Although Sara Alice Myers initially began her career in teaching, as was expected of the women in the era she grew up in, her real passion lay in politics. She slowly began to branch out according to her own interests, and when she was drafted by her neighbors to run for City Council, she was thrilled. Ms. Myers won the race, thus beginning a long career in government.
During Ms. Myers’ time in local politics, she was heavily involved with the passing of environmental ordinances on open spaces and trails. This was very important to her and the community because of the rush of urban development. Another cause important to her was education; she was especially in tune with the needs of the school boards because of her previous experience as a teacher. In her four terms as the delegate to the California School Board Association, she was responsible for keeping the institution solvent and for leading drives to raise money for schools to supplement what the city provided. Furthermore, Ms. Myers was behind efforts requiring the public to vote on changes to the city charter and other political issues. She loved her career because it allowed her to interact with thousands of people and make a difference in the lives of others.
Since Ms. Myers’ retirement, she has used her background to continue her mission of bettering her community. She is currently a trustee of the Safety Center of California, a member of the World Affairs Council, and the administrative officer and chief administrator of the management division of the Bureau of Reclamation for the Folsom Dam. Ms. Myers is also the founder of a group of women called Friends of Homeless Women, which she started when she noticed the problem in her area. The group primarily organizes fundraisers to help combat homelessness. To facilitate this, Ms. Myers developed We Help Homeless Women in 2013 and became the treasurer for One Starfish in 2017.
As a testament to her hard work and dedication, Ms. Myers was honored with a number of accolades. Some prominent ones include the 2012 Award of Excellence from the Historic Preservation League of Folsom for founding and leading an environmental organization and the 2014 Environmental Award from Daughters of the American Revolution. She was also a grantee of the National Education Association and the National Endowment of the Humanities and the winner of various speaking and debate events. Her achievements were featured in Who’s Who in the West.
Ms. Myers prepared for her endeavors by earning a Bachelor of Science, cum laude, and a Master of Science in education administration from Texas A&M University in 1965 and 1976, respectively. Additionally, she obtained a Master of Arts in history from the University of California Berkeley, in 1969, a Master of Arts in human resources management from Pepperdine University in 1977, and certification as a learning disabilities and language teacher from the state of California. If Ms. Myers could offer some advice to other women interested in politics, it would be to start with a citizens’ group and try to get the backing of the community. She would also advise the younger generations to develop strong public speaking skills.
When Ms. Myers has free time, she enjoys pursuing hobbies like reading, walking, traveling, and bridge.