Dave Chappelle helps keep Ohio radio station rooted in hometown with
restored building
[April 10, 2026]
By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr.
YELLOW SPRINGS, Ohio (AP) — Comedian Dave Chappelle stood on the front
lawn of a newly restored 19th-century schoolhouse Thursday, joining
neighbors and local officials as a small-town radio station secured its
future in the community he calls home.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony marked two historic moments: Chappelle's
restoration of the Union Schoolhouse and WYSO's relocation of its new
broadcast facility inside it, bringing together distinct efforts to keep
the station rooted in Yellow Springs at a time when local media outlets
face mounting challenges.
“It’s like our lifeblood in the community,” Chappelle told The
Associated Press about the station, recalling how its possible departure
to nearby Dayton would have been “a crushing blow” for Yellow Springs.
More than 200 people gathered outside the former Union Schoolhouse,
where Chappelle attended along with his wife, mother, station leaders
and village officials, including Yellow Springs Mayor Steve McQueen and
Dayton Mayor Shenise Turner-Sloss, to celebrate the opening the
schoolhouse and the 68-year-old station into its next chapter.
The Union Schoolhouse was originally built in 1872 and once served as
one of the village’s earliest integrated schools before later housing
municipal offices and small businesses. After sitting vacant for years,
it was purchased in 2020 by Chappelle’s real estate company, Iron Table
Holdings.
The property has since been transformed into a modern, multiuse space,
with WYSO occupying the lower floors, while Chappelle’s offices will be
based on the top floor.
For Chappelle, the investment was as much about preservation as
development.
“If you have the opportunity like I did, to invest in your community,
then it’s one of the greatest investments I’ve ever made,” he said. “In
some ways it feels dutiful. Other times I feel proud. ... but
ultimately, I'm doing it because I want to, not because I have to.”
The move comes at a time when local media outlets across the country
face shrinking resources, shifting audiences and increased competition
from digital platforms.
Chappelle said stations like WYSO serve as a stabilizing force. He
described it as “a beacon for sanity,” offering “a solid baseline of
truth in context” in an increasingly fragmented information landscape.
“I grew up listening to WYSO since high school, and they’ve always been
here connecting to the people,” said Mark Willis, a Yellow Springs
resident. “They’re not out of a big city. They’re not subject to
censorship by a sponsor. They tell the truth, they tell the stories, and
it’s rare these days. To see them growing instead of shrinking is
beautiful.”
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Comedian Dave Chappelle, center, takes part in a ribbon-cutting
ceremony for a new studio for WYSO Public Radio at a building in
Yellow Springs, Ohio, on Thursday, April 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Jonathan
Landrum)
 Rather than simply donate funds,
Chappelle financed the redevelopment of the building itself,
allowing the station to remain locally rooted while maintaining
editorial independence.
“Dave has never made a suggestion about our programming,” said Luke
Dennis, general manager at WYSO. He said the new facility transforms
how the station connects with the public, offering performance
space, gathering areas and expanded capacity for programming.
“We belong to the community,” Dennis said.
Public radio stations in smaller markets have faced mounting
pressure in recent years, from funding challenges to audience
fragmentation.
Dennis said the investment positions WYSO differently. “We’re in a
place of strength,” he said.
Yellow Springs has long been central to Chappelle’s life. Though he
grew up in Maryland, he spent summers in the village, where his late
father worked as the dean of students at Antioch College.
Now living on a 39-acre farm with his wife and their three children,
Chappelle has become deeply embedded in the town. He has invested in
local properties, opened a comedy club in the downtown area and
hosted events that draw national attention, including performances
in a nearby cornfield during the pandemic.
Chappelle has also taken an active role in local affairs, speaking
at town meetings and supporting community initiatives.
As residents gathered and later filtered through the restored
building, the moment marked more than a ribbon-cutting.
“I'm more determined and inspired that these institutions flourish
and stay of the people,” Chappelle said after the ceremony. “The
only way they can do that is the people supporting them. I'm hopeful
more than worried."
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