8 June, 2026 3 3 Comments

Carrying The Dream Forward

June 8, 2026 By 3 Comments

Award Winner Emmanuel “Dupree” Jackson.

When people remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., they often think about the dream.

 

But Dr. King was more than a dreamer. He was an organizer, a strategist, and a builder. He believed that lasting change happens when people are empowered to lead, serve, and lift up their communities.

 

That legacy lives on in Delray Beach through the work of my friend  Emanuel “Dupree” Jackson Jr. Recently, Dupree was honored by the National Education Association with the

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Award. The award is given to leaders who emulate Dr. King’s leadership and philosophy.

The recognition is a very big deal. A national award! I can’t imagine a more deserving honoree.

I’ve been watching Dupree for years now. He’s a special person and a special leader.

As founder of the Emanuel Jackson Sr. (EJS) Project, Dupree has dedicated his life to creating opportunities for young people. Named in honor of his late father, who instilled in him the values of education, service, and community, the organization has become one of the most impactful youth development programs in Palm Beach County and a national model.

 

The Carl Angus DeSantis Foundation is proud to support EJS because we believe in investing in people who are making a lasting difference in the communities they call home. Few people embody that mission more completely than Dupree.

 

For more than a decade, EJS has helped over 5,000 young people build brighter futures through academic support, mental health counseling, leadership development, workforce training, and paid internship opportunities. But the organization’s impact extends far beyond the services it provides.

 

EJS creates spaces where young people can have honest conversations about issues affecting their lives. Participants learn about history, current events, civic engagement, and the responsibilities that come with citizenship. They are encouraged not only to understand their communities, but to help shape them.

 

Through participation in City Commission meetings, engagement with the Delray Beach Police Department, and direct interaction with civic and business leaders, young people gain firsthand experience in leadership and public service. They learn that their voices matter and that they have the power to make a difference.

 

One of EJS’s signature initiatives, Purpose Pays, offers youth ages 14 to 18 compensated work experiences, and professional development opportunities. Participants earn income while learning teamwork, communication, initiative, project management, and workplace responsibility. The program reinforces a simple but powerful idea: opportunity creates confidence, and confidence creates leaders.

 

Anyone who knows Dupree knows his commitment goes well beyond programs and statistics. He organizes neighborhood beautification projects, sponsors after-school tutoring, and leads educational trips that expose young people to history and African American culture. For many participants, these experiences represent their first opportunity to travel beyond their immediate surroundings and see a larger world of possibilities.

 

More importantly, Dupree shows up.

 

He shows up for young people who need encouragement. He shows up for families looking for support. He shows up for a community that believes deeply in the potential of its next generation.

 

His personal motto—”Bout Dat Action”—is more than a slogan. It is a philosophy of service. It reflects a belief that meaningful change requires commitment, consistency, and a willingness to do the work every day.

 

That is why his recent recognition with the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Award feels so fitting.

 

Like Dr. King, Dupree understands that dreams matter. But he also understands that dreams become reality only when people are willing to roll up their sleeves and get to work.

 

For years, he has been doing exactly that—helping young people find their voices, discover their purpose, and realize their potential.

Delray Beach is better because of it.

Check out the EJS Project. It will give you hope for the future. https://ejsproject.org/

 

 

A Teachable Moment

I had an odd experience recently, that I thought I would share because the story contains some lessons that I think may be helpful.

I subscribe to a real estate blog that I usually find interesting. It includes a video summary that covers what’s happening in South Florida.

Recently, when it showed up in my inbox it had a provocative headline referencing an “old” Delray mayor embarking on a real estate project.

I thought, “Which of my predecessors is taking on a project in such a challenging environment—high interest rates, inflation, labor issues, and more?”

Then, I read the story, and I realized they were referring to me. Only they were using the name of a work colleague, who never served as mayor of Delray Beach.

Many things about the story were inaccurate, starting with the names.

As a former journalist, this kind of stuff nags at me. I don’t get mad, just annoyed.

Now the blogger is not a reporter, he’s a real estate broker. But still, come on folks. Two minutes of checking via Google would have cleared up a few very basic things.

I shrugged it off ( even the reference to being “old” rather than being referred to as a former mayor) but then I clicked on the video which implied that the misnamed old mayor used his political influence to get the project approved. There were a few snarky remarks, a bunch of innuendo and the impression that this is how it works—elected officials serve so they can monetize their office.

Well, I’d like to say that’s never true, but I can’t. However, it’s not true for every elected official. And it’s not true for me.

I don’t use my former position to get favors from city government. There are five elected officials in Delray, I know four of them, have never met one, have never talked to another, and the remaining three I don’t talk to unless they call me, which is rarely if ever. I am friends with Commissioner Judy Mollica. Our friendship predates any thought of her running for office.

In addition, I barely know anyone who works at City Hall these days. The folks I worked with are long gone.

It’s nothing personal. I’m at a different place in life. I wish them all well. Go forth and build a better Delray. It’s someone else’s turn now and has been since 2007 when I was termed out.

Don’t ask me about parking. Don’t ask me about beach renourishment. Don’t ask me about the Coco Market.  I am no longer current. And when it comes to development, I have one piece of advice: follow the rules.

I sent an email to the blogger/real estate guy clarifying the facts. A few hours later I got a response from his “content manager” assuring me the blog was corrected and it was. The content person also said that associated materials were also corrected. But the video is still floating around, which isn’t cool.

I bring this up because I think it’s what they call a teachable moment.

We miss local journalism, done well by people trained in how to obtain and verify facts. I am not saying that the press is perfect, they’re not. They make mistakes, there are biases (reporters are human) but there used to be curation and fact checking. I miss that.

I listen to a podcast called Top of Mind Florida which is co-hosted by former Channel 5 anchor Michael Williams and long time Palm Beach Post political writer Brian Crowley. It’s on all the usual platforms and I highly recommend you check it out. What makes it stand out  is the perspective these two veteran journalists bring to the subjects they cover. They know Palm Beach County, they know Florida, they know about life and it shows in the questions they ask and the context they bring to the podcast.

Journalism is the only profession named in our Constitution and it’s at risk. Democracy really does die in the darkness.

Now, I am not saying that a real estate blog that made a mistake is a threat to Democracy. But I am saying that facts matter.

On a recent visit to Chicago, my colleagues and I sat down with the president of the legendary MacArthur Foundation in his incredible office in the famed Marquette building.

John Palphrey is an impressive person. A great grandson of Teddy Roosevelt. A man who has taught at Harvard, written books, ran an elite educational institution and now is making a big mark in philanthropy around the world.

I asked Mr. Palphrey where his foundation’s investments made the most impact. His answer surprised me.

“Local journalism” he said without hesitation. He saw an immediate impact via investment in supporting local news.

It was an interesting answer. And one that surprised me.

I’ve been thinking a lot about what he said that day. I heard a similar sentiment during a recent visit with the head of the Arthur Vining Davis Foundation.

On another note, there’s a business lesson in how you handle mistakes, which do happen. You own them and you correct them, personally. I wrote to the real estate blogger. I got a kind response from the content manager. That’s a missed opportunity.

When I screw up, which I do from time to time, I try to take responsibility, learn from my mistakes and personally apologize. I don’t outsource that part of my life.

Often, in life and business, it’s not the mistake that matters, it’s how you handle it.

 

20 October, 2025 2 2 Comments

Next Chapters…

October 20, 2025 By 2 Comments

Aarif Khan with EJS Project founder Dupree Jackson.

Recently, I saw a post on social media about golfer Rory McIlroy donating $10.9 million to build housing for orphans and homeless people in Northern Ireland.

Sadly, those stories were fake. One more piece of evidence to make us feel bad about the state of our world. Why would anyone lie about such a thing?

When we write the story of what happened to our world, when we focus on what drove us apart, I suspect that social media will be at the top of the list of causes. Thanks Elon. Thanks Zuck. Hope you enjoy your fortunes.

With the advent and maturation (an oxymoron) of social media, we have let go of moderation, curation, editing and fact-checking. We’ve fallen into a deep crevasse which seems bottomless. Goodbye propriety, hello deep-fake AI. Sigh…

I cut my teeth in the newspaper business an imperfect model that nevertheless strived to be fair and accurate. If that sentence somehow offends you or makes you gag, I get it.

Newspapers and media in general are a human business and humans make mistakes. People come to their work with inherent bias.

But in the newsrooms where I worked, I saw journalists who strived to be accurate and took pride in their reporting.

Before I handed a story to an editor, I usually read it five or six times. I worked with a range of personalities, some kind, some curmudgeonly, but all experienced. Their antennae were always on alert for errors of fact or omission. I lived in fear of being called out for writing something inaccurate.

I made my fair share of mistakes; like I said reporting is or was a human business. My era was well before the days of AI. Now you can feed your work to ChatGPT for a quick scan of facts. In my day, I had to rely on sources, frequent trips to a physical library and City Hall to access government documents and reports. Our most productive time was spent out of the newsroom; today I suspect you don’t have to leave your desk and that’s a crying shame. The best stuff is discovered when you are out and about, just like the best parts of life happen when you leave your screen behind and explore the world.

Anyway, I was saddened that the Rory story was false. We can use some uplifting news these days.

So, I went looking and I found some.

I’m a big fan of the EJS Project, a local nonprofit that is changing lives right here in Delray Beach.

Emmanuel “Dupree” Jackson is a leader to watch. He’s devoting his life and considerable talents to the next generation. The foundation I work for supports his work and because we believe in Dupree and his team.

We believe in Dupree’s heart and we’ve seen the results; local teens stepping into their potential, learning how the world works and gaining confidence and experience to lead our community someday. Hurry up, next generation, our world needs you. Our current generation is failing us miserably.

Anyway, we recently  received word that one of EJS’ talented leaders is leaving the organization to pursue his next chapter in life, an MBA at Duke.

Aarif Khan was a senior program manager at EJS. Since joining EJS in 2021 he has touched lots of lives. The lessons he taught, the experiences he helped facilitate will stay with the young people he touched for the rest of their lives.

I’ll let Aarif tell you himself.

“My connection to EJS began in 2021 while studying at the Watson Institute at Lynn University. My mentor, Jerry Hildebrand, encouraged me to find a social impact internship and circled the EJS Project on a list of options. He said it was the perfect match for my “boots on the ground” attitude. Unfortunately, later in the same semester, on October 5, 2021, Jerry passed away. Jerry was an integral part of my life at a time when guidance, inspiration, a friendly face, and an ear to listen were very much needed.

Honoring his guidance, I pursued an internship with EJS. With help from a friend, Ricky Aiken from Inner City Innovators, I connected with Dupree, and what began as a three-month internship evolved into almost four years of meaningful work.

We still laugh about my first day: I showed up in a three-piece suit, clip-on tie and all, for what was supposed to be an informal conversation. That moment set the tone for my time here: showing up with intention, ready to go beyond expectations. It’s a story we now share with students to remind them that how you show up can open doors.

From my first tutoring session, I felt a sense of family at EJS. Students gave up Saturdays to help their peers, parents stopped in to greet staff, and neighbors treated our space as a true community hub. That spirit has never faded, and I know how blessed I am to be part of this community.”

Wow.

Aarif’s words take my breath away and remind me of the beauty that still exists in a world that seems to amplify ugliness.

I noticed that he “name checked” two people in his letter to the EJS community. The late Jerry Hildebrand and Ricky Aiken of Inner City Innovators.

I served on Jerry’s board at the Social Impact Lab at Lynn University. As I write these words, I’m looking at a beautiful scarf Jerry gifted me from a trip to Africa. A handwritten note mentioned that scarves and head wraps were once symbolic of oppression and subjugation but were later transformed into a powerful symbol of dignity, survival and resistance.

When I consider Aarif’s value to our children, I wonder how many other young leaders Jerry touched in his life. I trust that the waves of goodness they create are ongoing and that’s how people like Jerry Hildebrand live on.

The other name mentioned was Mr. Aiken. I just met Ricky at his office at the wonderful 1909 incubator in West Palm Beach. My team was invited to join a meeting of the Inner City Innovators and we were deeply moved by their mission and commitment to saving inner city youth from the violence and dysfunction that plague some of our neighborhoods.

They are making a difference (without the need for federal troops) by developing relationships, meeting the emergency needs of kids who struggle financially and showing up with a heart for their work. What they do is beautiful and breathtaking.

And there’s more good work to share.

The Delray Beach Playhouse and The Arts Garage are showcasing local talent, sharing important stories and giving artists an outlet to spark conversations. That is invaluable. We need to talk, we need to gather, we need to share or we will lose each other. It’s just that simple.

Her Second Chance, a beautiful nonprofit in Boca, is saving the lives of women in recovery by giving them a purpose, support and the skills they will need to rebuild. I urge you to visit, your life will change when you see their work up close.

Visit the Achievement Center for Children and Families and see our most vulnerable little ones thrive in a loving environment. Attend an event at Max Planck, an amazing institute and witness scientists engage the community about brain health and see up close why it’s important to support scientific research. It’s an investment in us.

And the list goes on.

Once again I come back to the words of Aarif Khan about his experience at EJS.

“Thank you, Dupree, for trusting me to lead. EJS has always been about one thing: unlocking potential that others overlook. You did that with me and helped me find and grow into my fullest self. I may not have come in through an intake, or with a parent asking for help, but I am just as much a student of the EJS Project as I am a staff member.”

Beautiful.

So maybe Rory didn’t take his Ryder Cup bonus (apparently there is no such thing) and give to the needy in Ireland. But he has given in the past. I don’t pretend to know why someone would plant falsehoods into the algorithm, but I do know that real and positive work is being done right here at home and all over the world.

Let’s be thankful for that.

 

12 August, 2024 10 10 Comments

Living History

August 12, 2024 By 10 Comments

The EJS Project is changing lives in our community.

“This is the time to show up. This is the time to work hard.” –EJS Project founder and executive director Emmanuel “Dupree” Jackson.

My friend Dupree speaks the truth.

What an important message.

It is time to get to work. It is time to make a difference.

Recently, I spent a few days (virtually) following Dupree and a group of teenagers from the EJS Project as they traveled from Delray Beach to Alabama to soak up history.

I followed their adventures on social media as they met with leaders and learned how history informs our present and our future. I watched with pride as these young leaders learned how they can shape the world they are about to inherit. Even through Facebook videos, you can see when the lights turn on in a young person’s mind. You can feel the spark.

Yes, something very special is happening at EJS. It’s extraordinary to watch.

The EJS Project has vision.

The EJS Project is ambitious and the EJS Project is changing lives by educating and empowering future leaders.

And we need leadership more than ever.

We need it in Delray Beach, we need it in Florida, in America and in our world.

Leadership moves mountains. It’s just that simple.

The goal of the “Young Legislators Trip 2024” was to educate and open the eyes of future leaders. And based on what I watched online; the trip was a success.

The teens went to Selma, Alabama. They walked the Edmund Pettis Bridge, met with the extraordinary Bryan Stevenson (whose Equal Justice Initiative is nothing short of miraculous) and they talked to mayors and legislators about the future. They also visited the Legacy Museum in Montgomery which displays the history of slavery and racism in America. The museum was founded by the Equal Justice Initiative.

It is one thing to learn about history and talk about it in some classroom. It is quite another to walk in the steps of giants who risked their lives to move this nation forward.

The EJS Project allows our children—and they are our children—to explore history and learn why it is relevant to our present and our future.

History is never really the past—it informs our day to day and that’s why I was thrilled to see these kids take a  journey through the cradle of the civil rights movement.

I was overjoyed when they visited Mr. Stevenson, a personal hero of mine. Bryan Stevenson’s life was portrayed in the movie “Just Mercy.” A few years back, I had a chance to see him speak at a Leadership Florida meeting. He gave the single best speech I’ve ever seen—and I’ve seen  lots of speeches.

Mr. Stevenson has devoted his life to defending those wrongly condemned or those not afforded proper legal representation. He’s a courageous man and it makes my heart sing to know that the kids from EJS had time with someone who believes that “somebody has to stand when other people are sitting. Somebody has to speak when other people are quiet.”

Stevenson also talks about the concept of proximity.

This idea is often used in the context of you can’t hate someone if you get to know them and so we are called to be proximate to others. I also believe it can be used to describe what EJS is doing; ensuring that our youth is proximate to the action so that our kids can understand how our world works or why it sometimes falls short.

I believe with every fiber of my being that it is important for all of us to be exposed to the trailblazers in our world. Mr. Stevenson is a remarkable example, as were John Lewis and Martin Luther King Jr., who led a march to the Edmund Pettus Bridge so that our kids can cross that bridge safely today.

But as important as it is to walk in the steps of giants, it’s also important to note that heroes are everywhere we look if we open our eyes.

Earlier this year, a marker was placed near our public beach to commemorate the integration of that beach and the work of local icon Alfred “Zack” Straghn who made it happen.

I was privileged to know Mr. Straghn who was very generous with his time. He made it a point to meet with and educate people from many walks of life in his beloved Delray Beach. I was one of thousands that he touched.

But in our fast-paced world, I often wonder if these heroes get forgotten with the tides which rise and fall with the currents of the day.

That’s why I’m so glad that retired fire chief Kerry Koen made it his mission to place that marker for his friend Zack on A1A near the pavilion so that generations can learn and remember.

Kerry is himself, a local hero, generous with his time and his knowledge. He has touched thousands and has become the gold standard for a fire chief.

The best leaders are generous. They are born to share, and they are passionate about expanding opportunities for others.

That’s what attracted us to Dupree and the EJS Project. The Carl Angus DeSantis Foundation got involved with a small grant and we have watched the EJS Project grow, while enduring some challenges that might have stopped a less passionate movement. But instead of seeing them shrink when obstacles emerged, we watched their resilience strengthen and we watched their mission expand.

We are committed as well…the foundation is setting aside $50,000 a year for three years for EJS’s mission. They need commitment from funders, and we are happy to stand alongside them as they transform lives.

We believe the future of Delray is brighter because of organization’s such as EJS. And we hope others will step up and watch this special nonprofit build the next generation of leaders.

23 October, 2023 6 6 Comments

EJS Project: 9 Years Of Action

October 23, 2023 By 6 Comments

Delray’s EJS Project has impacted over 500 teens in its first nine years of existence.

We went to the annual EJS Project gala at The Addison in Boca Raton last week.

It was a fun event.

“Delray Morning Live” host Jamael Stewart is a natural comedian and the mood in the room was happy, festive, and hopeful. This was a family gathering and it was beautiful to experience.

The EJS Project is a Delray Beach nonprofit that is transforming the lives of local teenagers by giving them a safe place to gather, study, talk about issues and learn the skills they will need to navigate a tough world.

To date, more than 500 of our children—and they are OUR children—have been touched and in many cases transformed by the EJS Project.

We heard from several alumni of the program. They talked about how EJS changed their lives by caring for them in every aspect of their lives. There is counseling, tutoring, group therapy sessions, field trips and training in soft skills.

Kids who get involved are exposed to leaders at all levels of society. They take trips to Washington D.C. and talk to policymakers about issues, they travel to Tallahassee to lobby the powerful and they go to City Commission meetings to see how their own community is governed.

The catchphrase used by the EJS Project is “Bout Dat Action” and it means that students who engage in the program are called to take action; they are challenged to make the changes they want to see in the world.

I sat next to a local hero, Yvonne Odom at the gala. Mrs. Odom was a long-time educator in our community.

She knows kids.

She’s raised them, taught them, coached them along with her husband Red and pressed their interests as a vocal activist in Delray and beyond. She’s also an historical figure having been the first African American student to attend Atlantic High School. Mrs. Odom also happens to be the grandmother of Coco Gauff, who just won the U.S. Open and has the promise to not only be a tennis champion but someone who makes a difference beyond sports.

As young people testified about the power of the EJS Project, I was moved by the reaction of my friend Yvonne.  She was beaming with pride.

What we were seeing was special. It was powerful too.

We saw a shy young man testifying in front of hundreds of people about how this program helped him break out of his shell and opened his eyes to the potential of his life. We heard from a once troubled young woman who doubled her GPA with the help of EJS and became focused and interested in her own future and listened to how a socially anxious young woman found her confidence through EJS and the internship they secured for her at a local company, Festival Management Group producers of local favorites such as Garlic Fest and the Delray Affair.

Jamael, the talented emcee, talked about growing up in Delray and how he and others felt there were limited opportunities for a bright future. Many of his childhood friends sought opportunities elsewhere but he and others returned to give something back. To coach, mentor, tutor, encourage and urge the next generation to believe that their potential was limitless.

Emmanuel “Dupree” Jackson, the founder of EJS was one of those who returned after college. Dupree has dedicated his every waking hour to helping the next generation find a way forward.

Mr. Jackson had to navigate some tough streets as a young man. He knows the pitfalls that can consume a young person and never release them. He wants the teens he works with to dream big, act and become leaders not only in their own lives but in the community as well.

We need this kind of training—desperately.

I’m proud to say that the Carl Angus DeSantis Foundation, of which I am a director,  is investing in EJS’ work. We see the potential.

My wife and I are investing as well.

There is no more important mission than to build and empower tomorrow’s leaders. If we are to survive, if we are to thrive, we must ensure that tomorrow’s leaders are ready.

Yes, that is a trite and obvious statement. But it doesn’t mean we’re doing it; progress is not a given.

As I sat next to Diane and Mrs. Odom at a table that included some wonderful people who serve our community as teachers, volunteers, elected officials, business owners etc., I thought back to a long ago experience I had with Bryan Stevenson, the founder of the Equal Justice Initiative.

Hollywood recently made a movie called “Just Mercy” with Michael B. Jordan about Mr. Stevenson’s life.

I was at a Leadership Florida event when Stevenson got up and gave the single best speech I’ve ever heard.

Mr. Stevenson talked about proximity—and the importance of getting close to others and their issues, regardless of how hard it is to see.

In order to solve problems, to understand each other we need to be proximate to one another. Stevenson calls it the power of proximity.

I’m seeing that power, I’m feeling that power at The EJS Project.

I was at a table with Vice Mayor Ryan Boylston, Commissioner Angela Burns and candidate Nick Coppola. Candidates Christina Morrison and Tennille Dacoste were in the room too.

I didn’t have a chance to speak with them, but if they are reading this, I sure hope they were as swept away as I was. I’m betting that they were. And my hope is that Delray pays attention to this little non-profit that is making a big impact. This is the kind of work we should invest in. The return on that investment will be a better world.

To learn more about EJS visit  https://ejsproject.org/

 

Sad News

Lt. Keith was a role model to many.

Ray Keith, a 31-year-old lieutenant with Delray Beach Fire Rescue, died Wednesday, October 18 after a courageous two-year battle with cancer. Keith has served the residents of Delray Beach since October 2016. Lt. Keith will be laid to rest with full honors.

 

“Our hearts are heavy today, and I know that every single person in our department is affected by this tremendous loss,” Delray Beach Fire Chief Keith Tomey said. “Lt. Keith was everything a firefighter should be – brave, kind and selfless. I thank him for his service and sacrifice. Our department will not be the same without him, but he left behind a great legacy in his three children.”

 

Lt. Keith, who was named the 2022 Firefighter of the Year, was one of the department’s first 21 lieutenants promoted to serve as an officer on a rescue company. He was certified in hazardous materials, was a member of the DBFR Honor Guard and a leader for the DBFR Explorer program. He was diagnosed with colon cancer in October 2021.

 

When nominating him for Firefighter of the Year, one of his peers said he “embodied perseverance, positivity and class.” Another said he is “a true inspiration for all firefighters with his strength and leadership.” Yet another lauded his “humility and compassion while training, working and responding to the calls in our city.”

 

Lt. Keith is survived by his wife, Amanda, 12-year-old son Gabriel and 2-year-old twins, daughter Willow and son Kairo.

 

“On behalf of the Delray Beach City Commission, we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and colleagues,” Mayor Shelly Petrolia said. “We are grateful for his dedicated service to our community.”

 

Firefighters have a 9 percent higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer and a 14 percent higher risk of dying from cancer than the general U.S. population, according to research by the CDC/National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety.

 

 

28 May, 2019 5 5 Comments

Leadership Creates Waves Then Ripples

May 28, 2019 By 5 Comments

The best leadership creates waves and ripples.

They say that success is a team sport.

That’s true.
But individuals can really make a difference too. And some people are so special that their good works create ripples that sometimes go unnoticed.
That thought crossed my mind when I attended a recent Boca Chamber luncheon honoring Plastridge Insurance as “Business of the Century.”
Among the attendees and speakers at the event were FAU Research Park President Andrew Duffell, Business Development Board of Palm Beach County President Kelly Smallridge and Chamber CEO Troy McClellan—three influential local leaders who can all point to Plastridge Chairman Tom Lynch as a mentor/catalyst for their careers.
And that’s how it works.
The best leaders create/help/nurture/empower/encourage other leaders.
I’m fortunate to have known many like Tom Lynch whose influence resonate far beyond their own work. These leadership “ripples” are not only gratifying to witness it’s often fun to connect the dots.
Most of my experience with leadership is centered around Delray Beach. It’s here that I saw former Chamber CEO Bill Wood help a long series of leaders reach the next rung by recruiting them to his board and watching them climb the ranks at the Chamber and in the community.
I also witnessed Mayor David Schmidt work with students at Atlantic High School taking many to Delray’s Sister City Miyazu, Japan and sparking in them an interest in international culture and travel.
I’ve seen Marjorie Waldo work her magic at a local charter school and then strengthen an important non-profit, The Arts Garage changing lives along the way.
I’ve seen Chuck Halberg support innumerable non-profits and create some organizations that have helped hundreds of people  including Impact 100 for Men and the Delray Beach Initiative.
My friend Perry Don Francisco’s leadership ripples/waves are everywhere: police officers and firefighters benefit from his work with Delray Citizens for Delray Police, their children  earning scholarships and their careers blossoming as a result of his support and advice.
Three other solid examples are former City Attorney Susan Ruby, former Police Chief Rick Overman and former Fire Chief Kerry Koen.
Susan hired excellent lawyers who went on to become city attorneys in other jurisdictions. She entrusted them with tough cases and as a result– during her tenure — a vast majority of legal work was handled “in house” and very successfully I might add.
Chief Overman turned our police department into a training ground for chiefs. Those who didn’t aspire to be a Chief still found opportunities to grow as detectives, career officers, K-9 officers and community policing specialists. Former Fire Chief Kerry Koen was also well-known for his ability to spot talent and grow it.
Two non-profit executives I admire are also busy minting new leaders: Emmanuel “Dupree” Jackson and his EJS Project are devoted to changing the trajectories of lives in Delray neighborhoods and Mark Sauer’s Bound For College (formerly Delray Students First) has devoted his life to giving opportunities to those who might not otherwise have a shot at college. The waves they are creating are just getting started.
And the list goes on.
Great leaders leave a mark. They influence lives. They leave their communities better than they found them and they nurture others who will go further. They create waves that make a splash, but their ripples endure for generations.
As Simon Sinek so wisely says: The leaders who get the most out of their people are the leaders who care most about their people. 
Amen.
20 August, 2018 0 Comments

The Power of Dreams

August 20, 2018 By Leave a Comment

You can’t blow an uncertain trumpet.

The very essence of leadership is that you have to have vision. You can’t blow an uncertain trumpet–Theodore Hesburgh

Vision.
Ahh there’s that word again.

It’s a polarizing word at times, especially if the vision pushes the envelope. Especially if it’s considered ambitious.

Sometimes the term gets subject to ridicule and referred to as “the vision thing” as if it’s trite, as if vision gets in the way of actually getting things done.

In cities, sometimes there’s an aversion to vision: just make sure my toilet flushes, pick up my trash and fix potholes.
That was an actual email I got from a prominent citizen who shall remain nameless.
Ok, I responded. That’s a deal.
We’ll do all those things but please don’t begrudge those of us who aspire and plan to show up at what we used to call “charrettes” to envision a better future.

In order to have any progress we need to aspire. We need to have ambition. We need to dare to be great.

We need to have a vision and we need to dig in and implement too. Visions left on a shelf gather more than dust, they burn enthusiasm and tell those who bothered to show up that their time was wasted.
That’s a crime. We can take our ideas elsewhere but we can’t get our time back.

Last week, a promising young leader I’ve been observing Emanuel “Dupree” Jackson posted a video of actor Will Smith on Instagram that talked about greatness.
Mr. Jackson runs a Delray non-profit called the EJS Project: https://www.ejsproject.org. Look it up, it’s cool.
In the video Mr. Smith talks about the power of dreaming.

“You have to believe that something different can happen,” Mr. Smith says. My friend Dupree believes something different can happen. That’s why he will succeed and make good things happen for others in Delray and beyond.

Steve Jobs had a similar take: “Apple’s core value is that we believe people with passion can change the world for the better. Those people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who actually do.”

Damn right they do.

Now, let’s gets to it.

2 October, 2017 3 3 Comments

Things We Liked In September

October 2, 2017 By 3 Comments

Congrats to the DBMC and Chamber!

Well, September 2017 may not be remembered fondly thanks to Irma, Harvey and Maria.

October is off to a heartbreaking start as well with a horrific mass shooting in Las Vegas.

Still, we aim to stick to our tradition (starting last month) of pointing out some good things in our world and community.

Things we liked in September…
In no particular order…

  • Neighbors helping neighbors pre and post Irma. At times like this, we sometimes discover and often rely on neighbors to help us prepare and cope. For this we are thankful.
  • The Abe and Louie salad
  •  Cream of Mushroom soup at Madison’s. It’s a great restaurant. Try it.
  • Old School Bakery. There are no words to describe the artistry of Old School’s bread.
  • WPTV’s Steve Weagle doing stellar work pre and post Irma. We also rediscovered Bryan Norcross and send shout outs of appreciation to other local meteorologists.
  •  The yeoman’s work done by city staff and utility workers in Boca and Delray to help us get back on our feet post Irma.
  •  The book “The New Brooklyn” by Kay Hymowitz. If you love cities and want to gain some insights on gentrification look no further.
  •  Actress Kristen Bell of “Frozen” entertaining senior citizens and others while riding the storm out in Orlando.
  •  The Good Place on Netflix-starring Ms. Bell.
  •  The black and white cookies at 3Gs.
  •  The guy who plays Spanish guitar at Farmers Table in Boca.
  •  The zest for life and learning that we see from our friend Connor Lynch.
  • A photo of Dr. Craig Spodak with the great Simon Sinek on Instagram. Mr. Sinek wrote the great book “Start With Why”, which is a must read. Dr. Spodak is also an inspiration.
  •  My new grand puppy Riley. An adorable golden (are there any other kind?).
  •  The memory of Phish an adorable Chihuahua and a longtime fixture at the Delray Green Market. Hugs to Jim and Lori Nolan.
  •  Thanks to Hypower Electrical Services and John Potts of TAW Power Systems for their efforts to restore power to the Sandoway Discovery Center saving animals and sea life that were endangered by the loss of electricity. Awesome.
  •  Marisa Herman’s stellar work at the Delray and Boca Newspaper. Make sure to catch her front page article on 92 year old author Bob Levinson in this month’s Delray Newspaper.
  •  Debbie Stackhouse Smith too!
  • Happy one year anniversary to Delray Morning Live and kudos to the excellent hosts Kate Volman and Ryan Boylston. Joe and Mika have nothing on these two.
  •  The music of Steely Dan. Rest In Peace Walter Becker. Thanks for decades of unforgettable music.
  • Congratulations to Dupree Jackson Jr.

    Keep your eye on him. He’s a powerful and committed leader with a big heart. And boy do we ever need heart in our world and communities.

  • We are also immensely impressed with WiseTribe and its leader Jacqueline Botting.
  • Congratulations to the Delray Marketing Cooperative and Delray Chamber of Commerce for winning international recognition. The International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA), which recognizes the world’s best event producers, recently announced the winners of its annual Pinnacle Awards during its 62nd annual convention  in Tucson, Arizona. The Delray Beach Marketing Cooperative (DBMC) and the Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce each received a Gold Award, the IFEA’s highest honor, proving once again that when it comes to showing the public an awesome time no one can compete with Delray Beach events, even on an international level.The DBMC won for Best Newspaper Insert for the Famous 100 Foot Christmas Tree and the Chamber won for Best Promotional Video for its Seek in the City Scavenger Hunt.

    We know we missed some good news–so this is only a partial list. But also a reminder that even in difficult times, we have much to be thankful for.