Welcome To MacArthur Metro

Jaraad More. Photos by Pat Patterson. Click to enlarge.

A few hours into Saturday morning and the car-detailing business is booming for one busy young resident in Maxwell Park. It's the way Jaraad Moore, young entrepreneur and active young-adult member of Allendale [Ave.] Neighbor's Network (ANN), kicks into gear on a weekend.

Nineteen-year-old Moore and his activities with his neighborhood watch group—ANN —show how any community can cause "win-win" benefits by supporting and including our youth in its activities.

A long-time resident on Allendale, Jaraad has had ties with his community since he was a toddler. He received ANN's Young Entrepreneur's Award for starting and maintaining his own car detail business, and he can proudly talk about what it means to be active and included in a community.

Jaraad has strong support from his parents. The "it takes a village" adage rings true. Over the years, he's attended and participated in various neighborhood watch events and made his name known to all on the block. An old photo shows a young Jaraad playing at a block party with his dad, who helped him onto the visiting fire truck.

He began connecting to community by offering to wash neighbors' cars. A neighbor helped him by creating business cards and flyers. At 13, his dream was to someday make $2,500, to buy his first car. He met his goal and purchased his own car several years ago.

Jaraad was asked to be the youth representative at neighborhood meetings, and he provided youth perspectives. Because he showed real entrepreneurial spirit and a great work ethic, the group gave him a special certificate of achievement: "Allendale Young Entrepreneur's Award." The group knew he needed a small vacuum for his business, so a neighbor donated it. A neighbor also pointed him to the Haas School of Business' Young Entrepreneurial Program at UC Berkeley, where he learned about business planning. His parents and neighbors also encouraged him to continue on to college, which is in his plans.

He is ANN's example of keeping youth involved in our communities. The group recognizes that it could probably do more in this area. We found, when youth are included, we benefit from a willing, able and energetic group of neighbors, with many of the same needs and wants as adults.

"I still benefit from all the help I receive from my neighbors up and down Allendale," states Jaraad. "There are rare occasions when I am without work. It doesn't matter if I'm moving boxes, painting, detailing cars, cutting grass, or helping with different neighborhood events, I always stay busy."

When asked about his relationship to the neighborhood, Jaraad summed it up:

"Whenever I am in need, my neighbors come through for me. I have to especially thank neighbors Gary and Samantha Wise. At the last minute when I didn't have a ride to the prom, they allowed me to use their car and drive all the way to Sacramento. I look at my Allendale neighbors as family. I'm there for them and they are there for me."

He also suggested, "Don't make assumptions about youth, and be open to us."

Jaraad's currently working at FedEx and also helps his cousin repair motorcycles. He's planning to attend Laney College to work on his core subjects before pursuing his career in either radiology or criminal law. His business is Jaraad's Detailing, 978-6400.