Pot In Providence

by Deborah Schimberg

In 2006, Rhode Island legalized “medical marijuana” which meant that patients with cancer, AIDS, etc. could obtain cards that let them buy marijuana in one of 3 “compassion centers” around the state, the largest of which was the Thomas C. Slater dispensary in Providence.   In [...]

What Constitutes a Community That is Disproportionately Impacted by the War on Drugs? 

by Christopher Shea

That’s the question Rhode Island’s Cannabis Control Commission hopes to better define as it works on initial regulations for recreational dispensaries. To do so, Chairperson Kimberly Ahern said at the commission’s Nov. 3 meeting, she would request data from state and federal agencies on which [...]

Afghan refugees are learning to call Rhode Island home

by Zane Wolfang

Basri Darabi’s face is furled in concentration as she carefully constructs her sentence: “Akhtar is my husband.” She breaks into a beaming smile as she is given a clap for her perfect grammar and word choice –Basri continues down the line, talking about her five [...]

Brown’s Haffenreffer Museum to Bring Indigenous Culture Closer to a Diverse Providence

by Roseanne Camacho

Brown University’s Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology has long been split across two locations: Providence, where it maintains an exhibition and event space on the Brown campus; and Bristol, R.I., where most of its collections and staff are housed. For scholars and community members looking to [...]

Bike and Scooter Sharing Ridership Gives New Urgency to Urban Trail Network

by Jesse Edelstein

“I love SPIN scooters for their convenience. I can unlock it in 10 seconds and then leave it wherever I want at my destination”, says Brown University senior Miguel Howard.  And, indeed, the popularity of e-bikes and scooters has skyrocketed, with the city of Providence [...]

Prescription for Partnership: New Collaboration Provides Medications to Uninsured Rhode Islanders

by Ann MacDonald

For 25 years, the Rhode Island Free Clinic, located in South Providence, has provided free medical care for Rhode Island adults who do not have health insurance and cannot afford to pay for primary care and other services. In 2022, the clinic reported treating 2,570 patients. Clinic services have [...]

URI’s Laboratory Preschool Thrives in Downtown Providence

by Delia C. Hall, Director

From the exterior of 255 Westminster Street, you see the facade of the former Shepard’s Department Store, once a bustling and thriving shopping experience. Look deep into the windows along the street now and you will see a world of play and exploration, of process [...]

Taking Care of the Neighborhood:  Community Health Workers on the Front Line and Beyond

by Swanette Salazar

In the last few years, if you visited a local health or community center for your Covid vaccine, spoke to someone who followed up with you after the visit, or were interviewed following a bout with the illness, you most likely met with a Community [...]

Still Hoping for the Cranston Street Armory

by Taylor M. Polites

The Cranston Street Armory, one of Rhode Island’s most iconic treasures, remains lost in a morass of politics and funding questions despite years of State and community attempts to save it.  Even so, efforts like the current one continue, fueled not by greed but by [...]

Watching as the Bus System Drives Over the Cliff

by Barry Schiller and Patricia Raub

By this summer, the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) will be facing a deficit of approximately $33 million.  The severe cuts in service and employment that may follow are the predicted cliff ahead in the road. In May 2023 the RIPTA staff presented its Board of [...]