Robert David

Robert T. David Sr. is a nationally recognized leader in workforce development, community violence intervention, and youth empowerment. He currently serves as the Violence Prevention Manager for the City of Danville, Virginia, where he created Project Imagine—an award-winning, trauma-informed workforce model designed to equip high-risk youth with the tools, mentorship, and opportunities needed to succeed in employment and life. A U.S. Air Force veteran, Mental health provider and former juvenile probation officer, Mr. David brings decades of leadership across juvenile justice, behavioral health, and government innovation.

His contributions to workforce development have earned him multiple honors, including the 2023 National Youth Workforce Professional of the Year and the 2025 VCU Wilder Award for Excellence in Virginia Government. As an author, speaker, and subject matter expert for the National Gang Center, Robert continues to shape national strategies. In 2024, he was awarded the Bicentennial Swedish-American Exchange Fellowship to further international partnerships in violence prevention and youth engagement.