|
|
January 16, 2004/Tevet 22 5764, Vol. 56, No.17
Teen gives time to City of Phoenix
BETH OLSON
Staff Writer
The Jewish community is full of volunteers who serve on committees and commissions and act as chairpeople of events. And some of them start early.
Seventeen-year-old Sam Feldman, a senior at North High School, has spent his high school career as an active volunteer for the City of Phoenix. A member of the city's Youth and Education Commission representing Council District 6 for the past three years, Feldman is participating in Phoenix's Youth Town Hall for the fifth year. Youth Town Hall brings together nearly 200 students from 30 public, private and charter schools in Phoenix to discuss issues that affect teens. Beginning his freshman year, Feldman became involved in the planning committee for Youth Town Hall, and he has been the co-chairman of the event for the past two years.
Last year he was the chairman of the Nothing But Positive - Youth Giving Back to the Community Service Fund committee, which grants up to $10,000 per year, in $750 increments, for community service projects run by youth.
In addition, Feldman has been involved with know99 Television - the City of Phoenix education television station - both reporting stories and helping plan for the station's updated look.
Feldman was recently sent to Nashville to represent Phoenix as a youth delegate at the National League of Cities Congress of Cities conference.
The conference brings together city leaders from throughout the United States to study issues that affect cities. The youth delegates, who numbered about 200 this year, participate in their own forums at the conference, which examine issues that face the country's youth, such as violence, diversity and technology in schools.
"We heard about other youth towns halls in other cities and what they do before, during and after the youth town hall and we're going to take those ideas back to our committee and talk about them and make some real change," says Feldman.
While his volunteer work keeps him busy, Feldman calls his work "fun."
"I love doing it. ... I really believe it's making a difference," he says.
In addition to his work with the city, Feldman started his own youth leadership program at his former middle school, Madison Meadows. After getting approval from the principal last year, Feldman spent the summer designing curriculum and researching leadership. This fall he started the program, called Project LEAD, with 20 eighth graders.
Feldman is involved in the International Baccalaureate program at this school, and has served as vice president of public relations for North's student government for the past two years.
He plans to attend the University of Arizona next year, and while he hasn't decided on a major, he says he's leaning toward psychology or sociology.
Feldman lives with his family, parents Vicky and Joseph Feldman, and 21-year-old brother Nick, a student at Phoenix College.
|
