Detv's One On One with Big Ive

James “Ray” Rhodes, BArch, MBA, MAT EXECUTIVE LEADER, ARCHITECT, COMMUNITY ACTIVIST, EDUCATOR

James “Ray” Rhodes is an executive leader, architect, community planner/activist and educator. Through his diverse technical and professional background, Ray has dedicated his life to assisting those less fortunate with reaching their full potential. Ray currently serves as the Executive Director of Christina Cultural Arts Center. In this position, he is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the visual, performing arts and educational initiatives of this community cultural icon dedicated to providing affordable and quality music/arts education and live performances to all in a welcoming environment. Ray manages and leads the budgeting efforts, procurement of goods and services, oversees the facilities and outlines policies and procedures for Christina. Ray has accumulated more than 24 years of architectural, construction project management, code consulting and real estate development experience. He is also a certified mathematics instructor, tutor and motivational mentor. Prior to joining the Christina staff, Ray served as Real Estate Coordinator in the New Castle County Sheriff’s office where he was responsible for managing approximately $5.75M in ledger transactions on a monthly basis and over $1.5B in annual real estate transactions. However, where Ray has devoted a majority of his time, mostly on a volunteer basis is in his community assisting non-profit agencies that are tasked with assisting youth and those who are underserved. As the current Chairman of the Board of Directors for Kingswood Community Center and in collaboration with two other agencies, Ray is assisting with a massive 7-10 year, $150 million dollar fundraising campaign to redevelop the Riverside area, a community where Ray spent time as a youth. As the Polemarch (President) of the Wilmington Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternity Inc., Ray assisted with the location and the initial fundraising efforts to purchase the fraternities' current home – The Achievement Center. As Treasurer of the Board for Henrietta Johnson Medical Center, Ray was on the joint task force that assisted with raising $2.5 million dollars for the agency's facility renovations and addition. Ray also served as Vice-Chairman of the Board for the organization. Ray is an educator with over (25) years of experience tutoring, mentoring and teaching youth and adults in traditional and non-traditional school settings with both non-profits and for-profit organizations. He assists students with SAT/ACT prep, GRE, GMAT, ASVAB, and Praxis prep. In addition to his architectural and teaching degrees, Ray holds an MBA with a concentration in Executive Leadership from Wesley College and is in between studies for his Doctoral degree where he is pursuing a Ph.D. in Public Policy Administration with a concentration in Local Government Management for Sustainable Communities. Ray has served in executive-level positions with (6) different organizations: City of Wilmington as Commissioner of License and Inspections and Director of Rehabilitation; New Castle County as Real Estate Coordinator; Kingswood Community Center as Vice-Chair and Chairman of the Board; Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. on three levels – local, regional and national as Achievement Committee Chair; as a Trustee with Cornerstone Fellowship Baptist Church and as Assistant Chaplain for Union Lodge #21 – Prince Hall Free and Accepted Masons. Ray is a (21) year military veteran, married to the former Tammy Pierce and they have (5) children and (15) grandchildren. Ray is a dynamic, charismatic leader whose passion focuses on meeting the needs of the constituents, customers, clients, and stakeholders he serves. He is self-motivated and driven to succeed and has adopted a philosophy that allows him to always pursue his passion over his pension and put the needs of people over his paycheck.

Ian “Jahiti” Smith is a community activist, musician, teacher, and youth advocate who is committed to helping build stronger communities and fostering real change in Wilmington. Since his arrival in Wilmington, Ian has been involved in criminal justice reform and works with the most at-risk youth. Ian also serves as a founding member of Innocence Delaware, which works to exonerate the wrongfully accused.

His work within social justice has brought about real change at the individual, community, City, and State level. Currently, Ian is the Director of Delaware’s Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), an organization that provides re-entry support to juveniles returning to the community from Delaware’s secure placement facilities. Under his leadership, since 2016, the program has grown to a staff of 16 advocates serving over 150 youth versus 2 advocates serving 2 youth at the time he took over the program. Through his efforts, a grant was awarded to YAP through the Criminal Justice Council allowing his work to expand to at-risk youth in elementary schools. He recently began a partnership with the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, Johns Hopkins and the Urban Institute, working with low-income youth participating in the Youth Employment Study. Ian serves passionately as the elected Vice-President of the Browntown Civic Association. In addition to his professional work, Ian has donated his time and musical talents to numerous community organizations geared towards strengthening the City of Wilmington. His passion for serving began in college. After receiving his degree in Social Science with a minor in Political Science, from Coppin State University, Ian began volunteering for various communities and national organizations, such as the Baltimore Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, where he learned the fundamentals of community organizing, grassroots planning, fundraising, and civic leadership. As a recognized activist in Baltimore, Ian was acknowledged by then-Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and current City Council President Brandon Scott for his work with the 300 Men Movement, an elite male, volunteer unit which conducted violence deterrence walkthroughs in targeted high-crime neighborhoods. Throughout his career, Ian has been a key influencer, building relationships with individuals and community organizations in order to generate meaningful resources for families and neighborhoods. He will bring that same drive, integrity and commitment to his role as your City Councilman. It is because of his decades of experience, hands-on work with the most vulnerable individuals and families, and dedication to various community organizations that Ian is confident in his ability to affect meaningful change as the next Councilman for the Sixth District. Ian and his wife live in Browntown with their two miniature poodles, Ming and Charlie, and are loving godparents to their 5 godchildren, nieces and nephews.

Every and Anything Sports

Dr. Mary Douglas is a licensed clinical counselor in New Jersey and Delaware focused on providing individual and couples counseling services. Specializing in substance abuse, mental health, co-occurring disorders, work-related stress, women's issues, and family mediation services. Click Here to learn more about Dr. Mary Douglas

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