On Oct. 9, the Illinois Safe Schools Alliance ( "The Alliance" ) hosted a celebration for David Fischer, who is leaving the organization after seven years to work with the Health & Medicine Policy Research Group ( HMPRG ). The event allowed community members and coworkers influenced by Fischer to honor the impact he has left on The Alliance as well as Illinois schools to have safe spaces for LGBT youth.
To start off the night videos were shown of former Youth Committee members who weren't able to be in attendance, sharing their accomplishments, sentiments and memories. Anthony Papini, executive director of The Alliance and host of the event, presented Fischer with a gift from his peers; the group submitted of a donation in his name to the Tree House Humane Society because of his love of social justice and animals, especially cats.
In accepting the gift Fischer said, "I just wanted to say that I've been one part of this organization that has been so powerful and I've been one part in facilitating a space for young people to create change."
Fischer added, "So people can say that I made a difference in their life but what I know is that I was able to provide that space and the young people really were the ones who were at the front lines…"
Much of the night then was dedicated to those that attended the event sharing stories, memories, and words about Fischer:
"I quickly realized what a gem he was and recruited him to come to my courses at DePaul," said Melissa Ockerman, professor of education at DePaul University. "All of my students say at the end of the quarter what their favorite experiences are and I've never had a quarter where David wasn't listed at the top."
Joy Messinger, deputy director at Illinois Caucus from Adolescent Health, commented on meetings with CPS and said, "One of the things I've learned from the multiple years that I've found myself sitting around these tables with David is how to be a lot more thoughtful, a lot more intentional, and lot more strategic in that way that I do my work."
Sarah Schriber, Policy Director with Project Vote Smart "I like to tease David because David is very modest and things like this I think are your nightmare," followed by an adamant nod from Fischer. Many others that spoke about memories or other feelings aligned with this sentiment regarding Fischer's modesty and selflessness.
Jeff Edwards, who is the board chair of The Alliance, expressed, "I've been so struck by the youth who have been drawn to David and developed by David. I at one point asked [him], 'Did they come to you like this or did you turn [them out like this]?'" Edward went on to share his found belief in David's convictions of youth empowerment and strong the rhetoric this empowerment enacts.
The rest of the night was dedicated to socializing to both celebrating and lamenting Fischer's new job opportunity.
"I'm incredibly honored to have gotten the opportunity to do this work [with The Alliance] and I'm sad to be leaving, but I'm so excited about my future opportunities" said Fischer.
After 7 years of service, hired on his 21st birthday, Fischer plans to undertake a project with HMPRG that will use similar tactics of The Alliance to employ youth to do solutions based work around the disproportionate criminalization of at risk youth. He plans to collaborate with the Department of Juvenile Justice and juvenile detention centers to put policies in place around LGBT youth and other at risk populations.
