FALL NEWSLETTER 2003

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Peter Walsh, PHOTO: DAVID O’CONNOR

Peter Walsh makes a habit of helping others. As Senior Vice President at BankRI, Peter gets a kick out of finding ways to put the bank’s resources behind people pursuing their dreams. For instance, Peter recently helped an employee of CVS to buy his family’s dream house in northern Rhode Island, thanks to a financing partnership between BankRI, Joe Garlick at Woonsocket Neighborhood Development Corporation, a member agency of The Fund for Community Progress, and the United States Department of Agriculture. Through this collaboration, a family was able to purchase a house that they otherwise would not have been able to afford if this partnership did not exist.

But, helping families find safe and affordable housing is more than a work commitment for Peter. He gave up a luxury apartment in downtown Providence to buy a multi-family home in the Elmhurst neighborhood of Providence. A young man lives in one apartment with his brother. Their mother was killed in a car accident that left the youngest brother critically injured. Peter helped him with his medical care and made the apartment available when he was able to live on his own. Today, the young man is fully recovered and not only works full time for Fleet, but also obtained his associate’s degree from New England Technical Institute.

Also living in another apartment is a family of two boys, 18 and 16, along with their mother. Peter never thought of himself as the fatherly type, but now he’s surprised at how much fun he has working with a house full of teenaged boys to mow the lawn, do their homework and show respect to their teachers. “I’m actually pretty good at it,” says Peter, “and I get so much more out of having these kids around than I give.”

Peter brings that same personal investment to his friendship with The Fund, and he gets a similar sense of personal satisfaction from his achievements with the people and agencies The Fund supports.

“The Fund’s members have been Rhode Island’s social pioneers for over two decades,” says Peter. “Over and over Fund agencies have tackled needs that we might have preferred to ignore, from hunger and homelessness, to childhood lead poisoning, abuse of our elders and families living in poverty. I’m proud to be part of a coalition that keeps the solutions to problems like these on our community’s front burner.”

Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline, Peter Walsh and Marcia Russell-Cintron, PHOTO: Bob Thayer Courtesy of The Providence Journal

At one time or another, Peter has lent a hand to many Fund members, including Childhood Lead Action Project, CHisPA, the Housing Network and West Elmwood Neighborhood Development Corporation. As a banker and lender, Peter took a particular interest in Fund member ACORN’s powerful campaign of consumer education to combat predatory lenders who victimize the unsophisticated and vulnerable.

As a Fund Board member, Peter has made important contributions to every Fund member agency. This year, as Chairman of The Fund’s workplace campaign, Peter has set a course for expanded business and community support for all of the The Fund’s change-making member agencies. The Fund’s annual workplace campaign affords Rhode Island workers the opportunity to make regular payroll contributions to charities they select personally.

BankRI and Citizens Bank have included The Fund in their workplace giving for some years. Last year, Peter persuaded Amica Mutual Insurance Company, one of the state’s largest private firms, to include The Fund in their campaign for the first time.

For Peter, the decision to participate in The Fund couldn’t be clearer.

“Employers see that opening their doors to The Fund for Community Progress means giving their employees a better understanding of our community’s most critical problems and an important way to help solve them, too.” JWH

Peter was roasted and toasted at The Fund’s annual benefit on October 2 at Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet. Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline served as Honorary Chair; Marcia Russell-Cintron, director of inclusivity at The Providence Journal, was the Chair; Karen Adams, WPRI-TV news anchor, was Master of Ceremonies. Charlie Hall of Ocean State Follies and three of Peter’s friends roasted him hilariously. Patricia O’Donnell Saracino, Assistant Vice President for Community Relations at Bank Rhode Island, voluntarily coordinated the event. Johnson & Wales University donated the food services. Approximately 530 guests attended the roast which netted $32,000. It was a fitting tribute to one of Rhode Island’s most self-effacing, but effective, changemakers.

Valerie Tutson

Stories of Change
Lessons with Valerie Tutson

Valerie Tutson, internationally acclaimed storyteller, designed and conducted a series of popular workshops last summer to develop the speaking skills of The Fund’s community activists. The purpose was to activate their voices of expertise across a broad span of neighborhood issues in order to rally community support for addressing the problems. The Rhode Island Foundation generously provided funds for the program through an arts-based professional development grant.

Vivian Weisman, executive director of R.I. Parent Information Network, learned the use of metaphors to drive home a lesson. Cynthia Barry, executive director of the Mental Health Association of R.I., demonstrated how to captivate an audience with gentle passion for a cause. Heidi Keezer, executive director of R.I. Parents for Progress, commented that storytelling is about “heart talk, not head talk.”

The infusion of storytelling helped to strengthen the coalition by preparing our members to advocate more effectively on public policies, such as affordable housing, utilities and health care. Through storytelling, the members will use their own personal knowledge and experiences to promote change in the community.

It will also increase public awareness of these societal problems and encourage community engagement as part of the solution. The result will ultimately make The Fund’s members better advocates for Rhode Island’s neediest children and families. NHV

Undoing Racism
The People’s Institute Trains Community Organizers

Nearly 30 people from various community organizations in Rhode Island attended a two and a half-day training on “Undoing Racism” in mid-July. Three trainers from the People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond, a New Orleans-based anti-racism group, conducted the training: Dwight Mizoguchi, Maria Reinat-Pumarejo and Dr. Kimberley Richards.

Maria Reinat-Pumarejo

Dr. Kimberley Richards

In addition to representatives from DARE-Direct Action for Rights and Equality, Progreso Latino, Youth Pride and American Friends Service Committee, leaders from several Fund member agencies attended, including Childhood Lead Action Project, Day Care Justice Co-op, R.I. Parents for Progress and R.I. Parent Information Network.

During introductions, each participant explained why he or she had decided to come to the training. One common thread was that all work with low-income people. The trainers asked the group to think about the roots of income inequality: “Why do we think people are poor?” The group then contrasted the responses to what “society’s view” is of the reasons people are poor. As organizers, most of the participants had an understanding that there were real obstacles that kept people poor; yet they knew that society tends to blame everything on each individual person who is poor.

Next they drew a collective picture of what a low-income neighborhood looks like: rats, broken bottles, liquor stores, check-cashing facilities, empty factories, dilapidated schools, and so on. They talked about why our communities are in this condition, which led to what the presenters called the Foot Analysis, as in, “Whose foot is on our neck?”

The trainers helped to identify the systems that uphold and exacerbate the inequalities, and the histories of how these institutions were established. From the educational system, to the banking system, to the criminal justice system, to the social service system, the presenters made the point that racism is the glue that holds the entire system together.

In the view of the People’s Institute, racism is different from simple prejudice. Anyone is capable of being prejudiced for or against anything or anyone. Race prejudice is a specific kind of prejudice based on race. But that is still not a description of racism. Just because certain individuals have race prejudice does not mean that the overall social reality is racist, that institutions and structures are racist, or that racism itself exists.

What causes the upsurge of racism is power. In order to establish and maintain power, wealthy elites created an ideology of superiority and inferiority that justified their exploitation and oppression. They created the world that we inherited, where inequalities of opportunities and inequalities of results fall sharply along race lines. So understanding racism means understanding power. Simply put, racism is race prejudice plus power.

“It was a really good learning experience,” commented Liz Colon of Childhood Lead Action Project, “and it made me aware of things I wasn’t aware of. When I see things on TV, or read things in the paper, now I see the racism at the foundation of our society a lot clearer. We need to bring this training to other communities, other organizations, and even our government.”

The People’s Institute has conducted Undoing Racism trainings around the country for a little over two decades. More information can be found at www.thepeople’sinstitute.org. The local Undoing Racism training was sponsored by Haymarket People’s Fund and The Fund for Community Progress with funding from Haymarket and The Rhode Island Foundation. CW

Little Falls Café
Arts and Advocacy

More than a year ago, Jeff St. Germain, owner of Little Falls Café in Pawtuxet Village, attended his first Fund roast to honor Sister Ann Keefe, SSJ. Jeff said as he left the event, “I’d never even heard of The Fund.” But he kept in touch with us over the months and in September he sponsored a month-long auction of ceramic pieces by John Fazzino, a Cranston artist. Posters of The Fund’s changemakers along with brochures and pledge forms were on display.

During the next few weeks, patrons of Little Falls Café, located at 2166 Broad Street, Cranston, were able to bid on eight ceramic platters with half the final proceeds to benefit The Fund. Each piece sold for over $100 with a net contribution to us of more than $400.

This fundraising venture warranted an article in the Cranston Herald. Subsequently several artists have approached Jeff to exhibit their works for auction in the future.

Please drop by Little Falls Café for sandwiches, pizza, pastries, coffee or tea with Jeff, one of Rhode Island’s more innovative philanthropists. . NHV

Sharing fortune and blessings
Young Philanthropists Connect Communities

Heather and Libardo De La Torre

When Heather Williamson and Libardo De La Torre were married, they arranged to have a small scroll near each place setting at their reception. The engraved message was: “To share our joy and happiness in our fortune and blessings, we have given to The Fund for Community Progress to help our neighbors in Providence.” The couple had made a generous donation in advance.

Heather worked part-time at The Fund prior to beginning her studies for a master’s degree in Library Science at the University of Rhode Island. She and Libardo were married at the Friends Meeting House in Providence on August 30, 2003, before proud family and friends. We wish this endearing and compassionate couple happiness and longevity.

Earlier Heather had been coordinator of Community Connections, a program to introduce democracy to leaders in business and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from former Russian republics, such as Belarus and the Ukraine. Bryant College is the sponsor of this program which is funded by the U.S. Department of State. The Fund has helped to arrange internships with local nonprofit organizations, facilitated workshops and served as host families for the visitors over the years.

Last July Nondas was treated to a week-long trip to Belarus with three professors from Bryant College. It was a wonderful opportunity to visit with Community Connections’ alumni and to continue academic and personal relationships. Belarus is a beautiful country whose inhabitants have suffered for generations from wars and occupations, but its people remain vibrant, artistic and generous. The Fund is honored to join with Community Connections in building a worldwide movement for democracy. NHV

NOTES
Member Agencies

Woonsocket Neighborhood Development    Corporation, PHOTO: DAVID O’CONNOR

Woonsocket Neighborhood Development Corporation’s Artist-in-Residence Sara Cunningham guided a Teen Curating Team this past summer. The young women created and produced an exhibit titled “Woonsocket at Work: A Teen Curated Exhibit.” It included colorful posters with photos and interviews of local residents who shared their career stories to reflect Woonsocket’s past, present, and future contributors to the community. It was on display for two months at The Museum of Work and Culture.

George A. Wiley Center’s fervor to make a difference has paid off once again. Thanks to the organization’s advocating and arguing for over two years, a new shorter, more user-friendly, food stamp application was made available to the public on April 1. After a five-year struggle, the R.I. Campaign to Eliminate Childhood Poverty won passage of a state refundable earned income tax credit in the General Assembly, which will benefit 42,000 working families. In addition to these great accomplishments, The Fund’s “Over Sixty” Softball Team, lead by Henry Shelton, triumphed over several other teams in charity games and passed a hat for donations to The Fund.

All Children’s Theatre Ensemble was named the “Best in Rhode Island’s Children’s Theatre” in Rhode Island Monthly. ACT is hosting the 8th Annual Youth Playwright Competition where students, grades 9-12, can submit one-act plays until the deadline of December 8 for a first-prize award of $400. The ensemble will also perform plays throughout the school year. “Passport to the World” is a series of interactive, family-oriented plays that are based on different parts of the world, such as Nigeria, Ireland, and Puerto Rico.

George A. Wiley Center, PHOTO: COURTESY OF THE TIMES

Mental Health Association of R.I. won a $399,995 federal grant that will make it easier to provide services to persons with mental illness. Dubbed ACCESS-RI, the program will serve about 100 Rhode Islanders who are experiencing chronic homelessness and are suffering from mental illness and/or substance abuse disorders. Dozens of housing and mental health advocates joined MHARI to celebrate Senator Jack Reed’s announcement at a news conference in early October.

Day Care Justice Co-Op was awarded $7,500 from the Women’s Fund of R.I., a special interest fund of The Rhode Island Foundation, for their second year support of “The Cost of Care Campaign.” This is an organizing effort to win a collective bargaining agreement for family child-care providers who serve the state’s low-income children. Project organizers note, “It is a fight for respect and dignity, to overcome the exploitation of women’s work.”

Galilee Mission to Fishermen is the newest member organization. Since 1982 they have provided recovery services for adult males with drug or alcohol problems. The Mission boasts a 12-bed residential treatment facility, a transitional shelter for six men, and a fishermen’s relief fund to help families in times of need.

Gray Panthers of R.I. celebrated a very successful Summer Prowl, highlighting a new film, Maggie Growls, a documentary portraying the life of Maggie Kuhn, founder of the national Gray Panthers. The well-attended series included special guests such as Karen Adams, News Anchor for WPRI-TV, U.S. Congressman Patrick Kennedy, Professor Rachel Filinson of Rhode Island College and Chris Turner from Trinity Repertory Theatre.

Hope Center for Cancer Support will host its 20th annual Run/Walk for Hope on December 14. More than 600 runners from southeastern New England compete in this 10K race over one of the most picturesque routes in the country. For more information, call the HOPE Center at 454-0404.

R.I. Coalition for Minority Investment loaned $127,000 to mostly women-owned start-up businesses and provided over 480 hours of small business consulting to 145 businesses last year. Made under the U.S. Small Business Administration’s micro-loan program, these loans would not likely have been granted by traditional lenders. To continue supporting client businesses, RICMI also provides ongoing entrepreneurial training.

Connecting for Children & Families joined thousands of communities across the country for “Lights on Afterschool!,” a nationwide event calling attention to the importance of afterschool programs. In 1999 Connecting for Children & Families began offering free Kids’ Connection programs in Woonsocket. Evaluations show that nearly all the students in Kids’ Connection improved their reading, language arts and mathematics grades by at least a full grade from the first quarter to the final quarter of the 2001-2002 school year.

NRI Community Services’ Robert J. Wilson House in Pawtucket, a residential treatment center, was the recipient of the Treatment Provider of the Year Award from the R.I. Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals. The program was cited for serving previously homeless persons in recovery from substance abuse problems. The residents may include veterans, people with co-occurring mental heath problems, and individuals on home confinement or parole.

All Children’s Theatre Ensemble

R.I. Parent Information Network was selected by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Innovation and Improvement as the Innovator of the Month for the “Talking Points for Teachers and Parents on the No Child Left Behind Act.” The R.I. Department of Education and the R.I. Teaching and Learning Center collaborated for the development of the “5Q Project,” which will produce and distribute a credit size card for key rings emblazoned with the five questions each parent should ask their child’s teacher every year.

SWAP/Stop Wasting Abandoned Property is celebrating 27 years of neighborhood housing to help 800 people become homeowners. To celebrate its 25th anniversary, SWAP pledged to build and sell 25 Homes in 25 Months. This included 10 two-family units and 18 single-family homes with an average price of $89,000 and $103,500 respectively, far below the Census Bureau’s R.I. State median home price. Recognizing that the housing crunch is not just in South Providence, SWAP is moving into other neighborhoods.

Community Mediation Center of R.I. received a Human Resource Investment Council grant of $29,808 to train people to deliver mediation programs, allowing CMCRI to expand its capacity. During the past year, CMCRI trained more than 100 Providence students for peer mentor programs and more than 100 adult volunteer mediators who helped to settle housing, neighborhood and family disputes and over 300 cases in small claims and housing courts statewide. TF

PROGRESS is published to inform friends of The Fund for Community Progress about the activities and concerns of its member agencies. Gifts to The Fund have a definite impact on solving problems of poverty, hunger, homelessness, mental illness, housing, discrimination and other issues of injustice. PROGRESS stresses the importance of your continued support as together we "build a better community."