Advertise on podcast: How to (Not) Kill Your Community

In this episode, Stuart Comstock-Gay speaks with David Conrad-Pérez, author of "Fire in the Heart of the City: The Triangle Shirtwaist Tragedy and the Origins of Modern Charity" about the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of 1911 and how it impacted philanthropy in the United States.  David Conrad-Pérez is a historian who writes about the media, philanthropy, public memory, and the hidden institutional forces that shape how people understand crisis and reform.

In this episode, Stuart Comstock-Gay speaks with Pam Eaton and Secretary Anne Canby about the unique transportation challenges of northern and southern Delaware, climate change, and moving past a highway-only mindset. Secretary Anne Canby is a transportation policy expert who pioneered women's leadership in state transportation agencies. She served as the first female Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Transportation from 1981 to 1982 and the first female Secretary of the Delaware Department of Transportation from 1993 to 2001. Over her career, Canby advocated for multimodal transportation systems, including the introduction of EZPass toll collection, expanded regional rail services, bike and pedestrian infrastructure, and context-sensitive design principles in Delaware, shifting departmental focus from highway-centric to broader, sustainable options that minimized environmental impacts. Pam Eaton is a seasoned transportation planning executive with more than 35 years of experience advancing sustainable mobility, transit, and infrastructure improvement. Her work integrates transportation and land use planning to deliver multimodal, long-range strategies that balance public facilities, environmental stewardship, and community priorities. Pam has also delivered testimony before U.S. Congressional Committees following Hurricane Katrina, founded the Rhode Island Flood Mitigation Association chapter, and authored Rhode Island's first public coastal access guide.

In this episode, Stuart Comstock-Gay speaks with Director of Community Engagement for the Delaware Department of Justice Corie Priest about recidivism rates, mental health, and meaningful engagement with justice systems. Corie Priest is the Director of Community Engagement for the Delaware Department of Justice, a pioneering role he began in April 2019 — marking the first time the Department hired someone it had previously prosecuted. A nationally respected voice in reentry and criminal justice reform, Priest began his professional journey at the Wilmington HOPE Commission Achievement Center as one of Delaware's first Peer Support Specialists, later serving as In-Reach Coordinator and New Castle County Supervisor of Reentry for Connections CSP. Corie holds degrees from Delaware Technical Community College and Wilmington University.

In this episode, Stuart Comstock-Gay speaks with the Executive Director of the Down Syndrome Association of Delaware Lauren Camp Gates about focusing resources on people with disabilities and how nonprofits can be more intentional about engaging people with disabilities and their families. Lauren Camp Gates is the Executive Director of the Down Syndrome Association of Delaware, where she began as a volunteer in 2012. In addition to her executive leadership, Lauren serves as the youngest-ever National Board President of Down Syndrome Affiliates in Action, collaborating with more than 100 Down syndrome organizations nationwide. She also served as a policy associate with the National Down Syndrome Congress and is the founder of Down to Box, a national nonprofit with 13 locations providing inclusive fitness and boxing programs. In recognition of her impact and leadership, she was named a 40 Under 40 honoree by Delaware Business Times in 2021. She has an MPA from the University of Delaware.

In this episode, Stuart Comstock-Gay speaks with Rabbi Yair Robinson of Congregation Beth Emeth and Father Jeffrey Ross of Saint Peter's Episcopal Church about what we as Americans can learn from religious communities about strengthening our democracy and the role of doubt in a life of faith. Rabbi Yair Robinson is the spiritual leader and senior rabbi of Congregation Beth Emeth, where he has served since 2009. Originally from Massachusetts, Yair graduated from Oberlin College in 1998. He earned his Masters and Rabbinic Ordination from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, where he focused on liturgy and creative writing. Before coming to Beth Emeth, he served as the Associate Rabbi at Congregation Shir Ami in Newtown PA and at Rockdale Temple in Cincinnati. Since 2005, Father Jeffrey Ross has served as the rector of Saint Peter's Episcopal Church in Lewes, which has been in existence for over 300 years and is an active and growing community. He is a graduate of the General Theological Seminary and holds a Master of Science degree in Pastoral Counseling from Neumann University. Prior to ordination, he worked as a family therapist as well as on Bishop's staff for Christian Formation, the church's educational program.

In this episode, Stuart Comstock-Gay speaks with the founder of Hook PR & Marketing Patricia Rivera about communication bias, Hispanic entrepreneurs, the Arsht-Cannon Fund, and finding your "why." Patricia Rivera is the founder of Hook PR & Marketing, where she leads a team of multicultural communicators to develop campaigns that honor the depth and diversity of humankind and support organizations focused on social good. She began her career as a storyteller and print journalist, working at The New York Times, The News Journal and The Dallas Morning News. Her awards include 2018 Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year Award from New Castle County Chamber of Commerce; 2019 Delaware Minority-Owned Business of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration; and 2020 Delaware Today Women in Business honoree.

In this episode, Stuart Comstock-Gay speaks with CEO of Sussex County Habitat for Humanity Kevin Gilmore about declining volunteerism nationally, building houses in your own community, and becoming a better person by helping others. Kevin Gilmore serves as CEO of Sussex County Habitat for Humanity. As the affiliate's first paid employee beginning in 2004, Gilmore has overseen its growth into a leading regional nonprofit, expanding home construction, repair programs, and homeownership support services. He earned a bachelor's degree in communications from Elon University in 1996 and later received a Master of Public Administration from the University of Delaware in 2004. Gilmore was honored by Elon University with a Distinguished Service Award, reflecting his leadership in advancing affordable housing and community development initiatives.

In this episode, Stuart Comstock-Gay speaks with LGBTQ+ activists Lisa Goodman and Drew Fennell about anti-discrimination laws, marriage equality, and being, at different points, "the most out person in Delaware." Lisa B. Goodman is a lawyer and founder of the Delaware lobbying firm 302 Strategies, where she has represented scores of clients in Dover over many years. She holds a J.D., magna cum laude, from Widener University School of Law, and earlier earned degrees from the University of Delaware and West Chester University. She has been active in legal advocacy, serving as president of Equality Delaware, an organization that championed Delaware's civil-union and anti-discrimination laws. Drew Fennell is an attorney, strategic advisor, and longtime civil rights and public service leader. She holds a B.A. from the University of Delaware and a J.D. from Rutgers University School of Law. Her many positions include executive director of the ACLU of Delaware, executive director of the Delaware Criminal Justice Council, chief of staff to Governor Jack Markell, senior VP at Christiana Care, and most recently, executive vice president at Social Contract.

In this episode, Stuart Comstock-Gay speaks with Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester about the pursuit of joy through service, the hard work of love, and the power of prayer. Lisa Blunt Rochester was sworn in as the junior U.S. Senator from Delaware in 2025, previously serving as Delaware's at-large U.S. Representative from 2017-2025. She is the first woman and first Black person to represent Delaware in Congress. Born in Philadelphia and raised in Wilmington, Delaware, she has a strong public service background, including roles in state government and as CEO of the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League, and is known for her advocacy in public health, environmental justice, and economic issues.

Season two of How to (Not) Kill Your Community drops this April. Join Stuart Comstock-Gay, President and CEO of the Delaware Community Foundation for eight new episodes. Hear from experts such as Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester, former Delaware Department of Transportation Secretary Anne Canby, and Sussex County Habitat for Humanity CEO Kevin Gilmore. We go deeper with discussions about the role of religion in democracy, the importance of entrepreneurship, and declining volunteerism. Help us tackle the essential question: How do we NOT kill our community?

In this episode, Stuart Comstock-Gay speaks with Eric Klinenberg, author of 2020: One City, Seven People, and the Year Everything Changed, about what the COVID-19 pandemic revealed about our reliance on social infrastructure.  Eric Klinenberg is Helen Gould Shepard Professor of Social Science and Director of the Institute for Public Knowledge at New York University. He is the author of Palaces for the People: How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, and the Decline of Civic Life (Crown, 2018), Going Solo: The Extraordinary Rise and Surprising Appeal of Living Alone (The Penguin Press, 2012), Fighting for Air: The Battle to Control America's Media (Metropolitan Books, 2007), and Heat Wave: A Social Autopsy of Disaster in Chicago (University of Chicago Press, 2002), as well as the editor of Cultural Production in a Digital Age, co-editor of Antidemocracy in America (Columbia University Press, 2019), and co-author, with Aziz Ansari, of the New York Times #1 bestseller Modern Romance (The Penguin Press, 2015).

In this episode, Stuart Comstock-Gay speaks with Delaware librarians Jill DiPaolo and Jamar Rahming about the vital role libraries play in sustaining our democracy. Jamar Rahming serves as the Executive Director of the Wilmington Public Library in Delaware. Under his leadership, the library has become a vibrant community hub, hosting notable figures such as Angela Davis, LeVar Burton, and Dolly Parton. In recognition of its exceptional service, the library received the 2022 National Medal for Museum and Library Services. Rahming's dedication to community engagement and inclusivity earned him the 2025 "I Love My Librarian" award. With a career spanning two decades across eight states, including a fellowship at the Smithsonian Institution, Rahming continues to champion the transformative power of libraries. Jill DiPaolo is the Director of the Lewes Public Library. Before assuming her current role, she served as Director of both the Selbyville and Milton Public Libraries and held leadership positions in outreach and technology services at the Sussex County Department of Libraries. In 2022, DiPaolo spearheaded the inaugural Sussex County Scripps National Spelling Bee. She was also instrumental in securing technology grants from the Gates Foundation to enhance library services statewide. Residing in Lewes with her husband, Mike, and their two children, DiPaolo maintains strong ties to the community she serves.

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.