PVD’s Post-Storm Civic Engagement Reflected Our Community Strength. But It’s Not a Substitute for Competent Governance.
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Sam Howard’s recent Readers Voices piece —“In Providence, the Blizzard Was a Reminder of the Power of People, Not Politicians”— offers a romanticized view of civic resilience that mistakes emergency improvisation for effective governance and celebrates mutual aid that sidesteps accountability. While the volunteerism he [...]

11
Mar
The exterior of Knight Memorial Library, a branch of CLPVD, during a farmers market. Photo from CLPVD’s website.
Providence Nonprofits Reeling From Funding Cuts and Threats (And, Organizations—What You Can Do!)
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What do Johnson & Wales University, Head Start, WaterFire, Amos House, and organizations that provide thousands of Providence residents with food, shelter, workforce training, education, and other services have in common? They’re all nonprofits. And they’re under attack. Recent executive orders by the Trump administration [...]

02
Apr
Community MusicWorks photo: Sake Chan
How Much Do the Arts Contribute to Providence’s Economy? A Lot More Than You Think.
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“The Creative Capital” isn’t just a catchphrase to describe Providence. Home to world-class arts institutions that draw artists from far and wide, its many neighborhoods thrum with diverse and vibrant arts and cultural scenes. What’s sometimes missed behind this colorful portraiture is the supersized role [...]

31
Jan
Meeting to consider neighborhood needs and expenditures Courtesy of participatorybudgeting.org
Power to the People: New Process Gives Providence Residents A Real Voice
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It’s probably not a stretch to assume that most people have little idea how their elected officials make decisions about where public funds should go. The process is complex, rife with politics and power dynamics, and usually takes place behind closed doors. What’s wrong with [...]

11
Oct