By: William Jones
True leadership isn’t solely defined by position or prestige, but by the positive impact created. In communities that have faced disinvestment, neglect, or misrepresentation, it requires a unique kind of leader to recognize the gaps and respond with empathy, action, and vision. Success in these spaces translates to rebuilding trust, amplifying voices, and creating meaningful change. This is the influence James Nortey, the CEO of San Antonio for Growth on the Eastside, Inc. (SAGE), is working towards.
Nortey’s journey can be captured by the very values he now brings to his role: humility, service, and community. Born in Dallas and raised in El Paso, he’s the son of Ghanaian immigrants who came to the United States in pursuit of a better life, a dream shared by many families in San Antonio’s Eastside. His father built a life as a small business owner, while his mother served her community as a nurse.
Watching their perseverance shaped Nortey’s understanding of resilience and opportunity. He credits much of his professional and personal growth to his parents but also to the countless mentors—from neighbors and teachers to clergy and volunteers—who believed in his potential long before he stepped into a leadership role.
Nortey first became aware of the inequities in systems meant to serve people equally while in college. Although studying philosophy honed his critical thinking, it was an internship in Washington, DC, that opened his eyes to the power of public service. That calling remained with him, and Nortey eventually entered law school, encouraged by his mother and his own curiosity.
There, he earned a degree while shaping his leadership identity. Nortey played a central role in revitalizing a major civil rights organization’s campus chapter, bringing together students from various disciplines to build something impactful. He also organized cross-community dialogue forums, gaining hands-on experience with difficult conversations that demanded empathy, cultural understanding, and clarity of vision.
Nortey’s passion for inclusive community building took root during his years as a practicing attorney, even as his professional life leaned corporate. He remained actively involved in civic service, eventually becoming president of his neighborhood association, where he led dialogue around bias, misunderstanding, and belonging. A pivotal experience—one that started as a misunderstanding and escalated into an act of discrimination—motivated him to create space for challenging conversations about perception and inclusion. The attorney’s work expanded from there, and he joined the founding board of a cultural preservation organization in a rapidly gentrifying part of a major Texas city.
When Nortey and his family moved to San Antonio, the Eastside reminded him of what his previous city had once been: a richly diverse, culturally anchored, yet vulnerable community on the verge of transformation. So, when the opportunity to lead SAGE arose, he saw it as an opportunity to make an impact.
In January 2024, Nortey officially became the CEO of SAGE. The organization is known for supporting small businesses, preserving cultural heritage, and fostering sustainable community development without displacement. However, when Nortey arrived, it was clear that SAGE itself was in need of revitalization.
“SAGE had gone through leadership transitions, faced a loss of city funding, and experienced strained relationships internally and with the surrounding community,” says Nortey. “I recognize that the leadership before me laid important groundwork, but SAGE needed to restore clarity, stability, and trust.”
Nortey stepped in with open ears and humility, launching his first 60 days not with directives, but with listening tours. “I met with residents, small business owners, faith leaders, and anyone willing to share their hopes and frustrations,” he says. The CEO learned that the community desired what every neighborhood does. “They wanted safer streets, better infrastructure, opportunities to thrive, and a partner that didn’t speak for them, but with them,” Nortey adds.
That approach of “restoration and healing through listening” has defined Nortey’s leadership at SAGE. The organization has hosted events that encourage community reconnection. One event brought together city leaders and residents to reflect on the Eastside’s past and chart a course for its future. Another, playfully titled “HalloEast,” served as a reintroduction of the community to itself. Although it is a community block party celebrating Halloween, its larger purpose is to challenge the stereotypes of fear and danger often associated with the neighborhood.
Nortey also recognized the importance of building economic foundations. One of the programs launched during his tenure is a small business support cohort. It’s a 10-week program that offers local entrepreneurs technical assistance, mentorship, and access to funding. Graduates receive a grant to reinvest in their business and gain a support network that encourages long-term success and resilience.
Perhaps most notably, within a year, SAGE has seen significant progress. Financial stability is beginning to return. New grants and development projects are underway, and community trust is steadily being restored.
Through it all, the CEO has remained focused on what some might consider the obvious, yet it is often overlooked: James Nortey listens and follows through. His leadership fosters long-term change by asking the right questions, amplifying community voices, and working towards sustainable outcomes.
