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New Support for Homeless Youth

Posted by Stuart Comstock-Gay

· Thursday, April 15th, 2021

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With more than a year of pandemic life behind us, there’s much that was paused or halted or closed. With dollars constrained, service needs up, and attention focused elsewhere, it’s been hard to be forward thinking. But some nonprofits have been charging ahead – not just with pandemic relief but with exciting new efforts. Here’s one project.

One of the too often ignored challenges in our communities is the need of homeless youth. We don’t like to think about them – because it’s painful to think about, and an indication of a great societal failure. And there are way too many of them. Paul Calistro, Executive Director of the West End Neighborhood House, says, “National data leads us to believe that 1 in 10 Delaware youth between the ages of 18-24 experience some form of homelessness every year. The causes are complex and can include disability and current or former involvement with the foster care system. Data also indicates that LGBTQI youth face even greater difficulty in finding a safe, affordable place to live.” The $4 million campaign will expand housing, employment opportunities and counseling in independent living to young people ages 16-23 who are homeless.

The project also includes a drop-in resource center that provides meals and services to homeless youth.

While there are some services available now, and some beds specifically set up for homeless youth, they are too few and too far between. But as we speak, West End is creating more opportunities. By rehabilitating older housing, creating a drop-in center, and creating entirely new housing for homeless youth, they are speaking directly to this problem.

West End’s new housing for homeless youth should be opened by the end of July.

Groundbreaking occurred earlier this year, and soon the units are expected to open by the end of July.

It’s also worth noting here the significance of West End’s work with youth who were previously in the foster care system. Their 20-year old Life Lines program – which is part of this work – has focused on the particular changes of the community of former foster youth.

All of this is the kind of future-looking project that goes on all the time in most years. But while we’ve been consumed with the urgency of food, medical care, and vaccines, many of these sorts of projects have foundered. And this project shows how nonprofits are really walking and chewing gum at the same time – dealing with the urgent crises of now, while moving toward the future. And this at a time when resources have been particularly constrained.

It’s also a testament to the generosity of so many – corporations, individuals and foundations – who are helping to ensure services where they are most needed.

Credit to Paul Calistro and his entire team for keeping their sights on this critical work.

Thanks to a generous donor, West End has also established an endowment at DCF, to ensure that disabled youth who are using the new housing will have the additional supports they need to thrive.

To learn more about the program, reach out to Tara Quinn: tquinn@westendnh.org.

A Link in the Chain: Ending Cycles of Violence and Socioeconomic Inequality in Wilmington

Posted by Rebecca Klug

· Wednesday, June 24th, 2020

· 1 Comment

Margaret Guy, executive director of Stop the Violence Prayer Chain Foundation, talks about providing educational and social services to children and families who live at or below the poverty level, and who are often impacted by domestic and gun violence.

Stop the Violence Prayer Chain Foundation received $2,500 in grants from the Delaware COVID-19 Strategic Response Fund to continue providing essential supplies for children in Wilmington during the crisis. In the past, the organization has offered after-school tutoring, educational trips, life-skills classes and apprenticeships, and has even partnered with Comcast to produce a children’s show. Now they’re finding new ways to connect with a community affected by the social and economic impacts of the pandemic.

We also talk with Sheila Bravo, president & CEO of the Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement (DANA) and one of the DCF’s key partners in establishing the Strategic Response Fund.

All six episodes in this second season of Building Opportunity will feature stories about how the Delaware COVID-19 Strategic Response Fund has helped nonprofits meet the needs of our community during this crisis. DCF President & CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay is our host.

You can listen and subscribe to the show on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player. Find all podcast episodes at delcf.org/podcast.

Rev. Edwin Estevez talking, gesturing broadly with an animated expression on his face

How Faith Communities Build Opportunity | Rev. Edwin Estevez

Posted by Rebecca Klug

· Friday, February 28th, 2020

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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

Podcast Episode 5: Micheal Crumble is Helping Kids Succeed

Posted by Stuart Comstock-Gay

· Friday, February 14th, 2020

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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 and Stuart Comstock-Gay sitting at a table recording the podcast

Building Opportunity for Underserved Youth | Micheal Crumble

Posted by Rebecca Klug

· Friday, February 14th, 2020

· No Comments

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.

You can listen and subscribe on Apple, Spotify. and Google Podcasts. Find all podcast episodes at delcf.org/podcast.

5 Questions with Stu: Michelle Taylor, President & CEO, United Way of Delaware

Posted by Stuart Comstock-Gay

· Monday, June 3rd, 2019

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Michelle Taylor has served Delaware’s communities through her work at United Way of Delaware for almost 20 years – more than half of that as the organization’s president & CEO, where she leads the organization’s focus on early education, college and career readiness, and financial stability in eight “promise communities.” She is an important voice among Delaware’s nonprofit infrastructure, and always exhibits a deep passion for those who have fewer resources and greater need. Michelle serves on a number of local boards (including as an ex oficio member of the DCF Board.)

5 Questions with Michelle Taylor

What motivated you to get involved in public service?

I’ve always been involved in the public service sector, which is what I believe I’ve been called to do. Every day, I get to work with amazing people and together we’re changing lives for the better across our community. The fact is, if you love what you’re doing like I do, you never really work a day in your life. And public service work is definitely what I love doing.

What community endeavors are you proudest to engage in?

I’m most proud of our collective work with partners on issues of common cause, especially when we can leverage United Way’s breadth of relationships. As I look back, one thing I am proud of is United Way’s leadership in Governor Markell’s effort to organize and launch Delaware Stars. In those early years, United Way was part of a group of determined advocates who saw the value of ensuring that children were prepared to succeed in school, and who stuck with it and propelled that work forward. Today, Delaware Stars is a given; but at that time, it was not. And so, I’m proud that United Way was a part of laying that foundation.

How does your organization contribute to expanding opportunity for people in Delaware?

United Way is focused on changing more than the conditions we see in our under-served communities. Our real goal is to change the long-term trajectory for the people living in these communities, and by doing that, to change the trajectory for the entire community. We work at both the systemic level, on things like advocacy and policy, and at the grassroots level on programming that impacts people where they live. We focus on evidence-based strategies, on working with the right partners, and on advocating for communities of greatest need. It’s not easy, and not every organization has the capacity to do that. But I think working to change the trajectory of our community is one of our sweet spots.

Is there a philanthropist or philanthropic organization that inspires you?

I’ve been fortunate to work with so many who’ve inspired me; identifying one by name is nearly impossible. But I can tell you the qualities that these individuals have in common. Each is able to look beyond themselves, and beyond the immediate situation, and to feel true empathy, not pity, for those who may not be as fortunate. Knowing that but for a chance encounter, a lucky break, or even the zip code where they were born that they too might be walking a different path in life, they never lose sight that we’re all in this together. I’m also struck by the fact that these people never seek credit for what they do. I find all of that pretty inspiring.

If you could do one thing to increase equity in Delaware, what would you do?

I’d be sure every child in Delaware was reading on grade level by the end of third grade. That’s when kids stop learning to read and start reading to learn. Doing that one thing alone would make Delaware a more equitable place because it would even the playing field. If every child, regardless of zip code, was reading on grade level, and had equitable access to resources, we could increase equity in Delaware in a generation. The great thing is this: We know how to do it. What’s required now is the will.

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About 5Qs: Each month, we ask local philanthropic leaders to answer five questions about how they view philanthropy in their work, their lives, or their organizations. It’s a chance to hear from people we all know, and some you may not know – but in a different way. This is the second in the series.

Wilmington’s Racial Wealth Divide

Posted by Stuart Comstock-Gay

· Friday, April 26th, 2019

· No Comments

“Economic inequality has expanded over the past decade, shutting the windows of opportunity to millions of Americans. In urban centers, this growing inequality has manifested through gentrification and the continued concentration of poverty in communities of color.”
– Racial Wealth Divide in Wilmington, Prosperity Now and JP Morgan Chase, March 2019

We have spent considerable time here at the DCF talking about the Opportunity Gap in America – and in Delaware. There are many issues that fuel this gap…education, employment, family connections, family stability, crime…

In addition to those factors, we also know that race is at the front of Opportunity Gap drivers. The new report from Prosperity Now and JP Morgan Chase – “Racial Wealth Divide in Wilmington,” brings that fact home in powerful way. The report – issued in March – shows that racial economic inequality is not just embedded across the country, but that economic racial divide is deeply enmeshed in Wilmington. For instance, in Wilmington, the overall median income is $40,065, a full $15,000 below the national median income. But notably, the median income of black residents is only $30,034, and for Latinos it’s just under $33,000. For whites that number is over $60,000.

We’ve seen this data before. It peppers the entirety of the DelawareFocus website. But this new report goes deeper, addressing issues like the cost-burden to renters and the wealth divide – a particularly pernicious and long-lasting divide. It discusses the education divide, where only 64% of Latinos in Wilmington have a high school degree, compared to over 80% of Blacks and Asians, and 90% of the white population.

All of us need . And the authors – Prosperity Now and JP Morgan Chase – challenge all of us. We need to better understand this historical divide. And we need to start doing something new. For one, the organizations behind the report will be launching the Racial Wealth Divide Initiative here in Wilmington, providing new leadership.

In a future blog, I’ll talk about DCF’s new equity cohort, a group of 12 Wilmington area community activists and leaders who are going to look at equity in Wilmington, and come up with recommendations for our work.

In the meantime, we look forward to partnering with our colleagues involved in this work, and commit to addressing the challenges in a more active way.

Going Far Together

Posted by Stuart Comstock-Gay

· Wednesday, February 27th, 2019

· No Comments

It’s long been said that if you want to go quickly, you go alone. But if you want to go far, go together.

Yesterday’s Focus on Wilmington showed the power of going together. It was DCF’s first community engagement session this year, and brought together 14 collaborative programs in the city, with a hundred citizens, leaders and activists – to share innovative work and break down silos.

Dorrell Green, recently named superintendent of the Red Clay School District, spoke about the Dual Generation Center at Stubbs Elementary School, a partnership between the state and Christina School District – a new center that will focus on early education but provide support for a broad range of family issues. Said Green to WDEL. “No one entity can do it alone. I just think this [event] is a good example of folks coming together to support, as a whole.”

From the Stubbs project to the comprehensive plans of REACH Riverside to break the burdens of inter-generational poverty in the Riverside Community, to the work of the Wilmington Leaders Alliance and Generations to reinvent employment pipelines, we heard from many of Wilmington’s most inspiring collaborative efforts. You can read about the programs that were highlighted here.

During the event, participants said things like, “I heard about things I’ve been wanting to do and learned they are already happening, and being done better,” and “This was a great way to learn about how funding aligns with community needs and a great way to connect with leaders.” And “I just didn’t know about this program, and it’s exactly what I’m looking for.” Collaboration is indeed well practiced in Wilmington and Delaware, with leaders like the Wilmington Community Advisory Council and United Way doing heavy lifting.

DCF organized this event as one of many activities to build on the work of our fall 2018 community leadership lecture from Bob Putnam, talking about his book Our Kids and about the opportunity gap in America. During the lead up to that event, and afterward, we heard repeatedly from friends and colleagues that folks wanted to know more about what’s going on and how to plug in. Even those of us most involved keep finding new programs that we didn’t previously know about, and which are great opportunities for partnerships.

There is so much tremendous work going on. And everybody knows that we need to work together. Most of us are working together. This program tried to broaden the connections. And it’s not the end. DCF is committed to helping bring people together to strengthen partnerships up and down the state. Watch for more about future focus conversations.

McLaughlin Dream Chasers: Basketball & Opportunity

Posted by Allison Levine

· Wednesday, April 11th, 2018

· No Comments

On first blush, the McLaughlin Dream Chasers program looks like a basketball program for budding middle school student athletes.

But it’s so much more.

Funded by the William T. and Mary A. McLaughlin Educational Fund at the Delaware Community Foundation, Dream Chasers inspires and supports athletically gifted and primarily at-risk students to take another educational step beyond high school and realize their full potential as caring, productive, responsible citizens.

“Dream Chasers is just one of the many programs the DCF funds to expand opportunities for children to succeed,” DCF President and CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay said. “And when our kids succeed, our whole community becomes stronger.”

For nearly a quarter century, the McLaughlin Dream Chasers program has helped hundreds of outstanding basketball players in Wilmington raise their academic and athletic profiles through a unique program that blends scholastic supervision, athletics and social commitment.

The program operates at no cost for participants. Instead, students make a commitment to excellence on the court, in the classroom and in the community.

In return, they receive support from a cadre of coaches, mentors, teachers and alumni who help them understand the importance of preparation and execution in academics and athletics, as well the expectation of giving back to others as a way to thank those who supported them.

“It’s not just sports. We want them to have impact beyond there,” said Ty Perry, executive director of the program, which operates out of the Clarence Fraim Boys & Girls Club. “I look at is as building a confidence. It helps them to build that inner esteem. They feel like they can conquer the world.”

Eric Hicks II joined Dream Chasers in sixth grade, went on to a stellar basketball career at St. Elizabeth High School, and is now a freshman at Delaware State University majoring in engineering-physics.

Of the 14 Dream Chasers in Hicks’ cohort, who graduated from high school last year, 11 are in college. Hicks credits the McLaughlin Dream Chasers with helping him to become a better student and athlete.

“The Dream Chasers program instilled in me a strong work ethic on the court that carried into the classroom,” Hicks said.

Program founder Dave Sysko said the goal has always been to encourage students to see the opportunities available with hard work and ability.

“We’ve had kids who have gone to the military, to Del Tech and other colleges, and who are employed, useful citizens,” Sysko said. “It’s never been about basketball. That was the carrot.”

The program got its start in the early 1990s, when Sysko discovered that many talented high school basketball players needed more support to be academically eligible for college.

In partnership with Dr. Tony Allen and Sonia Sloan, Sysko created an academic program disguised as a basketball team.

Enticed by free headbands, socks and enough basketball to keep them engaged, the students worked hard, received tutoring and took summer classes that helped them make dramatic gains in math and English. The students also visited Ohio University and McGill University, where they stayed in the dorms and got a taste of collegiate life.

By 1994, Sysko, Allen and Sloan wanted to expand the program – originally called Future Stars – to reach more students. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware offered to host the program, and the team decided to create an endowed fund to support the program in perpetuity.

To raise the money for the endowment, Sysko and his colleagues persuaded the late Charlie Cawley, MBNA founder, to host a dinner honoring beloved former Wilmington Mayor Bill McLaughlin. The event brought in $1 million to establish the William T. and Mary A. McLaughlin Education Fund at the DCF.

“Of all his accomplishments, he would think the Dream Chasers is his most important legacy,” said his son, Bill McLaughlin Jr., who still serves on the board of directors.

For Eric Hicks’ mother, Daphne, one of the greatest experiences with Dream Chasers was the sense of communal responsibility for the children’s success.

“Although, it was an academic basketball program, it embodied the quote, ‘It takes a village,’” she said. “As parents, we all gained great friendships through our children’s love for the sport of basketball. We were all there ensuring that every child was supported and always encouraged them to excel on and off the court.”

Remembering Mort, Helen, and Steve

Posted by Stuart Comstock-Gay

· Sunday, March 25th, 2018

· No Comments

Philanthropy comes in many forms. It frequently involves financial giving, and giving of time. But even more, philanthropy – at its root – is about a love of humankind.

In the past few months, Delaware has lost at least three great philanthropists. All of them have touched people – thousands of people – with their leadership, passion, and indeed their love of humankind. Those of us at DCF are not the only ones who mourn their passing. But like others, we also celebrate their lives.

Morton Kimmel is extremely well known to the legal community in Delaware, to Best Buddies Delaware, to people in the local sports scene – and to pretty much anybody involved in a community betterment project in Wilmington. He was a long-time supporter of the DCF Friends campaign, and worked closely with DCF on a project to raise funds to buy vests for the Wilmington police. Moreover, Mort was a genuinely nice man. I personally feel fortunate to have met him in the past year and a half.

Helen Eliason, who passed away in December, has been one of DCF’s stalwart and steady supporters for decades. Those who received her support knew her as passionate about children, about reading, about gardens, and about Wilmington. She was a long-time supporter of innovative projects at the West End Neighborhood House, from support for an urban farm to a software app to aid the track team, to an environmental job training program, educational field trips, and scholarships for summer camp. “We can’t begin to express our gratitude for her support and the incredible legacy she leaves behind,” said Paul Calistro. Nor can we.

CAMP Rehoboth co-founder Steve Elkins was also an important philanthropist. It takes a deep belief in helping others to spend your career eschewing financial largesse in favor of building community. Steve and CAMP Rehoboth co-founder Murray Archibald have, for 25 years, led the charge toward making Rehoboth a welcoming community, and leading the charge for equal rights for the LGBT community. A leader indeed. An activist, sure. But also… a philanthropist.

We sometimes think of philanthropists as only those who have millions to give away. But as these stories remind us, philanthropy indeed comes in many forms.

All of us can be philanthropists in one way or another – by giving money, by giving time, by how we live our lives. Thank you, Mort. Thank you, Helen. Thank you, Steve.

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