Sages & Seekers: Using the Power of Conversation

Using the power of conversation, nonprofit Sages & Seekers focuses on developing social bonds between the young and the elderly. The organization, developed by former Natick resident Elly Katz, is now nationwide, with programs held in schools and colleges across the country. Sages & Seekers is also active locally, helping Natick High School (NHS) students meet and befriend seniors.
New Social Opportunities
In an era of technology and social detachment, founder Elly Katz has a passion to see one-on-one interactions bloom. “To fully understand and engage in the world around us, we must be in conversation,” Katz said. “It is the most human and humanizing thing that we do. Our face-to-face conversations have diminished, leaving our younger generation with diminished empathy, and our elders ‘out of the loop.’”
Though they may not normally socialize, both young (Seekers) and older adults (Sages) often experience similar struggles, including feeling overlooked and disconnected from others. The nonprofit addresses these needs through meaningful interactions, and participants are often surprised at what they learn from each other.
“Both of these marginalized age groups are offered the opportunity to share themselves in a non-judgmental environment, to be heard and to feel valued. Many lessons can be passed between Sage and Seeker because it is offered from an authentic experience, not a teaching or lecturing moment,” Katz explained.
Program Format
These moments happen throughout the course of an eight-week program. During weeks one and two, each Sage meets every Seeker in the group of participants, using icebreakers and introductory activities to get to know one another. The most compatible student-senior matchups are paired for the remaining six weeks.
Weeks three through six give Seekers time to interview their Sages, learning about their lives and perspectives on a more personal, in-depth level. As the conversations progress, Seekers take note of what they have learned and craft oral presentations about their Sages.
To wrap up the program, weeks seven and eight are devoted to honoring the Sages through Seeker speeches. Students reflect not only on the history and personality traits of their elders, but also the ways the experience may have changed their previous assumptions.
Sages Meet Seekers
in Natick
Sages & Seekers took place at NHS in fall 2016, under the leadership of Program Facilitator Kristin Hartnett. A longtime volunteer for the program, Hartnett agreed to lead when asked by Rachel Schultze, an NHS student. Schultze, once Katz’s neighbor, was aware of the program and wanted to see it become more active at the school.
“It was an immense success,” Hartnett reported. “Both the Sages and the Seekers were fully engaged, and together they created a wonderful community and learned a great deal about each other and themselves.”
Similar experiences are happening across the nation, as Sages & Seekers is now established in 22 public and private high schools and colleges in the U.S. Katz and the rest of the leadership hope the program will help young people develop into empathetic leaders, and encourage elders to remain active and involved in their communities.
Students interested in the program should contact Dean Bertucci at the NHS by emailing rbertucci@natickps.org. Seniors who would like to be involved may contact the Natick Council on Aging by calling 508-647-6544 or emailing sramsey@natickma.org.
For more information about Sages & Seekers, visit www.sagesandseekers.org.