership (LAEP) is a nonprofit that advances educational equity. If you are a Sage living in the Los Angeles area, check out their volunteer mentorship opportunities.
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