Local Food System Hit by Federal Funding Cuts

by Abby Brennan

Federal funding slashes may make it harder for food-insecure residents of Providence to access fresh food – and harder for small-scale Providence farmers and fishers to earn a living. Since 2022, the United States Department of Agriculture’s Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) [...]

“Why I March” — Rhode Islanders Share Personal Stakes at PVD’s Hands Off! Protest

by Maya Davis

Thousands gathered in downtown Providence on April 5, joining the Hands Off! protest, a coordinated day of demonstrations held across all 50 states in response to early policy actions under the new Trump administration. Community members gathered at Hope High School before marching to the [...]

ProvPort: One Piece in a Larger Puzzle

by Joshua Geaughan

The Port of Providence is the second largest deep-water port in New England and is an economic engine for the city. While cities in neighboring Massachusetts have Designated Port Areas (DPAs), the city of Providence does not own or control all the land in the [...]

Shakespeare in Providence: Tradition and Innovation on the Stage

by Judith Clinton

For hundreds of years, William Shakespeare’s plays have been performed, interpreted, and re-interpreted for audiences of all sorts.  And this spring, members of the Creative Capital are taking on the mantle of keeping Shakespeare’s work alive, as both The Tempest and Hamlet are featured on [...]

Getting to Know the Colors of Ricky Rainbow Beard

by Tyson Birch

“There are plenty of moments in life when you’re going to feel all kinds of things that are uncomfortable,” says Ricky Katowicz. “I’ve found that the most important skill is just to be able to sit with those feelings of not feeling good enough, of [...]

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 [...]