Providence’s Write Rhode Island Grows Literary Community from the Ground Up

by Taylor M. Polites

Rhode Island’s literary legacy stretches from 17th-century founder Roger Williams to Pulitzer Prize-winning Indian-American author Jhumpa Lahiri today, with connections along the way to literary titans like Margaret Fuller, Edgar Allan Poe, and H.P. Lovecraft. Today’s literary community continues to be vibrant and home grown, [...]

Historic Preservation and Affordable Housing: Possible to Have Both? 

by Sarah Gleason

The three historic houses demolished in January on Angell Street on the East Side of Providence got considerable press attention. The vacant space in what had long been a quiet residential area will likely be filled with a multi-story structure, similar to those going up [...]

At Home with the Providence Housing Authority- the Largest Landlord in the City

by Rick Brooks

Deborah Wray arrived in Rhode Island from California in the midst of the blizzard of ’78.  Like many, she found herself snowbound and unable to travel.  But unlike many, Deb was charmed by the glistening snow, and she decided to stay in the Ocean State.  [...]

Providence’s Lack of Plastic Bag Ban Enforcement

by Emily Smith

On January 1, 2024, The Plastic Waste Reduction Act went into effect, making Rhode Island the twelfth state in the U.S. to ban single-use plastic bags. This may not seem like news, as 18 of Rhode Island’s 39 jurisdictions, including Providence, already had existing bag [...]

Where are Providence’s Missing Students?

by Jonathan Howard

In January, the Providence Public School District (PPSD) and the RI Department of Education (RIDE), which oversees the district, proudly shared updates on their “Newer and Fewer” school building renovation plan. The crux of the $500 million plan is to replace or renovate the district’s [...]

30% of Providence Public High School Seniors Expected to Receive Prestigious State Seal of Biliteracy in 2024

by Rebecca Klassen

Miguel Cardona, the U.S. Secretary of Education, has said that “being multilingual opens doors for our students to compete globally.” He states that multilingualism is a superpower that gives students more options in life. In keeping with this, the Seal of Biliteracy was officially recognized [...]

Courageous RI: Teaching Us to Talk (And Listen) To One Another

by Pam Steager

“I’m going to do it with my brother. We haven’t spoken in five years,”  declared Providence resident and attorney Elayne Burke.  She was talking about a process called “looping for understanding” which she had learned and practiced in the Courageous Conversation regarding High Conflict. Burke [...]

The Studentification of Wanskuck

by Roseanne Camacho

If you have lived in Providence for a long time and love the city, what would drive you away? Noisy neighbors? Illegal parking? Dangerous drivers? For Michael Veracka, living for decades in the Wanskuck neighborhood, it was “chronic illegal dumping” in the lot next door. [...]

Providence Singers to Perform Considering Matthew Shepard – an Uncommon Musical Work for Uncertain Times

by Joe DeMarco

In the little-known world of the choral arts, The Providence Singers serve as a benchmark for southern New England. Headquartered in East Providence, this 80+ member ensemble has delivered countless impeccable performances of intricate music over the last decade. Collaborations with the Rhode Island Philharmonic [...]

RI Nature Video Festival and Compost Conference Coming to RIC

by Greg Gerritt

About 11 years ago, I started making nature videos and putting them up on YouTube.  I started out videotaping Fowler’s Toad tadpoles and their breeding cycle and development, but pretty soon I was videoing every type of animal I could find in Providence, mostly filming [...]