Rhode Island Minority Elected Officials (RIMEO) DRAFT

Rhode Island Minority Elected Officials

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Table of Contents SECRETARY OF STATE NELLIE GORBEA .................................................... 12

REPRESENTATIVE MAHLON VAN HORNE (1840-1910) ............... 15

REPRESENTATIVE GEORGE A. CASTRO .................................................... 17 HOUSE DISTRICT 20 PROVIDENCE DEMOCRAT ............................................ 17 REPRESENTATIVE JOHN S. HERNANDEZ .................................................. 18 HOUSE DISTRICT 46, SOUTH KINGSTOWN, NORTH KINGSTOWN, EAST GREENWICH, EXETER, DEMOCRAT ................................................................................... 18 SENATOR CHARLES D. WALTON ............................................................. 20 SENATE DISTRICT 9 PROVIDENCE DEMOCRAT ............................................. 20 REPRESENTATIVE HAROLD M. METT ...................................................... 21 DISTRICT 19, DEMOCRAT PROVIDENCE ........................................................... 21 REPRESENTATIVE RAY RICKMAN ............................................................ 22 3RD DISTRICT PROVIDENCE .......................................................................... 22 REPRESENTATIVE GEORGE S. LIMA......................................................... 23 83RD DISTRICT EAST PROVIDENCE ................................................................. 23 GEORGE S. LIMA, SR BIO ........................................................................ 24 3

REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPH E. NEWSOME ................................................. 27 DISTRICT 18, PROVIDENCE ........................................................................... 27 REPRESENTATIVE MARIA J. LOPES .......................................................... 28 HOUSE DISTRICT 83 EAST PROVIDENCE DEMOCRAT .................................... 28 REPRESENTATIVE MELVOID J. BENSON ................................................... 29 HOUSE DISTRICT 32 NORTH KINGSTOWN DEMOCRAT ................................ 29 REPRESENTATIVE ANASTASIA P. WILLIAMS ............................................ 30

REPRESENTATIVE GORDON D. FOX ......................................................... 32 HOUSE DISTRICT 5 PROVIDENCE DEMOCRAT ................................................. 32 REPRESENTATIVE MARY L. ROSS............................................................. 33

REPRESENTATIVE MARSHA E. CARPENTER.............................................. 34 HOUSE DISTRICT 18 PROVIDENCE DEMOCRAT ............................................ 34 REPRESENTATIVE MAXINE BRADFORD SHAVERS .................................... 35 HOUSE DISTRICT 97, NEWPORT DEMOCRAT .................................................. 35 REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPH S. ALMEIDA .................................................... 36

REPRESENTATIVE LEON F. TEJADA .......................................................... 38 4

HOUSE DISTRICT 11 PROVIDENCE DEMOCRAT ............................................ 38 REPRESENTATIVE AISHA W. ADDULLA-ODIASE ....................................... 39 HOUSE DISTRICT 19 PROVIDENCE DEMOCRAT ............................................ 39 REPRESENTATIVE STELLA GUERRA ......................................................... 40 HOUSE DISTRICT 62, WOONSOCKET DEMOCRAT ............................................ 40 SENATOR JUAN M. PICHARDO ............................................................... 41 SENATE DISTRICT 2 PROVIDENCE ................................................................... 41 SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE 2ND VICE CHAIRMAN, SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE MEMBER, SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES MEMBER, SENATE COMMITTEE ON HOUSING MEMBER, SENATE COMMITTEE ON SPECIAL LEGISLATION ................................................................................................... 41 SENATOR PICHARDO HAS ALSO RECEIVED NUMEROUS AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS, WHICH INCLUDE ......................................................................................... 44 SENATOR PICHARDO ALSO SERVES ON MANY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, INCLUDING: .............................................................................................................. 45 REPRESENTATIVE GRACE DIAZ ............................................................... 47

SENATOR HAROLD M. METTS................................................................. 50

REPRESENTATIVE RAYMOND A. HULL .................................................... 51

REPRESENTATIVE MARVIN L. ABNEY ...................................................... 53

REPRESENTATIVE LEO MEDINA .............................................................. 55 5

DIST. 12, PROVIDENCE DEMOCRAT 2010-2012 ............................................... 55 REPRESENTATIVE SHELBY MALDONADO................................................. 56

REPRESENTATIVE CARLOS E. TOBON ...................................................... 58

REPRESENTATIVE JEAN PHILIPPE BARROS .............................................. 60

SENATOR ANA B. QUEZADA ................................................................... 62

REPRESENTATIVE MARCIA RANGLIN-VASSELL ........................................ 63

REPRESENTATIVE MARIO MENDEZ ......................................................... 64

REPRESENTATIVE KAREN ALZATE ........................................................... 65

SENATOR SANDRA CANO ....................................................................... 66

REPRESENTATIVE LIANA M. CASSAR ....................................................... 68

SENATOR JESSICA DE LA CRUZ ................................................................ 69 BURRILLVILLE, GLOCESTER, NORTH SMITHFIELD ................................................ 69

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MUNICIPAL ............................................................................................ 70

COUNCILMAN FREDERICK E. WILLIAMS .................................................. 71 NEWPORT - FIRST AFRICAN HERITAGE ELECTED TO COUNCIL ............... 71 COUNCILMAN PHILIP ADDISON JR. ........................................................ 72

MAYOR PAUL L. GAINES ......................................................................... 74 NEWPORT, RI 1981 ................................................................................... 74 COUNCILWOMAN BALBINA YOUNG ....................................................... 75 PROVIDENCE WARD 11: 1987 – 2010 ........................................................... 75 COUNCILMAN LLOYD T. GRIFFIN, JR. ...................................................... 78

COUNCILMAN RONALD W. “RON” ALLEN ............................................... 81 WARD 8 PROVIDENCE 1994 - 2004 .............................................................. 81 EXPRESSING SINCEREST CONGRATULATIONS TO RONALD W. ALLEN ON HIS ELECTION AS MAJORITY LEADER OF THE PROVIDENCE CITY COUNCIL.......................................... 81 99 -- H 5390 ................................................................................................ 81 COUNCILMAN LUIS A. APONTE .............................................................. 83 PROVIDENCE WARD 10: 1998– PRESENT ........................................................ 83 COUNCILMAN MIGUEL LUNA ................................................................. 85 PROVIDENCE WARD 9: 2003 -2011 .............................................................. 85 7

COUNCIL ACCOMPLISHMENTS ....................................................................... 86 NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENTS .................................................................. 87 PARKS ............................................................................................................ 87 TREES ............................................................................................................. 88 ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES ............................................................................. 88 ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS ................................................................... 88 A JOINT STATEMENT FROM MAYOR ANGEL TAVERAS AND THE PROVIDENCE CITY COUNCIL ON THE PASSING OF COUNCILMAN MIGUEL C. LUNA .............................. 89 MAYOR ISADORE S. RAMOS ................................................................... 92 EAST PROVIDENCE SCHOOL COMMITTEE, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL ......................... 92 COUNCILMAN LUIS F. TEJADA................................................................. 93 PROVIDENCE WARD 8 2006-2010 ................................................................ 93 EMILIO NAVARRO, COUNCILMAN........................................................... 94 CRANSTON CITY COUNCIL WARD 2, 2007-2013 .............................................. 94 MAYOR ANGEL TAVERAS ........................................................................ 96 PROVIDENCE ............................................................................................. 96 INAUGURAL ADDRESS .................................................................................. 98 COUNCILWOMAN SABINA MATOS ....................................................... 106 PROVIDENCE WARD 15: 2010- PRESENT ....................................................... 106 COUNCIL PRESIDENT ................................................................................. 106 COUNCILMAN WILBUR JENNINGS ........................................................ 110 PROVIDENCE WARD 8: 2010 - 2018 ............................................................ 110 DAVIAN SANCHEZ ................................................................................ 111 8

PROVIDENCE WARD 11: 2010 -2014 .......................................................... 111 COUNCILWOMAN CARMEN CASTILLO .................................................. 112 PROVIDENCE WARD 9: 2011 – PRESENT ....................................................... 112 MAYOR JAMES DIOSSA ........................................................................ 114 CENTRAL FALLS ........................................................................................ 114 COUNCILWOMAN SUZANNA “SUZY” ALBA ........................................... 116 SMITHFIELD TOWN COUNCIL 2012- PRESENT ................................................. 116 MAYOR JORGE O. ELORZA .................................................................... 119 PROVIDENCE 2014 - 2022 ......................................................................... 119 COUNCILWOMAN MARY KAY HARRIS – ............................................... 122 PROVIDENCE WARD 11: 2014 – 2022 ......................................................... 122 JOHN FLOREZ ....................................................................................... 124 CITY COUNCIL AT LARGE NEWPORT 2014 - 2018 ........................................... 124 COUNCILWOMAN STEPHANIE GONZALEZ ............................................ 125

HUGO FIGUEROA ................................................................................. 128 WARD 3 CENTRAL FALLS 2014 - PRESENT ..................................................... 128 COUNCILWOMAN CARLENE FONSECA .................................................. 129 9

COUNCILWOMAN AT LARGE PRESIDENT PRO-TEMP 2014 – 2018 ...................... 129 COUNCILWOMAN MARIA RIVERA ........................................................ 130 CENTRAL FALLS CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT 2016 - PRESENT ............................... 130 COUNCILWOMAN ELENA VASQUEZ ...................................................... 132 CITY COUNCIL AT LARGE 2016 - PRESENT ...................................................... 132 STEPPING OUTSIDE OF HER COMFORT ZONE .................................................. 133 MAKING A REAL IMPACT ............................................................................ 133 COUNCILMAN JONATHAN ACOSTA....................................................... 135 WARD 1 CENTRAL FALLS 2016 - PRESENT ..................................................... 135 COUNCILMAN FRANKLIN SOLANO ........................................................ 137 WARD 4 CENTRAL FALLS 2016 - PRESENT ..................................................... 137 SCHOOL COMMITTEEMAN FRANCISCO COLON, JR................................ 138 WEST WARWICK WARD 3 SCHOOL COMMITTEE 2016-PRESENT ........................ 138 COUNCILWOMAN NIRVA LAFORTUNE .................................................. 143 PROVIDENCE WARD 3: 2017 – PRESENT ....................................................... 143 COUNCILWOMAN JESSICA VEGA .......................................................... 145 CENTRAL FALLS WARD 5 2018 – PRESENT ..................................................... 145 COUNCILWOMAN LAMMIS VARGAS..................................................... 147 CRANSTON WARD 1 2018 – PRESENT .......................................................... 147 10

SCHOOL COMMITTEEMAN ROBERTO H. MORENO ............................... 150 PAWTUCKET SCHOOL COMMITTEE 2018 – PRESENT ........................................ 150 ROBERT BRITTO ................................................................................... 151

REFERENCE .......................................................................................... 152

RHODE ISLAND LEGISLATIVE BLACK AND LATINO CAUCUS .................. 156 MISSION STATEMENT................................................................................ 156 THUS, OUR OBJECTIVES ARE: ...................................................................... 156 RHODE ISLAND LATINO POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE ...................... 160

RHODE ISLAND ELECTED LATINX: THE STATE ELECTORAL FUTURE ........ 161

ABOUT TOMÁS ALBERTO ÁVILA ........................................................... 169

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Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea About Secretary Of State Nellie M. Gorbea Rhode Island Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea made history when she was sworn in on January 6, 2015, becoming the first Hispanic elected to statewide office in New England. She has rapidly emerged on the national scene as a leader who is taking on some of the toughest issues and getting results, leading the way for other states across the country.

Already in her first term, she has: Worked to pass automatic voter registration, making Rhode Island the ninth state in the country to do so, and increased civic engagement by instituting online voter registration; Improved the elections system by acquiring new state-of-the-art voting machines making Rhode Island one of the few states in the country to have new voting equipment at all polling places for the fall 2016 elections; Ushered in tough legislation to increase government transparency, crack down on violations of lobbying rules and make Rhode Island’s lobbying registration system a model for the nation; Launched a new online Business Portal to make it easier for entrepreneurs to start businesses in the state; Initiated the development of a new State Archives and Rhode Island History Exhibition Center that will help Rhode Islanders understand and appreciate their state’s great history.

Prior to her election as Secretary of State, Gorbea headed a leading organization working to make housing affordable in Rhode Island, 12

served as Deputy Secretary of State (2002 to 2006) and led the creation of the Rhode Island Latino Civic Fund.

Originally from Puerto Rico, Gorbea is a graduate of Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School for Public and International Affairs and holds a master’s degree in public administration from Columbia University. She and her husband, Steve D’Hondt, and their three daughters live in North Kingstown.

About The Department Of State Our Vision The Rhode Island Department of State is a modern gateway connecting Rhode Islanders and their government.

Our Mission The Rhode Island Department of State engages and empowers all Rhode Islanders by making government more accessible and transparent, encouraging civic pride, enhancing commerce and ensuring that elections are fair, fast and accurate.

Duties of the Secretary of State The Secretary of State is the state’s third ranking elected official, following the Governor and Lt. Governor. State law gives the Secretary of State many different duties. As Rhode Island’s chief elections officer, the Secretary of State registers voters, prepares ballots, certifies election results and administers oaths of office. The Secretary of State also works with companies registered to do business in Rhode Island – more than 70,000 in all. State laws and other official acts, such as issuing bonds, must be signed by the Secretary of State in order to make them official. The Secretary of State is also charged with regulating lobbying activity in the Executive and Legislative branches of state government. In addition, the Secretary of State also processes, preserves and gives the public access to hundreds of thousands of historic documents and public records.

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History The Office of the Secretary of State existed before Rhode Island became a state. The first office-holder, William Aspinwall, served from 1637-38, just one year after the colony was founded. Over the years, the title changed General Recorder to Secretary of the Colony until it finally become Secretary of State in 1776. The term of office changed over the years, too.

The Secretary of State served just one year at a time from 1637 until 1912, when a Constitutional amendment set the term at two years. In 1994, another Constitutional amendment changed the term to four years. Until 1663, the Secretary of State was appointed by the legislature, but now is elected by popular vote. The Secretary of State may serve only two consecutive terms before having to leave office for at least one term. If the Office of Secretary of State becomes vacant, the General Assembly appoints a replacement to serve for the remainder of the term. In order to serve as Secretary of State, you must be at least 18 years old, a registered voter, a resident of Rhode Island for at least 30 days and a U.S. citizen.

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Representative Mahlon Van Horne (1840-1910) Reverend Mahlon Van Horne was a community leader in Newport, Rhode Island and a pioneer in African American politics. As U.S. consul to St. Thomas, Danish West Indies, he advocated for the U.S. to purchase the territory in the early 1900s.

Born on March 5th, 1840 in Princeton, New Jersey, Van Horne’s parents Mathias and Diana sent him to the Ashmun Collegiate Institute for Colored Youth (now Lincoln University), the country’s first institution of higher education for African Americans. Van Horne studied theology, education and classical languages. He was ordained as a minister in 1866 and began his career as principal of Charleston, South Carolina’s African Methodist Episcopal Zion School.

In 1869 Van Horne moved to Rhode Island where he assumed the pastorate of Union Congregational Church, one of the few racially integrated churches in the U.S. at that time. He arrived after a period of instability in the church but became a consistent presence, serving there for 28 years. He also is credited with rebuilding the church edifice in 1871.

In 1871 prominent Rhode Island civil rights activist George T. Downing persuaded Van Horne to enter politics. Van Horne had been visible in the small Rhode Island black community where he had been active as a member of the Price Hall Masons, African American mutual aid societies and the Republican Party.

Downing was convinced that Van Horne could win the support of 15

local blacks as well as many white Republicans. Downing pledged crucial financial support in Van Horne’s first campaign for the Newport School Committee. Van Horne won the race and began serving on the committee in 1872.

In 1885 Van Horne was elected to the Rhode Island General Assembly, becoming the first African American to sit in that body.

He won re-election in 1887 and 1889.

In December 1896 President William McKinley appointed Van Horne to be U.S. consul to St. Thomas in the Danish West Indies.

Van Horne held the position until July 1903. While there he tried unsuccessfully to secure the U.S. purchase of St. Thomas from Denmark. Because of his apparent interference in local politics as well as financial irregularities in his consular office, Van Horne was charged with incompetence, impeached and removed from his post in July 1903. Seventy prominent Virgin Island merchants, local officials and other inhabitants petitioned for his reappointment, but President Theodore Roosevelt upheld the impeachment. Although Van Horne was unsuccessful in his efforts to gain U.S. control over the Virgin Islands, on January 17, 1917 the U.S. government through a treaty with Denmark acquired jurisdiction over the islands of St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John.

On May 25th, 1910, heart trouble ended Mahlon Van Horne’s life while on a mission in Antigua, West Indies. He was posthumously inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame in 2005.

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Representative George A. Castro House District 20 PROVIDENCE DEMOCRAT

Biographical Date of Birth: 12/27/36 Married to: Avis Val, Children: Brian, Terri, Regina General Background Occupation: Media Specialist High School: Central High School, Providence College: Providence College Business and Professional Groups-Chair, Perm. Adv. Commission on Boxing and Wrestling in RI; Chair, Cape Verdean American Cultural Exchange Commission; Washington Park Citizens Associations; N.A.A.C.P., Newport Branch; Chair, Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission; Board of RI. Black Heritage Society; Host of Radio Program on WHIM & WSNE Public Service Information Public Offices and Appointments Elected Representative November 4, 1980

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Representative John S. Hernandez House District 46, South Kingstown, North Kingstown, East Greenwich, Exeter, Democrat

Deputy Majority Leader HEW General Background: Occupation: Middle School Principal Employ by: Providence School Department High' School Mt. Pleasant, 1963 College: Providence College, 1967, AB, Education Graduate School: Providence College, 1972, M.Ed.. Secondary Administration Business and Professional Groups: APPSSA; Barnard Education Club; Reserve Officer Association, Executive Board; South County Hospital, Corporator Organization Memberships: Knights of Columbus, 4th Degree; Fraternal Order of Police; American Legion Post #12; Veterans of Foreign Wars #152 Public Service Information: Member of: Rep. District 46 Democratic Committee, North Kingstown Democratic Committee Current Public Office Appointments: Driving Training Commission; Adult Education, Lifeline and School Court Legislative Study Commissions

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The Honorable John S. Hernandez, "Steve", 61, of Birchwood Drive, died Saturday at South County Hospital after being stricken at home. He was the husband of Joan M. (McCormick) Hernandez.

They had been married for 38 years.

He was a son of late William and Bernice (Williams) Hernandez. Besides his wife, he leaves his two children, a brother, a sister, Valerie Williams of North Providence, and his dear twin and two grandchildren.

Mr. Hernandez was the principal of Msgr. Clarke School in Wakefield and was the former principal of Oliver Hazard Perry School in Providence and St. Joseph School in West Warwick.

He was an Army veteran of the Vietnam War, and earned several medals and commendations, including the Purple Heart. Upon his discharge from active duty, he joined the Army Reserve. He served for 26 years, retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

He was an active member and past commander of the V.F.W., Post 152 in North Kingstown. He was the current State Junior Vice Commander.

He was a communicant of St. Bernard Church, and a 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus.

He was elected to the Rhode Island House of Representatives in 1982, and served five terms before he retired in 1992.

Gravesite Details LT COL US ARMY; VIETNAM https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/52616728/john-stephenhernandez#

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Senator Charles D. Walton Senate District 9 PROVIDENCE DEMOCRAT

Biographical Date of Birth: 7/13/48 Married to: Leslie Robertson Children: Chad General Background Occupation: College Administrator Employed by: Community College of RI College: Shaw University Graduate School: University of Massachusetts Business and Professional Groups: Rl Public Transit Authority; Rl Black Heritage Society; Trans-Africa Lobby Organization, N.A.A.C.P.; Washington Park Citizens Association; National Black Caucus of State Legislators Public Service Information Public Offices and Appointments: Elected Senator June 21, 1983

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Representative Harold M. Mett District 19, Democrat providence

Deputy Majority Leader Date of Birth: 10/06/47, Lexington. VA Marital Status: Married to Dayus children: Harold Jr., Darren, Jade General Background: Occupation: Business Teacher Employed by: Providence School Department High School: Central High School, Prov., 1965 College: Roger Williams College, 1970, 8.8., Business; Bryant College, 1975, Teacher Certification Graduate School: Rhode Island College, 1983, M.Ed., Secondary Education Business and Professional Groups: American Federation of Teachers Organization Memberships: NAACP; Urban League; Marathon Club; South Providence Alumni Association; South Providence Tutorial' Public Service Information: Member of: Ward Committee Current Public' Offices or Appointments: Blue Ribbon Commission' on Affordable Housing; Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission; Substance Abuse Commission

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Representative Ray Rickman 3rd District Providence

Born. - November 25. 1948, Profession. ~ Bookseller, Talk Show Host Education.- Southeastern High School, Detroit, MI ('67),- Wayne State University. Detroit, MI ('71),- Harvard University (Urban P1anning Courses) Public Offices.- Dexter Commission(Chair '82-'86) Organizations.- Board of Directors.- American Friends Service Committee ('86-'87). Langston Hughes Arts Center ('86-'87), Providence Pubic Library ('81—'83) Election Result’s.- 1986 PRIMRY.- Rickman (D) 220/ Larson 54.

1986 General: Rickman (D) 1.847/ Chafee (R) 947.

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Representative George S. LIMA 83rd District East Providence

Committees: Labor; Joint Committee on Naming State Constructions Born April 4. 1919. Fali River, MA Profession: Retired Director, State of RI Action Federal gency Persona1.- Married (SeIma), 3 chiidren,- Cath01ic Military Service.° U.S. Amy Air Corps (lst Lieutenant '42-'46) Education.- Durfee High school]. Fa11 River ('36),' Brown University (A.B. Sociology '48),' Harvard Univer51'ty Business school] (Labor Relations) Pubic Offices.' East Providence Community Development Commission Organizations.‘ Omega Psi Ph1',- NAACP (Providence branch, Past President),- Bipacks in Government (B.I.G., National Member),° Catholic Interracial Council (National Member)

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George S. Lima, Sr Bio (1919-2011) ~ Inducted 2012 Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame Inductee http://www.riheritagehalloffame.org/inductees_detail.cfm?crit=det&ii d=687 George S. Lima, Sr., the son of immigrants from Cape Verde, spent his adolescent years in Harlem, Fall River, and Providence with his Cape Verdean family.

His life changed dramatically when he enrolled at North Carolina A&T State University in 1939 on a football scholarship. It was there he also learned to pilot planes.

When World War II erupted, George joined the controversial and courageous Tuskegee Airmen in Alabama, an African-American contingent who blazed a pioneering path to break the color barrier and fly with the “greatest generation.” But first, they had to win the fight with military authorities for the right to fight for America in this global conflict. Lima was one of fifteen black Rhode Islanders at Tuskegee. The story of these airmen has been recounted in books, articles, and this year's acclaimed film, “Red Tails,” starring Cuba Gooding Jr.

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Although George did not get the opportunity to actually fly in combat, he was the outfit's photography officer. He did have one golden chance for hand-to-hand struggle when he engaged famed boxer Joe Louis at an exhibition match on the base. On a signed photograph to Lima, Louis quipped, “I saluted the lieutenant and hit him right in the chops.�

Lieutenant Lima participated in a more meaningful struggle when he helped lead a protest by sixty black officers against racial segregation in 1945 at a white officer's club on an Indiana air base. Although the military protesters risked court martial, charges were dropped and the facilities desegregated just a few years before President Harry Truman ordered the same treatment for all US armed forces in 1948.

Lima returned to Providence after the war with his wife, Selma (Boone) Lima. They would spend fifty-five years together. The couple settled in Fall River while Lima finished his college career at Brown University. Lima commuted to Brown and played football, living on campus during training. He studied sociology in order to understand issues of race and segregation. He helped found the University's chapter of Omega Psi Phi, a black fraternity, and he studied sociology and founded the first chapter of the National African-American fraternity, Omega Psi Phi, on campus. Despite an Ivy League degree, Lima could not break the color barriers in 1948, even in a more liberal northern setting. He first had to settle for a job as a shipping clerk at a downtown Providence department store.

He ended up rising through union ranks and became active in various social justice efforts throughout the ensuing decades.

George soon moved on to tackle the impediments faced by working people on the job. He became the first full-time black officer in the state workers union--the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees--and he sat on the state AFL-CIO's executive board. He later worked as a consultant with the Laborers International Union of North America and helped to found the Harvard Trade Union 25

Program. He also organized the East Providence Veterans Administration hospital.

George also immersed himself in the Civil Rights Movement, organizing sit-ins for fair housing with local Catholic and Jewish activists. Then President John Kennedy tapped him to run VISTA in New England. After returning to Providence, he served as president of the local NAACP in 1963. He  organized a large sleep-in at the Rhode Island State House to push for passage of a fair housing bill (which later passed).

In the 1980s Lima served two terms as a state representative from District 83 in East Providence. He helped pass legislation requiring that a percentage of state contracts be awarded to minority-owned businesses.

Though health problems forced Lima to retire in 1998, he remained active. He stayed fit by fishing and playing table tennis, and stayed dedicated to local causes. As a senior citizen, he formed the Black Air Foundation, (now known as The George S. Lima Foundation) a non-profit organization that introduces minority youth to the world of flying, serving as the president and CEO. He also studied Rhode Island's role in slavery, attending two public meetings of Brown's Steering Committee for Slavery and Justice.

East Providence filmmaker, Napoleon X turned Lima's story into a documentary film titled Black Men Can Fly: The Story of George S. Lima. The film aired PBS television, and has since led to a series.

George Lima “flew� to places that few of his generation had ever visited.

Following Lima's death in 2011, his son Robert M. Lima Sr. did not want people to forget all the things his father had done for Rhode Island. He pushed the city of East Providence to name a public space after his father and in 2014, the Hull Street Playground was named the George S. Lima Sr. Memorial Park.

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Representative Joseph E. Newsome District 18, Providence

Biographical Married to Adrienne Children: Jordan, Matthew, Daniel General Background Occupation: Self-employed Employed By Creative Communications High School: Stony Brook, Long Island, 1972 College: Williams College, BA, Psychology, 1976 Graduate School: University of Minnesota - School of Public Health Business & Professional Groups: Community Business Network (Founder, President); Leadership Rhode Island (Alumnus) Organization Memberships: Pond Street Baptist Church (Board of Trustees); American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island (Investments Committee); American Baptist Churches- USA (General Board); South Providence Neighborhood Ministries; Rhode Island Divest (Founder and Co-Chairman) 27

Representative Maria J. Lopes House District 83 EAST PROVIDENCE DEMOCRAT

Biographical Children: Antonio, Leonard General Background Occupation: Consultant Employed by: Self Employed High School: East Providence High School Business and Professional Groups; Vice Chair, Black Caucus; Chair, Housing Subcommittee for the Black Cause; Disabled Handicapped Commission Public Service Information Public Offices and Appointments: Elected Representative November 8, 1988

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Representative Melvoid J. Benson House District 32 NORTH KINGSTOWN DEMOCRAT

Date of Birth: 2/13/1930 Married to: Arnathia N. (Widowed) General Background Occupation: Teacher (retired) High School: Merry High School, Jackson TN College: Lane College, Jackson Graduate School: Attended Fisk University; RI college Business and Professional Groups: Order of the Eastern Star; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority; RI Racial, Religious, and Ethnic I Commission; South County Caucus of Legislators; RI Women s Caucus; North Kingstown United Methodist Church Ladies Auxiliary; North Kingstown Senior Citizens Association; Central Retired Teachers Association; Delta Kappa .Gamma Sorority for Educators; North Kingstown Democratic: Town Committee; Democratic State Committee; North Kingstown Democratic Women’s Club; RI Commission on Women; RI Caucus of Black and Minority Legislators; Board Member, Habitat for Humanity; Shore Acres Community Assn. f Public Service Information Public Offices and Appointments: Elected Representative November 6, 1990; Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation, Board of Directors; Patient Services Committee, — National Marrow Donor Program.

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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.

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Representative Williams has also sponsored legislation that would grant driving privilege licenses to undocumented immigrants. She 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 Gordon D. Fox House District 5 PROVIDENCE Democrat

General Background Occupation: Attorney High Sr School: Classical High School College: Providence College; Rhode Island College, B A, 1985 Graduate School: Northeastern Law School, if), 1991 Mall '-‘- Business and Professional Groups: The Children’s Crusade for Higher Education; New England Board of Higher Education, RI: Housing and Conservation Board; Governor's Justice Commission; Policy Board, Historical Preservation and DEMOCRAT Heritage Commission; RI Bar Association; RI Trial lawyers Association; RI Black Lawyers Association; American Bar Association; The Genesis Center; Hospice Care of Rhode Island; Camp Street Community Ministries; Mount Hope Neighborhood Association; Summit Neighborhood Association RI State Retirement Board Public Service Information. Public Offices and Appointments: Chair, Finance Subcommittee— tee on General Government; Elected Representative __ November 3, 1992 32

Representative Mary L. ROSS Mary L. ROSS, (Herbert W. ). born in Providence, September 23, 1923.

Complete G.E.D. Member of 8th Ward Republican Committee (Vice ChairProvidence): State GOP; Rhode Island State Black Political Caucus: Rhode Island State Pharmacy Board; Providence Human Relations Commission; House Committee on Health.

Education and Welfare; Joint Committee on Naming State Constructions.

Elected Representative November 3, 1992.

Profession: Teaching Assistant. Mother of Bernard, Gloria, Ann Marie.

Rosemary. JoAnn, Mary, Margaret, Herbert, David, and Vincent (deceased). Politics: Republican.

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Representative Marsha E. Carpenter House District 18 PROVIDENCE DEMOCRAT

Biographical Date of Birth: 04/06/1947 Married to: John Children: Tracey, John General Background High School: New Bedford High School College: University of Rhode Island, B.A., 1986 Business and Professional Groups: Dexter Donation Commissioner (1990-present); Elmwood Community Center, Board of Directors; Elmwood Foundation, Board of Directors, - Nonviolence Works Inc. Public Service Information Public Offices and Appointments: Elected Representative November 8, 1994 34

Representative Maxine Bradford Shavers House District 97, NEWPORT Democrat

Biographical Date of Birth: 6/29/35 Married to: Land D. Shavers Children: Deborah, William, Troy General Background Occupation: Human Services/Realtor Employed by: Heritage of Newport High School: Byro Prillerman College: Beckly College of Business, 8.5., 1958 Graduate School: Salve Regina College Business and Professional Groups: RI Board of Regents for Education; Commission to Study Vandalism and Discipline in the Public Schools; Commission to Study Election Laws; Advisory Council to the Title 1 Act; National Board of Education; Director RI Minority Caucus; Vice—President, Contra—Tect, Inc.; Board of Directors New Vision for Newport County; Board of Governors, Newport Hospital; President of Racial Disparities in Court System; Board of Health Department; Board of Directors, New Vision Newport County

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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.

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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 Leon F. Tejada House District 11 PROVIDENCE DEMOCRAT Date of Birth: 4/11/1964 Children: Nathalie, Julianne, Princess General Background Occupation: Accounting/ Systems. Analyst Employed by: El Centro Multi-Services High School: Dominican Republic College: Catholic University Madre y Madre y Maestra, Dominican Republic,1986 Business and Professional Groups: Instituto Duartiano, Rhode Island Public Service Public Offices and Appointments: l—louse District 18; Elected Representative November 2000

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Representative Aisha W. Addulla-Odiase House District 19 PROVIDENCE DEMOCRAT

Biographical Date of Birth: 8/31/55 Married to: Benjamin Prince Children: Yasminah Abdullah General Background Occupation: Assistant Archivist Employed by: City of Providence.

College: Johnson & Wales. University Business and Professional Groups: National State Legislators Council; Women in Government; RI Caucus of Black and Minority Legislators Public Service Information Public Offices and Appointments: Providence School Board, (Vice Chairperson)

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Representative Stella Guerra House District 62, Woonsocket DEMOCRAT Attorney Stella Guerra has more than 15 years of experience in diverse areas of law, including residential and commercial real estate, commercial lending and finance, corporate transactions, foreclosures, family law matters and personal injury matters.

Stella earned her Juris Doctorate from New York Law School in 1998 and received her B.A. from Oswego State University in 1994. Stella is admitted to practice law in all state courts in New York and Rhode Island and the U.S. District Court - District of Rhode Island. She is a member of the Rhode Island and New York Bar Associations. Stella Guerra, a native New Yorker, started her law career in New York before she moved to Rhode Island in 2000. She formerly also worked for 5 years as the managing attorney of a law firm in Providence, RI and has been in private practice for herself since 2007.

Stella has taught numerous seminars throughout Rhode Island in such areas as corporate law, residential and commercial real estate matters and homebuyer's workshops.

Stella speaks fluent Spanish and is especially sought out by the Hispanic community and those clients seeking representation in Spanish. She is a member of the Foreign Language International Honor Society and the French National Honor Society. In commitment to her serving her community, Stella is a former elected State Representative of the State of Rhode Island and a former City Councilwoman for the City of Woonsocket. In support of philanthropies and volunteer work, she is also an alumna of the Delta Zeta National Organization.

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Senator Juan M. Pichardo Senate District 2 Providence Senate President Pro Tempore 2nd Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance Member, Senate Committee on Health & Human Services Member, Senate Committee on Housing Member, Senate Committee on Special Legislation On January 7, 2003, Juan M. Pichardo was sworn in as a State Senator representing the 2nd Senatorial district in the State of Rhode Island. Located in Providence, Senate District 2 encompasses the neighborhoods of Elmwood, Reservoir Triangle and the West End. In the General Assembly, he serves as Senate Deputy Majority Leader and as a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, where he serves as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Human Services and Transportation. In addition, Sen. Pichardo also serves as Secretary of the Health and Human Services Committee.

Senator Pichardo has the distinction of being named the first Latino 41

elected to a R.I. Senate seat and the first Dominican American elected to a State Senate seat in the United States.

During his first weeks in office, Senator Pichardo introduced and helped pass the “nolo-contendere” bill, which requires judges to inform immigrants of all their rights under the law. In his first session, he was the prime sponsor of 23 other bills and supported the successful passage of a Senate resolution memorializing the U.S. Congress regarding federal pre-emption of predatory lending legislation. Predatory lending practices are issues that Senator Pichardo continues to champion as the Chairman of the Commission to Study Predatory Mortgage Lending Practices.

Senator Pichardo was elected in 2002, after successfully galvanizing the southside of Providence. In an impressive show of support during the primary election, he successfully defeated an incumbent of 18 years. In the general election, Senator Pichardo faced another challenging race against three opponents: two Independent candidates and a Republican candidate. The conclusion resulted in an astounding victory, with Senator Pichardo having received 74% of the votes.

Senator Pichardo and his grassroots team of well-organized, community-minded people were able to register a large amount of new voters and provide information on civic participation.

Senator Pichardo’s success is credited to his long-term service to his community, from his time as a student activist at CCRI to his many visits to Providence schools to speak with youth.

Senator Pichardo had a 17-year career at the largest health care facility in Rhode Island, RI Hospital/Lifespan, where he held several positions.

While at RI Hospital, he became a Patient Financial Advocate where he assisted and provided personal guidance to patients and families and helped them obtain Medicaid, Social Security Insurance benefits and community free care services.

He holds an Associate’s Degree in Arts from the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI), an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science Audio Visual Production Services from the Community College of the 42

Air Force (CCAF), and has completed the Air National Guard NCO Academy on September 17, 2003.

Senator Pichardo joined the 143rd Military Security Force as a Security Police Specialist. He quickly succeeded in obtaining rank and within 3 years obtained the rank of Staff Sergeant.

He cross-trained into the 143rd Communication Flight in the Multimedia Unit as a Combat Video Specialist. During that time, he obtained his seven level and was promoted to Technical Sergeant. He also graduated from the Noncommissioned Officer Academy (NCO).

In 2004, Senator Pichardo reenlisted and cross-trained into his current position as a Military Equal Opportunity Advisor, where he plans, organizes and directs MEO and Human Relations Education activities.

Senator Pichardo is married to Janet, a Parent Facilitator for Community and Family Partnerships in the Providence School Department, and has two children, Cristian and Tiffanie.

He arrived to the United States from Jicome-Santiago, Dominican Republic in 1975 at the age of nine, and lived in New York City with his mother and two sisters prior to moving to Providence in 1979. Since then, Senator Pichardo has lived in Providence and has been actively involved in the community throughout different stages of his life. He attended Providence public schools and the Community College of Rhode Island and has completed course work at Rhode Island College in a pursuit of a B.A. in Political Science.

By co-founding a non-profit organization, Quisqueya In Action, Senator Pichardo remains extremely active in the community. The organization works to maintain the Dominican-American cultural relationship and assists and promotes the pursuit of higher education among young people and families in the city of Providence. Senator Pichardo also co-founded the Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee (RILPAC), of which he is the former Vice President.

Senator Pichardo has been diligently working and advocating for his district for many years, and through legislation and advocacy, is 43

addressing issues of educational reforms, economic development, quality of life, fair housing and promotion of civic participation.

Senator Pichardo has also received numerous awards and recognitions, which include 1995 Air Force Longevity Service Award Air Force Achievement Medal 1998 Progresso Latino Award- for supporting and promoting healthy communities 2000 Air National Guard Diversity Council Certificate E.S.G.R. NCO of the Year Certificate 143 rd Community Service Award Leadership Rhode Island RILPAC Bill Richardson Leadership Award 2002 Community Service Award, Oasis International 2003 Meritorious Son of Jicome, Esperanza, Dominican Republic Comite de Immigrantes, Santa Teresa- “El Pueblo Unido Jamas Sera Vencido� Award- dedication for change and justice on behalf of immigrants Telemundo, Providence- Hispanic Heritage Certificate of Excellence Planned Parenthood of Rhode Island Community Service Awarddistinguished community service in furthering the cause of sustaining reproductive rights 2004 Santo Domingo Invita Award, New York City Music Hall44

demonstration of the best image of the Dominican community in the United States RI Parents for Progress, Legislative Leadership Award- sponsored and advocated to restore benefits for child support to 3,100 families 2005 The Center for Hispanic Policy & Advocacy (ChisPA), Leadership and Advocacy Award- recognized for his continuing efforts on behalf of the Latino community in Providence and around the state Dorcas Place Adult & Family Learning Center, Government Service Award- outstanding leadership in the area of family literacy and dedication of service to residents of the city of Providence International Institute of Rhode Island, Community Leadership Awardcommitment to building the best Rhode Island possible and for strong support of the International Institute's mission to enable all area residents, especially immigrants and refugees, to become self-reliant, invested participants in our communities, while fostering respect and understanding among all people

Senator Pichardo also serves on many Boards and Commissions, including: Rhode Island Permanent Commission on Civic Education, Commissioner Dr. Martin Luther King State Holiday Commission, Commissioner Commission to Study Predatory Mortgage Lending Practices, Chairman Latino Dollars for Scholars, Advisor International Institute of Rhode Island, Board Member Dexter Donation for the City of Providence, Commissioner 2004 Democratic National Convention, Delegate National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators, Executive Board Member 45

National Caucus of State Legislators, Member Hispanic Family Learning Institute at the National Center for Family Literacy, Board Member

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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 47

requires physicians to discuss the potential of addiction with patients before prescribing opioids. She also successfully introduced the All 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.

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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 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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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 Raymond A. Hull Member, House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Member, House Committee on Corporations Chair, Martin Luther King Jr. State Holiday Commission 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 Corporations.

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 51

disability agencies, such as the Fogarty Center, to self-insure health care costs for employees, retirees, and other beneficiaries.

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 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 of the Fiscal Year 2018 state budget that funds the first year of a six53

year 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.

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Representative Leo Medina Dist. 12, Providence Democrat 2010-2012 Leo Medina (b. March 29, 1964) is a former Democratic member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives, representing District 12 from 2011 to 2013.

In 2010 Medina defeated incumbent Democrat Joseph Almeida in the September 14 Democratic primary and faced no opposition in the November 2 general election.[ Medina and his wife, Maria, have four children, Genevieve, Adrian, Jasmin and Kristopher.

In 2012 Medina ran for reelection in District 12 and was defeated in the Democratic primary on September 11 by Joseph Almeida.

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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 56

democratically governed by their members. The second amends the work-sharing law by allowing employers more flexibility in the 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.

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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 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.

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During the 2016 legislative session, Representative Barros championed 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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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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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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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.

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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 66

focused her city legislative efforts on economic development and supporting the small business community creating initiatives for 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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Representative Liana M. Cassar House Committee on Small Business Representative Liana Cassar (D) was elected to represent District 66 in Barrington and East Providence in November 2018.

She is a member of the House Committee on Small Business.

She has worked in the health care and public health sectors in Rhode Island and Massachusetts holding various positions focused on veterans’ health issues, public health in lowincome communities, reproductive health and health care technology. She served in the Peace Corps as a community development worker in Costa Rica from 1992 to 1995.

Representative Cassar is a strategy and operations consultant for the Global Health Media Project. She is a graduate of John Jay High School in Katonah, N.Y., and holds a Master’s in public health from Boston University, an MBA from Simmons College, and bachelor’s degrees in communications and Spanish from University of Connecticut.

Representative Cassar has been a volunteer with the Barrington Public Schools and Moms Demand Action, among other groups. She is currently co-chair of the Barrington Democratic Town Committee and continues to be an active volunteer with Women's Fund of Rhode Island after serving on its board for 10 years.

She and her husband, Larson Gunness, live in Barrington with their two children, Jamie and Maria

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Senator Jessica De La Cruz Burrillville, Glocester, North Smithfield Member, Senate Committee on Judiciary Member, Senate Committee on Labor Jessica de la Cruz (Republican – District 23, Burrillville, Glocester, North Smithfield) was born on July 20, 1981. She is married to David and they have three children: David, Jr., Jonathan, and Benjamin.

Senator de la Cruz resides in Forestdale and is a real estate investor.

She was first elected to the Rhode Island Senate on November 4, 2018.

Senator de la Cruz can be contacted at (401) 484-0155.

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MUNICIPAL

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Councilman Frederick E. Williams Newport - First African Heritage Elected to Council 1906

Newport businessman Fredrick E. Williams becomes the first African heritage person to be elected to Newport City

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Councilman Philip Addison Jr. Courtesy of the Providence City Archives and The Boston Globe Born in Providence in 1916, Philip Addison Jr. grew up on Wheaton Street in the East Side of Providence and dedicated his career to serving the Providence community.

In the 1960s, Addison served as deputy director of the Neighborhood Youth Corps -- an urban anti-poverty program – and was also a boxing coach, trainer, and counselor to young people who dropped out of school.

In 1969, Addison was elected as the first African American to sit on the Providence City Council. He represented the Mount Hope neighborhood and became the council’s Democratic majority leader. In 1981, Mayor Vincent Buddy Cianci appointed him as the city’s recreation director.

John Murphy, a councilman representing the 1 ward from 1967 to 1975, described Addison as a soft-spoken man regarded for bridging racial and ethnic divides. `It was a very unsettling time, and Phil was a voice of reason," Murphy said. `He was a perfect gentleman and a great civic leader," said Laurence Flynn, chairman of the city's Board of Canvassers, who served with Addison on the council. st

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Addison was also a high-ranking member of the Society of Freemasons and served as director of the Black Heritage Society and the Mount Hope Neighborhood Association. He also served as a board member of Home Loan and Investment Bank and was an adviser on minority-community relations to Miriam Hospital.

Addison passed away in 2006 at Roger Williams Hospital.

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Mayor Paul L. Gaines Newport, RI 1981 Mr. Gaines was Newport's first and only black mayor. Elected in 1981, he was a principal leader in the movement to erect a monument in Portsmouth RI that honors the Black Regiment, which battled the British in the 1778 Battle of Rhode Island.

Paul L. Gaines of Newport becomes the first African heritage mayor in Rhode Island.

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Councilwoman Balbina Young Providence Ward 11: 1987 – 2010 NewspaperJanuary 4, 1989 | Providence Journal (RI) Author: THOMAS J. MORGAN | Page: B-01 | Section: NEWS 864 Words If Balbina Young doesn't get the kind of attention from City Hall that she thinks her South Providence neighborhood needs, the first black woman ever elected to the City Council is serving notice that she'll bring her neighborhood with her.

"I'll bring 'em in there in numbers," said Young, who took office yesterday in ceremonies at City Hall. "I'll mobilize them, organize them - get them down there demanding to have the services we need for the future of this community. We are looking for full participation. I'll bring them to the council meetings, to the mayor's office - wherever they're needed.

"People should be able to see government in action. It affects their lives, and the lives of their children. That's what democracy is all about. I see myself as being a catalyst."

Young, 41, was born in Fox Point, lived on Smith Hill and moved to the 11th Ward 21 years ago. She's married, has two children and is employed as a social worker for the Urban League. She hasn't held political office before and replaces Councilman Thomas F. O'Connor Jr., who did not seek reelection in a special ward election last fall.

She said being the first black woman on the council is satisfying.

"But I feel sad we could not have elected a black woman before me a long time ago. There's a kind of sadness there, but some exhilaration too. I'm very pleased. When I was running for office someone mentioned that I was the first. I didn't know that when I started running. Somewhere in the middle of the election I was told that, and it gave me more determination to win.

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"There's a real challenge out there to set a good example for all people: black, white, Spanish. We are role models whether we like it or not. Some people are uncomfortable with that role, but as a parent you are a role model to your children. And to me, when you live in a community you are a role model to these young people. You are either going to be a positive role model or a negative one, and you have to take that on as a responsibility."

Young said that she learned in her door-to-door campaign that the expectations of her constituents are straightforward: "They want the garbage picked up. They want better police response time. They wanted vacant lots cleaned up, and greater access to city employment opportunities. I guess housing is number one they want decent and affordable housing. And they want quality education that they feel is not being provided. They're looking for basic human needs."

South Providence, she said, has been "neglected for a lot of reasons. We want fair and equal treatment. We're not asking for a whole lot."

Young said she will work to obtain government financial assistance for small businesses and for other forms of economic development in South Providence.

"I've talked to small-business people," she said, "and they feel they have been isolated from getting the financing they need to upgrade their businesses."

Young stirred controversy during her campaign when she suggested a curfew for young people to curb drug dealing. She said it was not intended as a legislative proposal.

"It was thrown out just as a suggestion," Young said. "It was never intended to be anything I would do. My idea was not to let them be on streets all hours of the night not only because they are selling drugs but because they can be victimized too."

The idea of a curfew "got a real good response from the people in the community," she said.

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Young said that recreation improvements will be one priority of her term in office. The Dudley Street Recreation Center, she said, is a "wreck." She added, "They spruced it up a bit this year."

She said the residents of South Providence are just as interested in preservation as residents of other neighborhoods. "I've heard others speak of preserving their neighborhood," she said. "We have a neighborhood here, and we want to preserve things too.

But look what happens - every new social service program comes along, and if they want someplace to put it, they put it in this area.

"One example was the Interim House shelter. I'm working with the people at Interim House, and it is well staffed, well run. But the idea of putting it into a community without input is really unfair. They would not have done it to other parts of the city. To me that's a lack of respect. It's not to say we would not embrace it."

Interim House is a shelter at Hartford Park for homeless women and their children. There were plans for a time to relocate it to Elmwood near Trinity Square. But after neighborhood objections, the site was switched to a location near Hartford Park. Construction on the new shelter has not started.

Young said she plans to take her council seat in a spirit of change, not confrontation.

"I'm not anticipating going in there fighting," she said, "But I have been elected to do a job here, and I take it seriously. There will be occasions where I insist things will be done for this community. You have to give people the opportunity to make these changes. We are going to present legitimate concerns with legitimate recommendations. Hopefully people understand that if one community is neglected, the whole city doesn't look well."

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Councilman Lloyd T. Griffin, Jr. (1940-1999) ~ Inducted 2006 Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame Inductee http://www.riheritagehalloffame.org/inductees_detail.cfm?iid=537 Lloyd Griffin died on November 24, 1999, at the age of fifty nine. His memorial Mass on December 1 at Holy Rosary Church in his native Fox Point was well attended for an ordinary man; but Lloyd was not an ordinary man, and the church was far from over flowing. A few black community leaders were presentnotably Cliff Montiero, Mike Van Leesten, and John Rollins--but white politicians were few. The only politico of stature was Fred Lippitt, with whom Lloyd had allied in the hotly contested Providence mayoral election of 1990.

As the Providence Journal once observed: “Griffin anchored his power on his ability to get voters to the polls--or get them to vote by absentee or mail ballot. On election day, he delivered.� But Lloyd Griffin believed that politics was more than a popularity contest. To Lloyd, it was a means of doing good and wielding power, especially economic clout. As the first black councilman from South Providence, Lloyd not only displayed legislative and governmental skills; he excelled at 78

entrepreneurial endeavors. He combined self interest with the public interest in a commendable way. He built more housing for his constituents, provided them with more jobs, and empowered them politically to a far greater degree than any local politician of his era. More than any other single individual, he rescued South Providence from decline.

Lloyd was charismatic, he was blunt, he was strong, he was abrasive, he possessed a commanding presence; and he was successful. It is a rule of human nature that a person with these qualities is not widely liked. During his ten-year reign as councilman (1976-1986), Lloyd was envied, resented, feared, and, above all, respected, but he was not widely loved.

He willingly sacrificed affection for accomplishment.

As a councilman from South Providence, Lloyd was heir to a long line of politically adroit, popular, and talented Irish American politicians. In ability and achievement, he far exceeded them all! His style was reminiscent of "Battling Bob" Quinn, Felix Toupin, and Thomas P. McCoy--Rhode Island political mavericks of an earlier era. Like them, he was investigated, castigated, denigrated, and vilified by resentful opponents.

The detractors of these earlier politicians have long been forgotten, while their targets are enshrined in Rhode Island's political pantheon. So it is with Lloyd T. Griffin, Jr.-- the dominant ward leader of his era and the greatest Afro American politician in Rhode Island's history. He has elbowed his way into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame.

If there was ever a person that rivaled the type of love and dedication that Vincent “Buddy” Cianci had for the city of Providence, it was Ward 10 Councilman, Lloyd Griffin. “He was the last of the oldfashioned neighborhood politician,” Cianci claimed,” [he] was rough and tumble.” While only one of two men held the official title as "Mayor of Providence," plenty knew Griffin as the de facto mayor of the southside.

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Griffin was born on March 31, 1940 and attended Hope High School before leaving to serve in the United States Air Force. After enlistment, Griffin was sent to San Antonio, TX, before being shipped overseas.

After returning home, Griffin worked at General Dynamics as a welder for several years before being hired on as a planning specialist at Providence Model Cities agency. As a planning specialist, Griffin managed and oversaw multiple city entities, such as the South Providence Credit Union and various recreational and social programs for children. Griffin was always aware of the myriad of problems that plagued South Providence, but it wasn’t until his opportunity at Providence Model Cities that he was able to become a political activist.

In a tribute published in the Providence Journal, Rhode Island historian laureate, Patrick T. Conley, described Griffin as “charismatic,” “blunt,” “strong,” and “abrasive,” all qualities that left a lasting impression on others, for better or for worse. As Conley points out, Griffin was not a beloved figure, but it was his willingness to sacrifice popularity amongst his colleagues that allowed him to create effective changes in his ward. In his nine-year tenure as the first African American councilman of South Providence, Griffin created housing and employment opportunities for his low-income constituents and was an indomitable advocate for minorities.

Lloyd Griffin died on November 24, 1999, at the age of fifty-nine. As the first African American councilman from South Providence, Lloyd not only displayed legislative and governmental skills; he excelled at entrepreneurial endeavors. He combined self-interest with the public interest in a commendable way. He built more housing for his constituents, provided them with more jobs, and empowered them politically to a far greater degree than arguably most local politicians of his era. More than any other single individual, he rescued South Providence from decline.

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Councilman Ronald W. “Ron� Allen Ward 8 Providence 1994 - 2004 Expressing Sincerest Congratulations To Ronald W. Allen On His Election As Majority Leader Of The Providence City Council 99 -- H 5390 Introduced By: Representatives Abdullah-Odiase and Costantino

Slater,

Carpenter,

Williams,

Date Introduced : January 28, 1999 Referred To: Read and Passed WHEREAS, Ronald W. (Ron) Allen a Legislative Research Analyst for the Legislative Council was born, raised and still lives in the West End Elmwood section of the City of Providence; and WHEREAS, Ron was educated at neighborhood public schools -Vineyard Street Elementary and Gilbert Stuart Junior High; and WHEREAS, Ron was a 1968 graduate of Providence's Central High School and a 1972 graduate of Roger Williams College, Bristol, Rhode Island; and WHEREAS, Ron became interested in Democratic party politics serving on both the Tenth Senatorial District Committee and as Vice Chairperson of the Eighth Ward Democratic Committee; and WHEREAS, Ron Allen was nominated by the Democratic voters of the Eighth Ward at the September 1994 Democratic Primary by fifteen votes and subsequently elected to his first term on the Providence City Council; and WHEREAS, In his first term on the council, Ron showed the leadership and skill for which he is being honored today, by drafting and securing 81

passage of an ordinance to establish the residency commission which is charged with vigorously enforcing the city charter's residency requirement; and WHEREAS, Ron once again showed his skill by shepherding millions of dollars to the three neighborhoods he serves, West End, Reservoir Triangle, and South Elmwood, to repair their infrastructure; and WHEREAS, Ron is a parishioner and board member of the Ebenezer Baptist Church; board member of the minority alcohol intervention program; former chairperson of the West Elmwood Housing Corporation; and a former Providence City Charter Commissioner; and WHEREAS, Ron is the son of the late Leonard Allen and Nelle Allen.

One of eleven children, he learned early in life his duty to family and society as a whole. Furthermore, he and his brothers and sisters continue to display that duty by giving up their vacations and free time this past year to take turns traveling to the state of Virginia to assist their eldest sister on her recuperation from a serious illness; and WHEREAS, Ron is the father of two daughters and one son, Ronicia, Chelene, and Ronald, Jr. He is also the grandfather of six grandchildren; now, therefore be it RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby offers its sincerest congratulations to Councilman Ronald W. Allen on his election as Majority Leader of the Providence City Council; and be it further RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Councilman Ronald W. Allen.

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Councilman Luis A. Aponte Providence Ward 10: 1998– present Councilman Luis Aponte has been a Council member since 1998. He is the former Council President, and as such was the first Latino to be Council President. Councilman. He was also the Majority Leader during the 2003 – 2007 Council session.

Aponte represents constituents in Lower South Providence and Washington Park neighborhoods. Aponte is Vice Chairman of the Committee on State Legislative Affairs.

Civic Interests & Leadership Councilman Aponte is highly active and engaged in community issues. He has served on numerous community boards and commissions aimed at improving the quality of life for all City residents, they include: The Juanita Sanchez Multi-Service Center (Founding member) Center for Hispanic Advocacy and Policy (CHisPA) Urban League of RI State Housing Appeals Board Governor’s Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Commission Institute for the Study and the Practice of Non-Violence The Center on Minorities in the Building Trades 83

Councilman Aponte has been a member of the Special Commission to Study Property Tax Revaluation. He was also one of three City Council representatives on the Task Force on Economic Development. He was also active with the Providence Redevelopment Agency, and the 2002 Committee on Ward Boundaries.

Personal Information Councilman Aponte has been a resident of Providence for over 20 years, and currently, he and his wife live in Washington Park with their two children, Jenelia and Nicio.

Council Committees Current State and Legislative Affairs (Vice Chairman) Rules Committee Committee on Women and Healthy Communities Committee on Municipal Operations and Oversight Past Committee on Finance Special Commission on State Legislation Rules Committee For a full list of Councilman Luis Aponte’s press releases: Click here.

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Councilman Miguel Luna Providence Ward 9: 2003 -2011 March 2, 1958 – AUGUST 18, 2011 Councilman Luna came from a large and close-knit family. He was the youngest in a family of four sisters and one brother. His hometown was in the Dominican Republic, a small village in sugar cane country named San Pedro de Macoris. Councilman Luna was the first DominicanAmerican elected to the Providence City Council and began his first term in January 2003. He won reelection in 2006 and 2010.

Councilman Luna has served on various Council committees over the years, including: • Member, Committee on City Property (2011) • Chairperson, Special Committee to Study and Make Amendments to PERA (2007-2011) • Member, Committee on Claims and Pending Suits (2007-2011) • Member, Committee on Finance (2003-2007) • Vice-Chair, Committee on Urban Redevelopment, Renewal Planning (2003-2007) • Member, Committee on Dr. Charles V. Chapin Memorial Award (2003-2007) When he moved to Rhode Island in 1984, his first employment experience was through Job Link, and as a result, he understands the ups and downs of working for a temporary agency. Subsequently, he worked in a metal casting business on Smith Street in Providence; in a lighting manufacturing company; and as a laborer during construction 85

of the Comfort Inn by T. F. Green Airport. Hard labor helped him appreciate the value of work. Later, he worked at AIDS Care Ocean State Center (formerly FACTS) in South Providence, as the Director of Transitional Housing and Special Projects, and also worked at the International Institute and at Amos House.

While still living in the Dominican Republic, Councilman Luna helped immigrants and artists through hardships and worked to improve the quality of their lives. After training with the Center for Third World Organizing, he worked throughout the United States with a variety of groups, such as: ministers in Ohio to help farm workers fight for their rights; with tenants in San Francisco; and with community groups in Los Angeles to get the city government to invest in the neighborhoods, not just into downtown. In Rhode Island, Councilman Luna was a founding member of DARE (Direct Action for Rights and Equality), a community organization fighting for justice for all people.

Councilman Luna had an exemplary commitment to community service and became involved with La Communidad in Acción at St. Michael’s Church, helping tenants address substandard living conditions in the Manton and Hartford Park public housing facilities.

He also served on the Board of Directors and has worked as a volunteer at: Amos House, to help shelter families; at the San Miguel School, to help at-risk boys; at the Center for Minority Advancement in the Building Trades, to help create employment opportunities for youth; and on the City Plan Commission for the City of Providence, to help protect neighborhoods while promoting economic development by overseeing the City’s master plan. He helped to establish the Providence External Review Authority, the city's first civilian review board.

Councilman Luna studied first at CCRI, then at Rhode Island College. At the time of his passing, he lived in the Elmwood neighborhood with his children Dante, Sofie, and Omar.

Council Accomplishments Councilman Luna leaves a legacy of ordinances and resolutions addressing public safety, environmental sustainability, protections for workers, accessible government, jobs for Providence residents, police 86

accountability, and more. Some of the legislation he sponsored includes: • Affordable Energy for Low-Income Rhode Islanders (2003 • Western Union boycott Resolution (2007) • Claim After Being Permanently Injured on the Job (2007) • Regulation Excessive Energy Speculation (2008) • Regulating Businesses that Offer "Payday" Loans (2009) • Creating Commission to Study and Make Recommendations to • Improve PERA (2009) • Condemning Arizona Immigration Law and Requesting City • Halt Business with State of Arizona (2010) • Allowing Undocumented Worker to Pursue Workers' Comp • Requiring Compliance with First Source Ordinance-Jobs for • Providence Residents (2010 • Financial Reform to Protect Providence Neighborhoods &Families (2010) Councilman Luna also introduced and supported legislation for immigrant rights, transparency in public information, prohibiting school construction on contaminated or solid waste sites, and more.

Neighborhood Improvements Councilman Luna worked hard to make sure public funds were invested in the Elmwood and South Elmwood neighborhoods, to improve the quality of life for residents.

Parks One of his great passions was ensuring that neighborhood children and adults have clean, safe, and attractive places to gather and play.

Councilman Luna worked with the Parks Department to transform Arnold Early Park on Cadillac Drive. He allocated funding for the installation of a walking trail, complete with solar-powered lighting, as well as funding new sod and an irrigation system for the youth soccer field.

Sackett Street Park was another recreation area Councilman Luna helped revitalize.

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Over the course of several years, numerous amenities were planned and installed, including the expansion of the water spray park, new fencing, grass, and irrigation system for the baseball field, and the installation of a large new play structure.

Councilman Luna also contributed Ward 9 bond funds toward the creation of the Jennifer Rivera Memorial playground.

Trees Councilman Luna was a huge proponent of planting street trees. During his nine and a half years in office, he initiated and helped fund hundreds of tree plantings in his ward. He also allocated funds toward the purchase of a tree trimmer to ensure that trees remained healthy.

Environmental Initiatives Councilman Luna sponsored E-waste recycling days in his ward, allowing residents to drop off computers, televisions, and other electronic devices for recycling. He hosted recycling bin distribution efforts. He was a big supporter of community gardens and the work of Southside Community Land Trust.

Councilman Luna’s passion for public service was visible in his work on the City Council and in the community. We thank him for all he did on behalf of the people of Ward 9, and the entire city of Providence.

Ordinances and Resolutions Councilman Luna leaves a legacy of ordinances and resolutions addressing public safety, environmental sustainability, protections for workers, accessible government, jobs for Providence residents, police accountability, and more. Some of the legislation he sponsored includes: • Affordable Energy for Low-Income Rhode Islanders (2003 • Western Union boycott Resolution (2007) • Claim After Being Permanently Injured on the Job (2007) • Regulation Excessive Energy Speculation (2008) • Regulating Businesses that Offer "Payday" Loans (2009) • Creating Commission to Study and Make Recommendations to • Improve PERA (2009) 88

• Condemning Arizona Immigration Law and Requesting City • Halt Business with State of Arizona (2010) • Allowing Undocumented Worker to Pursue Workers' Comp • Requiring Compliance with First Source Ordinance-Jobs for • Providence Residents (2010 • Financial Reform to Protect Providence Neighborhoods &Families (2010)

A Joint Statement from Mayor Angel Taveras and the Providence City Council on the passing of Councilman Miguel C. Luna Thursday, August 18, 2011 Councilman Miguel C. Luna passed away this afternoon at Rhode Island Hospital, surrounded by his family. He is survived by his three children, Dante, 13, Sofie, 11, and Omar 9; his mother Mireya; his four sisters, Ysa, Belkiss, Josefina and Teresa; his brother Antonio; and 17 nieces and nephews.

Councilman Luna was an extraordinary humanitarian and humble public servant who identified with those most in need and dedicated his life to promoting workers' rights and economic justice.

“I am deeply saddened by the untimely passing of my friend and colleague Miguel Luna,” said Mayor Taveras. “Councilman Luna was a great man who made a difference in many people’s lives. I join with everyone in my administration and the City of Providence in mourning his passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this very difficult time. We will honor Councilman Luna’s memory by following his example and continuing his lifelong commitment to advocating for justice.”

Councilman Luna broke down racial and economic barriers when he earned a seat on the City Council in 2003 by beating an incumbent with nearly two thirds of the vote. He was the second Latino Councilman in Providence's history and the first Dominican American ever elected to the Council.

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“The entire Council is deeply saddened by the loss of our colleague and dear friend Councilman Miguel Luna,” said Council President Michael Solomon. “Throughout his life, Miguel displayed an unyielding commitment to community service. He was involved with many organizations dedicated to improving the lives of the less fortunate.

Councilman Luna’s accomplishments – legislative, professional and otherwise – are truly without end, and it was his devotion to such causes that we will most recall and miss. At this time, our thoughts and sincerest condolences are with his family.”

Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, he worked minimum wage jobs and advocated for others seeking to improve the quality of their lives. Upon arrival in Rhode Island, he worked in factories and as a laborer during the construction of the Comfort Inn near T.F. Green Airport. He subsequently worked at the International Institute, at the Amos House, at AIDS Care Ocean State and in the full service of the residents of Ward 9 since January, 2003.

A longtime Elmwood resident, Councilman Luna was a constant presence at neighborhood organizations. He was a founding member of the community organization Direct Action for Rights and Equality and was heavily involved with the International Institute, Jobs with Justice and the Olneyville Neighborhood Association. He served on the board and volunteered for numerous other organizations in Providence, including Amos House, the San Miguel School, and the Center for Minority Advancement in the Building Trades.

“He was like a brother to me,” said Councilman Luis Aponte.

“Miguel’s been on the front-lines of every important struggle in our great city and I am saddened beyond belief by his passing. He was a hero in the true sense of the word - unafraid of taking on the powerful and relentless in his commitment to winning justice and fairness for all.”

Councilman Luna was a passionate advocate for safe and affordable housing, police accountability and good jobs. Through his involvement with La Comunidad en Acción at St. Michael’s Church, he joined with public housing tenants in their fight for improved conditions. He helped 90

to establish the Providence External Review Authority, the city's first civilian review board.

As a Councilman representing the Ninth Ward, he sought to ensure that good, living-wage jobs were the foundation of the City's economy through city tax stabilization polices and the First Source Ordinance.

He pursued a progressive legislative agenda on the Council – championing efforts to protect affordable housing and create new jobs for Providence residents, and to make government more accessible to all residents, especially those who speak other languages. He was a strong proponent of renewable energy, encouraging homeowners to utilize solar panels and other energy efficient methods in their homes.

As Chairman of the Rhode Island Workers' Rights Board, Councilman Luna stood up for janitors at Providence College, hotel workers at the Westin and the Biltmore and home-based child care providers across the state. Councilman Luna did not limit his fight for justice to the City of Providence. He advocated fiercely for fair international trade policies and fought for peace in every corner of the world. He advocated for the rights of farm workers in Ohio, tenants in San Francisco and community activists fighting for neighborhood investment in Los Angeles. He was a member of the U.S. Delegation of Election Observers in Venezuela during the 2006 election.

Councilman Luna was a voice for the voiceless. Wherever there was injustice, he was there. Our City mourns his passing.

Mayor Taveras has ordered flags on City buildings to fly half staff in memory of Councilman Luna.

Donations in Councilman Luna’s memory are encouraged, and may be sent to: Luna Children Educational Trust 167 Roger Williams Avenue

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Mayor Isadore S. Ramos East Providence School Committee, Mayor, City Council Dr. Isadore S. Ramos is the former mayor of East Providence. He also was elected to the East Providence School Committee. In addition, Dr. Ramos previously worked as an Assistant Superintendent for the East Providence School Department.

His 35 years of service to the East Providence School Department were recognized in 2014 when the gymnasium at East Providence High School was named in his honor.

Ramos is also a member of the East Providence High School Hall of Fame and several other organizations both city and statewide. Ramos received Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in education from the University of Southern Illinois, and a certificate of administration from Rhode Island College. He also earned a certificate of advanced graduate study from the University of Connecticut and obtained his Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Administration from the University of Connecticut. He lives in East Providence.

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Councilman Luis F. Tejada Providence Ward 8 2006-2010

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Emilio Navarro, Councilman Cranston City Council Ward 2, 2007-2013 Source: Herb Chamber of Seekonk September 3, 2015 Blog http://www.wehearthonda.com/honda-seekonk/emilios-story-pushingindividual-excellence Emilio Navarro is a dedicated family man, as well as an active member of his community, having served three terms (2007-2013) on the Cranston, Rhode Island City Council, is a Finance Manager at Honda Seekonk.

He got into the car business right out of college and has been part of the Herb Chambers Honda of Seekonk team since April 2011.

His latest passion is health and fitness, and he trains regularly at Unleashed, a local gym.

This year, he finished in a trio of tough races: The Reebok Spartan Sprint in Tuxedo, NY, the Tough Mudder in Vermont, and the Boston Spartan Super Run. He plans run the Spartan Ultra Beast in Killington, VT, this month, to complete his first Spartan Trifecta. “Goal setting is the key to success in everything– professionally and personally,” says Emilio, “and completing my first Spartan Trifecta is a big goal I set for myself this year.”

Competing in these events, Emilio has learned the importance of pushing yourself for individual excellence, but also working as a team.

“When you do something like this, it changes your life. I train very hard 94

for these races, but I’m part of a team, and we all work together to push each other, support each other, and perform well,” says Emilio. “It’s just like at work: accomplishing something as a team is meaningful, you become better people together. In fact, I’m hoping to get some of my work friends on my team for future races.”

The Tough Mudder allows competitors to participate on behalf of a cause, and Emilio chose the Wounded Warrior Project when he registered: “We don’t do enough for our military, and our veterans need our help. This was my own small way of contributing to that cause.” At this writing, Tough Mudder events have raised over $6 million in support of the Wounded Warrior Project.

Emilio sees these intense races as an opportunity to “achieve great goals, planting the seeds for change and positivity,” and we’re not at all surprised. He brings that same attitude of dedication, positivity, and teamwork to his job every day at Herb Chambers Honda of Seekonk.

And we’re very grateful for it!

Councilman Navarro decided not to seek reelection during the 2012 election for a fourth term, to dedicate more time to his family.

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Mayor Angel Taveras Providence Source: http://providenceri.com/mayor/biography Angel Taveras is Providence's 37th Mayor. An attorney and former Providence Housing Court Judge, Mayor Taveras was elected as the city’s first Latino mayor with 82 percent of the vote in November 2010.

Mayor Taveras, 40, grew up on the South Side of Providence, where he attended Head Start before entering the Providence Public Schools, and went on to graduate with honors from Harvard University.

Before pursuing his lifelong dream of becoming a lawyer, Mayor Taveras used a fellowship award to create an after-school program and summer day camp at the Elmwood Community Center. After obtaining his law degree from Georgetown University, Mayor Taveras returned to Providence to practice at the prestigious firm of Brown Rudnick LLP. In 1999, Mayor Taveras participated in a four-way congressional primary and garnered the support of nearly 6,000 voters in the state's Second Congressional District, while describing his rise from Head Start to Harvard as the fulfillment of the American Dream. The Providence Journal declared that Mayor Taveras' showing "was the election’s only surprise."

Mayor Taveras then returned to private practice and later started his own small business, Taveras Law Office, PC, a practice based in Providence where Mayor Taveras established himself as an esteemed 96

litigator and a well respected civic advocate—especially in the field of election law.

Throughout his career, Mayor Taveras has demonstrated a profound commitment to public service. In addition to the Echoing Green Public Service Fellowship at the Elmwood Community Center, Mayor Taveras was a founding board member of New Urban Arts, served on the board of the Providence Plan, and on the International Institute’s Board of Advisors. He graduated from Leadership Rhode Island in 1999. He was also selected as a RI Bar Foundation Fellow in 2008, an honor given to lawyers whose professional, public and private careers have demonstrated an outstanding dedication to the welfare of the community.

In 2007, Mayor Taveras was appointed by then-Mayor David N. Cicilline to serve as an Associate Judge on the Providence Housing Court and was twice confirmed by the Providence City Council. During his tenure on the court, Mayor Taveras was instrumental in streamlining the interaction between Inspectors and the Housing Court and to improve the code enforcement tracking system.

With the City of Providence at a crossroads, Mayor Taveras understands the critical need to build upon the momentum already underway in Providence. Mayor Taveras draws on his life story, his public service and his professional experience in leading Providence towards a brighter future of increased opportunity and vitality.

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Inaugural Address January 3, 2011 Honorable elected officials, family and distinguished guests from near and far, good afternoon and welcome to Rhode Island’s great capital City – Providence.

Not far from where we are now gathered, Roger Williams planted the seed that would become Providence, Rhode Island: a community that refused to conform blindly, refused to accept the conventional wisdom of their time. This strong belief in self-determination helped develop Providence into a bustling city, where creativity and resourcefulness have been celebrated and encouraged ever since.

Today, Providence is home to history once again as I stand here, ready to begin work as Providence’s 37th Mayor.

Honorables oficiales, familiares y huéspedes distinguidos de todas partes, muy buenas tardes y bienvenidos a la ciudad capital de Rhode Island – Providence.

Cerca de aqui nuestro fundador, Roger Williams, sembró la semilla que se convertiría en Providence, una comunidad de individuos que rehusaron aceptar ciegamente las normas y el pensamiento convencional de la época.

Esta fe en la autodeterminación ayudo a convertir a Providence en una ciudad dinámica caracterizada por su creatividad y recursividad.

Hoy, con mi investidura como el alcalde trijésimo-séptimo de esta gran ciudad, Providence se re-encuentra con la historia.

History will reflect that we owe a debt of gratitude to the 36th Mayor, Congressman-elect David Cicilline for leading Providence out of the storm of corruption that stained the reputation of this proud city. Thank you Congressman-Elect Cicilline.

I stand before you today humbled by the honor Providence voters have given me: a once-in-a-generation chance to move our city forward. I 98

know – and you know – that we face great challenges ahead. But I also know that with our collective determination, with our hard work, we have the resolve to meet these challenges head on.

We have at our fingertips resources and assets that other cities could only dream of. We walk on streets with history and beauty unruined by time. Our many universities and hospitals supply us with an abundance of talent, energy and innovation. We are blessed with a community of entrepreneurs, artists and activists who challenge and inspire us to dream big and do better. We are a city of creators, who for much of our nation’s history, have defined American arts, culture and industry.

As we stand here today, we are in the midst of a new storm - a financial storm that stretches far beyond Providence, beyond New England, beyond our nation’s borders to much of the world. It is a storm that has devastated cities across America from Atlanta to Newark, from Detroit to Sacramento. All over America, cities and states are struggling to overcome staggering budget deficits while maintaining basic services.

Rhode Island’s capital city has been especially hard hit by the effects of this global recession. We are currently operating without an approved budget and we face serious budget deficits for this year and next. Our unfunded pension liability has grown to more than $800 million, a figure that doesn’t even account for the cost of providing retiree health care or other post-employment benefits. Over the last several years, Providence has lost tens of millions of dollars through cuts to local aid. And while in some cases federal stimulus dollars softened these blows, these funds are drying up.

Compounding what I call the “ticking time-bomb” of our unfunded pension liability is a foreclosure crisis that hit our neighborhoods with relentless fury. Many have lost their homes and property values have plummeted. Unemployment in our city is rampant – exceeding 20% in some neighborhoods. Small businesses, the backbone of our local economy, are suffering.

Let me be clear: the time for Providence to take control of its financial future is now.

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At the same time, we struggle with the development of our most precious resource: our children. Many of our public schools are underperforming. In this era, when even the most basic jobs require advanced skills, far too many of our children aren’t even graduating from high school.

More than half of our students are not proficient in reading and more than three quarters of our students are not proficient in math. It is unacceptable – and unconscionable – that we provide anything less than the absolute best: a college ready education for every single child in this city, regardless of family income, regardless of skin color, regardless of zip-code.

Let me be clear again: the time for Providence schools to become the envy of American urban education is now.

In the face of all these challenges, and in the midst of this storm, I am confident. Confident that together, we will overcome these challenges, weather this storm and strengthen our city and our state.

That confidence comes from the child of a woman who left her home country four decades ago and travelled to the beacon of hope that is America. From the child of a woman who labored tirelessly in factories around this city and state to raise her children. From a child who at a young age believed he could become something he had not seen. And now, this confidence comes from a man who believes in the American Dream, because he has experienced the fulfillment of that dream in his own lifetime.

Yo siento confianza. La confianza que se produce en el hijo de una mujer que dejo su patria hace cuatro décadas y se dirigió a un país lleno de esperanza, los Estados Unidos. El hijo de una mujer que trabajo incansablemente en factorías por toda la ciudad y el estado para criar a sus hijos. El hijo que a temprana edad creyó que podía llegar a ser algo que nunca había visto.

Y ahora, el hombre que cree en el Sueño Americano porque ha podido realizar ese sueño en su propia vida.

That confidence also comes from the recognition that when we come 100

together and dedicate ourselves to a cause there is nothing we can't accomplish. When our city faces challenges, we don’t bow, we rise.

Getting through this storm and solving the problems we confront will not be easy. But have no doubt, this storm shall pass, we will succeed and we will move our City and our State forward.

To weather this storm we must recognize that our fiscal situation is unsustainable. We must, once and for all, eliminate the structural deficit that year after year burdens our budget. Like any family or business in America, we simply cannot spend what we do not have and politicians cannot promise what taxpayers cannot afford for us to deliver.

We must be forthright and transparent in addressing our city’s financial condition.

• I will ask all of us for shared sacrifice to solve our financial problems.

And it will start right here, in this building with the executive branch.

• We have already begun to consolidate departments and we will seek more opportunities to eliminate redundancies, save on costs and improve services. Every department will be charged with finding savings in their budget and making government leaner, more nimble and more efficient. We will lead by example.

• We will urge our institutions of higher learning and health care - who bring a vibrancy to our city that cannot be overstated – to continue to invest in their own future by investing in our City and helping us weather this storm.

• We will invite the backbone of our city, our city workers – who day after day serve this city in ways too numerous to count – to partner with us in addressing our long term financial obligations.

• We will invite our neighboring cities and towns to work together to jointly lower our costs by regionalizing services where we can.

• And we will invite all of you to get involved in our City by volunteering in our schools and community centers, by supporting our community development corporations, and by serving on boards and commissions.

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If we commit ourselves to this notion of shared sacrifice, we can weather this storm and put our city on solid financial footing.

Budgetary problems, however, are only one side of the financial coin.

The other is economic development. What economists are calling “the great recession” has eliminated countless jobs, around the county and here in Rhode Island. That’s why we so desperately need to focus on investing in our local economy and growing jobs right here at home.

We must focus on retaining our existing businesses, recruiting new investment to our city and reforming our city’s zoning, permitting and licensing processes.

To coordinate and accelerate my jobs plan I will immediately begin a national search for a cabinet-level, economic-development director to ensure that Providence is maximizing its potential as the state’s economic engine.

My economic-development team will understand the urgency of its mission: to help businesses prosper, create well-paying jobs, and put our city’s residents back to work.

• We will partner with the state to maximize the development of the newly recovered 195 land.

• We will develop 21st century public transportation for our residents and our commuters.

• We will make business interactions with the city predictable and consistent.

• We will aggressively pursue every economic development opportunity, large or small • We will strategically invest in our arts and entrepreneurs and in environmental policies that reduce our carbon footprint and grow our green economy.

• And, we will recognize that sustained economic development comes only when accompanied by a well-trained workforce and world-class public schools.

That’s why we must continue to strengthen our workforce through education and training. Over the last year, I’ve had the privilege of visiting some of our city’s brightest new ventures, and let me tell you: 102

I have seen the future of our city’s workforce and it is diverse and strong. From Capco to Epivax, from Stepping Up to Building Futures, the message is the same: 21st century jobs require 21st century skills.

And gaining 21st century skills must start in our classrooms.

As a graduate of Providence public schools, I know first-hand the transformative power of a great education. And I also know that the employees most important to the future of our city are not the Mayor or his staff, but the 2,000 teachers who work day and night to provide the best opportunities possible for our children.

But I also know this: we cannot pretend that our city schools are the best they can be. They are not.

The majority of our students are not on grade level in math or reading.

Too many are not graduating from high school and of those that do, many lack the skills they need to enter and succeed in our nation’s competitive colleges.

Failure is not an option. That is why I will be asking everyone – students, parents, teachers, institutional and business leaders, community leaders and others – to get out of their comfort zone, to think big, and to think boldly.

• We will expand early childhood learning opportunities so that the youngest of our scholars get the preparation they need to attend school on an even playing field.

• We will develop a comprehensive portfolio of high-quality schools that serve the needs of every child. One size doesn’t fit all. That’s why I will support the growth of strong charter schools, schools with alternative learning schedules, and new partnerships between schools and the arts, health and technology sectors.

• We will support teachers by continuing to develop a best-in-thenation evaluation and professional development system that recognizes excellent teachers, supports those who are struggling and removes those who are ineffective.

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• We will identify opportunities for strong parental and community engagement, recognizing that a child’s most important teacher is always at home.

• And we will build on the excellence of the Providence After School Alliance by working with our colleges and universities to establish meaningful, academically rich opportunities for summer learning.

Justice demands that we fix our schools and ensure their long-term success. By taking these steps we will raise student achievement, reduce drop-out rates and begin the hard work of making all of our schools first-class learning communities. We will transform the Providence Public Schools into a culture of achievement, where the central focus is results, results, results.

Just over 50 years ago, a young senator and presidential candidate, John F. Kennedy, stood right here on our City Hall’s steps and spoke of the great hope of a nation. That day, on the eve of his victory, President Kennedy spoke of the “the power of a free society” and he spoke bluntly of the need to “recognize that there are no shortcuts,” that there is “no easy way out.”

President Kennedy was right then. And he’s right now. There are no shortcuts. There are no shortcuts to our budget problems, to growing our economy or to strengthening our schools. However, we are also presented with an extraordinary opportunity to work together.

Governor Chafee, I cannot think of a better theme for an inauguration address than yours – “A Time to Come Together”.

I want you to know that the Mayor of Providence extends his hand in friendship and partnership for the good of our City and State.

From Westerly to Woonsocket, from Burrillville to Bristol, we are all in this together. We all have an interest in our capital city – the beating heart of our state.

I have no doubt: we will succeed. Through shared sacrifice, this storm shall pass and we will emerge stronger and better than ever.

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No tengo duda alguna: vamos a ser exitosos. Mediante un sacrificio compartido, esta tormenta pasara y saldremos mas fuertes y mejores que nunca.

God grant us Divine Providence and bless our great city, our Ocean State and the United States of America.

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Councilwoman Sabina Matos Providence Ward 15: 2010- present Council President Sabina Matos was first elected to the Providence City Council in 2010 and was re-elected in 2014 as Councilwoman for Ward 15, which covers Olneyville as well as parts of the Silver Lake and Valley neighborhoods. In 2015, Matos became the first Latina elected as Council President Pro Tempore in Providence’s history.

Her Background Matos was born in the province of Barahona in the Dominican Republic. In April 1994, she moved to the United States, first arriving in New York City, where she lived for a short time before moving to Providence with her family.

Education & Professional Experience Matos graduated from Rhode Island College in May of 2001 with a BA in Communications and Public Relations. She is also a graduate of the Latina Leadership Institute and Leadership for a Future.

Councilwoman Matos is a past President of the Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee. She has served on many boards including the Olneyville Housing Corporation, the United Way of Rhode Island and ECAS Theater. In addition, she has been involved in many other community organizations.

Councilwoman Matos lives in Olneyville with her husband, Patrick Ward, and their two children, Diego and Annemarie.

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Council Committees Committee on Finance Committee on Municipal Operations and Oversight Rules Committee Committee on Women and Healthy Communities Committee on State Legislative Affair Committee on Urban Redevelopment, Renewal and Planning Councilwoman of Ward 15 Olneyville, Valley, Silver Lake and West End Districts Sabina Matos was born in the province of Barahona located in the southwest of the Dominican Republic. At an early age her family moved from Barahona to Santo Domingo where she fulfilled her elementary education. She went to high school at the only public high school in el barrio "Los Alcarrizos" which had just one schedule available, nighttime.

On April 1994 At the age of 20, Sabina Matos ’01 left the Dominican Republic with her family to the United States arriving in New York city where she lived for only two months because the family preferred the more calm and like-home life style of Providence RI. Her father was mayor of Paraiso, a small town in the Province of Barahona; her mother, a teacher. One of six children, Matos remembered that their home was always open to the community, to anyone in need.

In the fall of 1996, she entered the Community College of Rhode Island where she took some ESL classes and transferred to Rhode Island College shortly after. She graduated in May of 2001 with a BA in Communications, Public Relations.

“If someone needed to go to the hospital and didn’t have the resources, they came to my father. If someone died and their family didn’t have 107

resources, the family came to our house. After we moved from Paraiso to the capital, people from our hometown who had errands in the capital would stay at our house,” she said.

Matos said she learned about public service simply by observing her mother and father.

In America, Matos transferred from CCRI to RIC as an ESL student.

“The ESL professors were inspiring,” she said. “They made you feel that you could do anything. I chose a major in communication.” She laughs, thinking about it now. “I ask myself how I could dare to choose a communication major when I was too shy and didn’t speak English well.”

Upon graduating from RIC in 2001, Matos was not yet a citizen of the U.S., yet she would become a great advocate of the U.S. Constitution.

She helped organize the 2003 Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride, where thousands of immigrants, union members and elected officials rallied in New York and Washington, D.C., in support of immigrant and workers’ rights.

As an employee of the nonprofit group Making Connections Providence, she helped residents of the Elmwood, South Providence and West End neighborhoods improve jobs, education and housing in their communities. In 2005 she was finally able to change her “legal resident” status to “U.S. citizen.” The following year she voted for the first time, with her name on the ballot. It was her first, though unsuccessful, run for city council. In 2010 Matos won the council seat.

She said she intends to help the underserved in her community.

“A young man wrote asking me for help,” she said. “He wanted to go to Classical High School, but the waiting list is extremely long.

Considering all the challenges around him, the challenges of the neighborhood he lives in, it was very satisfying to see how good his grades were. It made me want to do more. I’m in a position to help people like him.”

Matos said there needs to be more schools like Classical and more 108

options for students seeking quality education. Quality education, she said, should not be a privilege. Matos said her one regret as a RIC alum is not getting more involved in student organizations. “I was too shy, too new to the country. I encourage students to get involved in organizations at RIC and also to find out what is happening in their neighborhoods. There are many neighborhood projects that need volunteers.�

Matos is on the board of the United Way of Rhode Island and a past board member of the Olneyville Housing Corporation and the Olneyville Neighborhood Association. She is a past president of the Rhode Island Latino Civic Fund, the Latina Leadership Institute and the R.I. Latino Political Accion Committee. Currently she is associate director of New Roots Providence, which offers free training, grants and technical assistance to nonprofit organizations throughout Rhode Island. By all accounts, it appears that the shy communication major has finally found her voice.

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Councilman Wilbur Jennings Providence Ward 8: 2010 - 2018 Welcome, and thank you for visiting the Ward Eight webpage.

It is an honor to represent you on the Providence City Council, and I pledge to always be available and responsive to the needs of the people of South Elmwood, Reservoir Triangle, and the West End. Wilbur Jennings was first elected the councilman for the eighth ward in November 2010 and began his term in January 2011.

A lifelong resident of Providence, Councilman Jennings has spent the majority of his life serving the public. After attending Central High School, he worked for the City of Providence in varying capacities for 28 years, eventually attaining the position of Deputy Superintendent and Superintendent of several divisions of the Department of Public Works.

Councilman Jennings is a strong supporter of youth sports and has been a dedicated member of the YMCA for 38 years. A believer in using athletics to better the lives of young people, he has worked with many personal training, weight-lifting, and boxing programs over the course of the last four decades. The councilman has also been actively involved with a number of community organizations, including serving on the Providence Community Action Program’s (ProCAP) Board of Directors for eight years. ProCAP is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of low-to-moderate income individuals and families in Providence. Additionally, Councilman Jennings has shown his dedication to public service through his many campaigns for public office. Running 12 times in 24 years before his election to the Providence City Council, he understands the importance of perseverance when working to improve the lives of others.

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Davian Sanchez Providence Ward 11: 2010 -2014

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Councilwoman Carmen Castillo Providence Ward 9: 2011 – present Councilwoman Carmen Castillo has been a member of City Council since 2010.

She represents the constituents of Ward 9 which includes the neighborhoods of Elmwood and South Elmwood. She is Vice Chairwoman of the Committee on Public Works and the Committee on City Property.

Her Background Councilwoman Castillo was born in Santiago, the second largest city in the Dominican Republic, and emigrated with her three daughters to the United States nearly 20 years ago. After arriving in Rhode Island, she settled in the Ward 9, where she has lived ever since. Councilwoman Castillo was employed at the Westin Hotel (now the Omni) for 19 years. While working at the hotel, Castillo organized her fellow workers and helped form a union to garner higher wages, more respect, and secure a better future service employee and their families. Currently, she is a union steward, and member of the Executive Board for UNITE HERE, Local 217.

Civic Interests & Leadership Councilwoman Castillo has been active in her community for many years. She has advocated for the rights of immigrants, workers, and women. She has also advocated for improvements to the Providence 112

public school system by promoting neighborhood schools and fighting school closings. She is focused on improving City services and bringing more resources to Ward 9 that will address abandoned properties, trash on the streets, excessive noise, neighborhood safety, and ensuring residents have a voice in addressing crime and delinquency. Councilwoman Castillo supports initiatives to prevent foreclosures and to help keep families in their homes. She is dedicated to enforcing the First Source ordinance, which gives Providence residents the opportunity to receive good jobs with fair wages.

Personal Information Councilwoman Castillo lives in the Elmwood neighborhood with her three daughters, Angela, Karla and Sahymi, and step-daughter Aliyah.

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Mayor James Diossa Central Falls Mayor James A. Diossa was born and raised in Central Falls. He attended Becker College in Massachusetts, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice.

Concerned by the direction Central Falls was heading in, and the fact that so many young people were leaving the city in search of better opportunities elsewhere, James decided to get involved. With the help of a small group of friends and family, James launched a grassroots campaign to represent the 4th Ward on the Central Falls City Council. Despite very limited resources and no prior political experience, he went head to head with a well-known councilman backed by the local political machine and won.

Upon being sworn in as a member of the City Council in January of 2010, James got to work right away engaging constituents and fighting to make government more accessible. He was successful in ending the practice of holding mid-day council meetings in a working-class city when few could attend. When the city’s only public library was shuttered, he advocated successfully to keep it open. When the US Postal Service threatened to shut down the city’s only post office, James organized residents against the closure and even traveled to Washington to lobby our congressional delegation and postal officials.

When the city’s image was under attack in the media, James brought then-Governor Chafee, US Senator Jack Reed and other state leaders to learn first-hand about this amazing city and the families who call it home.

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In 2012, as the city was plunged into an unprecedented fiscal and political crisis, Diossa ran for Mayor and won decisively. Since being sworn in as the city’s first Latino Mayor, Diossa has been recognized for his efforts to restore honest governance, fiscal sustainability and civic pride to Central Falls. He has been successful in securing millions in federal and foundation funding for quality of life and infrastructure improvements to the city. He is widely credited with restored confidence in the Mayor’s office and energizing a new generation of civic leaders. And he led the city out of bankruptcy to the point where Standard & Poor’s has raised Central Falls’ long-term bond rating to “BBB” investment grade.

Now in his second and final term as Mayor of the “comeback city” Diossa is working hard to ensure Central Falls’ continued success for years to come.

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Councilwoman Suzanna “Suzy� Alba Smithfield Town Council 2012- present A lifelong Rhode Islander and a first-generation college graduate, Suzy received her undergraduate degree from Rhode Island College where she served as President of her class.

Suzy was honored by RIC with the Young Alumna of the Year Award in May 2009, in recognition of her outstanding commitment and service to the college. She is also a recipient of the Emerging Leader Award from Leadership Rhode Island, Rising Star in Politics Award from YWCA of RI, and a Revitalizing Neighborhoods & Communities Award from the New Leaders Council of RI. Suzy is currently completing a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from Roger Williams University.

After graduating from RIC, Suzy enrolled in AmeriCorps, a national service program of the Corporation for National and Community Service, an independent federal agency whose mission is to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering. Suzy often thinks back to the pledge that she took when she was sworn in as an AmeriCorps member: to take action when faced with apathy, to seek common ground when faced with conflict, and to persevere when faced with adversity. These words continue to inspire and motivate Suzy to make a difference in the lives of others and continue her passion for public service.

Suzy is currently the Director of Alumni Affairs and College Relations at Rhode Island College, where she also serves as an Adjunct Professor 116

in the Communication Department. Suzy was most recently an Assistant Director of Annual Giving in the Office of Advancement at Brown University and prior to that position, Suzy worked at the United Way of Rhode Island as a Development Officer and Director of the RI State Employees Charitable Appeal, a fundraising program for over 14,000 RI state and government employees.

Suzy volunteers her time as a mentor for local youth and college students and serves on multiple boards for community organizations including the Women’s Fund of RI. She also assists local nonprofit organizations with fund development and engagement strategies.

Since becoming a homeowner in Smithfield several years ago, Suzy has deepened her involvement in the local community having served as a member of the Smithfield Affordable Housing Advisory Board, and sponsors and attends various community and youth sporting events.

Suzy is married to Adam Stanley, also a lifelong Rhode Islander and first-generation college graduate of Rhode Island College. Together they are committed to serving the Smithfield community and look forward to raising a family here in the near future.

Political Leadership Experience: Rhode Island Democratic Women’s Caucus Member Former National Committeewoman for the RI Young Democrats Vote, Run, Lead Women’s Political Training, Women’s Fund of RI ( 2009) Leadership RI Women’s Leadership Series: The Political Process (2006) Community Leadership Experience: Former Rhode Island College Alumni Association Board Member Women’s Fund of RI Board Member

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United Way of RI Young Leaders Circle Co-Founder College Leadership Rhode Island (CLRI) graduate Save the Bay Member Smithfield Preservation Society Member Former Smithfield Affordable Housing Advisory Board Member AmeriCorps Alumna Professional Associations: Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Member American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) Member Awards: Revitalizing Neighborhoods and Communities Award, New Leaders Council (2013) Rising Star in Politics, YWCA of RI (2013) Young Alumna of the Year Award, Rhode Island College (2009) Emerging Leader Award, Leadership Rhode Island (2005)

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Mayor Jorge O. Elorza Providence 2014 - 2022 Jorge Elorza is a former Housing Court Judge, law professor, lawyer, accountant, community activist, and a true son of Providence. Born in 1976 and raised in the city’s West End, he is the son of Guatemalan immigrants who worked in factories.

He grew up in poverty, and those tough surroundings contrasted sharply with a loving, supportive family home, inspiring him to seek a better life. That humble upbringing continues to guide his moral compass, and he is fond of pointing out, “My mother has truly been my inspiration.”

Jorge is a product of the Providence Public School System, attending Asa Messer for elementary school, middle school at Bridgham, and graduating from Classical High School. “I barely graduated high school,” he will often point out, noting that he got turned down by every college to which he applied. “But people believed in me, and they opened doors for me, and I was able to turn my life around.” After attending CCRI, Jorge was able to transfer to URI, where he graduated first in his Accounting class.

That dramatic turnaround led Jorge to Wall Street, where he worked as an auditor for PricewaterhouseCoopers, achieving a life he would have never thought possible just a few years prior. Unfortunately, Jorge was

called home by the news that one of his best childhood friends had just been murdered back in the old neighborhood. “It was at that moment that I decided to return home to Providence and dedicate my life to public service,” he recalls.

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Jorge would eventually attend Harvard Law School, which inspired him to look at the legal system as the way to correct injustices in our communities. Instead of following his classmates to high paying jobs at big firms, he chose to return to Providence once again and work for Rhode Island Legal Services, where he provided free counseling to families living in slum conditions or facing eviction. In 2005, he joined the faculty at Roger Williams Law School; he specialized in housing law, because he knows from experience how important safe, affordable housing is for working families.

During his time at RWU, Jorge received tenure, litigated public interest cases in Federal and State courts, and co-founded the Latino Policy Institute, a think-tank dedicated to research on Latino and minority communities in Rhode Island.

In 2010, then Mayor David Cicilline appointed Jorge to the Providence Housing Court. While serving as a Judge, Jorge researched and created a process to hold the big banks accountable for abandoned properties throughout the city. He issued subpoenas, and when they declined to appear before him, he held them in contempt and fined them hundreds of thousands of dollars – even going so far as to threaten to arrest the presidents of Deutsche Bank and Bank of America. “They were too big to care,” Jorge notes, “But I made them care.” When the banks finally did appear in court, Jorge worked collaboratively with them to find solutions for the blighted properties.

Jorge has served on a number of community boards, including the Rhode Island Foundation, the Miriam Hospital (Board of Governors), and the Latino Policy Institute at Roger Williams University. For his work in the legal and broader communities, Jorge has received a number of recognition’s and awards.

Mayor Elorza took office on January 5, 2015. Since then, his administration has made year-round education and economic opportunities for everyone a top priority.

His administration is all in for education and believes that every student has the potential for greatness. Mayor Elorza believes that investments 120

in youth and education are strong investments for the city of Providence.

In the past three years, the Mayor has also opened the Office of Economic Opportunity that provides workforce, business and job development training. He is committed to creating opportunity for all residents of the city.

Another focus of the Mayor’s administration has been city services. By establishing the 311 program, the Mayor has been able to streamline city services and create a strong customer service culture in city hall.

He currently resides in Providence’s Silver Lake neighborhood. He is an avid reader and traveler, having visited 17 countries in five continents. Whether spending time with villagers in a remote corner of Nepal or working with community leaders to effect change in Providence, Jorge enjoys bringing people together to work towards a common goal: building community to improve our quality of life.

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Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris – Providence Ward 11: 2014 – 2022 Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris has been on the City Council since 2014, and she serves on the Committee on Ordinances, the Committee on Women and Healthy Communities, and the Committee on Urban Redevelopment, Renewal and Planning. She represents constituents in the Upper South Providence and West End neighborhoods.

Education & Professional Experience Although she was born in Shelby, North Carolina, Councilwoman Harris was raised in South Providence, and is a graduate of Central High School. She holds an Associate’s Degree in Business Science from the Community College of Rhode Island.

For 15 years, Councilwoman Harris worked as the Lead Community Organizer for Direct Action for Rights and Equality (DARE), building grassroots support for local projects promoting economic and social justice. She has been actively involved with a number of community groups including: The Providence Youth Student Movement 122

Rhode Island People’s Assembly Rosa Parks Human Rights Committee Women of All Colors Assembly Personal Interests For over 30 years, Councilwoman Harris has lived in Upper South Providence and West End neighborhoods. She is the proud mother of four grown children, and she has eleven grandchildren, and two greatgrandchildren. She is also an active member of the King’s Cathedral church in Providence.

Accolades & Awards Councilwoman Harris has been the recipient of awards that acknowledge her dedication to the community. These awards include: 2001 Ministers’ Alliance of RI Martin Luther King Jr. Direct Action Award 2012 Jobs with Justice Solidarity Award Council Committees Committee on Ordinances Committee on Urban Redevelopment, Renewal, & Public Works (Vice Chairwoman)

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John Florez City Council at Large Newport 2014 - 2018 John Florez is an entrepreneur who has created numerous profitable ventures. He began his career on Wall Street after graduating from Binghamton University with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology.

In 2003, John founded The Florez Group, a successful nationwide technical recruiting company. In 2009, at the peak of one of the nation’s worst economic recessions, John founded Drupal Connect, a full-service Drupal development company.

In addition to creating successful businesses, John has many passions outside of work. He started the Newport Junior Tennis League, a free tennis program for children of low-income families, and is active with other charitable groups, including the Potter League.

He is on the Board of the Directors for Boys Town of New England.

On top of that he is a part of the Newport City Council. He lives in Newport, R.I. with his wife Karen and their two beautiful children they adopted in the Spring of 2014.

Florez was first elected to the City Council in 2014 and re-elected in 2016. Earlier this year, Florez unsuccessfully ran to replace Teresa Paiva Weed in Senate District 13 (Newport, Jamestown).

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Councilwoman Stephanie Gonzalez During my senior year in high school, my guidance counselor told me not to apply to my dream school because he did not think I would get in.

He cautioned me against wasting one of the five college application vouchers I would receive that year by applying to a school that was, as he put it, out of my reach.

In his defense, he knew a bit about my life at home and was probably thinking of how difficult it would be for my family to pay for school, or how tough it might be for me to assimilate at a predominantly white college. In his eyes, in 2004, I just wasn't “Boston College material.�

The problem? That wasn't his decision to make.

Just the other night, Fran Gallo, the superintendent of schools in my hometown of Central Falls, bemoaned on television the sad fact that she still overhears guidance counselors in her district steer students away from applying to four-year colleges. She is clear about her belief that community college is the perfect fit for some. Her problem is when those charged with advising students continue to peddle the idea that it is the only option for all.

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I get very offended when adults who hold college degrees (and often advanced degrees, too) tell a group of high schoolers that “college isn't for everyone.” To me, the message they send is, “I was able to do it and I will have this expectation for my own children, but don’t worry if you don’t make it.” This fosters a culture of lowered expectations and takes away a young person’s right to decide whether he or she is “college material.”

This is especially offensive in communities, like mine, where college attendance is low. Our most recent data tells us that only 31 percent of our city's 12th-graders took the SAT and only 34 percent filled out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The most heartbreaking part of these statistics is that when students were asked in 11th grade whether they planned to attend college, 89 percent said yes.

We need to face the gap between students’ hopes and the realities they face. Considering that we know that 71 percent of Rhode Island jobs will require post-secondary education, these numbers are of huge concern. The truth is, I want every child in Central Falls to experience college because I know personally what it can do for a family and for an entire community.

I was one of the lucky ones. I was part of a small group of students who had the chance to supplement their education, on Saturdays and during summers, with a local chapter of Upward Bound, a college preparatory program. The organization encouraged me to apply for college. Despite daily challenges with finances, I graduated from Boston College in 2008.

I can’t help but wonder how many others have been unknowingly deterred from taking big risks. Those risks make all the difference in communities like mine.

It was precisely those four long and trying years on a college campus that transformed me into an advocate for high expectations for all kids.

It became the trigger for me to come back to my community and throw myself into education outreach and advocacy.

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Now, I am an elected member of the Central Falls City Council, and I want to make sure that all kids in my community are prepared and ready for whatever their futures may hold.

Stephanie Gonzalez is City Council president pro tempore for Central Falls and serves on the Central Falls School Board of Trustees.

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Hugo Figueroa Ward 3 Central Falls 2014 - Present

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Councilwoman Carlene Fonseca Councilwoman at Large President Pro-Temp 2014 – 2018 Carlene is a life-long resident of Central Falls, RI. She serves as President Pro-Temp in her 3rd year on the Central Falls City Council. Carlene is a firstgeneration Cape Verdean American who strongly believes education is the key to opening up doors.

Carlene pursued her dream of going to school in Washington, DC., receiving her B.A. in Government from Georgetown University and her M.A. in Criminology at The George Washington University. Prior to her move back to RI, Carlene served as the Confidential Liaison to the White House Liaison at the United States Agency for International Development.

Most recently, she served the Central Falls School District as Director of 21st Century Programs handling over half a million dollars in grant funding for all summer and after school programs in the district.

Carlene is extremely active in the RI community, serving on the Upward Bound Scholarship Committee & the Central Falls Prevention Coalition. She is a graduate of the RI Chapter of New Leaders Council and Boston Metro Area Chapter of Education Pioneers. Carlene hopes to bring her extensive work experience with under-served communities, community stakeholders, and educational institutions to the Providence College campus.

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Councilwoman Maria Rivera Central Falls City Council President 2016 - Present L. Maria Rivera, a long-time Central Falls resident, is running for reelection to be your City Councilwoman At-Large. Maria is a strong, new voice who is fighting to rebuild Central Falls’ middle class by advocating for increased youth opportunities, increased economic development incentives for small businesses and more programming for our city seniors.

Maria works everyday with the state’s diverse communities as the Human Services Program Planner at the Department of Human Services. She is also attending Roger Williams University School of Continuing Education, majoring in Public Administration. Maria previously received an associate degree from CCRI and graduated from Central Falls High School in 1995.

Maria’s leadership development has well-positioned her to be a strong voice on the City Council. She is a graduate of the Rhode Island Latina Leadership Institute and has served on the Board of the Learning Community Charter School, the Central Falls Board of Canvassers and the Central Falls Planning Board.

Maria is a voice for opportunity and equality on the City Council.

Having lived in the City for over 25 years, she has seen the dark days 130

of bankruptcy and the promise of a City on the rebound. She will fight to increase opportunities for small business owners so that the City can grow its tax base and reduce the car tax and property taxes. Having 2 teenagers, Maria wants to focus on reopening the Community Center and increasing youth opportunities so that young people are on a fast track to college and stay out of trouble. Finally, Maria will advocate for increased opportunities for Central Falls seniors, including recreational opportunities, increased programming and additional trips to improve the quality of life for all of the city’s seniors.

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Councilwoman Elena Vasquez City Council at Large 2016 - Present Elena was a top student at Shea High School in Pawtucket, where she graduated in 2007. Her top performance in high school placed her on the radar of many teachers and administrators.

This attention awarded Elena the support she needed to supplement her own impressive talent and hard work. She was accepted into Brown University, and successfully earned her college degree within four years.

However, after graduating from college and returning to secondary education to serve as a College Adviser for Woonsocket High School, she realized that not all of her high school classmates were afforded the same support and attention that she gained as a top student.

She also realized the complexities of the college application process.

With her eyes opened to the realities of our country’s college access issues, Elena made it her responsibility to give back to her community so that others from her hometown could be afforded the same opportunities that she had as a student in the public school system.

It was for this reason that Elena decided she would run for Pawtucket School Committee. The decision was easy for her. However, the journey to reach this ambitious goal would be anything but easy.

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Stepping Outside of Her Comfort Zone Running for office meant putting herself out there. Running for office meant door-knocking and talking to people who may or may not be receptive to what she had to say. Reaching her goal also meant fundraising. These were all things that were new to Elena.

“For my first fundraiser, I didn’t raise as much as I wanted,” said Elena.

“But I continued to run for the position anyway.” Elena refused to allow the challenges along the way deter her from her goal. “I realized that unless you put yourself out there, you’ll never know. I didn’t think I could win,” Elena said.

Yet, here she is today, an elected member of the Pawtucket School Committee. Having only graduated from high school 12 years ago, she is already an elected member of the Rhode Island legislature, and thriving in her second year in office.

Elena is not only an Ivy League grad and a champion for college access efforts, but she is also an alumna of the New Leaders Council (NLC) program. She shared that it was her participation in NLC that solidified her decision to run for Pawtucket School Committee. It was during this program that Elena first shared in a public setting her desire to run. “Saying it out loud made it real,” Elena said.

Making a Real Impact As a member of the Pawtucket School Committee, Elena is extremely proud to serve on the policy sub-committee, which recently helped to pass a graduate requirement that ensures students in the Pawtucket school system graduate from high school with 2 years of a foreign language. “This is something that we were really pushing for, so it was very exciting to see this policy put into place,” Elena said.

With her drive and persistence, Elena has been able to make a real impact in our community one policy at a time, one day at a time, and one student at time. This is quite impressive for a young woman who is still very early in her professional career.

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Elena recently decided that she is ready for her next step and announced this past June that she is running for Pawtucket City Council AtLarge. We’re excited to see Elena continue to push herself to new endeavors. We know that Elena will continue to make a significant impact on our beautiful city.

As Elena continues to pursue her ambitious goals, she encourages others to do the same. She has a very simple, yet powerful message for those of us who have big dreams that may seem too scary or overwhelming to start: “If you have a dream or an idea,” Elena says, “just do it.”

Elena serves as the Program Manager for the College Advising Corps at Brown University (CAC). The CAC is a college access program that seeks to increase the number of low-income, first-generation college and underrepresented high school and community college students who enter and complete higher education.

Elena formerly served as College Access Program Manager for Let's Get Ready, a New England college access nonprofit. She also worked for the Rhode Island Association for the Education of Young Children and BrightStars in Warwick, RI. Elena brings with her a vast knowledge of the college application process after being an Educational Counselor for the College Planning Center of Rhode Island. She served as a College Adviser for the College Advising Corps in Woonsocket, RI for two years.

Elena serves as an elected member of the Pawtucket School Committee in Rhode Island. She is an advisory committee member of Rhode Island's Latino College Access Coalition. Elena is also an alumna of New Leaders Council Rhode Island.

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Councilman Jonathan Acosta Ward 1 Central Falls 2016 - Present Jonathon is running for the Ward 1 City Council seat to be a strong voice for social change in Central Falls and to continue our comeback!

Jonathon was the 2016 recipient of the Latino Public Radio (LPR) community champion award. He is a passionate educator who sees his work as inextricably tied to social justice.

Growing up in a lowincome, single-parent household, his mother had a daily mantra: “If you get a good education, you can have any life you choose.” She made it clear that this was the only way to be truly successful.

His passion for social justice was cultivated by his experiences as a Boy Scout, high school varsity athlete, and a student in an International Baccalaureate program.

When he graduated from Brown University with a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Ethnic Studies, he went back to the community where he grew up to try to repay the debt he owed it by teaching and coaching wrestling. Jonathon served as a 2011 Teach for America Corps member in Miami. In his first-year teaching, Mr. Acosta’s students were 100% proficient on their End-of-Course Algebra exam and in his second-year teaching, his students were 93% proficient. He coached the first-ever wrestling team at his school which produced a 135

second-place district winner, a first-place district winner and a third place county winner.

Jonathon came back to Rhode Island and taught math at Blackstone Valley Prep (BVP) where he had the privilege of teaching the highest performing 8th grade math students in the state of Rhode Island. He became the Dean of Culture at BVP Middle School 1 and enrolled in the Brown University Master’s program in Urban Education Policy. He sees education as inextricably tied to social justice and hopes to use what he's learned through life, education, and work experience to help make the world a better place Awards 2016 Latino Public Radio Community Champion 2012- 2013 Rookie Teacher of the Year

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Councilman Franklin Solano Ward 4 Central Falls 2016 - Present Franklin Solano was elected the Central Falls City Council Ward 4 to help continue the city's comeback and be a strong advocate for working class families!

Franklin Solano was elected the Central Falls City Council Ward 4 in 2006. Franklin is a strong and committed advocate for the city and committed to help continue rebuilding Central Falls’ middle class.

Franklin is a proud father of five children and 28-year resident of Central Falls.

Franklin has previously served as a City Sergeant and as a Board Member to the ECAS Theater. Franklin also volunteers at Progreso Latino, an organization dedicated to empowering Latino youth and families by achieving greater self-sufficiency and socio-economic progress. “Central Falls is where I built my American Dream, purchased my house and raised my family. This is a great city with great potential to be even greater. As your councilman, I work hard to ensure that all our residents - especially our children - have every opportunity to succeed and live well.�

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School Committeeman Francisco Colon, Jr. West Warwick Ward 3 School Committee 2016-Present Luis Colon, Jr. 45, is currently the Vice Chair of the West Warwick School Committee and has been a resident of West Warwick for 24 years. He holds a degree from Providence College and is currently working as the Director of Constituent Affair for the RI Legislature, though he has several different professions.

“I take my job seriously and I love doing it,” said Colon. “I really enjoy helping people.”

He’s also worked for the past 27 years as an interpreter for local attorneys on a number of high profile cases, and has been a licensed real estate agent for the last 15 years, now working with Allen Gammons Real Estate. He is also the state’s first and only Latino bail bondsman, combining his knowledge in the two fields to ensure defendants are responsible to the court system upon release.

He and his wife of 25 years, Maria, a West Warwick High School graduate herself, have two children also attending West Warwick Public Schools. Colon coaches for the West Warwick Steelers and local basketball, softball, soccer, baseball and track teams.

He says his position as a member of the school committee is, among all his professions, closest to his heart. He takes great pride in seeing the children he once coached go through the town’s school system and find success.

“I feel like I had a piece in their success,” he explained. “It’s an amazing feeling to hand a person their high school diploma who you 138

watched grow up. To shake their hands or to hug them during one of life’s most memorable moments, is very emotional and rewarding all at once.”

He feels that his having had opportunities to meet so many people from different walks of life through his work is what makes him qualified to stay on the school committee. He decided to re-run because although he’s accomplished many of his goals on the school committee there is still more work to do. His ultimate goal is to have the school district not only recognized as one of the top 10 in the state but to be the best in Rhode Island.

Colon is also an advocate for the elderly community in West Warwick, having set up special free show times for members of the community to attend school plays and taking the steps to investigate having students identify elderly neighbors that could use assistance during inclement weather.

“These folks have already been down these roads,” he said. “Let’s learn from their experiences and not repeat the same mistakes.”

Colon says the single biggest issue affecting his ward is school safety.

He said West Warwick Public Schools are already ahead of the curve and well-prepared to deal with future situations but the protocols are constantly evolving. Another concern for Colon is bullying. He commends the superintendent and her administrators and staff for unveiling a program over the summer to address this issue.

“The plan is to continue to address this need and insert this program throughout the curriculum in hopes of reducing and eventually eliminating it,” he said.

“I would suggest that I have proven myself to be worthy and successful in my capacity as a school committeeman,” said Colon when asked why Ward 3 voters should choose him as their representative in November.

“And after the school system has been recognized statewide and nationally in U.S. News, having RI’s Superintendent of the year who was recognized by the President of the United States and the U.S. Department of Education as well as countless other commendations. I would let my track record speak for itself. We have been completely 139

transparent and fiscally responsible. By being level funded or taking even less than we were allotted to receive from the town, we have still maintained a surplus for the four years that I have been on the school committee. By doing so, this alleviates that burden off the town for having to increase taxes because of the school department. I’m in it for the right reasons and have always been about the kids and their education. I truly care about them as if they were my own. In closing, I would say to voters that we as humans have a desire to want to fix things, but in this case, I would reference an old adage, if it aint broke don’t fix it.”

If re-elected his top priority would be to stay focused on fiscal responsibility.

“One thing I would love to do is to make other districts envy us,” he added. “I want the West Warwick school system to shine and stand out above all other districts.”

Messier, 41, served on the West Warwick School Committee for Ward 4 back in 2012 but stepped down after purchasing a home in a different part of town. After serving on other local committees for the last several years he’s ready to come back and says there’s much more work to be done.

A father of four sons with his wife, Angel, Messier has lived in West Warwick for most of his life. For the last 10 years he has been working as an analyst and business strategist.

“My focus is in process and business improvements,” he said of his work. “Helping business units to do more, faster by utilizing standards, policies, and technology. People build and work better when they are part of the team that is performing the improvements. I have seen this first hand over the past few years and I would like to bring that to the town and schools.”

In the past Messier has served on not only the school committee but also on the West Warwick Special Education Advisory Board and as a West Warwick Parent Mentor. He also helps facilitate a father’s support group at The Autism Project and is President of the West 140

Warwick Soccer Association as well as a former member of the Board of Directors.

He is currently working on an associate degree in Business Management and plans to graduate in May 2019.

“Over the past two and a half years I have been away from the school committee and focusing on getting our family situated in our new home,” he said. “During that time I realized that I enjoyed being a school committee member. I feel that I did not complete what I set out to do back in 2012. There is more work that can be done.”

His top priorities if elected include maintaining a balanced budget and continuing to build a solid five-year-plan for the district.

“The town and the schools need to work on communicating better with the residents,” said Messier. “Both the town and schools need to focus on building improvements. Our infrastructure is aging and at some point will not be able to sustain our need to teach 21st-century learners.”

Asked about a specific issue affecting his ward, Messier said he believes in representing the town in its entirety and not just Ward 3.

“Any person running for school committee that says the words ‘my ward’ or ‘my district’ are not the right people to be on the school committee,” said Messier. “The school district is the entire town and needs to be represented that way. I have been talking to a lot of parents about the issues they have with the schools. There have been several, from the way teachers treat students and parents, to the way administration treats staff, to issues with bussing. The biggest issue that has come from several parents is the bullying problem in schools.

Ignoring this issue does not mean that there is not a bullying problem.

When elected this is something that I would like to not just look at, but get my hands into. We need real change in our schools and it needs to be a top-down approach, and you cannot get much higher than the school committee.”

Other top priorities for Messier include working to put together a fiveyear strategy of what the school committee is looking to accomplish, a 141

top-down review of the district’s current policies and procedures and better communication with parents and the community at large.

“My whole life has been about helping others and I would like to continue that when I return to the school committee,” he said. “Over the years I have spoken with hundreds of parents about issues that they have faced and I have been able to relate to each and every one of them because my sons have faced them too. I’m a parent, with children in school just like you. Let me be your voice.”

Ward 3 voting precincts include West Warwick Manor and Christ the King Church.

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Councilwoman Nirva LaFortune Providence Ward 3: 2017 – present Became a Council member during a special election in the summer of 2017. She represents the constituents of Ward 3, which includes the neighborhoods of Mount Hope, Hope Village, and Blackstone.

Background, Education Professional Experience

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A native of Haiti, Councilwoman LaFortune migrated to Rhode Island when she was 3 and eventually became a naturalized United States citizen. She was raised in Washington Park, where her parents still live.

She attended and graduated from Mount Pleasant High School, and earned a B.A. in Communications from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. She is currently working on her Master’s Degree at Brown University, where she is currently employed as the Manager and Advisor to the Presidential Scholars Program in the Office of the Dean. Prior to that, LaFortune was a Manager in the Academic and Student Affairs Office in the School of Engineering. She has been at Brown since 2014. Prior to returning to Providence, Councilwoman LaFortune was employed at Drexel University for six years where she held several positions including: Assistant Director, Centers for Public Policy & Science Technology & Society Adjunct Instructor, iSchool (History & Politics) 143

Program Coordinator/Interim Department Administrator, Centers for Science Technology & Society/Public

Policy

Academic Advisor, iSchool Personal Interests Councilwoman LaFortune is very active in her community. Upon her return to Providence, she moved into the Mount Hope neighborhood where she was very active in the PTOs at Martin Luther King Elementary School, Nathan Bishop Middle School. She is an Advisory Committee Member at the East Side YMCA and is a member of Every Student Succeeds Act Committee of Practitioners. LaFortune was also a High School Design Team Member for Providence Public Schools (2014 – 2015), and she has also served on a committee advising the RI Department of Education on implementing ESSA, the federal law that governs our nation’s public-school systems.

Currently, Councilwoman LaFortune lives in Hope Village with her two children, Messiah and Nyrie Simone. An avid runner, she can often be seen running the streets of her Ward.

For a full list of Councilwoman Nirva LaFortune’s press releases: Click here.

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Councilwoman Jessica Vega Central Falls Ward 5 2018 – Present “If you’re going to affect change, you have to make sure the community is involved.”

Jessica Vega wants to make a difference in the real world. That's why it's so important that she, like many students in the community development program, has taken on real projects as part of her coursework.

Last year as a class project in an organizational leadership course, she and two other students worked with the Central Falls City Council and Mayor's Office to improve communications between the two and to make the council more accessible to its residents.

And now, she’s at it again. This time she’s taking on a project that originated in one of her courses and is running with it on her own. It’s called Creative Placemaking and it brings the arts into different section of the cities. A good example of this is Providence WaterFire or the art filled neighborhood of Wynwood in Miami, Vega says.

For her project, Vega is exploring how to bring that to Central Falls.

Her main hope is to create something that attracts people to Central Falls and serves as an anchor to keep people there, she says.

Vega came up with the project during her project design, 145

implementation & evaluation course. In the course, they looked up real steps – such as potential funders, laws and stakeholders – they could use to bring their ideas from concepts to reality. They even started initial steps in implementation, such as reaching out to communities.

That experience and building of real-world knowledge helps SPCS community development students gain the key skills they need to address the challenges of today’s urban and rural neighborhoods and communities.

“Right now, I am in the beginning stages,” Vega says. She hopes to bring the idea further along and bring in the youth in Central Falls to play a major role.

“If it’s going to work it has to stay true to the city,” Vega says. “What can we create that stays true to Central Falls, true to its history? What is the creative space going to look like? And really letting the youth guide that.”

As a native of Central Falls, Vega understands the community and its residents. She’s invested, she says.

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Councilwoman Lammis Vargas Cranston Ward 1 2018 – Present

By Jacob Marrocco Shortly after announcing her bid for a citywide seat on the Cranston City Council last summer, Lammis Vargas was in for the fight of her life.

Vargas, 35, was diagnosed with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL) just weeks after declaring her candidacy. She continued her campaign into the summer and the fall, and despite an eventual loss at the polls, she would pull down a huge win in the spring.

She went into remission on April 24. Vargas said she had a bone marrow biopsy performed two weeks prior to that date and it came up clean. She will have visits every three months to have blood work performed, but she said she was thrilled to receive a “second shot” at life.

“I feel great, I feel very thankful,” Vargas said. “I feel like my life in a sense has gone back into the normality of things. I can live my normal life in a very delicate way, I would say. Healthy eating, getting exercise [both] play into living a good life.”

Vargas, who works as the director of unclaimed property for General Treasurer Seth Magaziner, praised her office and the Warwick Police Department for their help during her fight. Her husband, Christian, works for the WPD. She also said her daughter’s teachers were able to pitch in as well.

Another significant support group for Vargas was the YMCA’s LIVESTRONG program, which networks cancer patients, survivors or those touched by the disease in some way twice a week. She hoped to 147

help advertise the meetings better in order to show others suffering from cancer another outlet.

“It was the importance of talking to each other about what we’re all going through,” Vargas said. “The YMCA staffers are there to teach you breathing, how to relax, what to do on a stressful day and share other resources around the state. There are people who don’t know what these resources are. I vouch for it. One of the things I’ve been doing is reaching out to folks like the Rhode Island Cancer Center in hopes we could put up fliers to let folks know about that program.”

Those various sources of support, from family to work to the YMCA, helped Vargas endure a nine-month stretch of treatment. She had to put a family vacation on hold and balance work and family life with the battle she was facing.

She had no intentions of halting her campaign, but she was cautious about any signals her body gave her. After all, her diagnosis came only following a trip to emergency room with some bruising all over. One particularly large bruise brought her to a physician, and by the end of the day she had clarity.

She continues to monitor every sign closely to this day.

“It was extremely hard,” Vargas said. “I never cried in front of my kids or even in front of my husband to be honest. The person you would see walking, still campaigning, I didn’t want to give up. Walking was really good for me. I always made sure with the doctors what I was doing was good for me. The [cancer] I had luckily had a high curable rate. Not to say that it can’t come back, but you just never think that it could be you.

“I said to myself I’ll move on with this campaign. It was my first time running and I’m very, very happy that I did.”

Her support systems and campaign helped keep her positive, and she said she received invaluable support from the City of Cranston and the state.

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Vargas is back to a normal schedule, as optimistic now as she was during her journey.

“Faith moves mountains,” Vargas said. “Having a positive attitude towards life got me through [to] where I am today just as far as going through this emotional and health-wise roller coaster. I’m back into continuing going to my board meetings, interacting again with folks I put on hold and I’m finally getting back into the swing of things.”

Vargas has also given thought to another push at the City Council in 2018. She said that if all goes well, she is “highly, highly anticipating” a campaign next year.

“I am not going to say ‘no,’ I’ve been asked that quite a bit,” Vargas said about running for council again. “That’s usually the second question people ask. Assuming my health condition continues to stay on board, I never say never. I’m definitely looking forward to hoping I can run again.”

This story was originally posted by The Cranston Herald. Click here to view the original story in its entirety.

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School Committeeman Roberto H. Moreno Pawtucket School Committee 2018 – Present Roberto Moreno, a son of Colombian immigrants, is currently employed as a Management Aide at the Pawtucket Housing Authority, where he works to ensure that Pawtucket residents have safe and affordable housing. He is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island with a dual major in Applied Economics and Political Science. A lifelong Pawtucket resident, Roberto attended Pawtucket Public Schools throughout his entire education.

Previously, Roberto has held an internship at the office of Congressman Jim Langevin and with the Rhode Island Department of Administration. He was also a missionary for Mustard Seed Communities, where he aided at orphanages in Nicaragua for children with severe developmental disabilities.

Additionally, Roberto is a product of the Boy Scouts of America, where he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout with Troop 3 Central Falls. He later led the troop as Scoutmaster.

In 2018, Roberto announced his candidacy and was elected to the Pawtucket School Committee, on the platform of ensuring quality education and equal opportunities for students whether they have a disability, come from low-income households, are minorities, or identify as LGBT, promising to serve as a voice for the underrepresented through his personal experience with disability.

Roberto was victorious in the primary and general elections.

In his free time, Roberto is an avid fan of cinema, tennis, and enjoys walking his chocolate Labrador Retriever, Milo.

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Robert Britto Assistant Mayor, East Providence

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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.

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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.

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Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee RILPAC Board of Directors 2018-2020: Joseph Molina Flynn, Esq., President Marcela Betancur, Vice-President Wesley Rodas, Treasurer Brenda Almonte, Secretary Sol Taubin, Member at Large Luanne Santelises, Esq., Member at Large Diana Perdomo, Member at Large Juan Espinoza, Press Secretary Patricia Socarras, Executive Assistant to the Board of Directors Bienvenido Perez, Co-legal Counsel Angie Cardona, Co-legal Counsel

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Rhode Island Elected Latinx: The State Electoral Future Tomás Ávila 01/07/18 Back on November 17, 1996; the Providence Journal, published the first article of a one-week daily series entitled “Coming into their own, in politics, business, music and the arts, R.I. Latinos are making their presence felt.” It went further to state “This year, Latinos made politicians and the press listen when they said, "no mas" (no more) to Washington's attacks on immigrants and plans to cut their benefits.

They did so by rallying against Joseph R. Paolino Jr., a 2nd Congressional District candidate whose campaign featured slights against more recent immigrants and plans to make English the official language of the United States.”

But who were these Latino people who make up the largest minority group in Rhode Island? They are often lumped together into one category - "Hispanic" - but they come from 20 countries from North America to the Caribbean and South America, where political situations range from democracy in Costa Rica to Communism in Cuba. Latinos learned the ability to harness the diversity of their community into common political projects that has made a great difference in the electoral arena. In 1998, a pan-Latino group of seasoned leaders founded the Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee (RILPAC) with the purpose of raising funds to support the races of Latinos and non-Latinos that advance a platform compatible with Latino interests.

Between 1987 and 1997, eight Latinos ran for office. Only one Anastasia Williams was successful, but the margins between the winner and loser were very close in several elections. After the Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee (RILPAC) was formed and Luis Aponte was Elected to the Providence City Council, Luis “Leon” Tejada was next in 2000 and by 2002, Latinos were on their way to 161

electoral success. In 2004 three Latinos were elected to statewide public office. Since then 24 Latinos are presently elected throughout the state at the conclusion of the 2018 election cycle; Central Falls, Cranston, Pawtucket, Providence, Smithfield, and West Warwick, as Secretary of State, State Representative, State Senators, Mayors, City/Town Councilors, and School Committees.

1. Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea 2. Representative Anastasia P. Williams, Providence 3. Representative Grace Diaz, Providence 4. Senator Ana Quezada, Providence 5. Representative Mario Mendez, Providence 6. Mayor Jorge Elorza, Providence 7. Councilor President Sabina Matos, Providence 8. Councilor Luis Luis A. Aponte, Providence 9. Councilor Carmen Castillo, Providence 10. Representative Shelby Maldonado, Central Falls 11. Mayor James A. Diossa, Central Falls 12. Councilwoman L Maria Rivera, Central Falls 13. Councilor Hugo Figueroa, Central Falls 14. Councilor Franklin Solano, Central Falls 15. Councilor Jonathon Acosta, Central Falls 16. Councilor Jessica Vega, Central Falls 17. Representative Carlos Tobon, Pawtucket 18. Senator Sandra Cano, Pawtucket 19. Representative Karen Alzate, Pawtucket 20. Councilor Elena Vasquez, Pawtucket 21. Committeeman Roberto H. Moreno, Pawtucket 22. Councilwoman Lammis Vargas, Cranston 23. Town Councilor Suzy Alba, Town Council Smithfield 24. Committeeman Luis Colรณn, Vice Chair West Warwick Public Schools According to the Pew Research Center the Hispanic population in Rhode Island is the 37th largest in the nation. About 148,000 Hispanics 162

reside in Rhode Island, or 14% of the total population, the 12th largest Hispanic statewide population share nationally, 0.3% of all Hispanics in the United States. There are 68,000 Hispanic eligible voters in Rhode Island—the 35th largest Hispanic statewide eligible voter population nationally. California ranks first with 6.9 million. 9% of Rhode Island eligible voters are Hispanic, the 12th largest Hispanic statewide eligible voter share nationally. New Mexico ranks first with 40%. According to the same report 46% of Hispanics in Rhode Island are eligible to vote, ranking Rhode Island 26th nationwide in the share of the Hispanic population that is eligible to vote. By contrast, 82% of the state’s white population is eligible to vote.1 Providence elected Rhode Island first Latino mayor, Democrat Angel Taveras, in 2010. It was a historic moment, hastened by decades of Hispanic population growth in Rhode Island the capital’s Latino population hit 38 percent that year and savvy political organizing, Hispanics succeeded in part by unifying diverse factions of their community together, bringing “pan-Latino identity” to the polls.

Central Falls followed with the second Latino Mayor, electing James Diossa in 2012 at the age of 27. The son of immigrant textile mill workers from Colombia, Diossa inspired by Barack Obama’s presidential campaign for and fresh out of college, he decided to run for city council because he felt the young people of Central Falls were not being represented by the local government and won his first election by 17 votes. Sandra was elected to the City of Pawtucket school committee in 2012 being the top vote getter and the first Latina ever elected in the whole city.

In 2014, Rhode Island voters elected Nellie Gorbea its first Latina in statewide office, becoming the first New England statewide elected Latina; Providence elected its second Latino mayor, Jorge Elorza; Central Falls, re-elected its first Latino mayor, James A. Diossa; Pawtucket elected its first Latina Latina City Councilor, Sandra Cano, to the city council, and its second Latina Elena Vasquez to the School Committee replacing Cano and Latinos won local elections in Smithfield, Suzy Alba, Newport City Council John Florez and West 1

Latinos in the 2016 Election: Rhode Island http://www.pewhispanic.org/fact-sheet/latinos-in-the-2016-election-rhode-island/

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Warwick Luis Colon School Committee. Latinos and Latinas are also filing state and municipal appointed policy and leadership positions.2 As the 2018 elections concluded, the Latino community picked up three new elected officials, Karen Alzate, Pawtucket Legislative District 60, Jessica Vega, Central Falls Ward 5 City Council, Roberto H. Moreno, Pawtucket School Committee at Large, increasing the number of elected Latinos from 21 in 2016 to 24. The electoral season also saw the election of three City/Town Council Presidents: Sabina Matos, Providence City Council President, Maria Rivera, Central Falls City Council President and Suzy Alba, Smithfield Town Council President, this in addition to two seating Mayors; Jorge O. Elorza, Providence, James Diossa, Central Falls.3 Latinos are the fastest-growing population in Rhode Island in recent decades growing 43.9 percent between 2000 and 2010, and 50 percent the decade before. Latino leaders say their growth in the last decade the non-Hispanic white population declined led to Rhode Island keeping its two congressional seats.

U.S. Census data from the 2012 American Community Survey says there are 138,550 Latinos in Rhode Island and they represent 13.2 percent of the state’s total population. In 1990, they made up 4.5 percent of the state’s population, and are now the majority in Central Falls, and nearly 40 percent of Providence’s residents Perhaps nothing will define the future of Rhode Island Politics more than the dispensation of Latino candidates, once limited to a Providence urban core, Latino candidates are now an important and growing factor in many parts of the state, and continue to be elected within majority communities.

Rhode Island is moderately diverse and is experiencing rapid demographic change. Its share of people of color increased from 7 to 24 percent between 1980 and 2010. All of the state’s recent population 2

2014 Rhode Island Elections Result https://www.ri.gov/election/results/2014/general_election/ 3

2018 Rhode Island Elections Result https://www.ri.gov/election/results/2018/general_election/

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growth is attributable to people of color. Latinos, Asians, and African Americans are driving growth and change in the state and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. The people of color population is growing quickly in the state’s nine largest cities and in the state as a whole, and y 2040, 41 percent of Rhode Islanders will be people of color. Over the past decade, Rhode Island’s Latino population grew 44 percent, adding almost 40,000 residents. The Asian and African American populations also grew by 28 and 23 percent, or 7,000 and 10,000 residents, respectively. The state’s non-Hispanic white population shrank by six percent (55,000 residents). A majority of the growth in the state’s Latino and Asian populations over the past decade has not been due to immigration but to new births among U.S. residents. 4 The rapid growth of people of color in Rhode Island is helping to stem population decline in many of the state’s cities. Five of Rhode Island’s nine largest cities (Warwick, Pawtucket, East Providence, Woonsocket, and Newport) experienced population losses of 2 to 7 percent over the past decade, and these losses would have been more severe were it not for the robust growth of their people-of color populations. Providence, Cranston, Central Falls, and Westerly all grew slightly (1 to 3 percent), and that growth was propelled by the growth of their people-of-color populations. Providence, home to 17 percent of the state’s residents, had the fastest overall growth rate at 3 percent but its people-of-color population grew six times as fast, at 18 percent.

Fast-growing communities of color can be found throughout Rhode Island. As these maps illustrate, communities of color doubled their numbers in many areas across the state (represented by the darkest orange-colored areas on the map). Communities of color are growing fast in the areas west of the City of Providence, as well as around Cranston, Woonsocket and Central Falls. Slower increases are generally seen inside the City of Providence (where the people-of-color population already comprises 62 percent of the total) and in the western and southern areas of the state. Much of the population growth in Rhode Island over the last decade particularly around Providence and other northern cities, and Westerly in the south is entirely attributable 4

PolicyLink and PERE: An Equity Profile of RI http://www.policylink.org/sites/default/files/RHODE_ISLAND_PROFILE.pdf

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to people of color. Although the state’s white population decreased over the last decade, whites accounted for all of the population growth in a number of neighborhoods in the City of Providence, as well as in a few other parts of the state.

The rise of Latino political power in Rhode Island is owed, in part, to changing demographics and impeccable candidates, whose appeal lay in Ivy League educations, professional credentials and an up-from-thebootstraps backstory. But it is also the result of planning. Looking into the future, the continue election of Latinos throughout Rhode Island looks very bright, and with many officials termed out of their present positions, speculations about Latinos seeking higher offices in the 2022 elections abound: for Governor; Secretary of State Gorbea, Mayor Jorge Elorza, Mayor James Diossa, Lieutenant Governor or Secretary of State as well as Gonzalo Cuervo, Providence Mayor Council President Sabina Matos, Representative Grace Diaz and Gonzalo Cuervo, Central Falls Mayor, Maria Rivera.

In Conclusion the future of Rhode Island Latino electoral politics looks very bright to continue growing and expanding across the state based on its historical growth, the rapid growth of people of color in Rhode Island and Latinos being the largest segment of such growth, and the fast-changing Rhode Island demographics, millennial Latinx candidate growth, similar to previous immigrant groups that preceded it.

Reference

Almanac of American Politics Rhode Island state profile 2018 https://ballotpedia.org/Almanac_of_American_Politics_Rhode_I sland_state_profile_2018 Latinos in the 2016 Election: Rhode Island http://www.pewhispanic.org/fact-sheet/latinos-in-the-2016election-rhode-island/ Latinos in the 2014 Election: Rhode Island http://www.pewhispanic.org/fact-sheet/latinos-in-the-2014election-rhode-island/ 166

Latinos in the 2012 Election: Rhode Island http://www.pewhispanic.org/fact-sheet/latinos-in-the-2012election-rhode-island/ Latinos in the 2010 Election: Rhode Island https://www.ri.gov/election/results/2010/general_election/

Hispanics in the 2008 Election: Rhode Island http://assets.pewresearch.org/wpcontent/uploads/sites/7/2008/02/RhodeIsland.pdf 2012 Rhode Island Elections Result https://www.ri.gov/election/results/2012/general_election/south _kingstown/ 2014 Rhode Island Elections Result https://www.ri.gov/election/results/2014/general_election/ 2014 Rhode Island Elections Result https://www.nytimes.com/elections/2016/results/rhode-island 2018 Rhode Island Elections Result https://www.ri.gov/election/results/2018/general_election/ An Equity Profile of Rhode Island, Policy Link http://www.policylink.org/sites/default/files/RHODE_ISLAND_P ROFILE.pdf Latino Civic and Political Participation, Louis DeSipio https://www.nap.edu/read/11539/chapter/12 Latino voters are gaining clout in Rhode Island elections https://www.providencejournal.com/article/20131123/News/311 239993 These Are The 10 Rhode Island Cities With The Largest Latino Population For 2019 167

https://www.homesnacks.net/most-hispanic-cities-in-rhodeisland-1210785/ Voter turnout in Latino-heavy areas boosts optimism for 2020 https://www.google.com/amp/s/thehill.com/latino/415976-voterturnout-in-latino-heavy-areas-boosts-optimism-for-2020%3famp

Latinos flex political muscle in Rhode Island, elect first Hispanic secretary of state, Elorza as Providence mayor https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.foxnews.com/politics/latino s-flex-political-muscle-in-rhode-island-elect-first-hispanicsecretary-of-state-elorza-as-providence-mayor.amp Pioneering Latino Politics in Rhode Island Previews U.S. ‘Hispanicization’ https://www.insidesources.com/ri-preview-us-hispanicization/ The Rising Latino Tide https://www.rimonthly.com/the-rising-latino-tide/ Rhode Island Latino Political Empowerment https://www.amazon.com/Rhode-Island-Latino-PoliticalEmpowerment/dp/1928810063 Meet the Young Latino Mayor Who Is Bringing Back His Rhode Island City https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/n cna790811 Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee https://www.rilatinopac.com/

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About Tomás Alberto Ávila 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 appointed to such a Board.

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 Latino elected officials throughout Rhode Island and the Northeast.

He is founding member of the Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee (RILPAC), and past President 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.

He was also co-founding Director of Rhode Island Redistricting Coalition, responsible of developing clear, legally defensible standards that were written into the enabling legislation and developed a highly public process for the 2000 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 169

Vote Act of 2002, and most recently appointed by the Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives Gordon Fox to serve in the Commission to study Rhode Island Election Process.

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.

Avila 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) Awards: ASBDC State Star Award, Center for Hispanic Policy & Advocacy (CHisPA) Outstanding Leadership, John Hope Settlement House Outstanding Community Leader, Quisqueya In Action Outstanding Latino Professional Imagen Hispana Magazine Influential Hispanic of New England, METCO Outstanding Parent, Cabletron Systems Outstanding Employee.

Published: Providence Journal, Providence American, Providence Business News, Providence En EspaĂąol, Siglo 21, Latino Expreso

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