Who we are:
Mary Jo Deering
I unconsciously developed a deep and abiding passion for civility, community, good government, and cross-partisan dialog from my Minnesota roots and Minneapolis upbringing. My Republican parents’ circle included best friends who would be called “liberal” now. Being good neighbors was expected and demonstrated.
Living in Bethesda, MD, I raised two kids, who each had two kids, and all but the oldest grandkids live within an hour from me. I’m still an engaged grandma to all my terrific grandkids. I had an exciting 27-year career in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, working at the nexus of new technologies for patients, consumers, health professionals, and health systems. Afterward, I focused on the emerging Village Movement–virtual “neighbors-getting-to-know-and-help-neighbors” volunteer-driven organizations. Over several years, I created and led a village in my 900-household neighborhood and then merged it with a similar, neighboring village. Developing strong social connections and a sense of community were my priorities. Next, I served for four years as president of the Washington Area Villages Exchange, the regional village umbrella organization for Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., and now remain active in my county’s umbrella village organization and the national Village to Village Network. I started organizing Grandparents for Decency in Democracy to bring together my civic heritage and my community-building experience.
William Kincaid, MD, MPH. Bill has a long-standing interest in a variety of public policy issues. He is particularly interested in public and private investment in community health and the maintenance of public health infrastructure and systems. His other interests include the development of health education projects for physicians and consumers, nurturing local community collaboratives that address community needs and special at-risk populations. He has, of necessity, become interested in the issues surrounding the demographic shift in America’s population and its impact on older Americans. He is President of the Board of the Village to Village Network, the national organization that brings aging-in-place Villages together to share best practices for enabling older adults to live independent, healthy, purposeful lives with connections to their communities.
Deitra Wynn Scott is the founder of Civic Seeds USA, an organization that helps families intentionally raise thoughtful, capable, and engaged citizens. A federal family and community policy analyst, educator, and community health nurse by training, she has spent her career focused on strengthening families and communities. She created the Civic Seeds Method to help families turn values such as responsibility, empathy, critical thinking, communication, and participation into everyday practices that prepare children to contribute to the world around them. Deitra is the mother of four children and brings both professional expertise and lived parenting experience to her work. She believes some of democracy’s most important lessons begin long before a child can vote or even before they learn civics in school; it starts in the conversations, relationships, responsibilities, and examples they experience in their families.
Cheryl Steinbacher. Throughout her career, Cheryl has dedicated herself to giving back to her community through service to nonprofit organizations. She currently serves as President of the League of Women Voters of Carroll County Maryland, and Vice President of the League of Women Voters Maryland. She is also an appointed representative to the Carroll County Commission on Aging and Disabilities. She is passionate about protecting our democracy and understands that it requires opponents to work together and treat each other with respect, even as they search for common ground.
Arkia Wade. Arkia is a community builder, nonprofit leader, and advocate for intergenerational connection. She founded and leads Neighborhood Companions, Inc., in Turner Station, a historic African American community in Baltimore County, Maryland. This neighbor-helping-neighbor program focuses on reducing isolation, expanding transportation access, and fostering intergenerational programming. Through this and other roles, Arkia actively bridges youth and seniors through mentorship, service projects, community gardening, and cultural enrichment.
Chelsea D. Wheeler. Chelsea is a dedicated advocate for aging equity, social connectivity, and community empowerment. With over a decade of experience in human services, she currently leads the Supportive Communities initiative at the Maryland Department of Aging. In this role, Chelsea is a key collaborator for the “Longevity Ready Maryland” vision, specializing in fostering environments that empower Marylanders to thrive independently within their neighborhoods. She is a passionate champion of the Village Concept, actively promoting neighbor-to-neighbor models that strengthen the community fabric. As a Third Cohort Fellow of the American Society on Aging’s ASA RISE program, she is at the forefront of efforts to dismantle ageism and reshape cultural narratives around aging. Her leadership is firmly rooted in a commitment to diversity and the fundamental belief that age-friendly systems are the foundation of a more just and inclusive society. Chelsea is a Baltimore native and proud alumna of Towson University.