What is The David Project?
The David Project works primarily on college campuses to improve sentiment towards Israel. We look at the campus environment and ask: Who are the main stakeholders, who are the main opinion leaders, and how can we help students connect with them in the best way possible? We then train, educate, and guide students to make sure they know how to reach out to the right groups and talk about Israel in the most effective way.
What is the meaning behind The David Project's name?
The David Project was founded in 2002 because there was a growing sense that Israel had once been perceived as the David in the David and Goliath story, but now was being perceived by many as the Goliath. The goal of The David Project was to reclaim the David, the status of the underdog. It is true that we still view Israel very much as the David in the David and Goliath story, but we’re also expanding our idea of who David was. He was a very good leader, but a sometimes flawed king who made mistakes along the way. Just as David wasn’t perfect, Israel isn’t perfect either. Israel is a work in progress, and a work of progress.
Why does The David Project focus on changing college campuses?
The college campus is quite vulnerable to anti-Israelism and is one place where the debate is taking place about Israel. It’s where future American leaders are forged. The next President of the United States will almost certainly have gone to college, and probably at one of a hundred or so schools where there is a debate on the Middle East. The next members of congress and the next head of the National Council of La Raza will have gone to such campuses. Many Jewish students will have gone to one of these 100 college campuses around the United States. If the U.S. is to remain pro-Israel, it’s extremely important that we help create a balanced and thoughtful environment towards Israel on these campuses.
Is there an ideal type of student that The David Project looks to support?
There is no single profile of a campus leader. We realize that we need to have a diversity of student leaders. Of course we want students who are educated, articulate and thoughtful, but the truth is, like any workplace team, we need a team on campus that has a variety of strengths and skills in order to be effective. We need people who are substance people, who understand, with depth, the challenges that Israel is facing. We need marketing and creative people who can bring an idea to life. We need business-oriented people who know how to build an organization. We need people who have technical skills to help us in the social media space and to produce videos. We need all of these skills around the table to have an effective campaign on a college campus.
How do you define advocacy on campuses?
Advocacy is an intentional effort to influence opinions or decision making. Our approach to advocacy is relationship driven and involves building relationships with the various segments of the campus community to enhance students’ understanding of and appreciation for Israel.