Tell us about your nominee. Why should he or she be recognized as a Jewish Community Hero?

David is 17 years old, a senior in high school, a member of the Sacramento Youth Commission, and a leader in our community. David makes change through determination, integrity, creativity and perseverance. As a leader, he knows when to step up and lead, and when to step back and let others take control. These talents have come through in a variety of ways. At the Youth Commission, the other commissioners look to David for his quiet leadership. I know that David is also on the regional board of NFTY as Programming Vice President, and that he has spent the last 5 years as a 'returning youth' in the Sacramento Youth Leadership Program. 

What problem did your nominee identify in the community that needed to be solved? How has your nominee's efforts made a difference for others?

In Sacramento there are few venues run by youth for youth, and those that do exist are simply not sufficient to fill the demand. Adolescents of his age could benefit from a comprehensively oriented youth lounge.

Over the past year, he has had several very close friends have substance abuse concerns. Some have even dropped out of high school. He believes that many youth would rather be involved in a positive experience in which they genuinely have some control to potentially make a difference and to connect with supportive resources and their friends. If they had something interesting to do, somewhere safe to be, and had a group of peers and adults who encourage them to hang in there, a teen might be impelled to make better choices and to look for better answers to their problems. That single night was the catalyst that inspired and impelled me to move forward. Thus, the idea for VIBE was born.

"VIBE" is a state-of-the-art, teen owned and operated urban youth lounge where Sacramento teens can acquire academic and vocational skills, engage in service learning, and socialize with other youth. The resources for the project have been, and will continue to be, solicited from Sacramento based private, public and non-profit organizations by the youth members. This project is collaboration between David and other Sacramento youth who share his vision for a safe, teen designed and operated space. David and his colleagues have gotten the city to commit a building, raised $300,000 in in-kind services (architecture, commitments for tenant improvements, etc.), and over $10,000 in cash. To date, VIBE has had a 'soft' opening and David expects it to be fully operational before he leaves for college.