My synapses are firing, and I’m full of appreciation and joy!
Last night, hundreds of you joined us in a discussion with Wes Moore – about race, structural racism, hope, and passion. We also heard from a local panel, featuring Bebe Coker, Rev. Edwin Estevez, Alonna Berry and Charito Calvachi-Mateyko, responding to Wes and sharing their thoughts about where we are, and where we need to go. 
Thank you to everybody who participated.
There is so much to digest and think about, but a few items stuck hard with me.
The racial awareness that has come about in 2020 is not, said Wes, because of something different that happened this year vs. last. Killings of, and harassment of, black men and boys have been with us for a long time, and are not going away. What’s different now is that we are in a movement, not a moment. And at some point, we will reach a time when we will say, “Can you believe racial justice was something people had to fight for?”
Wes also reminded us that we do not have the luxury of “looking past race,” when race remains the most accurate predictor of life outcomes in America.
Wes reminded us that every person’s story matters, and every story is interesting “because it is that person’s story.” Unfortunately, we too often don’t know people’s stories until it is too late.
And there’s not really room to discuss the powerful statements by all of our panelists. Suffice it to say, they were great.
Finally I appreciate that so many of us want to make progress. In his book Five Days, Wes says, “The figures in this book were each, in their way, fighting to prevent the tragedy of Freddie Gray from playing out again and again…In their small victories and looming failures, they revealed to me the importance of individual changemakers and the indispensable necessity of collective action.”
As for us at the DCF, we believe that collective and individual action to reduce racial inequities is and must remain central to all of our work. The work is not just a one-time thing, but will imbue all we do.
We are engaging in this work in a number of ways.
• Right now, in partnership with the Rodel Foundation, we are pleased to say that we will support a Delaware participant in the Black Voices for Black Justice Fund, a national initiative co-chaired by Wes.
• We are developing new grant opportunities focused on better supporting and investing in leaders of color, the organizations they lead, and the communities they serve.
• We are implementing recommendations of the fellows who were part of our Community Equity Project – their work will be featured on the DCF website in the upcoming weeks.
• And we are continuing to participate with the Delaware Racial Justice Collaborative being coordinated by our partners at the United Way of Delaware.
We are on a path. And we all have a part to play. And (using Alonna Berry’s metaphor), while none of us alone can move the wall, we all need to work hard on moving our individual bricks.
Archive for Delaware non-profits
This first round of DCF podcasts concludes with a slightly different take. Dogfish Head beer is one of this state’s proud successes. And Sussex County local Mark Carter is the guy heading up their work in the community. Mark is committed to a healthy environment, committed to his kids, and an incredibly active member of numerous organizations – including the Delaware Nature Society, Milton Historical Society, Lewes Chamber of Commerce and others. He is also a former information officer for the US Marine Corps.
In this interview, we talk about how a private company can play an important role in building opportunity in our communities. Beyond the mere fact of employing many people, Dogfish Head has a deep commitment to strong communities.
Mark also talks about the role of the employees of Dogfish Head – being active as volunteers, suggesting projects for the company, and caring deeply about the places they call home. Their community work “permeates the brewery,” says Mark.
Mark probably hast the coolest job title of anybody I’ve met, but for him, it’s the coolest job, too – or as he says, “probably 99.9% the best job there…” Check it out, and hear his passion and commitment.
Listen to all nine episodes of Building Opportunity in Delaware at delcf.org/podcast.
It’s time for our first two-fer here on 5Qs – with Lynne Howard and Don Brown.
Lynne, a former government employee for the city (including a stint as chief of staff for the council), county (including time as Chief HR officer), and state (advisor on family issues for Gov. Carper); treasurer for the campaigns of Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester; consultant; longtime volunteer (including many years with the Christina Cultural Arts Center); and philanthropist/donor. Don, former assistant county attorney for New Castle County; former Chief Deputy AG for the state of Delaware; former Corporate Counsel for Dupont (16 years); pro bono counsel for low-income Delawareans; volunteer with DCF’s grants and scholarships committees; and philanthropist/donor.
I admire these people greatly, not just for their accomplishments, but for their decency and friendship. And for their commitment to giving back. Enjoy.
1. What first motivated you to get involved in philanthropy?
We were both raised in families that valued being engaged in community, educational, faith-based work, political issues and action. Our parents modeled these values, and we were taught to give of our time, talents and resources, however small, for the betterment of others to make a difference in our communities.
Lynne attended a college that taught about and valued giving to support those in need or to make a change in a community condition. She attended college in Atlanta, in the home base of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s work was an environment of community action and social justice, and that has remained with her to this day. Service to others was also a theme in Don’s college and early career as well.
2. What community endeavors are you proudest to support or engage in?
Areas of interest: education, childcare, arts, affordable housing, access to justice, and community health.
Organizations:
1. Christina Cultural Arts Center
2. Wilmington HOPE Commission
3. Mitchell Center for African American Heritage
4. Delaware Volunteer Legal Services
5. Children & Families First
6. Center for Educational Equity and Public Policy
3. Where do you see the greatest potential for philanthropy to drive change in Delaware?
Filling the gaps and complementing the work and financing where government and other funding support is just not adequate to make a sufficient difference. Philanthropy, in addition to providing needed resources to meet community needs, can also be a catalyst to inspire others to understand the gaps and needs and to step up with whatever they can bring to the table for the betterment of their community,
Philanthropy can also support bringing best practice experts to our community to enhance local work, research and advocacy already happening, thus moving action and improvements forward at a faster pace.
4. What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned through your work in philanthropy?
Effective and meaningful contributions need not always be financial. Giving can include the giving of time and talent in areas such as planning, strategic guidance, staff encouragement, mentoring, outreach, advocacy and supplementing an organization’s limited staff and resources
All should recognize that philanthropy happens in both small and large ways. A small organization can have just as major a need for a new printer as another might have for a new roof. It’s a matter of perspective. People often think that philanthropy means having lots of money to give. That truly does not have to be the case. All have something to give, time, talent or treasures. We all need to find a way to get that message out more effectively.
5. How does your philanthropy contribute to expanding opportunity for people in Delaware?
We select causes and organizations focused on making a demonstrated difference each day in their service mission. A good project, well-conceived and carried out, attacks urgent needs and delivers clear results while constantly assessing and improving programs. A top-notch organization sets the area of focus and constantly assesses the effectiveness of results and stays in close touch with its customers and clients.
We particularly look at organizations that serve the truly under-served sectors of our community and the diversity of our community, not just on paper but in reality.
ABOUT 5Q with Stu: This series is a chance to highlight philanthropists who are helping to keep Delaware a great place, and to make it better.
I love this discussion.
I feel like I could have talked with Edwin Estevez for a whole day. As pastor of the Grace 
Methodist Church in Wilmington, convening minister of the Riverfront Church, and active member of many diverse communities in Wilmington, Edwin is thoughtful, passionate and connected. We shared stories of our church backgrounds, and connected around why strong communities drive our respective work.
To me, one of the most compelling themes was the basic human idea of truly seeing each other – in our varied experiences, needs, backgrounds, and humanity. I believe there is a lot of today’s divide that is driven by misunderstanding, and not genuinely listening to others and trying to understand. In Edwin’s discussion, he talks also about organizations that he admires, and that includes those that “walk alongside,” but don’t try to dictate.
For me, whether the motivation for this kind of community work comes from a religious base or another sense of community, it can get us to a positive place.
n.b. There’s a small oops in here. In our discussion of Francois Clemmons and Mr. Rogers, I said that Francois was the postman on Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. Later in the discussion, I realized my error, and acknowledged at the end that he was indeed “Officer Clemmons.” Mr. Rogers lovers will know what I’m talking about.
Rev. Edwin Estevez, senior pastor of Grace Church UMC and the Riverfront Church in Wilmington, talks about the role of the faith community in building opportunity. The son of Guatemalan immigrants, Estevez grew up in North Jersey and is now a proud Delawarean. With his leadership, Grace Church is launching a kitchen incubator to empower people struggling with poverty to learn culinary and restaurant skills, transforming the church campus into a green, energy-efficient example of “creation care,” and opening Grace Cafe, a welcoming “third space” for conversation and reflection over a cup of coffee.
Our nine-episode Building Opportunity in Delaware podcast series focuses on how can we build opportunity and strengthen community for all. DCF President & CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay talks with Delawareans who are building opportunity through the arts, faith communities, libraries and everything in between.
You can listen and subscribe on Apple, Spotify. and Google Podcasts. Find all podcast episodes at delcf.org/podcast
For over twenty years, Diane Laird led Delaware’s Main Street Program – a program that 
focuses on what downtowns can do to become healthier, more welcoming, and more robust. And for the past year and a half, she’s been the Executive Director of the Downtown Dover Partnership. It’s an important program that works to make downtown Dover a great place to be. Diane is our guest on this week’s podcast.
Diane makes clear that success in her work needs to involve anybody and everybody. “Our partners are anybody that I could lay eyes on truly because I really consider anybody that has an investment of any kind in the Downtown to be a potential partner, because they’re part of the future. They should be part of the planning for the future.”
And she is clear that the small size of Delaware makes it possible to do much more than elsewhere. “When I would travel to National Conference and talk with my fellow coordinators and the Texas coordinator would have to take planes to visit her city, her cities and towns in Texas and I can drive top to bottom and side to side. I guess there’s something about the close connections and the quickness of getting things done. I mean, there are certainly challenges as everywhere, but there is an opportunity to do things a little more quickly and maybe even get recognized, towns or people getting recognized on a statewide level that you wouldn’t necessarily have in Texas.”
Diane Laird, executive director of the Downtown Dover Partnership, talks about building opportunity through collaboration and economic development. The DDP drives improved quality of life for the diverse residents, downtown workers, students, tourists, shoppers, kids, families and seniors who spend time in downtown Dover.
Our nine-episode Building Opportunity in Delaware podcast series focuses on how can we build opportunity and strengthen community for all. DCF President & CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay talks with Delawareans who are building opportunity through the arts, faith communities, libraries and everything in between.
You can listen and subscribe on Apple, Spotify. and Google Podcasts. Find all podcast episodes at delcf.org/podcast.
Individual donors are the lifeblood of nonprofits everywhere. While we often focus on foundations, businesses and the government, the reality is that individuals account for almost 60% of all charitable giving to Delaware’s nonprofits. So everything and anything we can do to make it easier for individuals to give is a right thing to do.
That’s why the re-energized Delaware giving day – called Do More 24 Delaware – is a very positive development. The program – running from 6 p.m. on Thursday March 5 until 6 p.m. on March 6 – will involve more than 200 nonprofits, and is being coordinated by Spur Impact and the United Way of Delaware. Nonprofits across the state are encouraged to invite their supporters to donate through the DoMore24Delaware.org website (which builds on United Way of Delaware’s earlier giving day, and utilizing Spur Impact’s Delaware Gives platform).
The DCF has contributed to a stretch pool – of $40,000 and growing! – that will ensure every donation will be worth more than the original gift. Additional prizes will be offered throughout the 24 hours.
Other states and cities have thriving giving days, and this partnership is an opportunity to see that here, too.
The amount of money donated to nonprofits in Delaware is more than funding from government, corporations, and foundations combined. These donations support the nonprofits that everyone typically thinks of, such as churches, colleges, and disaster relief organizations. But donations are just as vital to those community focused organizations that many forget are also nonprofits.
For example, thousands of animals are taken in and later adopted each year from nonprofit animal shelters. Most of the 10,000+ babies born in Delaware each year are born in nonprofit hospitals. Tens of thousands of students enrolled in Delaware schools benefit every day from after school activities, summer camps, and music, arts, and athletics programs run by nonprofit organizations. These nonprofits would be unable to function without support from individual philanthropists.
Most donors to these nonprofit organizations are giving what they can when they can, and often in small amounts. These donations matter just as much as the larger ones, because they show breadth of support, and because they are part of the fabric of giving in our communities. And sometimes, those small gifts turn into larger gifts as donors get more familiar with, and more confident in, an organization.
So whatever organization you support, check out the website and make a gift. Your support will be appreciated, and it will make an impact.
We invite you to support your favorite nonprofit on Delaware’s giving day in March. Learn more or donate to Do More 24 Delaware on March 5 – 6 at DoMore24Delaware.org.
This week on our podcast we hear from Micheal Crumble.
Micheal Crumble for the H. Fletcher Brown Boys and Girls Club. (Have I ever said how much fun my job can be.)
Micheal Crumble is, in his own words, “Boys and Girls Clubs through and through.” For almost 20 years, he has been focused on helping kids through their programs – from Dumfries, Virginia to greater Washington, D.C., to Silver Spring, Maryland and now Wilmington. And that work comes after a career in the Air Force.
A military guy. A guy who cares about community and cares about kids and wants them to have real opportunity. Currently, Micheal is the Unit Director of the H. Fletcher Brown Boys and Girls Club in Wilmington.
Micheal is all in for this work, and has an important story to tell about his work.
It’s worth noting here what an important role the Boys and Girls Clubs are playing up and down the state. The program at Brown is serving some of the most overlooked kids in the city. But that’s also true at all of their facilities, and in their school based programs. In Seaford and Laurel and Milford and Dover and Smyrna, and, and, and.
Thanks to that organization. And thanks to Micheal for his leadership at the H. Fletcher Brown site.
Check out this week’s podcast here.
Listen and subscribe to all episodes in the series at delcf.org/podcast.
Micheal Crumble, director of the H. Fletcher Brown Boys & Girls Club in Wilmington, talks about building opportunity for underserved youth. Following a 20-year career in the military, Crumble found a second vocation creating opportunities for kids to learn and grow. Under his direction, the H. Fletcher Brown Boys & Girls Club recently opened a digital arts lab, funded in part by the DCF.
Our nine-episode Building Opportunity in Delaware podcast series focuses on how can we build opportunity and strengthen community for all. DCF President & CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay talks with Delawareans who are building opportunity through the arts, faith communities, libraries and everything in between.
You can listen and subscribe on Apple, Spotify. and Google Podcasts. Find all podcast episodes at delcf.org/podcast.