Providence Nonprofits Reeling From Funding Cuts and Threats (And, Organizations—What You Can Do!)

by Cynthia Gibson

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 [...]

Springfield’s Empowerment Zone Schools Thrive- A Model for Providence?

by Jonathan Howard

Providence Schools have struggled to show any signs of significant improvement over the last five years of state control. Meanwhile, through state intervention of another kind, a group of public middle and high schools in the very poor urban district of Springfield, have thrived. Since [...]

Trinity Square Hosts a Treasure Trove of Taste

by Amber Ma

Nestled at the gateway to the south side of Providence, lies an area which is a testament to the city’s cultural richness and resilience. Trinity Square is defined by the triangular convergence of Elmwood Avenue and Broad Street, with key landmarks such as Grace Church [...]

Much Adoo About Sludge: Why Providence Residents Should Care About Sewage Management

by Emily Smith

What is sewage sludge and how do we dispose of it? Sewage sludge is a disgusting but essential part of the Narragansett Bay Commission’s (NBC) work to manage wastewater and keep Narragansett Bay and Providence clean. After wastewater is cleaned at NBC’s Fields Point Facility [...]

Harry Kizirian 1925-2002: An Angel Without Wings

by Jane Lancaster

Names on school buildings are often from historical eras long gone, making it difficult to keep the honor alive.  The life of Harry Kizirian, who died in 2002, on the other hand, is well within human memory. Kizirian is remembered in Providence most for his [...]

Paying Attention to Providence’s Port and Its Impact

by Joshua Geaughan

For Ward 10 residents, including the Washington Park neighborhood and parts of South Providence, some see the Port of Providence as a hassle to their community. “It’s been going on for a long time…I’ve been calling DEM [Department of Environmental Management] about odors and responding [...]

Will RIPTA Be Saved or Savaged This Year?

by Barry Schiller

For those who use or care about public transit in RI it’s easy to see this as the worst of times.  Most of all because H5076, the Governor’s proposed FY2026 budget, fails to help close the deficit RIPTA faces, about $32.6 million, the largest pending [...]

Providence’s Worker-Owned Cooperatives Share Tools for A Collective Future

by Samantha Garcia, Dana Schneider

Apollo Rios Lomba tells me that working at White Electric is their favorite job. “It’s truly safe here…I’m not going to come to work and feel like my coworkers are judging me.” Sunshine streams into the narrow cafe on Westminster Street, bathing the many plants [...]

Providence as a Sanctuary City, Past and Present

by Lynn Holstein

On February 5th, just 16 days after Donald Trump’s second presidential inauguration, mayors and police chiefs from 22 New England cities convened here in Providence to discuss issues of common concern. Olivia Ebertz of The Public’s Radio covered the meeting, where one of the pressing [...]

Decriminalize Prostitution? Local Sex Workers Argue “Yes” with Their Own Newly Published Research

by Meg Talikoff

The night after Valentine’s Day, 2024, sex worker Bella Robinson sat in the back of the Rhode Island State House Lounge, waiting to testify before the House Judiciary Committee. Her red reading glasses matched the T-shirt she always wore to legislative hearings: “Rights, Not Rescue” [...]