‘We are also leaders.’ Jag Nagendra gets involved to break stereotypes

Jag Nagendra says he has an addiction of sorts, and his fix makes the Sacramento region better.

Nagendra likes helping others and seeing those in his community better themselves. It’s something, he said, he started at a young age. It started as a child helping his classmates, then as a young adult in the private sector, and now it’s through community engagement.

“It’s very, very addictive. And that’s been the case for 45 plus years,” he said

The 55-year-old moved to the United States from India when he was 29 years old. He first lived in Davis, where he started getting involved in community organizations, primarily with hyperlocal or city-wide entities.

While in Davis, he was involved with several local groups, including the India Association of Davis. When he moved to unincorporated Sacramento County, he joined the sheriff’s office outreach board. And now, as a Folsom resident, he is often seen at Folsom City Council meetings, sharing his perspective on local issues like charter amendments.

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Nagendra’s involvement often extends beyond the limits of his immediate community. He was part of the California Expo and State Fair Cultural Advisory Council and is part of the Project Management Institute’s Sacramento Valley chapter.

By being involved in a wide array of projects, Nagenda said, he also hopes to break stereotypes.

“I’m changing the perception towards Indians in such a way that we are not just doctors,” he said. “We are also in the community. We are also leaders.”

When not involved with local organizations, Nagendra works as a principal engineer with the California Department of Water Resources. There he manages a team of engineers and information technology professionals who work on California’s water infrastructure.

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