Placerville resident David Ashby is no stranger to hard work. His parents were working class, often putting in long hours to make sure Ashby and his two siblings had enough to eat and a roof over their heads. “They were my role models,” he shares. “They worked hard, and they were honest. I inherited that from them.”

Ashby went on to work his way through college, originally thinking he would become a professor, but he later had what he calls a “crisis of consciousness”—an intense desire to make more of a direct impact on people’s lives. “I needed to be on the front lines, helping people,” he recalls. He ended up spending over a decade with the Peace Corps—first as a volunteer, and later as staff. After moving to Placerville to provide a more stable life for his son, he went on to become the executive director of New Morning Youth and Family Services—an organization that provides counseling for children (up to 18 years old) and support for runaway, abandoned and homeless youth—and has been in the role for 20 years now. In addition to his work with New Morning, he’s a member of the Placerville Kiwanis Club, and the Child Abuse Prevention Council, among other activities. “If we ignore the kids who are struggling, if we don’t give them a chance to become the best they can be, we’re losing a valuable resource,” he insists.  
—Amber Foster

 Annah Wilson and Patty Urban with David

Q&A

What advice would you give to your younger self?
Don’t sweat the small stuff. Like everyone else on the planet, there will be a great number of trials in your life; if you have food, shelter and people in your life who you love and who love you—there’s nothing to really worry about!

What comes to you naturally?
Eating ice cream. A pint of Häagen-Dazs is a single serving! Math was always easy for me.

Biggest life inspirations?
Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy. Both talked about social justice in a way that has stayed with me through all my years. I was young and idealistic, [and I may be] older now, but am still idealistic. Today, I would give credit to every New Morning employee—they make miracles happen every day—how can that not be inspiring?

What are you most proud of?
I’m proud of what New Morning has provided to our community the past 47 years. On a personal note, I’m very proud of my son. He’s an enormously caring human being and an awesome father.

Favorites

Escape
Nature and/or a good book

Meals in town
Elk burger at Old Town Grill or tortilla soup at Cascada 

Movie
Canary Row 

Musician/band
Moody Blues, Carlos Santana

Annual events
New Morning’s Sunday in Apple Hill and Battle of the Badges; Kiwanis’ Wheelbarrow Race 

Saying
“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change what I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”—The Serenity Prayer (Reinhold Niebuhr)