David Du, age 22, arrived from Tennessee in early September ready to take on a brand new challenge as a full-time AmeriCorps member. As our Client Coordinator, he immediately started reaching out to our past participants to see if they needed repairs. “We want to get to know our homeowners to see if we can help them,” he said. “If we don’t know their situation, we can’t really provide honest feedback about what’s possible.”
David spent the first 10 years of his life living with his grandparents in Shanghai, China. At age 11, he moved to Memphis to live with his parents. Last June he graduated from the University of Memphis with degrees in philosophy and biology.
David considered applying to graduate school, but he first wanted to give back to the community and the country. He believes this desire stems from his early upbringing. “My grandfather used to say that happiness in life really comes from serving and helping others. I think the best way to continue his legacy is to do something like this,” he said.
David was attracted to the opportunity with RTP because he liked the diversity of the Bay Area population. “I wanted to serve people who may not look like me and need help,” he said.
For the next year, David will live in RTP’s AmeriCorps house, a house the agency owns specifically to house AmeriCorps volunteers who otherwise would not be able to afford to work on the Peninsula. Having affordable housing was another perk that attracted David to the role.
When David isn’t working with homeowners and RTP colleagues, he likes to be out in nature and jog in a nearby park. He’s also fond of cooking.
David already feels like he’s part of the team, and he’s excited for the year ahead. “Home is where relationships are built,” he said. “We want to keep people in the community and increase their ability to pass their homes on to their children.”