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South Asian community leader and Folsom City Council candidate Jag Nagendra has been named to Sacramento’s 2026 Top 60 Change Makers, an annual recognition presented jointly by The Sacramento Bee and the Nehemiah Leaders Programs.
Nagendra, who is contesting the Folsom City Council election from District 3, was recognized for a record of community service and professional leadership spanning several decades since his immigration from India nearly 30 years ago.
His community involvement began with the India Association of Davis and later included an eight-year tenure on the California Expo and State Fair Cultural Advisory Council. He has also been associated with the Sacramento Valley chapter of the Project Management Institute. In 2024, Nagendra was named Person of the Year by the Kannada Sangha of Sacramento.
Professionally, Nagendra is a Principal Engineer with the California Department of Water Resources, where he leads a team supporting the state’s water infrastructure. His recognition as a Change Maker reflects what supporters describe as a long-standing commitment to engineering, public service and community engagement.
In a profile published by The Sacramento Bee announcing his selection, Nagendra said he hoped his work would help broaden perceptions of Indian Americans and their role in public life.
“I’m changing the perception towards Indians in such a way that we are not just doctors,” Nagendra said. “We are also in the community. We are also leaders.”
Nagendra said the recognition was also a tribute to the support of his family, particularly his wife, Shyla.
“I’m deeply humbled by this recognition, and the credit belongs to my wife, Shyla, and our family, who believed in my vision and supported everything I’ve done to uplift individuals and communities,” he said.
Nagendra and the other members of the 2026 Top 60 Change Makers class are scheduled to be honored at a gala on October 13 at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Sacramento.
The recognition places Nagendra among a group of community leaders selected for their contributions to the Sacramento region, while also highlighting the growing visibility of South Asian Americans in civic, professional and public leadership roles across Northern California.
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