Rhode Island Legislative Black & Latino Caucus Tomรกs ร vila
Table of Contents Rhode Island Legislative
Black and Latino Caucus............... 3
Mission Statement ............................................................................... 3 Thus, Our Objectives are: ..................................................................... 3
Representative Marvin L. Abney ..................................................... 4 Representative Joseph S. Almeida ................................................... 6 Representative Jean Philippe Barros ............................................... 8 Representative Raymond A. Hull ................................................... 10 Representative Marcia Ranglin-Vassell ......................................... 12 Senator Harold M. Metts .............................................................. 13 Representative Anastasia P. Williams ........................................... 14 Representative Grace Diaz ............................................................ 16 Representative Shelby Maldonado................................................ 19 Representative Carlos E. Tobon ..................................................... 21 Representative Mario Mendez ...................................................... 23 Representative Karen Alzate ......................................................... 24 Senator Sandra Cano .................................................................... 25 Senator Ana B. Quezada ............................................................... 27 TomĂĄs Alberto Ă vila ..................................................................... 29
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Rhode Island Legislative Black and Latino Caucus Source: http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/commissions/blackandlatincaucus/Pages/welcome.aspx
The Caucus has been and always will be a voice for Rhode Island’s communities of color. We will support legislation designed to improve the living, housing, educational and economic conditions of Africanand Latino-Americans. We look to empower our constituents to gain a deeper sense of political awareness on issues concerning them and their communities, and to make the political and legislative process accountable and accessible for those who have been disenfranchised.
Mission Statement The Rhode Island Legislative Black and Latino Caucus (RILBLC) represents and advocates for the interests of disadvantaged people throughout the State of Rhode Island. It seeks to increase a diverse participation and representation in all levels of government. Our ultimate goal is to close (and ultimately, to eliminate) disparities that still exist between White and Non-White Americans in every aspect of life. The RILBLC will continue to work with all who are willing to work with us to help advance our agenda and achieve this goal.
Thus, Our Objectives are: 1. To serve as a strong, united and effective advocate for multicultural Rhode Islanders. 2. To increase diverse representation in all levels of government, including statewide appointed and elected officials. 3. To create employment and economic security. 4. To ensure equal access to education, social, health services, employment and other relevant programs. 5. To help curtail violence amongst young people in the community. 3
Representative Marvin L. Abney Chairman, House Finance Committee Member, House Veterans' Affairs Committee Marvin L. Abney (D) has served the residents of Newport and Middletown in District 73 since first being elected in November 2012. In May 2016, he was named chairman of the House Finance Committee, which is tasked with adopting the annual state budget. He also serves on the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Chairman Abney was the lead sponsor of a new law during the 2018 legislative session that eliminates a number of unnecessary and duplicative licenses, removes small application fees, and a number of other fixes to streamline regulations and fees for Rhode Island’s small businesses. He was also the lead sponsor and negotiator of the Fiscal Year 2019 state budget which restored proposed cuts to services for the state’s most vulnerable populations, such as reductions to developmentally disabled programs and cuts to hospitals for low-income patients and continued the phase-out of the car tax without raising broad-based taxes. In 2018, he was presented the Francis R. Dietz Award for Public Service by the Hospital Association of Rhode Island, which recognized his leadership on issues confronting hospitals. Also, in 2018, he was honored by the Rhode Island Partnership for Home Care with the Legislative Champion Award for his advocacy on behalf of the state’s most vulnerable citizens, and by Sail Newport with the President’s Award for his long-time advocacy for the organization. In the 2017 legislative session, Chairman Abney was the lead sponsor 4
of the Fiscal Year 2018 state budget that funds the first year of a sixyear phase-out of the car tax, raises the minimum wage, restores free bus fares for the elderly and disabled, and includes a pilot program to provide two years of free tuition at CCRI. During the 2016 session, Representative Abney sponsored successful legislation that requires the reporting of any sexual abuse of a child by an employee, contractor or volunteer of an educational program. The representative is a retired Major of the United States Army after a 20-year Army career, including a stint as the company commander at NATO Headquarters in Belgium. He also retired from the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, where he held the position of executive assistant to the commissioner. Born on Nov. 10, 1949, he attended Dunbar High School in Texarkana, Texas, and in 2018 was honored by the Texarkana Independent School District as a Distinguished Alumnus. He earned his bachelor’s degree in public administration at Stephen F. Austin State University in 1975; a Master of Management degree from Webster University in 1982; a Master of Business Administration from the University of Rhode Island in 2000, and a certificate of advanced graduate study in educational leadership from Johnson & Wales University in 2005. He also attended the Command and General Staff College in Munich, Germany in the late 1980s. In addition to his duties as a legislator, Representative Abney also serves on the Board of Governors for the Newport Health Care Corporation, the Board of Corporators for BankNewport, the Vestry & Finance Committee at St. John’s Church and the Executive Board for the Narragansett Boy Scouts Council. Representative Abney has a long history of involvement in community organizations and boards, including the Newport Zoning Board of Review, Coggeshall Elementary School Improvement Committee, Salve Regina University’s Internal Review Board, First Night Newport and the Martin Luther King Jr. Center, among others. He lives in Newport with his wife, Cheryl Lynn (Amado). He is the father of Marvin L. Abney II, U.S. Army Capt. Christian A. Abney and Tess A. Abney. He is the grandfather of three: Sierra, Jade and Mia. 5
Representative Joseph S. Almeida Member, House Committee on Judiciary Member, House Committee on Municipal Government Joseph S. Almeida (D) served in the House from 1999 to 2010 and was elected again in November 2012 to represent the people of District 12 in the South Side and Washington Park in Providence. He is a member of the House Committee on Judiciary and the House Committee on Municipal Government. Representative Almeida is a La Salle Academy graduate. He spent six years with the Marines and attended Roger Williams College (now University). For 20 years, he served in the Providence Police Department, where he received numerous awards and co-founded the Rhode Island Minority Police Association. He was a hostage negotiator and the first black member of Providence’s SWAT team. He retired from the police department and the bar he owned for more than 20 years and is now the owner of Essence Construction. In the past, Representative Almeida served as chairman of the Rhode Island Minority Leadership/Legislative Caucus, vice chairman of the House Labor Committee, secretary of the Separation of Powers Committee, and served on the Finance Committee, the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, the Committee on Highway Safety and the Martin Luther King Day Commission. He has also been a deputy majority leader. He helped form the House Police and Firefighters Caucus to focus on the training and issues of first responders. 6
Representative Almeida is a strong voice for minorities, low-income families, civil rights, fair housing, neighborhoods and small businesses. In 2017, Representative Almeida sponsored part of the “Justice Reinvestment” legislative package aimed at bringing about a massive overhaul of Rhode Island’s probation and parole system. He was the sponsor of the successful “Driving While Black” legislation, which required a study of racial profiling by Rhode Island’s police departments, and in 2015 sponsored the Comprehensive Community– Police Relationship Act, which required police departments to report on actions taken to address traffic stop racial disparities and banned consent searches of juveniles. He also sponsored pivotal legislation to overhaul Rhode Island’s laws on lead paint to protect children. He was the sponsor of the successful ballot question that restored voting rights to people on probation or parole for a felony conviction. The father of five adult children, he resides in Washington Park with his wife, Zoraida.
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Representative Jean Philippe Barros Jean Philippe Barros Member, House Finance Committee Member, House Finance Subcommittee - Education Member, House Finance Subcommittee - General Government Member, House Finance Subcommittee - Public Safety Member, House Municipal Government Committee Jean Philippe Barros (D) was first elected to House District 59 in Pawtucket in November 2014. He was named a Deputy Majority Leader at the start of the 2017 session. He sits on the House Committee on Finance as well as the House Committee on Municipal Government. In 2018, Representative Barros was the lead sponsor of legislation that amended provisions of the tax increment financing act in order to encourage municipalities to use tax increment financing to facilitate economic development. The bill was signed into law by the governor. He also sponsored legislation, which was passed by the House of Representatives, that directs the Office of Auditor General to be responsible for analyzing and reporting the impact of new or expanded charter schools. Representative Barros was a cosponsor of the Fair Shot Agenda during the 2017 legislative session, which included the successful passage of earned paid sick days for workers, an increase in the minimum wage, and a fairer tax system for families that reduces the car tax. During the 2016 legislative session, Representative Barros championed 8
two successful pieces of legislation. The first supports micro businesses - small businesses of ten employees or less - by directing state departments to encourage their inclusion in public construction programs and purchases of goods and services. The second authorizes the cities of Providence and Central Falls to create an alternative academy for students having difficulty in traditional public-school settings. He also co-sponsored a 2016 law that requires the sealing and destruction of all wrongful arrest records. Prior to his election to the General Assembly, he served for six years on the Pawtucket City Council. He previously served on the Juvenile Hearing Board from 2007 to 2010 and on the Pawtucket Charter Review Commission. A graduate of Pawtucket’s Tolman High School, he received his associate degree from the Community College of Rhode Island and his bachelor’s degree in Science from Springfield College. He is the deputy director of public works and code enforcement for the City of Central Falls. Born on September 30, 1963, Representative Barros is the father of two children, Tyger Lee Barros and Zachary Robert Barros.
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Representative Raymond A. Hull Member, House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Member, House Committee on Corporations Chair, Martin Luther King Jr. State Holiday Commission
Corporations.
Raymond A. Hull (D) represents District 6 in Providence and North Providence. He was first elected in November 2010. He is the chairman of the Martin Luther King Jr. State Holiday Commission and a member of the House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources as well as the House Committee on
Representative Hull sponsored several consumer protections bills in 2018. He introduced a bill that would prohibit double taxing on leased motor vehicles; another piece of legislation that would allow consumers to purchase cable boxes from cable companies, and a bill that would require utility companies to have actual brick and mortar customer service facilities. During the 2017 legislative session, Representative Hull sponsored a bill that became law that makes assault and battery upon delivery persons a felony and would mandate a maximum sentence of imprisonment of three years or a $3,000 fine. The bill also mandates a sentence of five to 20 years if the assault involves a dangerous weapon. Another bill he introduced that became law allows developmental disability agencies, such as the Fogarty Center, to self-insure health care costs for employees, retirees, and other beneficiaries. 10
Representative Hull graduated from La Salle Academy in 1981. He attended the University of Rhode Island and Roger Williams University, where he obtained his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice in 1992. He received his master’s degree in the Administration of Justice from Anna Maria College in 1999. Representative Hull is currently the commanding officer of the Housing Unit in the Providence Police Department, where he has served for 28 years. He previously held the rank of Sergeant. Born September 18, 1963, he is the father of Andres and Karina, and resides in Providence.
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Representative Marcia Ranglin-Vassell Member, House Committee on Health, Education and Welfare Member, House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Marcia Ranglin-Vassell, a Democrat, represents District 5 in Providence. She was first elected in November 2016. In her first year in office, she sponsored a s uccessful bill directing the Climate Change Coordinating Council to study carbon pricing. She also sponsored bills aimed at instituting a $15 living wage, extending services to young people in DCYF care to age 21 and providing universal free lunch to school children. She also launched an initiative, A Community Response to Joblessness and Gun Violence, to address gun violence and the poverty at its roots in Providence. Representative Ranglin-Vassell works as an educator in Providence public schools, currently serving as a special education teacher at Providence Career and Technical Academy. She is a graduate of St. Joseph’s Teachers’ College in 1986, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rhode Island College in 2003 and a Master of Education in special education from Providence College in 2012. Representative Ranglin-Vassell was born in Jamaica. She is married to Van Vassell and they have four children, Van Jr., Eric, Terrence and Alethe.
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Senator Harold M. Metts Senate President Pro Tempore Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Education Secretary, Senate Committee on Judiciary Senator Harold M. Metts (Democrat - District 6, Providence) was born on October 6, 1947. He is married to Dayus L. (Young) and they have three children, Harold Jr., Darren, Ja'de, and six grandchildren. Senator Metts, a former Assistant Principal for the Providence School Department, graduated from Central High School in Providence, Roger Williams University with a BS Business Administration in 1970, Bryant College with a Social Business Teacher Certification in 1975, and Rhode Island College with a Masters of Education-Secondary Administration in 1983. Senator Metts is a member of the Providence Branch NAACP and the Urban League, and serves on the Deacon Board for the Congdon Street Baptist Church. In addition, he served in the Rhode Island Army National Guard from 1970-1976. Senator Metts served as a State Representative from 1984 to 1998 prior to being elected to the Senate on November 2, 2004. He is also a State Committeeman and a member of the 11th Ward Democratic Committee.
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Representative Anastasia P. Williams Member, House Committee on Corporations Member, House Committee on Oversight Member, RI Black & Latino Legislative Caucus Anastasia P. Williams (D) represents District 9 in Providence. Representative Williams has served her district since first being elected in November 1992. She is a member of the House Committee on Corporations and the House Committee on Oversight. In 2018, Representative Williams once again sponsored legislation that exempts natural hair braiders from licensing requirements. The legislation passed the House of Representatives. She was also a strong advocate for successful legislation which amended the state’s law on speed cameras in school zones by providing proper notice and fairer violation fines for motorists. During the 2017 session, Representative Williams sponsored legislation that allows a person who is bilingual or not proficient in the English language to be assisted in their road test by a translator of their native language who is at least 18 years of age. In the 2016 legislative session, Representative Williams sponsored a bill to create a special license plate honoring labor activist Cesar E. Chavez, which became law. She also sponsored legislation that would permit a petition for adoption by grandparents without the noncustodial parents’ consent if the child is in sole custody of the grandparents. Representative Williams has also sponsored legislation that would grant driving privilege licenses to undocumented immigrants. She 14
continues to advocate for more diversity within the Rhode Island Judicial System. Representative Williams is a coordinator at First Source Providence. She has been involved in a number of organizations and causes, including United Way, Joslyn and Hartford Community centers, the West Broadway Neighborhood Association, Providence Community Action, Olneyville Housing Corporation and Providence Head Start. A graduate of Bishop Keough Regional High School, she attended Roger Williams University. She was born on May 6, 1957 and has five children: Lisa, Dionne, Jonnathan, Eddy and Hev’n.
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Representative Grace Diaz Democratic Caucus Chair Member, House Committee on Finance Member, House Finance Subcommittee on Public Safety Member, House Finance Subcommittee on Human Services Member, House Committee on Rules Chairwoman, Legislative Commission on Child Care Grace Diaz (D) has represented the people of District 11 in Providence since first being elected in November 2004. She was named the Democratic Caucus Chair in January 2015, which makes her a member of the House Leadership Team. Highest among Representative Diaz’s priorities has been an overhauling of the Rhode Island Child Care Assistance Program, which helps low-income working families pay for child care. The child care assistance rates in Rhode Island were well below the recommended levels to ensure equal access to high-quality child care. Representative Diaz had submitted legislation for to establish a tiered child care reimbursement rate system. In 2018, it was included in the state budget and signed into law. During that same session, she introduced a law requiring insurers to treat behavioral health counseling and medication maintenance visits the same as primary health care visits when determining patient costsharing. The legislation is aimed at better achieving parity between mental health coverage and primary health coverage for Rhode Islanders. In 2017, the General Assembly passed a law she introduced that requires physicians to discuss the potential of addiction with patients before prescribing opioids. She also successfully introduced the All 16
Students Count Act, which requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to use separate collection categories and tabulations for specified Asian ethnic groups in every demographic report on ancestry or ethnic origins of residents. In 2016, she introduced legislation that to seeks to curtail racial disparities in school discipline. The new law directs all school superintendents to review discipline data for their school districts, to decide whether there is an unequal impact on students based on race, ethnicity, or disability status, and to respond to any disparity. Always an advocate for children, Representative Diaz sponsored legislation in 2015 that creates a non-discriminatory clause in the Children’s Bill of Rights for all children under the care of DCYF. The law prevents any discrimination against children based on race, color, religion, ancestry, gender or other factors. One of her most important pieces of legislation, which was enacted in 2014, put a spotlight on adult education so the state could make it easier and less costly for Rhode Islanders to find employment. The law requires the state Board of Education to consider several factors, including cost, in determining which high school equivalency tests will be recognized by the state. Prior legislative accomplishments also include a law preventing children from receiving out-of-school suspensions for attendance issues and legislation aimed at raising awareness about lupus, a chronic illness causing the immune system to attack normal body tissues. For several years, every Nov. 14, Representative Diaz has hosted the World Diabetes Day celebration at the State House to spread the word about how to take control of the disease. As the chairwoman of the Permanent Legislative Commission on Child Care, she has also hosted the State House’s Child Care Awareness Day annually for several years. The Guatemalan Center of New England honored Representative Diaz with the Quetzal Award in 2018 for her contributions to the Latino community throughout the state and her historic achievement as the 17
first Dominican American woman elected to public office in the United States. Representative Diaz holds both bachelor and master’s degrees from Springfield College, which she earned in 2008 and 2010 respectively. A native of the Dominican Republic, she graduated from Los Angeles Custodios High School in 1977. Representative Diaz is a Senior Adviser on Community Relations in the city of Providence. Representative Diaz is also a member of the National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO), Women in Government, National Hispanic State Legislators and the Rhode Island Black and Latino Caucus. Rep. Diaz has five children: Maria, Gisselle, Ruben, Felix and Cristian, and three grandchildren: Nehemiah, Kariana and Xavier.
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Representative Shelby Maldonado Shelby Maldonado Member, House Health, Education and Welfare Committee Second Vice-Chairwoman, House Committee on Municipal Government Shelby Maldonado (D) was first elected in November 2014 to the House of Representatives in District 56, Central Falls. During the 2018 session, she sponsored a law that will continue the status quo relating to operator and chauffeur’s licenses to approved recipients under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. She also chaired a special commission to study the Minimum Housing Act, which made several recommendations to the General Assembly on how to help cities and towns meet the requirements found in the main law and rethinking what it means to meet the requirements of minimum housing. In 2017, she introduced a justice-reform bill that requires that cities and towns comply with certain procedures when prosecuting defendants such as the right to counsel, and amends the penalties imposed for ordinance violations. She also successfully introduced the Uniform Act on the Prevention and Remedies for Human Trafficking, which establishes penalties and remedies for human trafficking. She also introduced two workers’ right bills that were signed into law. The first creates a statutory vehicle for the creation and functioning of workers' cooperatives which are corporations that are owned and democratically governed by their members. The second amends the work-sharing law by allowing employers more flexibility in the 19
reduction of work hours among its employees and by allowing more leeway on the start date of an adopted work-sharing plan. During the same session, she introduced an education-reform law that establishes the College Crusade of Rhode Island, a nonprofit organization, as the entity that will administer and operate all program services and manage scholarship resources. In 2016, Representative Maldonado was appointed chairwoman of a special legislative commission to study the Low- and Moderate-Income Housing Act and its compliance by cities and towns. The commission was created by a House resolution that was introduced by Representative Maldonado. She was also one of 48 state leaders from across the nation selected for the prestigious Henry Toll Fellowship Program sponsored by the Council of State Governments in 2016. During her first legislative session in 2015, she championed civil rights legislation for women, sponsoring a bill that prohibits employers from discriminating against, and failing to provide reasonable accommodations for, employees due to pregnancy or medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth. She also sponsored a law that removes the requirement that a person convicted of and sentenced for a crime be presently serving an initial term of imprisonment prior to requesting forensic DNA testing. Prior to her election to the House, she was a member of the Central Falls City Council. Born July 24, 1987, she graduated from Central Falls High School and received her degree, majoring in political science and communication studies, from the University of Rhode Island in 2009. She previously served in the Peace Corps in Africa.
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Representative Carlos E. Tobon Carlos E. Tobon First Vice-Chairman, House Committee on Veterans' Affiars Member, House Committee on Finance Member, House Finance Subcommittee on Education Member, House Finance Subcommittee on Human Services Member, House Finance Subcommittee on Public Safety Member, House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Co-Chairman, Legislative Black and Latino Caucus Carlos E. Tobon (D) was first elected in November 2014 to the House of Representatives from District 58 in Pawtucket. He serves as the first vice-chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and is a member of both the House Committee on Finance and the House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. He is the cochairman of the Legislative Black and Latino Caucus. Representative Tobon was a key advocate for a budget item during the 2018 session that eliminated a requirement for brewers to pay sales tax on kegs they purchase to fill with beer and then sell to distributors. He also saw legislation become law that requires state officials to give “great weight to the detrimental impact that the placement of such a facility shall have on its surrounding communities” before approving solid waste management facilities. During the 2017 legislative session, Representative Tobon sponsored successful legislation that amends the Rhode Island Underground Storage Tank Financial Responsibility Act to streamline fund processes and clarify language within the law. 21
Representative Tobon had four bills become law during the 2016 legislative session. To crack down on sex trafficking and prostitution, he sponsored a new law that provides municipalities with the powers necessary to regulate unlicensed massage parlors. Representative Tobon also championed legislation supporting the ‘Fitting the Description’ movement that requires law enforcement to automatically destroy all pertinent arrest records for those who are victims of mistaken or wrongful arrests. He also introduced successful legislation mandating that the Resource Recovery Corporation report on the economic impact of recycling related industries in Rhode Island. To eliminate lines during elections, Representative Tobon authored a new law authorizing the use of additional poll supervisors. Representative Tobon’s past public service includes memberships on the Central Falls Board of Trustees, Pawtucket Business Development Corporation, United Way of RI Advisory Council, Blackstone Academy Charter School, and Books Are Wings. Employed in the insurance industry, Representative Tobon is a reserve petty officer in the U.S. Coast Guard. He graduated in 2000 from Tolman High School, Pawtucket, and attended the Community College of Rhode Island and the University of Rhode Island. He and his wife, Alejandra, are parents of a son, Carlos Esteban Tobon. He was born on February 3, 1982.
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Representative Mario Mendez Representative Mario Mendez (D) was first elected in November 2018 to serve the people of District 13 in Johnston and Providence. A lifelong resident of District 13, he is a product of Providence Public Schools. Born June 21, 1989, he currently resides in Johnston and obtained his bachelor’s degree from Rhode Island College.
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Representative Karen Alzate Rep. Karen Alzate (D-Dist. 60, Pawtucket) was first elected to the House of Representatives in November 2018. Representative Alzate is a case manager with The Providence Center. She graduated from Tolman High School in 2006 and received her bachelor’s degree in political science from Rhode Island College in 2013. She is currently enrolled at Roger Williams University, where she is seeking a master’s degree in community development. Representative Alzate is also a board member of the Pawtucket Arts Festival. I love Pawtucket, we need a strong new voice at the Statehouse to fight for education, affordable housing, small businesses and for all families who come to Pawtucket to pursue the American Dream. With a passion for helping youth pursue higher education, she said she wants to include education programs for all students in Pawtucket and increase resources to help students further their education and create resources for families to thrive and stay in Pawtucket. Alzate is the first generation to have graduated from college in her family. Her parents migrated to Rhode Island in the early 1980s and were able to provide education Alzate and her sister. She said she is passionate about Pawtucket and is ready to give back. She is a 2016 graduate of the New Leaders Council, a nonprofit organization that promotes, trains and recruits progressive leaders, and has served on their board for the last two years. 24
Senator Sandra Cano Member, Senate Committee on Finance Member, Senate Committee on Labor Sandra Cano was born in Medellin, Colombia, and moved to the United States with her family in 2000. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Management and Economics at Bryant University in 2007. She completed a master’s degree in Public Administration at the University of Rhode Island in 2012 then went to Harvard Kennedy School where she finished couple of executive leadership programs in 2016. Sandra is the Assistant VP Community Development at Navigant Credit Union, she is responsible for developing strategic business sector and community-based partnerships and developing financial education campaigns for the emerging markets. Additionally, Sandra has developed a strong track record of volunteerism and community engagement. Sandra was awarded the “Credit Union Rising Start” recognition in 2012 by Center Point Magazine for being an outstanding employee and business leader, also for making a notable impact on her credit union and within the industry. Sandra was elected to be a member of the City of Pawtucket school committee in 2012 being the top vote getter and the first Latina ever elected in the whole city; she was then elected as the first Latina Pawtucket City Councilor in November of 2014 and reelected in 2016. Sandra won a special election for Senate District 8 in April of 2017 with 73% of the vote. She is currently seeking reelection. Sandra has focused her city legislative efforts on economic development and supporting the small business community creating initiatives for 25
economic growth such as her monthly Crash Pawtucket and Restaurant Week. Sandra is a co-founding member of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and has been the co-chair of the emerging markets committee for the SBA Economic Summit the past three years. She is serves on the Broad Street Regeneration committee and is the co-chair of the Pawtucket 2020 group. Sandra was recognized with the mission award 2012 by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society; she received the collaborator of the year award 2013 by the Central Falls Community Collaborative and has been recognized by her community involvement and positive impact for her work to improve the lives of the underserved communities in Rhode Island. Sandra was chosen as one of 14 people in Rhode Island who made a difference in 2014 by GolocalProv. She was nominated as a CU Hero 2015 and was recognized as one of the three CU Heroes by The Credit Union National Association and the Credit Union Magazine. Sandra was awarded the 2015 Financial Services Champion Award by the US Small Business Administration, the 2015 Extraordinary Women Award by the Women Development Institute, The 2015 John Coen Award for Community Service and Social Justice from the Pawtucket and Central Falls Development Corporation and the 2015 Paul E. Moura Leadership Award by the Institute for Labor Studies and Research of Rhode Island. Sandra was nominated to be the Next Top Credit Union Executive 2017 a program for emerging credit union leaders. She was voted one of the top 15 at the national level and was recognized as 9 Influencers to watch in 2017 by 990 WBOB Radio. Sandra Cano lives in Pawtucket.
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Senator Ana B. Quezada Deputy Majority Leader Member, Senate Committee on Commerce Member, Senate Committee on Education Senator Ana B. Quezada (Democrat District 2, Providence) is married and has three children. Quezada is a code enforcement officer for the Providence Department of Inspection and Standards. She previously worked as a social service coordinator at John Hope Settlement House. She was elected to the Rhode Island Senate on November 8, 2016.
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Tomás Alberto Ávila
appointed to such a Board.
Tomás Alberto Ávila was appointed by Mayor Angel Taveras, the first Latino Mayor of Rhode Island Capital City Providence as the first Latino Chairman of the Providence Board of Elections composed of three members with the mission of protecting the integrity of the electoral process and to effectively and efficiently administer the provisions of the election laws of the United States and the State of Rhode Island including, but not limited to, the governance and conduct of elections, voter registration and any other duties prescribed by law, becoming only the second Latino
As a political activist, strategist and consultant, he's been recognized as a political power broker and key player in the empowerment of the Latino/Hispanic community and involved in the election of many elected officials throughout Rhode Island and Northeast United States. He is a founding member and past President of the Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee (RILPAC), a nonpartisan organization that works "to influence the political process in the state of Rhode Island," to improve the quality of life in the Latino and urban communities. Cofounder of the New York Latina PAC, Delaware Latino PAC, New York Garifuna PAC. A founding member of the Rhode Island Redistricting Coalition (2000-2004), responsible of developing clear, legally defensible standards that were written into the enabling legislation and developed a highly public process for the 2002 redistricting of the Rhode Island political districts. Avila was appointed by Secretary of State Edward Inman to serve in the Commission to Study Rhode Island Election Procedures, that successfully prepared the state of Rhode Island for the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002, and most recently appointed by the Speaker 29
of the Rhode Island House of Representatives Gordon Fox to serve in the Commission to study Rhode Island Election Process (2013). He served the Governor's Commission on Hispanic Affairs as Policy Analyst with the responsibilities of identifying and tracking of legislative issues that impact the Latino community and was appointed by Mayor David Cicilline to the Mayor's City Government Equity Task Force charged to review the City's affirmative action policy, minority contracting procedures, equal opportunity compliance, and other related issues. Ávila also served as executive director of Progreso Latino, in Central Falls, Deputy Director and Policy Analyst at the Center for Hispanic Policy & Advocacy (CHisPA), President of the Rhode Island Political Action Committee (RILPAC) Ávila has been the recipient of multiple awards for his volunteer services such as: Center for Hispanic Policy & Advocacy (CHisPA) Outstanding Leadership (2002), Quisqueya In Action Outstanding Latino Professional (2003), Delaware PAC, Leadership Award (2003), Imagen Hispana Magazine Influential Hispanic of New England (2004), John Hope Settlement House Outstanding Community Leader (2004), ASBDC State Star Award (2007), Cesar Chavez Exceptional Leadership Award (2011), Quetzal Award (2013), NAACP Thurgood Marshal diversity empowerment Award (2014), HUDO Excellence in Civic Engagement Award (2015), RILPBN Exceptional Leadership in growth and development of Future Leaders (2015), Mujeres Emprendedoras Leadership Award (2015), Dominican Independence and Heritage Award (2016), RIPLA Outstanding Community Involvement Award (2016), Honduras General Consulate in New York, Outstanding Community Leadership Award (2016), Telemundo Providence Héroe de La Humanidad Award (2016). Published: Providence Journal, Providence American, Providence Business News, Pawtucket Times, Providence En Español, Siglo 21, Latino Express, to name a few.
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