Issac Davis, recipient of the Walter Frank Award for Honesty, was honored for transforming personal tragedy into community action. Following the loss of his 11-year-old son, Domonic, to gun violence, Davis launched the #forever11 initiative and has become a powerful advocate for safer neighborhoods, youth mentorship, and violence prevention throughout Cincinnati.
Issac embodies the true spirit of an upstander by transforming profound personal loss into purposeful action that is saving lives and strengthening his community. In 2023, Issac’s son was tragically killed in a drive-by shooting while playing in a West End park. Faced with unimaginable grief, Issac chose not to turn inward, but to stand up for his community and fight for change.
A barber by trade, Issac has turned his chair into a place of connection, mentorship, and prevention. Through his #forever11 initiative, he provides free haircuts to young people while creating a safe space for honest conversations about violence, choices, and community responsibility. In these moments, he is not only offering a service, but building trust, guidance, and hope for the next generation.
Issac’s advocacy extends beyond individual impact to systemic change. Determined to make neighborhoods safer, he has successfully lobbied City Council to expand the West End’s camera system, working to create safer communities and honor his son’s legacy through meaningful change.
What defines Issac is his courage to act in the face of tragedy. He has taken his deepest pain and turned it into a mission to protect others, ensuring that no family has to endure what his has experienced.
Issac Davis is not only honoring his son’s legacy. He is building a safer, more compassionate future for his community, one life at a time.
Cohen Family Upstander Month is generously supported by Duke Energy, Procter & Gamble, Cincinnati Museum Center, and the Mayerson Family Foundation.
