How to (Not) Kill Your Community

In this episode, Stuart Comstock-Gay speaks with State Senator Russ Huxtable on how affordable housing impacts the health of a community, from hospital wait times to the service industry. Senator Russ Huxtable has been serving Delaware's 6th District, which includes Milton, Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, and Dewey Beach, since his election in 2022. A native Delawarean, he has over two decades of experience in affordable housing and community development, including serving as vice president of the Milford Housing Development Corporation. His commitment to community service began in high school and continued through college, where he volunteered with the Appalachia Service Project and home repair ministry serving Central Appalachia. Beyond his legislative duties, he remains active in his community, coaching youth soccer and participating in local historical activities.

In this episode, Stuart Comstock-Gay sits down with Mariah Ghant of Delaware Shakespeare and Patti Grimes of the Freeman Arts Pavilion to explore how the arts create space for connection across difference. Mariah Ghant is the Producing Artistic Director of Delaware Shakespeare. Before she assumed the position in 2024, she served as the Artistic Associate and Literary Manager at the Wilma Theater in Philadelphia. An accomplished actress, Mariah portrayed Hippolyta/Titania in Delaware Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, Marc Antony in Julius Caesar, and took on the title role in Macbeth. She has also been a member of Delaware Shakespeare's Artistic Squad, contributing to the organization's creative initiatives in a variety of ways including being a teaching artist, developing new events, and directing short programs. Originally from the suburbs of Chicago, Mariah is an alumna of Vassar College. Patti Grimes is the Executive Director of the Freeman Arts Pavilion and the Carl M. Freeman Foundation. Under her leadership, the Freeman Arts Pavilion has welcomed over a million visitors since 2008. She also oversees the Carl M. Freeman Foundation, which has granted over $60 million to nonprofit organizations. Grimes serves as Vice Chair for Delaware Technical Community College and serves as a Board Member for Leadership Delaware. With over four decades at the Carl M. Freeman Companies, she continues to foster community engagement and cultural growth in the region.

In this episode, Stuart Comstock-Gay speaks with Margie López Waite about the role newcomers and immigrants play in strengthening our economic and social ties. Margie López Waite is the CEO and co-founder of Las Américas ASPIRA Academy, Delaware's first dual-language charter school. She transitioned to education after a 16-year career at MBNA/Bank of America. She earned a master's degree in secondary education and school leadership certification from Wilmington University in 2008. Margie serves on several boards, including the Delaware Charter School Network, Community Education Building, Rodel, and the Delaware Community Foundation. Margie resides in Delaware with her husband, Wally Waite Jr., and their two sons, Quincy and Isaiah.

In this episode, Stuart Comstock-Gay speaks with the Equitable Hiring Initiative (EHI) co-founders Jac Rivers and Christopher S. Gunter about why businesses cannot afford to ignore local talent. Jac Rivers is a Vice President and Program Officer at JPMorgan Chase, leading the firm's strategic philanthropic investments in Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Southern New Jersey. With a background in law, public policy, and government administration, she focuses on innovative approaches to racial equity and wealth creation for Black and Latino communities. Before joining JPMorgan Chase, Jac served as Chief of Staff in the Managing Director’s Office for the City of Philadelphia, overseeing five operating departments. She earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Maryland Carey School of Law and holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Sociology from Lehigh University. Christopher S. Gunter is the Community Impact & Investment Philanthropy Lead at Capital One's Wilmington office, where he directs the foundation's philanthropic investments across the Delaware Valley and Midwest regions. His work emphasizes enhancing socio-economic mobility through innovative programs, inclusive products, and impactful philanthropy. He is also a certified diversity professional, with research interests in areas such as racially-based police targeting and the re-entry process of African-American males post-corrections. Christopher holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Public Administration from the University of Delaware and a Master of Science in Administration of Justice, focusing on criminal behavior, from Wilmington University.

In this episode, Stuart Comstock-Gay speaks with former Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Ed Kee about the economic value of strong local agriculture, the role of immigration in farming, and the importance of balancing development with the needs of farming communities. Ed Kee is a nationally and internationally recognized expert on vegetable science who has dedicated his career to Delaware agriculture. He was appointed by Governor Jack Markell as Delaware's Secretary of Agriculture and served from 2009 to 2017. Before his tenure as secretary, Kee spent 30 years with the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension as an agricultural agent, state vegetable crops specialist, and agriculture program leader. He also served as director of agriculture for Hanover Foods Corporation. An accomplished author, Kee has written extensively on agricultural and historical topics, including the books "Saving Our Harvest: The History of the Mid-Atlantic Canning and Freezing Industry" and "Delaware Farming."

In this episode, Stuart Comstock-Gay speaks with Dogfish Head co-founder Mariah Calagione about the value of philanthropy for both businesses and the communities they serve. Mariah Calagione is the co-founder of Dogfish Head Brewery and recently retired as the Social Impact Leader at the Boston Beer Company. Raised in Milford, Delaware, she met her husband, Sam Calagione, during high school, and together they established Dogfish Head in 1995. Mariah's early roles encompassed marketing, public relations, and social media, eventually focusing on philanthropic initiatives through the Beer & Benevolence program. She has served on various boards, including The Nature Conservancy and the University of Delaware, (and oh yeah, the Delaware Community Foundation). Mariah and Sam have two adult children and continue to contribute actively to both their business and local community.

Congresswoman Sarah McBride, Delaware’s first openly transgender U.S. Representative, passionately discusses the need for empathy and dialogue in a diverse society. She advocates for seeing opponents as potential allies, emphasizing the benefits of inclusivity in communities. McBride shares her experiences in fostering bipartisanship, highlighting successful initiatives like paid family leave. She also discusses the vital role of hope and cooperation in overcoming political divisions, urging others to embrace collaboration for a better future.

In the first season of How to (Not) Kill Your Community from the Delaware Community Foundation, President and CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay seeks answers from experts on how to build and maintain thriving communities for the long-haul. 

Markevis Gideon uses the word "intentionality" to describe the work he does at NERDiT NOW. The organization is intentional about giving back and working to bridge the digital and wealth divides in the community. Gideon also discusses how his "life changed because of one computer" and the necessity of computers in today's modern times. Learn more about NERDiT NOW.

Ashley Christopher was working in the Wilmington mayor's office when she was tasked with developing an idea to engage Wilmington's underserved communities. She thought education was the path forward and the idea for HBCU Week came forth. Now the CEO of HBCU Week Foundation, Christopher and the organization have offered thousands of scholarships totaling millions of dollars to students looking to continue their education. She also touches on what it means to be in the HBCU community (as a two-time HBCU alum) and how the institutions can impact young people.