Whiz Kids of the Week—Los Gatos Youth Commission

Ben Baranovsky, Erin Brost, Rodd Farhadi, Hirsh Goswamy, Adam Gramling, Jacob Hershberger, Jack Horan, Erin Hughes, Killian Jackson, James Marino, Doug McLeod, Matt Mingrone, Zaul Moayedian, Warren Nakazawa, Nikhil Patel, Nicky Robinson, Avi Salem, Kiara Stickey, Julie Wiederhold and Thomas Wrappe.

Schools: , Raymond J. Fisher Middle, Bellarmine and Archbishop Mitty.

• Accomplishment: Won a Project Cornerstone Award for their involvement in creating the Los Gatos Youth Commission’s “Youth Friendly Business Project.”
• Key to Awesomeness: After their fellow LGHS students took a Project Cornerstone survey about the 41 Developmental Assets that have a proven relationship to healthy youth development, sophomore Rodd Farhadi and his close friends, Ben Baranovsky, Jack Horan and Zaul Moyadian, were “astounded” by how low students rated asset #7, “Community values youth: Young person perceives that adults in the community value youth.” According to Rodd, he and his buddies could relate. “As teenagers, we felt that when we’d go into stores, we weren't welcome. The owners and employees would give us looks and follow us around to make sure we weren’t stealing. There was also lack of stores that sell merchandise that appeals to teenagers.”

Instead of sitting around complaining, the guys decided to do something. Together they joined the Los Gatos Youth Commission. The group is comprised of 15 Los Gatos teens (and five alternates) who were interviewed and selected by the town to participate in monthly meetings to discuss youth issues and share ideas with the mayor, vice mayor, chief of police and director of .

To address the perceived unfriendly attitude toward teens in town, the commission created “The Youth Friendly Business Project,” which gives youth-friendly stores and businesses a special paw print decal to display in their window. “The cool thing is, we held a contest at school and selected a winner from our LGHS graphic design students,” says Rodd.

Each year a different merchant will receive the “Youth Friendly Business of the Year” award. The inaugural award was given to , which in addition to offering a welcoming environment for young people, supports local athletic teams and hires youth.     

“It’s great to be part of an organization that helps foster positive change in our community,” says Rodd, who encourages Los Gatans to patronize all local businesses that proudly display the teen-friendly paw print decal.