Providence Monthly September 2022

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IN THIS ISSUE

Providence Monthly September 2022

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COME TO THE CITY

FOOD & DRINK

9 A Pawtucket workers cooperative paves the way for new models of care and pay equity

65 Local vendors offer a taste of Latino food, art, and culture

12 Cuervo, LaFortune, and Smiley make their cases for being the city’s next mayor 18 Study up on City Council candidates’ stances ahead of the primary election

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32 RHODY GEM: A frame shop and gallery in classic Washington Park Art Deco building 34 NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS: Hyper local news and contact listings

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Photo courtesy of Eastern Art & Frame

LIFE & STYLE

66 EXPERIENCE: Modern Italian cuisine gets inventive with simple ingredients

55 HOME: An elegant kitchen makeover in Cranston 60 INFLUENCER: A photographer shares tips for capturing moments 62 SHOP: A primer on looking like a local for arriving college students

ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2022

ART & CULTURE

70 FOOD NEWS: A sweet side hustle, Smith Hill’s newest java joint & a West End watering hole

On The Cover: A view of the Bajnotti Fountain at Burnside Park. Photo courtesy of GoProvidence.

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68 IN THE KICTHEN: Two brothers cater an immersive dining experience

66 Photo by Elyse Major

Photography by Grace Lentini, courtesy of Michelle Lee Designs

NEWS & CITY LIFE

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Plans are in motion to attract people downtown to work, play, and live with green spaces at the center

73 Mission-driven contemporary art gallery opens on A Street 74 MUSIC: A review of PVD alt-rock band’s latest release 76 PROFILE: RI rock legend gives back with free songwriting workshops 78 CALENDAR: This month’s must-do’s 80 PIC OF PVD

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NEWS & CITY LIFE N o n - p r o f i t | P o l i t i c s | R h o d y G e m | N e i g h b o r h o o d N ew s

Care Starts with Community A cooperative for disabled workers paves the way for peer-led programming and equitable pay Opening this fall in Pawtucket’s Hope Artiste Village, LUNA Community Care takes a uniquely collaborative approach to mental health. “We want to be affordable and accessible to everybody in ways that therapy may not be,” says licensed mental health counselor Casey Gallagher, who co-founded the cooperative for disabled workers in 2020 with Tara Boulais, a peer recovery specialist and community health worker.

The community-oriented group provides a space for neurodivergent youth and adults to support, learn from, and celebrate one another through peer-led drop-in groups and other programming. Gallagher notes that over 30 percent of people in the United States are neurodivergent, which encompasses – but is not limited to – ADHD, autism, anxiety, and PTSD. However, in their work as a mental health counselor, Gallagher noticed a lack of wellness services, especially peer groups, for neurodivergent individuals in Rhode Island.

Photo courtesy of LUNA Community Care ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2022

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NEWS & CITY LIFE

N o n-pr o fi t | By Katarina Dulude

This reality is what led Gallagher to conceive the idea for LUNA. “I really believe in lived experience and identity-based groups, so that was where I started,” Gallagher says, noting that existing peer groups are often led by people who don’t share the lived experiences of those attending the groups.

Though Gallagher and Boulais originally envisioned the cooperative offering both clinical and peer support, they ultimately decided to focus exclusively on the latter, welcoming both those with clinical and self diagnoses.

LUNA plans to offer numerous peer counseling groups both in person and virtually, including a gender and neurodivergent group and a Jewish and neurodivergent group.

There will also be several rotating clubs, such as a disability justice book club, art club, and foraging and outdoor mindfulness club. A gender-affirming virtual workshop that took place earlier this year run by worker-owner Sy Bedrick was featured in Allure.

Collaborating with other local organizations, LUNA will also offer events and training programs to businesses and professionals on creating more disability-inclusive environments

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ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2022

and support for neurodivergent individuals.

As the first cooperative for disabled workers in the country, LUNA is forging a path in developing a business model, seeking ways to ensure all employees – including recipients of disability income – are paid equitably. Restrictions imposed on supplemental security income (SSI) make this difficult, as recipients don’t qualify for benefits if they possess more than $2,000 at any given time, effectively making it impossible for SSI recipients to build savings.

LUNA has been developing ways to get around these policies in order to pay cooperative member-owners for their work.

With two member-owners on SSI and two not, Gallagher explains, the group has collaborated to ensure that needs of every member are met.

“We’re trying to find ways to work with individuals who are disabled and not on disability who need to make money in order to survive as well as people who are on disability who have a lot of barriers in order to survive in this world,” says Gallagher. “We want to make sure that they’re also receiving the same funds that everybody else does, but we’re not impacting the benefits that they receive

through the state.

This means offering stipends or paying into retirement accounts, which does not impact disability income. LUNA also wants to ensure every worker is paid $30 an hour regardless of how they’re collecting their income.

“We’re really pioneering this,” explains Gallagher. “We’re trying to develop it in a way that makes sure everything we’re doing is legal and that we’re filing our taxes right. That’s what’s taking us a lot longer because there’s not a lot of people with expertise on this.” Not even benefits counselors in the state, they add, have a lot of know-how on these practices because of how new the business model is.

Though LUNA is in many ways the first of its kind, its team hopes they can be a model for similar organizations and cooperatives in the future, both in peer-support for neurodivergent individuals and setting a precedence for paying disabled workers equitably.

To learn more about LUNA Care Community’s services, visit LUNACommunityCare.org, or find their fundraiser for programming at GiveButter.com/LunaCommunityCare#

Photos courtesy of LUNA Community Care

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NEWS & CITY LIFE

P o l i t i cs | By Barry Fain and Steve Triedman

Heading to the Final Round The countdown has officially begun for the September 13 Democratic Primary, and here in Providence the main event will be the mayoral race as the city tries to get back on its feet from the pandemic, which still isn’t over. Complicating matters, the new mayor will also have to manage a new City Council, almost half of whom are first-timers.

The three Democratic candidates, Gonzalo Cuervo, Nirva LaFortune, and Brett Smiley are all ideological Progressives, with Smiley and Cuervo adding “pragmatic” to the label.

They all have worked in government, with Smiley and Cuervo serving in previous administrations as Chief of Staff while LaFortune, a five-year Councilwoman, has had a front row seat on how the city really works.

All three are competent, experienced, and seem totally committed to trying to make a change for their city. They also seem to be in agreement on the wide range of issues confronting the city: public safety and the police who have had their hands tied; the delivery of basic city services like snow plowing, roads, and garbage; the American Rescue Plan Act money windfall that is drying up; the ever-present structural deficit; the deplorable state of public education and the system’s future; the pressing need for affordable housing; uncertainty about the status of the pension bailout bond; for the city’s institutional non-profits to pay their fair share; and finally the need to repair relations with the State House. In short, it’s quite a laundry list of challenges.

Since their platforms and priorities are similar, there aren’t expected to be many real policy disputes, so the voters’ decision may come down to the fundamental question: “Who will make the best leader?”

While the candidates all respectfully dance around rating Mayor Jorge Elorza’s leadership and the overall state of the city, their campaigns clearly suggest they each feel they could do much, much better if they were given the chance.

Policy similarities notwithstanding, however, each of the candidates marches forward confident their particular skill set and experience makes them the most capable of leading the city onto better days.

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ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2022

GONZALO CUERVO Gonzalo Cuervo was born and raised here in Providence and became a community organizer on the Southside as a teenager. In 1999, he and his wife Francis Parra purchased and restored their first home in Washington Park where they raised their family.

Since Providence’s population is now represented by 70 percent people of color, Cuervo feels “we need a mayor who speaks from their own lived experience and understands that we can be a dynamic, safe, and clean city with a thriving middle class.” He feels his background as longtime community organizer and work experience as the communications director for David Cicilline, the Chief of Staff to Mayor Angel Taveras, and most recently as the Chief of Staff

for Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea demonstrate he is a man who knows how to get things done.

Cuervo started a small business on Broad Street before becoming a community organizer for groups such as Quisqueya in Action, DARE, and Greater Elmwood Neighborhood Services. His wife is the executive artistic director for Teatro ECAS, New England’s leading Latino theater. He was the first candidate to declare to run for Mayor in 2021. A graduate with a BS in Human Services from Springfield College, Cuervo and his wife have two grown children and live on Mount Pleasant Avenue.

ON KEY ISSUES General Thoughts: Cuervo is cautiously optimistic about improving relations between the

Photo courtesy of Gonzalo Cuervo

A rundown on where each of the three mayoral candidates stands ahead of September 13 election

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City and the State Legislature since its members are getting younger and becoming more flexible in how things are getting done rather than more of the same. Many are Brown graduates and understand how critical better and fairer relationships with Brown are. As a longtime advocate and lobbyist for the city, we need to do a better job of “selling” the importance of Providence to the legislature.

“I know how to get people on our side.”

Public Safety: Cuervo wants to reallocate police resources. “With only 30 percent of the 430 officers actually on the street, public safety is being compromised. We need to build better relationships between department and civilian leadership and untie the hands of the police.” He hopes the successor to the current police chief is promoted from within rather than from the outside and feels we definitely need a fire chief.

Great Streets: Cuervo likes parts of the initiative (which aims to recast streets with the guiding principles of safety and inclusivity) but would like to see better planning, so people aren’t surprised by changes.

Structural Finance Issues: Cuervo believes we have an opportunity with the cash the City has in hand to invest in new ways to broaden our tax base, suggesting a program in which the underserved can be helped to convert their “side businesses” into real businesses by providing money to help them expand. Key to change here is simple: 1) efficient city infrastructure and 2) effective evaluation tools/performance reviews.

Port of Providence: Acknowledging it is locked in by Washington Park, Cuervo feels mixed usage is the way to go and sees opportunity for renewable energy projects or tie-ins with future remediation projects.

Economic Development: Commerce keeps giving the keys to large one-shot outside companies. The process needs to have more community engagement and be

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NEWS & CITY LIFE

P o l i t i cs | By Barry Fain and Steve Triedman

decentralized. Cuervo believes in taxing more from institutional non-profits on their non-mission businesses as well and that excess hospital holdings might be more useful to the city if converted into taxable affordable housing.

Education: Massachusetts works with similar community investment since it picked a path 20 years ago and stays with it as opposed to RI, which changes staffing and leadership every few years. As a community activist, Cuervo adds his reality component: “It’s tough for a family dependent on two to three jobs to survive to make time to pressure their kid’s school.”

NIRVA LAFORTUNE

ON KEY ISSUES Top Three Concerns: Gun violence (public safety), affordable housing, and education.

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ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2022

More community policing is needed.

Public Safety: LaFortune’s biggest policy difference from opponents is over crime and public safety, as she is refusing to okay the city budget because police didn’t present a plan.

Great Streets: LaFortune is a big supporter for safety reasons.

Education: LaFortune notes she is the only Mayoral candidate who actually went to Providence Public Schools and has had (and still has) children in the school system. “So when I talk about the crumbling school buildings, I’ve seen them and been in there.” As a Mount Pleasant graduate, she wonders why the city can‘t partner more with Rhode Island College’s Teaching Academy nearby. LaFortune suggests the need to make public education both academic and aspirational. She believes there may be some

merit to Gary Sasse’s recent op-ed (Providence Journal) suggesting creating a governing council to ease the upcoming transition from state to city control in two years but needs to learn more.

City Finances: LaFortune voted in support of the bonds and feels we need to make significant investments to lower costs. Get rid of dormant city buildings; we can learn from Yale’s PILOT project model. She believes it’s time non-profits be taxed on all their non-mission-driven projects and that local businesses deserve more attention.

“They pay big dollars but don’t get the services.”

First Days in Office: LaFortune hasn’t proposed specific programs yet but is committed to studying the issues. Plans to soon release a plan of what her first 100 days in office would bring. When she was elected to the council, she

Photo courtesy of Nirva LaFortune

LaFortune’s family fled Haiti when she was three and moved to Providence, first to the Southside and then to Washington Park where her parents still live. After graduating Mount Pleasant High School, she began a tough patch in her life as a pregnant 19-year-old, temporarily homeless in Miami. She went on to Philadelphia where she graduated from Temple University, working at Drexel University as assistant director for the Centers for Public Policy & Science Technology & Society, before ultimately earning an MA in Urban Education Policy from Brown.

“I can talk about and understand the plight of the downtrodden because I’ve been there myself. I know what it’s like to suddenly have your rent raised by $300 and not have the money; I know about gun violence first hand because I lost my partner when I was 16. It has defined the shape of my life’s work.”

LaFortune is now the assistant director of the Curricular Resource Center at Brown and served as City Councilwoman for Ward 3, fighting for more resources in classrooms, affordable housing, an environmentally friendly city, and building community-police relationships.

She is an avid runner and cyclist who joined us late for our interview for this article following a flat tire on her bike ride to work. Greeting us with a delightful, disarming smile, she joked: “I guess before I become a mayor, I should learn how to change a bike tire faster.”

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NEWS & CITY LIFE

P o l i t i cs | By Barry Fain and Steve Triedman

immediately used Sam Zurier (Rhode Island State Senator, representing District 3) as a mentor. “I admit I don’t have all the answers, but I believe in consulting those who do and hiring high quality experts to help.”

Legislative Successes: She is excited about the new planning progress for North Main Street and would like to see more inviting mixed-use projects and collaboration with Pawtucket that could take advantage of previous studies and proposals (possibly row houses) that looked pretty good.

Port of Providence: Concerned about climate justice, LaFortune worries about the high asthma rates around Allens Avenue, which can’t be ignored.

BRETT SMILEY

ON KEY ISSUES Public Safety: Of the candidates, Smiley is the most supportive of the police. With

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ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2022

regard to getting the ATVs off the road, he promises, “There will be an immediate mandate to shut them down and let the cops do their job.” He promises more community police officers and a fire chief.

Great Streets: He would transparency and direct idents who are directly “look back” to see what’s

like to see more input from resimpacted and a actually working.

Education: Smiley feels a turnaround plan is still the way to go but any success will depend on the new governor. “Massachusetts developed a plan 20 years ago and stayed with it and showed success. We didn’t. We need to agree on the basics, develop a plan, set metrics and stick with it along with a consistent funding formula. We’ve failed the kids and the city for too long and I know that we can do better.”

City Finances: Smiley is convinced his experience and success working with the state and city budgets will allow him to produce a carefully managed budget that would allow the City to improve basic services like plowing, maintenance, and cleaning, while still providing police and fire support at

levels that taxpayers have a right to expect.

PILOT Payment in Lieu of Taxes Program: Smiley emphasizes the importance of this program since non-profits make up 40 percent of the city’s taxable base. “The previous givebacks are off the table, and we will focus on taxing the ‘non-mission driven’ parts of these organizations, like non-academic property, medical office buildings, or land-banked property. Additionally, I would like to see a revenue split with the state as organizations in this program add new employees above established thresholds.“ Doing Business: Smiley cuts to the chase, “The answer should be easy and it’s not. There’s too much regulation and too many obstacles for new businesses. Period. And we’ll fix it.”

Affordable Housing: Smiley wants to work with both non-profit and for-profit developers to expand the options to create programs for the new affordable housing.

VOTE: Find your polling place at Vote.SoS.RI.gov

Photo courtesy of Brett Smiley

Brett Smiley argues that his extensive government and management experience make him ready on day one to be mayor. His shortened run for mayor eight years ago and his leadership roles in the city and at the State House during the pandemic under then-Governor Gina Raimondo gave him wide name recognition even before the race began. A policy wonk, he can rattle off an incredible array of statistics and metrics for almost every aspect of city government. He believes that “Providence can be the best-run city in the country by supporting quality schools, small business support, and safer streets for every neighborhood.”

Smiley grew up in a Chicago suburb and is a graduate of DePaul University, where he earned a finance degree and an MBA. He lives on the East Side with his husband Jim DeRentis, a real estate broker and former community banker. Both are avid runners and share a deep love of Providence. He has been involved with Planned Parenthood, providing strategic counsel and as a fundraiser. He has also been involved with Marriage Equality Rhode Island, Rhode Island Housing, Rhode Island Communities for Addiction Recovery Efforts, and the national Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund.

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NEWS & CITY LIFE

P o l i t i cs | Compiled by Abbie Lahmers

City Council Who’s Who Candidates running for seats in Providence’s 15 wards weigh in on crucial issues Gearing up for election season, Providence Monthly reached out to the candidates vying for 15 seats on the City Council for their stances on five key issues facing the city.

Along with their reasons for running, each candidate was asked to rank these issues by order of priority, with their first selection ranking highest. Read on to find their responses to these five questions: PUBLIC SAFETY: What needs to change?

EDUCATION: Should the city take control or let the state fix it?

NEIGHBORHOOD AUTONOMY: Should there be more local say in issues like bike lanes, traffic calming, and zoning?

QUALITY OF LIFE: What needs to be fixed in your ward to improve quality of life?

CITY FINANCES: What cuts would you like to see?

WARD 1 JOHN GONCALVES (i) Democrat, Age 31 Occupation: Educator and DEI Coordinator at the Wheeler School JohnForWard1.com I’m running for reelection because of my ability to be responsive, reliable, and effective for our constituents. I have continued to lead, build necessary partnerships, and have been a relentless advocate for what is right to move the city forward. I am also homegrown. I went to Providence Public Schools and grew up in the neighborhood I serve.

1. EDUCATION: As a graduate of the Providence Public Schools and an educator, I understand the importance of local education on the future success and well-being of our residents. These difficult times have caused incredible uncertainty and innumerable challenges to the school systems, teachers,

parents, and students alike. The city should take control.

2. QUALITY OF LIFE: Our “Quality of Life” plan is a people-powered, living blueprint with a clear vision to improve the city for everyone. It includes solutions for everything from improving our schools to increasing housing affordability to targeting violent crime. To get the greatest quality of life for all, we need bold, proactive, responsive, and effective leaders.

3. CITY FINANCES: We must tackle underlying fiscal challenges, such as our unfunded pension liability, while being responsible with our investments. Prudent management will allow us to give property tax relief and lower the commercial tax rate to spur greater growth. The city’s elected must also hold large tax-exempt institutions accountable for their fair share.

4. PUBLIC SAFETY: Providence must be a city where everyone feels safe and lives in safe environments regardless of race, gender, class, zip code, or level of ability. One shooting, murder is one too many. The focus must be strengthening community/police relationships, building trust, and investing in youth. The police also need more resources to respond effectively.

5. NEIGHBORHOOD AUTONOMY: City government has many responsibilities, but managing smart development projects with a focus on resiliency tops the list. Decisions about new development are now made behind inaccessible and opaque discourse. A more transparent process improves accountability, and more say from our residents. I will reform these processes with a new approach.

WARD 2 HELEN ANTHONY (i) Democrat, Age 62 Occupation: Lawyer HelenAnthony.com I believe that if you have the opportunity, you should try to make the world better. For me, the best place to start was local government. I served on Town and City Councils in

Wayland Square

Needham, MA and Columbia, MO, and the Zoning Board in Providence. I’ve learned a lot about policy and governance, and when the Ward 2 seat opened, I decided to run.

1. CITY FINANCES: The city’s financial position is my primary short- and long-term concern.

Our pension fund is less than 30 percent funded, which puts us on a path toward bankruptcy. Without a more stable financial position, our schools and quality of life are at risk. This is less about cuts and more about smart financial stewardship and greater transparency.

2. EDUCATION: Providence must regain control of its schools. Our state has no track record of turning around failing districts, and now we have more politics and less input from students and parents whose voices should be at the center. This is a long-term effort that should be a high priority for our next mayor, and must involve real, deep community engagement.

3. PUBLIC SAFETY: Safety is a common, fundamental need in every neighborhood. Everyone wants to feel safe. We need to keep a lid on crime while also insisting on accountability and transparency from public safety officers and a commitment to personal privacy in matters like surveillance. I am pleased the General Assembly is making progress on sensible gun safety.

KEY: (i) Incumbent candidate; * Ranking of issues not provided 18

ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2022

Experience.

Integrity.

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Gerri Schiffman (401) 474-3733

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ELECTION DATES Read up on the candidates running to represent your ward and mark your calendar: September 13: Rhode Island Primary Elections October 9: Voter Registration Deadline

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October 18: Mail Ballot Application Deadline November 8: General Election Not sure which ward is yours? Visit Council.ProvidenceRI.gov/Ward-Boundaries/

4. QUALITY OF LIFE: We face a major issue with the increase of student housing developments, which presses on affordability for renters. This can also mean more trash and noise from dense buildings near families. I’ve proposed changes to the Student Housing Ordinance to limit the number of undergraduates living in a single unit, and I hope we pass that this year.

5. NEIGHBORHOOD AUTONOMY: I have fought for more public input in planning from our comprehensive plan to specific zoning requests. We need to ensure ample time for the public to be aware of the implications of proposed projects and opportunities to participate. The Ward 2 Letter has been a major channel to learn about proposed projects, and we’ll continue publishing.

gerrischiffman.com residentialproperties.com gerri@residentialproperties.com

@schiffmansells ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2022

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WARD 3 SUE ANDERBOIS Democrat, Age 39 Occupation: Climate Policy Advocate SueAnderBois.com I am committed to Providence and know we can do great things as a city. I have a strong track record of effective, ethical, and collaborative policy advocacy and implementation. I want to leverage this for the residents of Ward 3 and get things done in this city.

Neighbors enjoying Blackstone Park

MIKE FINK Independent I was invited, asked, to run for the Council as an independent. I hope to combine curiosity by listening to my friendly neighbors as I have since 1936 (I was aged 3 then) and to add whatever wisdom remains with me as a child of Depression, Duration (World War 2) and then REpression (the HUAC loyalty oaths that curbed the freedom of artists and exiled creative souls instead of welcoming them into the realm of our founder Roger Williams who supported “soul liberty” – freedom of beliefs, both of and from religion) and who endeavored to be at peace with the indigenous people as well as newcomers in Ward 3. *PUBLIC SAFETY: We need more respect for police as well as sympathy for the person under arrest. *NEIGHBORHOOD AUTONOMY: As for neighborhood issues, I believe the bumps are a pain and counterproductive – well-intended, perhaps – but like the camera indictments, rather insulting in a democracy that should assume personal responsibility, not just brute crude force to keep folks in line appropriately. Our Ward 3 is an ideal community of differing kinds of persons who celebrate both their community and their privacy and personal responsibility. *CITY FINANCES: Being a professor

throughout my long career at RISD, I believe in words rather than weapons, persuasion instead of insistence, and know too little perhaps about the financial woes of Ward 3.

COREY JONES Democrat, Age 25 Occupation: Chief of Program Development at the RI Department of Labor and Training Facebook: Corey Jones For City Council After losing eight friends and family members to gun violence, I decided enough is enough and it’s time to put an end to gun violence in our city. [This can be accomplished] using programs with restorative practices that get at the root causes of crime, like creating a better education system, jobs, and supportive services for our citizens that need it most. *PUBLIC SAFETY: We need to provide our first responders with resources like jobs, therapies, and supportive services to increase opportunities. We need to ensure our Greater Streets plan includes plans for crime reduction through environmental development. Add lighting in dark areas around hot spots and trees as well.

Lastly, fully fund our crisis response team. *EDUCATION: State takeovers have never worked, and I don’t expect this one to work either. We need to ensure the people who have the skin in the game – parents and students – have

KEY: (i) Incumbent candidate; * Ranking of issues not provided 20

ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2022

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1. EDUCATION: As I talk with teachers, parents, and others involved in the schools, I hear a consistent message: the schools need the resources they’ve been asking for (such as counselors to provide support for students) and they need stability – time to actually implement the plans.

When the schools are returned to Providence, we need a solid plan and implementation.

2. PUBLIC SAFETY: Increases in crime are linked with increases in poverty and economic and racial injustice. We need to focus on building more opportunities in our city – and also more programs for our youth to recreate safely and have access to the emotional and economic supports that they need.

3. CITY FINANCES: There are no specific cuts.

The health of the city’s finances undergirds so much of what the city can accomplish through programs and services. The city’s budget is also a moral document; where we invest our funds shows where our priorities are. We consistently miss our goals for things like contracting with women- and minority-owned businesses.

4. QUALITY OF LIFE: The thing I hear most frequently is improving the sidewalks. People love this ward. They enjoy their neighbors, the small businesses, and the parks. But they can’t access them if they have any mobility restrictions because of the uneven quality of our sidewalks. These are serious problems that affect how people enjoy the city.

5. NEIGHBORHOOD AUTONOMY: Residents should be given ample opportunity to both comment on overall city strategy and plans and also to advocate with their Councilors on how things affect them. However, the city should be given leeway to implement plans that have undergone feedback processes. We need to actually build housing, bike lanes, etc. all across the city.

power in the decision making. We need an education system that serves the students. *NEIGHBORHOOD AUTONOMY: Absolutely, and it should be the job of a City Councilor to create buy-in for these different proposals. I think community-centered decision-making should be codified in law. *QUALITY OF LIFE: Sidewalks in Ward 3 are in desperate need of repair. I’ve seen sidewalks that look like a ramp at the skatepark.

It’s dangerous and harms our residents. *CITY FINANCES: I think we could make our local government more efficient, which could create some long-term savings. I would also be focused on finding programs that have some duplication at the local and state level and work with our state partners to save money by combining programs. I would use that savings to increase contribution into the pension fund.

BRADLY J. VANDERSTAD Democrat, Age 27 Occupation: Assistant Editor VoteBradly.com Providence needs and deserves authentic community leadership.

1. NEIGHBORHOOD AUTONOMY: Every major local infrastructure decision should incorporate feedback from residents, and the city should invest appropriate resources into outreach to ensure residents are given ample opportunity to do so.

2. CITY FINANCES: I’m more interested in growing our tax base than making budget cuts, through workforce investments and exploring a sales tax revenue-sharing model with the state.

3. PUBLIC SAFETY: We need a greater emphasis on community policing and improving police/community relationships.

4. EDUCATION: While the state is in control, the city needs to develop a vision and plan for how it will do better. Then it should resume control after an elected and empowered school board is at the helm.

5. QUALITY OF LIFE: Streets, sidewalks, and parks. We need to activate our public spaces, particularly crafting and executing a vision for the future of North Main Street.

WARD 4 JUSTIN ROIAS

(Democrat) did not respond to Providence Monthly’s questionnaire.

I’m Here To Help!

JOE CASOLI Democrat, Age 70 Occupation: Special Assistant to the Governor JoeCasoli.com Because I feel that I have to contribute to the community on the ground level. Right now a major portion of my job is to work with people across the state, particularly during the pandemic. I have been able to help so many and I look at the council position as a venue to help my community by helping to provide a hands-on approach to city services.

1. PUBLIC SAFETY: We must increase the number of police officers to the number approved of in the city budget. We in government must show support for our police officers and stop the chatter which undermines their morale. More importantly we have to better train our police candidates and hire men and women who show empathy and understanding of the human condition.

2. NEIGHBORHOOD AUTONOMY: Yes, absolutely [there should be local say].

3. QUALITY OF LIFE: Accountability will create respect and pride to our community. Inclusiveness is a top priority.

4. CITY FINANCES: [I would like to see] fiscal responsibility.

5. EDUCATION: No comment provided.

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WARD 5 JACKIE GOLDMAN Democrat, Age 28 Occupation: Program Manager JackieGoldmanRI.com As a former AmeriCorps member and a public health researcher, I have witnessed first hand what corrupt policy making can do to a community, both abroad and here in Providence. Our city deserves an accountable and transparent government that speaks directly to the people in order to solve problems.

1. QUALITY OF LIFE: I plan on leading with

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fully transparent and open processes so that we can directly address problems like the lack of housing, crumbling infrastructure, and lack of timely city services. We need to fix how we finance the city so we have enough funds to fix the city and take the financial burden off the people of Providence.

2. EDUCATION: So far, the state takeover has been ineffective. There has been little oversight, which has resulted in scandal and continued poor performance. I want to create an elected school board that will work directly with the community to determine what students need most. The people of Providence should control their schools.

3. CITY FINANCES: What we need to cut most are corrupt deals with luxury developers that take opportunities away from Providence residents. These large corporate entities buy local land and then pay far less than their fair share in taxes. This is not the way to improve our city.

4. PUBLIC SAFETY: Every Providence resident deserves to feel safe. In order to achieve that, we need to focus on solutions that prevent crime – increasing affordable housing to lower homelessness, as well as expanding mental healthcare.

We need to improve community trust in public safety systems and create non-police response options for non-violent crime.

5. NEIGHBORHOOD AUTONOMY: Absolutely!

I believe that Providence needs to become a more walkable and bikeable place, in order to curb the dangers and cost of high traffic commuting (both financial and environmental). The people in our communities know what they need and what structures will work best for them.

JO-ANN RYAN (i) Democrat, Age 63 Vice President, Customers Bank CouncilwomanJoannRyan.com Representing the neighborhoods I grew up in has been an honor. I care very much about the greater good, which impacts all of us. While we’ve made progress, we continue to face serious issues from protecting our environment to addressing financial obligations. I’m qualified, experienced, and driven to continue finding solutions to improve our city.

1. CITY FINANCES: The city’s finances are our greatest challenge. It is difficult to

improve quality of life issues if the finances are not properly addressed. While we have come back from the dark days of struggling to make payroll or even having a rainy day fund, we are not out of the woods yet. Our unfunded pension liability and PILOTs (Payments in Lieu of Taxes) must be resolved.

2. PUBLIC SAFETY: People need to feel safe in their homes and in their communities. We need to return in earnest to community policing that is adequately staffed and appropriately funded.

We need to focus on relevant training, diversion programs, and youth programming. Officers must reflect the neighborhoods they patrol.

3. EDUCATION: The state takeover of our schools has failed to date. While we need to hold the state accountable, we must now plan for our schools to be returned to the district.

We need to properly fund our schools and create a governance model that supports our teachers, engages our community, and focuses on student outcomes.

4. QUALITY OF LIFE: We need an administration to commit to delivering city services with alacrity. That also includes being diligent about monitoring vendors and enforcing contracts to ensure deliverables are furnished professionally and timely. Trash pick-up and snow removal need to happen like clockwork. Streets and sidewalks need to be maintained regularly.

5. NEIGHBORHOOD AUTONOMY: Yes, we need genuine community engagement across all areas. Residents need to be engaged in policy decisions. The Council voted to put several Charter Amendments before voters this fall to address community engagement issues, including a hybrid school board change providing for both mayoral appointees and publicly elected members.

WARD 6 JORGE PORRAS (Republican) did not respond to Providence Monthly’s questionnaire.

A view of the city from Neutaconkanut Hill Park

they have equity in their community. My goal is to stop the division and hate by bringing people together with a common goal by making them feel they have equity in their area. *PUBLIC SAFETY: I feel trees need to be manicured, there’s too many dark areas – street lights are covered with trees blocking any light. *EDUCATION: The closer you are to the problem, the more you should know how to fix the problem. I’m not sure about what the state can do differently than the city, but to me it’s a people problem that needs to be fixed by the right commitments by teachers and parents. *NEIGHBORHOOD AUTONOMY: I feel not every wish list can be accommodated; money and logistics play a big part in the outcome, but people’s ideas should always be heard. I myself have three areas in my ward that I’d like to see look more like a Federal Hill in some aspects. If you reflect the community, the community will take pride in that area. *QUALITY OF LIFE: Education, safety, and a sense of community are all aspects that need to be addressed. *CITY FINANCES: I would have to really have to sit down and look at the books and hear justifications for things we are paying for to make a knowledgeable determination.

MIGUEL SANCHEZ

Democrat, Age 57 Occupation: Maintenance

Democrat, Age 24 Occupation: Constituent Services Associate Facebook: Miguel Sanchez for Providence City Council

To improve people’s lives with education, better jobs, and literacy; address safety concerns; improve community identities; and bring back community involvement to allow people to feel

I decided to run because I have both lived and professional experience that will give me a unique perspective to advocate for my neighbor’s needs at the city level. I am prepared

JOSEPH GIAMPIETRO

KEY: (i) Incumbent candidate; * Ranking of issues not provided 22

ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2022

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NEWS & CITY LIFE

12 TH ANNUAL

to put in the work. This includes cleaning up our streets, improving our public education system and fighting for a fair tax system that doesn’t hurt working families.

1. EDUCATION: A good public education is the foundation of any prosperous municipality. I believe the city should take control of PPSD sooner rather than later, but we need to make sure the city has an effective plan. Until then, we need to make sure there are accountability mechanisms in place.

2. CITY FINANCES: I would like to see the big wealthy nonprofits pay their fair share in taxes so we are not pushing everyday folks out of our city. Almost 40 percent of our property is tax exempt; this is not sustainable for any city. With rising property values, we need to drop our tax rate by a significant amount that actually helps working and low-income families.

3. QUALITY OF LIFE: More frequent street sweeping, elevated crosswalks where there is heavy foot traffic, hold Waste Management accountable when necessary, build sidewalks on streets that don’t have them, redesign some streets to deter folks from speeding, and make them more pedestrian friendly.

4. PUBLIC SAFETY: We need to start addressing poverty, which is the root of all crime.

Anything else is a band-aid solution.

5. NEIGHBORHOOD AUTONOMY: Real concrete community engagement should be at the center of any new development.

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WARD 7 DAVID MARSHALL Democrat, Age 64 Facebook: Dave Marshall for City Council Ward 7 In 2018, I ran for City Council but was defeated by Council President John iggliozzi. However, that did not stop me from continuing my love for the neighborhood and I continued to support the residents of Ward 7. *PUBLIC SAFETY: We need to have active community policing. This would mean police officers on foot as well. *EDUCATION: I believe the city can handle any education issues that arise. Let’s have the city control our schools by giving them

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the support they need to give the best education to our children. If this can’t be completed within a certain time frame, then let the state attempt to correct any issues. *NEIGHBORHOOD AUTONOMY: Yes, the community should have a say as to what takes place in their neighborhood. Some of these issues are creating problems in neighborhoods and need to be discussed and planned out before approved. *QUALITY OF LIFE: Sidewalks, rodent issues, clean properties, and absentee landlords are issues that need to be addressed. *CITY FINANCES: I would have to be able to review the finances of the city to make that judgment and see who is awarded how much money.

ANA VARGAS Democrat, Age 49 Occupation: Former Customer Service Clerk for the School Dept.

Facebook: Ana Vargas for Ward 7 I decided to run for City Council to fulfill the needs of my community; to be their voice to defend the rights of our neighborhood and improve our quality of life. I want cleaner streets, paved roads, and a better educational system.

1. EDUCATION: Control should return to the city.

2. PUBLIC SAFETY: More community policing.

3. QUALITY OF LIFE: More job opportunities.

4. NEIGHBORHOOD AUTONOMY: Yes, [locals should have a say].

5. CITY FINANCES: I would have to review the budget.

WARD 8 JAMES TAYLOR (i) (Democrat) did not respond to Providence Monthly’s questionnaire.

WARD 9 GERARD CATALA (Democrat), JUAN PICHARDO (Democrat), and JOSE PEREZ CORPORAN (Independent) did not respond to Providence Monthly’s questionnaire.

DIEGO TOMÁS ARENE-MORLEY Independent, Age 28 Social Worker and High School Teacher DiegoForAllNeighbors.com

City views from above

I’m skilled at connecting people to services and advocating for smart laws. As a social worker, teacher, and recovery coach, I’ve walked hundreds of people along their journey from the streets, court, and hospitals back to school, home, and meaningful work. My public policy education equips me to legislate from the perspective of those most impacted.

1. EDUCATION: I come to this issue as a parent of a Providence Public School student.

The city should take back control of the school system and establish a healthier dialogue between parents, students, teachers, and administrators. My job will be to foster that dialogue in good faith and work to fund the programs that our students need.

2. QUALITY OF LIFE: Ward 9 neighbors want cleaner, safer streets and sidewalks. We need slower streets and ways of addressing noise pollution with community buy-in. A central part of my campaign is community clean-up events across all Ward 9 streets. This is the service mindset I will bring to our City Council.

3. PUBLIC SAFETY: Police tell me they can’t solve cases of major crime because people in our neighborhood don’t trust them. Until this changes, nothing changes. We must end the failed War on Drugs to focus police work on real public safety threats. This is a first step towards rebuilding trust between our community and public safety officers.

4. NEIGHBORHOOD AUTONOMY: Of course.

When neighbors directly participate in their government, the rules they design work better and are easier to follow. My independent community campaign is about putting people before

politics. I will donate at least half my official salary to fund a platform for direct community decision making open only to Ward 9 residents.

5. CITY FINANCES: Providence’s finances will be stronger when we grow city revenue and create new jobs. We must attract new industries like electric vehicles and psychedelic therapeutics. I will advocate for City Council to reassign funds to hire more social workers and teachers aides in schools. My goal is not to cut budgets but to reinvest funds in our kids.

APRIL BROWN Democrat, Age 56 Occupation: Non-profit Director AprilForWard9.com The reason I want to run is because Ward 9 is my home and has been my home for 48 years. I feel that we need to strengthen our neighborhood connections. A few of the ways I plan to do this is by reactivating community meetings with the City Councilor, strengthening the ward through business investments, and making people proud of their homes. *PUBLIC SAFETY: We need to bring back real community policing to build on the relationship between public safety and Ward 9. *EDUCATION: The city should not relinquish its control of the public schools to the state nor should they abandon their duty to provide quality education to the children of Providence to ensure a sustainable future. *NEIGHBORHOOD AUTONOMY: Yes, Ward 9 residents deserve safety in all areas; we must make changes and implement calming

KEY: (i) Incumbent candidate; * Ranking of issues not provided 24

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NEWS & CITY LIFE

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measures, but this should be focused on the success and health of the neighborhood. These matters of neighborhood invigoration should start and end with all of those that live in Ward 9, making sure those most impacted are priority. *QUALITY OF LIFE: We need to focus on environmental justice, housing security, and job equity. *CITY FINANCES: Our neighbors who are continually placed in the margin need our support as they grapple with mental, physical, and financial turmoil in our city. I would like to see more investments in resources that change the way residents are able to access and utilize housing, green jobs training, and public education for all of us.

MIGUEL QUEZADA Democrat Occupation: Sales Facebook: Friends of Miguel Quezada I love Providence for what it is and how much more it can be. I grew up here and want my daughter and all our children to grow up here, too, but we have our challenges, especially in Ward 9 on the Southside. We will fight for what is right and demand equity in all decisions. I bring a new vision and leadership to affect change for a better tomorrow.

1. EDUCATION: Our schools are in bad shape and we all have a responsibility to our children. At this point, we have to give the state time, but their process should include the city and all of its stakeholders, including residents in this transformation. We should not wait until the end of the takeover to pass the baton to the city as that will be too late.

2. PUBLIC SAFETY: Let’s reimagine public safety to reflect the needs of the community.

For example: add other professionals, i.e. mental health, that can respond to calls that do not require police; more training in areas of implicit bias and deescalation; reintroduce community policing; and offer incentives/recruit more police members to live in our community.

3. QUALITY OF LIFE: Our neighbors are telling me that we need true representation for our community. We want someone that understands and cares but can also effectively negotiate, strategize, and advocate for us. We need a safe and clean environment, quality

schools, and affordable housing, among other concerns. I bring new leadership and a new vision for a better tomorrow.

4. CITY FINANCES: Before considering cuts, I’d like to see ways of increasing revenues.

For example, let’s discuss and negotiate PILOT agreements. We also need to reexamine TSAs to ensure projects are beneficial to the community and not a “give away.”

5. NEIGHBORHOOD AUTONOMY: Participation is important within all of the included issues. Neighborhood engagement is a top priority during my campaign and will be in my tenure on the council. I will ensure that I fight for what is right for us all and demand equity in all decisions. Thus this ranking is a moot point as engagement will be included in all these issues.

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WARD 10 PEDRO ESPINAL (i) Democrat, Age 57 Occupation: Real Estate Investor ElectPedro.com I am running for Providence City Council to amplify the voices of so many neighbors who wanted trust restored in their local leaders.

I have fought to put laws in place that protect the health of our children and families, support tenants and homeowners, as well as laws protecting our workers to ensure they are receiving fair wages.

1. PUBLIC SAFETY: We need to restore the trust in our local police, so I believe community policing is the first step in fixing that relationship. Additionally we need to create a system that holds officers accountable when their actions violate their role in the community and they abuse their power.

2. EDUCATION: I believe our education system needs to be put back into the hands of our city leaders.

3. QUALITY OF LIFE: Pollution in our ward is one of the most pressing issues. We need to stop the dumping and invest in improving our quality of air through more green and sustainable projects.

4. NEIGHBORHOOD AUTONOMY: Yes, because these are issues that impact everyone’s daily lives.

5. CITY FINANCES: I believe that at the moment all the investments in our city are key to the everyday lives of our constituents. If we are going to make cuts, I believe it’s a decision that must be made after looking at the whole budget and attempting to consolidate before making permanent changes.

NATALIA ROSA SOSA Democrat Occupation: Education Facebook: Natalia Rosa Sosa I decided to run because of my passion to serve the community. Over the years I’ve been fortunate to serve the community in different capacities. As a mother, daughter, sister, and partner, I understand the struggles that our community faces. I earnestly believe that I represent what Ward 10 needs. *PUBLIC SAFETY: We as a community need to ensure our neighborhoods are safe with culturally competent law enforcement officers with a focus on local neighborhood needs. *EDUCATION: The Providence school district is under state control. We should give the state an opportunity to improve the educational system with an agreed upon timeline. If student achievement does not improve, return the district to Providence. Our children are our future; it’s time to make a real investment in

KEY: (i) Incumbent candidate; * Ranking of issues not provided 26

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Photo courtesy of Washington Park Neighborhood Association

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our children’s education. *NEIGHBORHOOD AUTONOMY: Absolutely. A global view to community changes leaves people with angst because they are not included in the change or heard in [discussions about] what is better for our neighborhoods. *QUALITY OF LIFE: As I walk and knock on doors today, our residents state that we need clean streets, new sidewalks, speed control, and plowed streets curb to curb. These simple things are immediate to those who live in our ward. *CITY FINANCES: In business, there are two ways to make ends meet: increase revenues or cut expenses. Our most recent census indicates a growth in population, so cutting expenses through reduction of services becomes a bigger challenge. Simply put, I would like to see additional revenues and effective spending more than just cuts.

WARD 11 MARY KAY HARRIS (i) and GEORGE LINDSEY (both Democrat) did not respond to Providence Monthly’s questionnaire.

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really more a problem of allocation of what money we have. If the constituents of each ward had a better handle on city expenses and the means to address it, that would help.

did not respond to Providence Monthly’s questionnaire.

JOE CORNWALL Democrat, Age 73 Occupation: Architect, property manager CornWallForCouncil.com

Independent, Age 33 I’ve been on dialysis for 18 years. I’ve watched how policy shapes the outcome of so many lives.

Running for City Councilman would allow me to give people like me the opportunity to shape policy for our safety and protection. *EDUCATION: I believe the city is capable of coming together and working on a strategic curriculum that will [encompass] all the necessary factors in order for our children to succeed. *NEIGHBORHOOD AUTONOMY: I believe [there should be more local say]. The locals live in the community as well. They also pay taxes, just like everybody else. *QUALITY OF LIFE: [There needs to be] job opportunities for all walks of life, free health care for all, better nutritional food options at a low market price, better systems of education including cheaper college rates, and safer streets and family meetings.

WARD 12 SEANGSOUK KEOBOUTHANH (Independent)

The opportunity presented itself. People feel disconnected. I want to address that. Only by getting my ideas about ward life out between now and September 13 will I know if my ideas have legs.

1. NEIGHBORHOOD AUTONOMY: Neighborhood autonomy goes way beyond bike lanes, traffic calming, and zoning – but that’s a good start. The ward is our most basic democratic unit and needs to be strengthened.

2. EDUCATION: Parents need to get involved. Once parents have control, then the proper city or state involvement, whichever is more practical, can follow.

3. PUBLIC SAFETY: A cop on the beat. To have a walking patrol person who knows you and your family and your neighbors would be ideal. Unfortunately, there is a lot to wrestle with to get this to happen.

4. QUALITY OF LIFE: What cries out is street, sidewalk, and vacant lot litter, debris, weeds, dead leaves, and broken sidewalks.

5. CITY FINANCES: The city does a pretty good job with the constraints it is under. It is

BELEN FLOREZ Democrat, Age 52 Occupation: Office Manager and Non-profit Founder BelenFlorez.org I have been a part of this community for 42 years. I believe we need strong and compassionate leadership at City Hall. I believe in people; I believe that, together, we can build a stronger community that is ready to face the challenges of the future. I will always communicate with my community and would be honored to be your voice in City Hall.

1. QUALITY OF LIFE: We need to increase access to quality education, careers, and housing. I think we can do this by advocating for increased support in City Hall for the needs that aren’t being met in Ward 12.

2. EDUCATION: I strongly express my full support for returning control of our schools to the city of Providence. Once oversight has been returned to the city, I will advocate tirelessly, with my council colleagues, to ensure that our students and teachers have all necessary resources available to them to thrive and exceed regional standards.

3. PUBLIC SAFETY: I will work, together

KEY: (i) Incumbent candidate; * Ranking of issues not provided 28

ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2022

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NEWS & CITY LIFE

with my council colleagues and the incoming administration, to make sure we continue to graduate new diverse police academies that better reflect the communities they represent.

4. CITY FINANCES: I would like to see cuts in licensing fees and other cumbersome, unnecessary bureaucratic regulations that hinder our small business community from starting their ventures. I will work to ensure that City Hall works for our small business community as well as all residents.

5. NEIGHBORHOOD AUTONOMY: Yes, my job as City Councilor is to represent the needs and wants of my community. As such, I will always remain accessible to determine the will of my constituents.

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ALTHEA A. GRAVES Democrat, Age 68 Retired FriendsOfMsAltheaGraves.com I am a lifelong resident of Ward 12; it is my home and I love it. I have a track record of fighting for resources and programs for the community. I have served on numerous boards and committees that help to improve, empower, and enhance my community and city. I can use that same dedication and the experience at a greater level as Councilwoman.

1. QUALITY OF LIFE: Stop the gentrification. Rents are high; many cannot afford to continue to live here. Lack of home security can affect all aspects of their lives.

2. PUBLIC SAFETY: Several things from the urgent and life-or-death situations, such as getting these unlawful guns off the city streets, to the basics, such as improved lighting, maintenance of sidewalks, and overgrown foliage (which cause people to be in the street with ongoing traffic) and other common sense and easy-to-remedy issues.

3. EDUCATION: The city needs to take control. Teach so students learn and comprehend not just to study for state tests.

4. NEIGHBORHOOD AUTONOMY: Yes. It should be transparent and real, not a rubber stamp meeting where a decision has already been made but you need to check the box that the community was involved.

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NEWS & CITY LIFE

P o l i t i cs | Compiled by Abbie Lahmers

5. CITY FINANCES: This is a very important issue; however, I have given it the number 5 slot. This is because until I have sat down and looked over the books/budget, I cannot truly give a comprehensive answer.

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WARD 13 RACHEL MILLER (i) (Democrat) did not respond to Providence Monthly’s questionnaire.

WARD 14 PATRICK T. GRIFFIN Democrat, Age 67 Occupation: Businessman Facebook: Patrick Griffin for Ward 14

1. PUBLIC SAFETY: The City Council must ensure that the Providence Police Department is adequately staffed, that officers are walking the neighborhood and getting to know the communities they serve on a more personal level, that more full-time social workers are hired by PPD to aid in deescalating non life-threatening emergencies, and hiring a permanent fire chief.

2. EDUCATION: The state has proven to be a poor steward of the Providence Public School Department. PPS should be brought back under the jurisdiction of the City of Providence, and the transition must be led by educators, families, and members of the community.

3. QUALITY OF LIFE: We need a City Councilor that is responsive to constituent concerns, and ensuring that taxpayers are receiving the city services that they’re taxed for. From ensuring catch basins are cleaned regularly to curb-to-curb snow plowing and regular street sweeping, Ward 14 is in most need of simple, routine services.

4. CITY FINANCES: As City Councilman, I intend on thoroughly examining each and every line item of each proposed annual budget alongside the city auditor, the Chair of the Finance Committee, and other city officials to

make the right choices for our community.

5. NEIGHBORHOOD AUTONOMY: Absolutely. Residents of our neighborhoods know our streets best, and their input is vitally important to address these issues.

SHELLEY T. PETERSON Democrat, Age 41 Occupation: Grantwriter/Registrar ShelleyForWard14.com I am running for City Council because as a constituent over the last 20 years, I’ve learned there are some deeper issues that need to be dealt with by leaders who are willing to have difficult conversations to affect the change we’re looking for. As a Latina, mother, and advocate, I feel that I represent a large section of my ward and can do that.

1. EDUCATION: I believe that the city should have control of our schools. However, I believe that we need to have a definitive plan in place prior to the transition. Additionally, we need to give the superintendent the autonomy to affect the immediate impact and change we expect for our youth to thrive.

2. PUBLIC SAFETY: I think we need public safety officials to move back to our neighborhoods so that they truly understand the fabric of Providence. By understanding and supporting our communities, especially our youth, you’d see a difference in the way

people are treated and an opportunity to engage with civility and justice at the forefront.

3. QUALITY OF LIFE: Ward 14 is a tale of two neighborhoods. Elmhurst’s main concerns focus on road and sidewalk repair and traffic safety while Wanskuck has deeper needs like access to quality affordable housing and basic needs like landlords who tend to basic and essential quality of life issues on their properties, like having hot water, for instance.

4. CITY FINANCES: I don’t know how to answer that without having a full audit of each city department. It would be important for every incoming City Councilor to really understand city services inside and out before taking a stance like that. A unified acknowledgment of the need by all City Councilors is a great starting point in my opinion to then continue forward.

5. NEIGHBORHOOD AUTONOMY: 100 percent. How do we expect our neighborhoods to be on board with changes that significantly impact their day to day if we don’t have their input?

ANDREW POYANT Democrat, Age 35 Occupation: Environmental Scientist Facebook: Andrew Poyant for City Council As a father, a community organizer, and an environmental scientist, I have seen time and time again the people in power siding with corporations and the wealthy over the

KEY: (i) Incumbent candidate; * Ranking of issues not provided 30

ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2022

Photo by Abbie Lahmers

With my years of service and experience with the City of Providence, I believe I am uniquely qualified to serve as the next Councilman from Ward 14. Constituent services was not only my career, but my passion. I am ready to carry on serving the city that has given my family and I more than I could ever repay.

majority of Providence residents. I want to bring a sense of urgency to the City Council to address issues that have been impacting Providence residents for years.

1. EDUCATION: My experience on the Community Design Team, providing input to RIDE on the Turnaround Plan, allowed me to see the limitations of our state’s ability to fix the PPSD. I want the city to take back control of our schools, increase transparency and public engagement, and have a fully elected school board that is accountable to voters.

2. CITY FINANCES: I would like to end tax breaks for luxury developers and increase taxes on private colleges. We can’t have the city services our residents deserve or address the pension deficit without creating and implementing a fairer tax system.

3. PUBLIC SAFETY: We must address the root causes of crime in our city by building affordable housing, investing in our public schools, funding after-school and summer programs and creating hundreds of good paying green union jobs for Providence residents. I will also support gun buyback programs to help reduce the number of guns in Providence.

4. QUALITY OF LIFE: Addressing disparities of investment, adding a splash pad and park renovations in Wanskuck, renovating and converting abandoned housing to affordable housing, maintaining clean streets, improving sidewalks, and ensuring high-quality education and living wage job opportunities in the neighborhood.

5. NEIGHBORHOOD AUTONOMY: I support creating community-driven planning of our streets to assure safe roads for everyone that are designed with the community in mind. My neighborhood is being bought up by a few corporations, leading to increased rents and making it harder for people to buy a house; addressing this is important for my neighborhood and our city as a whole.

WARD 15 OSCAR VARGAS (i) and SANTOS JAVIER (both Democrat) did not respond to Providence Monthly’s questionnaire.

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NEWS & CITY LIFE

By Karen Greco

Eastern Art & Frame Company Framing Shop and Art Gallery We’re on the hunt for Rhody Gems! Every neighborhood has that secret, hidden, cool and unusual, or hole-in-the-wall spot that locals love. Email or tag us on social media using #RhodyGem to suggest yours, and we might just feature it!

What it is: A framing shop and art gallery that can also stretch and frame needlework and canvas, and even cut mirrors to fit any frame.

What makes it a Rhody Gem? Custom framing is an art form in and of itself, and Joanne and Joseph Noonan have been helping customers preserve and display their treasured artwork since 1988.

Since moving into their current location in the old Carter’s Candy building 10 years ago – a unique Art Deco building dating back to 1932 – the couple has lovingly brought the period details back to life, including the brass globe lamps, a tin ceiling, and the elaborate hardwoods. Joanne expertly guides clients through choosing the best mats and frames to showcase their collections while long-time employee Will Cooley, with his detailed eye, cuts, frames, and finishes each by hand. Have walls to fill but nothing to hang? Check out their extensive inventory of prints, posters, maps, and botanicals, many of them vintage.

E astern Art & Frame Company

1376 Eddy Street • 781-8363 ProvidenceFrameShop.com info@providenceframeshop.com

32

ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2022

Photo courtesy of Eastern Art & Frame Company

Where to find it: At the corner of Eddy Street and Vermont Avenue in the Washington Park neighborhood. It’s one mile south from the Thurbers Avenue exit, across from Broad Street School.

To submit your Rhody Gem, please email Elyse@ProvidenceOnline.com

ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2022

33

NEWS & CITY LIFE

N e i ghbo r ho o d N ews | Curated by Abbie Lahmers

Neighborhood News A space made available to Providence’s neighborhood associations free of charge.

HOT TOPICS An overview of what’s happening around the city right now

Fox Point neighbors weigh in on I-195 proposals In response to the 195 Commission’s repeated calls for development along the riverfront – and numerous applications – the Fox Point Neighborhood Association’s July meeting saw residents of Fox Point and the Jewelry District asking two local developers questions about their building proposals for Parcel 8/8a. The plot, located just off the 195 off-ramp at South Main Street, adjacent to the structure-in-progress on Parcel 6, boasts river views to the west and panoramic city views to the north.

The two building proposals could not be more different. Developer Richard Baccari’s proposal, a mixed-use building with office spaces, high-end condominiums, and rooftop dining drew praise from neighbors for its appealing design, with a descending, stepped roofline, and ample parking. Some residents commended it for being well thought-out and architecturally impressive, while others criticized the proposal for its lack of affordability.

“Luxury condos don’t add as much to the vibrancy of the community as one might wish,” said one neighbor.

The second proposal, presented by Jordan Durham of D+P Real Estate, prioritizes ecologically responsible building materials and practices, with sustainability at the core. The D+P proposal includes a corporate headquarters with a traditional brick exterior, affordable residential rental units designed to look modern, and first-floor retail space. The structure would look like two attached buildings, each five to six stories tall. While residents lauded the project for bringing stable jobs to the neighborhood as well as much-needed workforce housing, they expressed concern about lack of parking and unsatisfying design. Durham said he is willing to work with neighbors to revise the design of the building; residents will no doubt rise to the occasion.

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ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2022

Fox Point and Jewelry District residents have weighed in on two building proposals for Parcel 8

Specializing in Historic Property on the West Side, Broadway Armory District and Historic Elmwood for the past 20 years.

South Providence businesses begin main street initiative talks GrowSmartRI recently launched the Main Street RI initiative with a primary goal of providing centralized organization and support to those around Rhode Island who are working to cultivate, enliven, and promote traditional commercial districts while advancing main street revitalization. South Providence Neighborhood Association (SPNA) was invited to participate on the Steering Committee for this statewide initiative to help best provide this opportunity to the businesses based on high-traffic corridors in the Southside of Providence, in particular Broad Street. SPNA hosted an initial meeting at the end of July about Main Street RI to hear feedback from Broad Street businesses on whether or not the program can support their goals and to determine next steps to implement the initiative if they found it to be beneficial.

The outcome of the meeting will inform how SPNA and GrowSmartRI host future meetings for the neighborhood’s other high-traffic commercial corridors (such as Eddy Street, Prairie and Thurbers avenues, etc.). To learn more or offer input, email southprovneighbors@gmail.com.

Washington Park Association’s efforts to beat the heat with tree coverage In association with Providence Neighborhood Planting Program, Washington Park Association (WPA) is seeking volunteers to go door to door signing up residents to have free trees planted on their streets. Residents can receive one to three trees for their street or yard to enhance their property and create much-needed shade for the entire area.

Mid-summer, residents were feeling the effects of living in a “heat island” – urban neighborhoods facing temperatures higher than surrounding areas. Close to the highway, port, and hospital, combined with the general lack of shade-giving trees, South Providence neighborhoods experience the perfect storm of ill health effects. Though a beautiful and historic neighborhood, Washington Park has yet to receive adequate curbing and tree coverage. Neighbors are looking to change this, one tree at a time, on both residential and state-owned streets. Looking ahead to next spring, WPA welcomes residents to get involved in future plantings. For Washington Park neighbors interested in receiving trees, call or email Linda Perri at 401-241-3522, bettylinda@aol.com.

Photo By Amy Mendillo

Meet the candidates with West Broadway Neighborhood Association As election season heats up, West Broadway Neighborhood Association is organizing two candidate nights this month to ensure neighbors have a chance to get to know the candidates vying for seats in state and city governments. On September 7, a Meet the State House Candidates event offers neighbors the opportunity to hear from current state-level elected officials and their challengers about their visions for Rhode Island and stances on issues affecting the community. Candidates will speak in two shifts: House candidates from 5:30-6:30pm and Senate from 6:30-7:30pm.

In addition to covering core issues, neighbors are encouraged to submit questions in the days before the event. Then on September 8, WBNA hosts Meet the Mayoral Candidates, an informal meet and greet in Dexter Park. Unlike a traditional mayoral forum, this is an opportunity for residents to meet the candidates face to face, get to know them, and ask questions about the issues that matter most to them. The candidates will be present in three 45-minute shifts: Brett Smiley from 3:30-4:15pm, Gonzalo Cuervo 4:30-5:15pm, and Nirva LaFortune 5:30-6:15pm. WBNA.org

Call Jane Driver

401.641.3723

Happy to assist you with all of your real estate needs

jdriver@residentialproperties.com ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2022

35

NEWS & CITY LIFE

N e i ghbo r ho o d News

Providence Neighborhood Associations

College Hill Neighborhood Association Rick Champagne P.O. Box 2442 Providence, RI 02906 CHNA@chnaprovidence.org CHNAProvidence.org Downtown Neighborhood Association DNAPVD@gmail.com DNAPVD.com Facebook: Providence Downtown Neighborhood Association, DNA Elmwood Neighborhood Association Karen Hlynsky ENA-PVD.org Facebook: Elmwood Neighborhood Association PVD Fox Point Neighborhood Association Meeting Date: September 12 Amy Mendillo P.O. Box 2315 Providence, RI 02906 FoxPointNeighborhood@gmail.com FPNA.net Jewelry District Association Sharon Steele Sharon@sharonsteele.com JewelryDistrict.org Facebook: Jewelry District Association Providence, RI

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ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2022

A heat island, Washington Park Neighborhood is in the ongoing process of increasing tree coverage Mile of History Association Wendy Marcus c/o Providence Preservation Society 24 Meeting Street Providence, RI 02903 MileOfHistory@gmail.com MileOfHistory.org Mount Hope Community Center 401-521-8830 MHNAInc@gmail.com Facebook: Mount Hope Neighborhood Association, Inc. Olneyville Neighborhood Association Eduardo Sandoval 122 Manton Avenue, Box 8 Providence, RI 02909 ONAProvidence@gmail.com Facebook: Olneyville Library Providence Coalition of Neighborhood Associations Info@provcna.org ProvCNA.org Reservoir Triangle Neighborhood Association David Talan 25 Santiago St. Providence, RI 02907 401-941-3662 DaveTalan@aol.com Smith Hill Partners’ Initiative Wole Akinbi 400 Smith Street Providence, RI 02908 Suite #1 AAkinbi@half-full.com Facebook: Smith Hill Partners’ Initiative

South Providence Neighborhood Association c/o Dwayne Keys P.O. Box 5653 Providence, RI 02903 401-369-1334 SouthProvNeighbors@gmail.com Facebook: South Providence Neighborhood Association Summit Neighborhood Association Meeting date: September 19 P.O. Box 41092 Providence, RI 02940 401-400-0986 SNAProv@gmail.com SummitNeighbors.org Washington Park Neighborhood Association 237 Washington Avenue Providence, RI 02905 BettyLinda@aol.com Facebook: Washington Park Association Wayland Square Neighborhood Association Katherine Touafek Facebook: Wayland Square Neighborhood Association WaylandSquareNeighbors@gmail.com West Broadway Neighborhood Association 1560 Westminster Street Providence, RI 02909 401-831-9344 WBNA@wbna.org WBNA.org

Photo courtesy of Washington Park Association

Blackstone Parks Conservancy Jane Peterson P.O. Box 603141 Providence, RI 02906 401-270-3014 BlackstoneParks@gmail.com BlackstoneParksConservancy.org

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Everything’s Waiting For You A new direction for downtown puts green space at its center

BY KAREN GRECO

T

here’s an illusion that cities just spring up, fully formed, that their very existence will fill the streets, retail spaces, restaurants, and apartments above with throngs of people.

But cities are living, breathing entities that shift and morph with each boom and bust.

Downtown is not immune to that cycle. And COVID was the bust no one anticipated.

“Like any sort of crisis, there’s opportunity born out of it,” says Kristen Adamo, president of GoProvidence, the city’s tourism board.

According to Adamo – and a cross-section of downtown business owners agree – downtown Providence was booming pre-pandemic. Several national publications listed Providence on their “top cities to visit” lists, praising its big city feel wrapped up in a fun-sized package. More affordable and more accessible than its northern cousin, Boston, Providence punches above its weight in culinary and cultural offerings.

But rather than wallow in what-ifs, the pandemic galvanized Providence’s stakeholders. With unexpected time on their hands, three entities came together – the Downtown Improvement District, The Providence Foundation, and GoProvidence – and envisioned the Providence they wanted to see: one with a dynamic downtown that brought people to the area for work, play, as well as living.

Photo courtesy of GoProvidence

“My job completely changed during the pandemic,” says Adamo. “Before, it was really about marketing the things we have. Then during the pandemic, and going forward, it became about helping to develop the things we need. We can’t just promote the things that are happening in Providence anymore; we have to help create them.”

Downtown Providence is buttressed by its namesake river. When Roger Williams arrived and declared his freedom from Massachusetts’ tyranny, putting downtown at the edge of the waterway was likely a logistics decision. The river is once again a focal point, this time for revitalization. “There are several things in the works that if they all go right, it’s going to be transformative at a deep level for Providence over the next three years,” says Cliff Wood, executive director of The Providence Foundation and The Downtown Providence Parks Conservancy. Wood is spearheading an ambitious green space initiative that links the existing disparate parks skirting downtown and the river into a cohesive parks network that forms a loop around downcity.

“We’ve always known that green space is important for a healthy city,” Wood continues, “but sometimes convincing people to invest in the way that’s required is more difficult. But with COVID, it became more obvious how much of this open space you need to have.”

Notably – but, surprisingly, with little local fanfare – the Central Park Conservancy chose the Downtown Providence Parks Network to be one of only seven urban park organizations for their Institute of Urban Parks 2022 cohort lab. The Conservancy was behind the revitalization of the once-blighted Central Park. They pioneered the idea of a public/private partnership, considered

revolutionary at the time, and turned the park into the crown jewel of New York City. As part of the 2022 cohort, Downtown Providence Parks Network has access to their institutional knowledge of making these partnerships work to revitalize urban green spaces and received a $25,000 grant.

“We have this loop of public space that other cities literally spend millions and millions of dollars to create,” Wood says, referring to the 4050 acres of riverfront land that runs from Kennedy Plaza to Waterplace Park to the Michael S. Van Leesten Memorial Bridge. “So we wanted to capitalize on having this space, but that means putting together a public/private partnership to maintain, steward, and program at that level.”

Over the years, Kennedy Plaza’s renewal has had a few iterations. Originally programmed for use only six months out of the year, Wood says it became clear that the plan needed a larger footprint for year-round use. With RIPTA planning to move their buses to an indoor hub in the Jewelry District, raising the street flush with the sidewalk for ease of walking, and building an elevated connector to Waterplace Park, Kennedy Plaza will be much more pedestrian-friendly and offer ample space for events, from movie screenings to live performances to yoga classes. The plan also includes cafe kiosks for food and beverages.

Wood points out that the programming budget for Lawn D in front of the Boston Convention Center is nearly $2 million dollars a year; NYC’s Bryant Park hits $20 million. The collective day-to-day programming budget of the parks network is $200,000, which feels like a bargain. “We have big city ambitions with small town underwriting,” says Wood. “For us to reach our impact goals in our downtown spaces we need to generate increased support.”

KRISTEN ADAMO

CLIFF WOOD

Rendering courtesy of Imagine Downtown PVD

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45

According to the midyear data released by the Providence Police Department, most major crime in Providence is trending downward for 2022.

However, the perception of downtown as a city run amok remains prevalent among Rhode Islanders who spend little time in the area.

“Violent crime, including gun-related crime, is still on a downward trend for Providence, especially downtown,” says Joshua Miller, state senator for District 29 and chairperson of the board of the Downtown Improvement District (DID). “But perception was enough of an issue that we thought it was important to have additional Yellow Jacket presence.”

While the focus of the DID is to keep the parks landscaped and the streets attractive and litter free, they have increased the number of security ambassadors – known as “Yellow Jackets” because of their bright yellow tops – working downtown and expanded their hours to 8pm to encourage people to come to the city for dinner and events.

In the spring, the DID also added a social worker to its ranks to reach out to the area’s unhoused population and direct them to services. In the first month of the initiative, the social worker placed 10 people in

shelters. While the number feels low compared to the estimated 4,000 people experiencing housing insecurity in the state, it’s indicative of the one-on-one response needed to get people off the streets.

“We’re now in the process of potentially expanding the DID presence towards the State House, which would include Waterplace Park and the capital center district,” Miller explains. “We’re also exploring, taking at least part of the 195 Jewelry District area to further expand the footprint.”

“Public safety is a benefit of public programming,” says the Parks Conservancy’s Wood. “You can have big, annual events, like PVDFest and Pride, that bring tens of thousands of people. But that has to be coupled with what happens every single day. So if Kennedy Plaza feels great for three days a year, but lousy for the rest of the year, you haven’t succeeded.”

Wood believes – and statistics back him up – that well-utilized green space is a crime deterrent. “Healthy activity supplants unhealthy activity,” he continues. “If [the park’s] full of people doing public programming, getting a burrito at the food trucks, business improvement people walking back and forth, it’s public safety. So that’s why this space is very important.”

YELLOW JACKETS LOU COSTA (LEFT) AND LEO ALMONTE KEEP DOWNTOWN BEAUTIFUL

Photos courtesy of Downtown Improvement District

Rendering courtesy of Imagine Downtown PVD

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47

As far as neighborhoods go, the East Side – with its stately historic homes Robust amenities keep downtown vital, and Levitt says the anticipated and proximity to Brown University – gets the lion’s share of the love. Fast arrival of Rory’s Market, a beloved woman-owned organic grocer with gentrifying areas like the West Side and the Valley – with their two stores on Cape Cod, on Washington Street this fall will dramatic transformations – are media darlings. fill a void, giving the area its first full-service grocery.

But Providence’s vibrant city center has Rory’s will also include a prepared foods section attracted residents, and plenty of them, for grab-and-go lunches for office workers as without much fanfare. According to the well as catering for large corporations. most recent census data, 5,260 people While Rhode Island has onerous comcall downtown home; and this is bemercial tax rates, Providence is a barfore the Superman building rehab gain compared to the commercial adds 400 residential apartments to lease costs, residential rent prices, and the neighborhood. general higher cost of living of our Over 20 years ago, Cornish Asbig city neighbors, which is drawing sociates led the residential charge, more out-of-state businesses. Levitt rehabbing abandoned downtown points out that the lower cost of livproperties and turning them into loft ing in Providence saves people monapartments. “Our residential units are ey without skimping on amenities somewhere in the high 90 percent cathat make urban living so appealing: pacity,” says Joanna Levitt, director of great restaurants, a rich arts and culcommercial leasing and marketing for ture scene, and a lively nightlife. That the real estate company. With demand downtown remains eminently walkable is strong for living space, they have several another boon to city lovers. more residential properties in the works.

New commercial tenants are filling empty CORNISH AND ASSOCIATES According to Levitt, small city living entices storefronts, with a specialty retail space opening young professionals and empty nesters to downtown. on Eddy Street and several new restaurants in the More affordable than Boston and New York – and with both works. “Both restaurants and retail outlets are exceeding larger cities easily accessible via train and bus – Levitt sees a trend of their 2019 numbers,” says Levitt, a promising sign that these fresh folks from these high-cost locations migrating to Providence. additions to the downtown area can thrive.

“A lot of our office tenants have young, creative employees who tend to be interested in engaging in the city. They’re the type of employee who might want to go out for lunch and stay for a drink after work and go to see some music in the evening and maybe even live downtown.”

JOANNA LEVITT,

“This was born out of what I call triage. The things that were bleeding the most are what you worked on during the pandemic, and downtown was bleeding.

Because of the pandemic, we had to all work together to make sure that it survived, and I think from that has come this great collaborative spirit.”

KRISTEN ADAMO, GOPROVIDENCE

Photo by Nat Rea Photography, courtesy of InDowncity

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49

THE AVENUE CONCEPT DRAWS SOME OF THE MOST CELEBRATED MURALISTS IN THE WORLD – LIKE ITS MOST RECENT COMMISSION FROM RENOWNED SPANISH ARTIST OCTAVI ARRIZABALAGA, ALSO KNOWN AS ARYZ – TO USE THE CITY’S BUILDINGS AS GIANT CANVASES.

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Photo (top) by Chop’Em Down Films, rendering (bottom) courtesy of Imagine Downtown PVD

Tourism remains a significant income driver for the city, with downtown its hub. The city’s investment in public art has been a boon to the tourism sector.

“We booked meetings, conventions, and sporting events just in July and August that brought $17 million worth of indirect spending,” says GoProvidence’s Adamo, who points out that the hotel taxes are a key revenue driver for the city. Full hotels – two new ones, Aloft and The Beatrice, opened during the pandemic – mean full coffers, and that money gets invested throughout all of Providence.

PVDFest and Pride also serve as linchpin events for the downtown area, drawing thousands of people to the city center to celebrate its vibrant diversity.

Adamo plans on rolling out more events in the coming months that incorporate the various arts groups.

“We’re hoping for a joint project between the CVB, The Avenue Concept, and WaterFire that will be a winter event. But that relies on funding, and we have not gotten word on that money yet. But that’s indicative of the kinds of things you’re going to see: groups working together to develop these kinds of events.”

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In his first year in office as our Senator, Sam Zurier has already begun delivering: Sponsored and won adoption of full funding for the State’s share of Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT), resulting in Providence receiving $1.7 million of additional revenue.

Led the successful fight to bring more accountability to the State takeover of the Providence schools, spearheading a new law that creates more regular reporting on progress and ensuring more local input by restoring a limited role for the Providence School Board.

Actively backed gun safety measures, including, banning large-capacity ammunition magazines, raising the minimum age to purchase firearms from 18 to 21, and prohibiting the open carry of loaded rifles and shotguns.

As a member of the State Finance Committee, helped secure a major increase in State funding for affordable housing, enabling Providence to provide significantly more housing options for low and moderate income residents.

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*Rankings based in whole or in part on data supplied by State-Wide Multiple Listing Service. The MLS does not guarantee and is not in any way responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by the MLS may not reflect all real estate activity in the market. Based on information from Statewide MLS for 2022 as of December 2022.

ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2022

51

“We have this beautiful waterfront that should be traversed constantly.

This is going to be transformative at a very deep level for Providence.”

CLIFF WOOD, THE PROVIDENCE FOUNDATION AND THE DOWNTOWN PROVIDENCE PARKS CONSERVANCY A NEW VIEW OF WATERPLACE PARK

Of course, projects this ambitious are bound to experience pushback. “I want to be an enthusiastic supporter,” says former mayor Joseph Paolino, who is also one of the largest property holders in downtown Providence.

“But I need to know what I’m supporting.” Pointing out that the planning process has been ongoing since 2014, the former mayor quips, “It’s time to get out of poetry and into prose.”

But prose is a painstaking process, as anyone who’s written a novel can attest; and Wood counters that the prose is nearly drafted. RIPTA’s starting the RFP (Request for Proposal) process in the fall, after successfully soliciting input through an REOI (Request for Expressions of Interest) issued in the spring. “Overall, the responses confirmed our belief that RIPTA’s vision for a first-rate transit center is achievable,” says RIPTA CEO Scott Avedisian in an emailed statement. They anticipate selecting a development partner by year’s end.

While Paolino says he doesn’t see a coordinated effort, Wood notes that all stakeholders have a clear line of communication, saying that RIPTA’s director of planning is at the Foundation’s monthly membership meetings providing updates on moving transit, which is the most logistically complicated part of the vision. Avedisian stresses that transparency is top of mind, noting the developer will be “contractually required to undertake public engagement activities as part of their design process.” RIPTA spokesperson Cristy Raposo Perry adds, “RIPTA will always have a presence in Kennedy Plaza as it remains a major destination for our passengers.”

Wood points out that the changes the city has undergone over the past 30 years – like moving the river, creating Waterplace Park and the Michael S. Van Leesten Memorial Bridge – make downtown “more human scaled” and served as a catalyst for this next iteration, which he expects will be complete in three years.

“City’s move, they change, they shift, and the ones that don’t, die,” he says. “Vibrancy is like the blood running through the city. If things aren’t moving and changing, then the city doesn’t have life anymore.”

Photo (top) by Jared Winslow, rendering (bottom) courtesy of Imagine Downtown PVD

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LIFE & STYLE Home | Influencer | Shop

To create more light, cabinets flanking the sink have glass inserts

Crowning Touches A homeowner embraces her shabby chic roots with an elegant kitchen makeover Caren Mendez’s kitchen is best described as a jewel box. Pale blue walls are like the satin backdrop to shimmering elements like crystal pendant lighting, hardware in antique gold, and lighted glass-front cabinets. “I love pretty things,” Mendez shares. It’s why she became a wedding officiant – to surround herself with beauty – and the same goes for her home. “I want to wake up to flowers, pretty wall colors, and decor. It gives me life.”

Photography by Grace Lentini, courtesy of Michelle Lee Designs ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2022

55

H o me | By Elyse Major

Brushed gold appears in a wave of flecks in the backplash, custom stools, and iridescent cushions

The joyful Mendez emigrated from the Dominican Republic to the US in the late ‘70s.

When she was ready to buy a house, she went online and did a simple but targeted search for a three-bedroom single family with a fireplace in her growing brood’s specific price range. A 1926 Colonial in the quiet-meets-convenient Auburn neighborhood of Cranston popped up immediately. “It was meant to be,” she recalls. “I fell in love the moment I saw it. Right after we moved, I found out I was pregnant with my second daughter.”

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ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2022

Mendez notes that she was particularly drawn to the home’s original wood features and fireplace. After taking ownership, the kitchen was remodeled “from floor to ceiling.” A main structural change was removing the wall between the kitchen and dining rooms, resulting in an open floor plan.

Fast-forward nearly a quarter century later, and Mendez was ready for some updates.

She was in the midst of renovation and hit a few snags – that’s when Michelle Parenteau, interior designer and owner of Johnston-

based Michelle Lee Designs was brought on.

“When I met with my client, a demo in her kitchen had begun, but she was having trouble with creating a functional and aesthetically pleasing environment,” explains Parenteau. “To create more wall space, we walled up one of the windows and moved the stove to a more central part of the kitchen. She also needed more storage and more seating so a peninsula was installed with seating for three, and a huge pantry was added for more food storage.”

Photography by Grace Lentini, courtesy of Michelle Lee Designs

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LIFE & STYLE

H o me | By Elyse Major

And, of course, it all had to be pretty. Mendez is a devotee of shabby chic, a style known for an appreciation of worn finishes and faded pastels and shades of white, punctuated with elegant fixtures like chandeliers. “I’ve tried earth tones and enjoyed that decor, but with this new remodel, I’m going back to my roots,” says Mendez with conviction.

“The new Cambria countertop in my kitchen reflects the ocean waves of our beautiful beaches.”

With the renovation behind her, Mendez describes herself as head over heels about the new kitchen. “My home inspires me to decorate because I like coming home to a space of peace,” she says with a grin. “Who finds peace in an ugly home?”

GET RHODY STYLE Ideas and resources for making the most of living in the Ocean State.

AROUND TOWN In Cranston, Mendez enjoys Garden City Shopping Center, T’s Restaurant, The Lunch Box, Bistro 22, and Spain. When heading into nearby Providence to dine, her number one choice is Los Andes.

RHODY RESOURCES “Michelle Lee will work with you to get an Ocean State vibe or vibe of your choice. If you dream it, she can make it happen,” says Mendez of the designer who used the following local businesses to make her client’s dream kitchen a reality: EastCoast Countertops, Lighting & Design by J&K Electric, Rhode Island Design Center, Sherwin-Williams Paint Store and Supply New England (various locations). Learn more at MichelleLeeDesigns.com Metallic hardware elevates the simplicity of the apron sink

Want your home featured in Providence Monthly?

Email Elyse@ProvidenceOnline.com to learn more

Photography by Grace Lentini, courtesy of Michelle Lee Designs

CUSTOM MADE Here’s a tip from Caren Mendez: Bespoke suits at Aldo’s House of Formals (685 Oaklawn Avenue, Cranston).

“Many people don’t realize that Aldo also makes tailored womenswear,” says Mendez, who is a longtime customer.

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LIFE & STYLE

I nfl ue nce r | By Sascha Roberts

Meet Jacquelina Paiva An entrepreneurial spirit runs through everything this busy photographer does – even while preparing for her own wedding

What made you gravitate towards photography in the first place?

Growing up, my mom was very into photography. She had a giant chest filled with printed photographs, and I always loved going through them. She always bought me disposable cameras to play with, but when I got my first job in high school, I decided I wanted to buy my own camera and recreate all the photos I’d always loved seeing. I began taking photos of my classmates for their senior portraits and my love for it never stopped!

What is your number one tip for couples for posing for wedding photos?

Find a photographer that feels like a friend. You’re going to be spending your entire day with this person, so if you don’t feel 1,000 percent comfortable with the person after your engagement photos, keep looking! The right fit is out there.

A little bird told us you are walking down the aisle soon. Any advice for newly engaged couples starting to plan their big day?

I’m not going to lie, even being in the industry, it’s daunting. My advice is to take your time. Don’t overwhelm yourself. And especially, don’t let anyone else dictate what your wedding should and should not be. It’s all about you and your partner!

What’s your favorite type of photo to take at a wedding and why?

I honestly don’t think there’s anything better than a candid photo. Don’t get me wrong, you can get some amazing photos posing people and getting the light just right. But personally, I think it’s best when a couple can look back on a photo and recall the moment and either laugh, smile, or end up with a nice little happy tear. Learn more at JackAaalack.com

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ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2022

Photo by Ali Silva, courtesy of Jacquelina Paiva

You’ve recently started First Look Decor, a service for renting trendy wedding accessories.

What prompted this and what do you offer?

My fiance Justin and I just started First Look and we are incredibly excited. I am a person that loves to collect vintage and cool items for my home – it’s my favorite hobby. We don’t have a big basement to store everything we want for our wedding, so we thought, how nice would it be to just pick everything you could possibly want for your event in a catalog and be able to return it after? We offer anything from a table napkin to a donut wall!

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This information is based in whole or in part on data supplied by the State-Wide Multiple Listing Service.The MLS does not guarantee and is not in any way responsible for its accuracy. These properties may have been sold by other real estate companies. Data maintained by the MLS may Each office is independently owned and operated. not reflect all real estate activity in the market. Data is based on information from StateWide Multiple Listing Service, Inc., CND listings for the period of 1/1/2022 through 8/1/22.

ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2022

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LIFE & STYLE

Sho p | By Elyse Major

PVD 101 September in Providence means an influx of fresh faces – after all, nearly half our state’s colleges and universities are right here in the city. To give newbies some help, we’ve amassed goods from local shops and makers along with words of wisdom to help initiate our newest residents right away.

1. LONELYVILLE DAD CAP Hungry Ghost Press OLNEYVILLE: 60 Valley Street, Unit 2 “Shade yourself from the sun and break the ice in all situations, whether grabbing a drink at Troop, reading a book at Riffraff, enjoying lunch at La Lupita, or heading to the Big Top Flea on the weekend for some killer deals.”

Chris Morrison Blackwell, owner

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ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2022

2. TOUR DE TENTACLE T-SHIRT Lovecraft Arts & Sciences DOWNTOWN/ARCADE: 65 Weybosset St. “Combining stylish esoterica with bold, art deco graphics, no shirt better conveys the cool, weird vibe of Providence than a Tour de Tentacle T-shirt.”

Niels Hobbs, director

3. CAN GLASS PVDonuts FOX POINT: 79 Ives Street “This is a must-have item because it’s great for anything. Water, coffee, beer, smoothies...you name it.”

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GLOSSARY THE ARCADE: The oldest indoor mall in the country, which now houses a mix of apartments, condos, and retail spaces.

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And There Are No Second Chances.

DOWNCITY: An old expression for downtown that’s making a return mostly for business names.

H.P. LOVECRAFT: Howard Phillips Lovecraft (18901937), born on the East Side, is considered by many to be the father of supernatural horror fiction.

LONELYVILLE: A nickname for the Olneyville neighborhood.

PVD: This refers to the RI/ Providence codes for both TF Green Airport and the Amtrak station.

QUAHOG: The name of a large hard clam found in chowder and popular app, the stuffie, which is a quahog steamed open and filled with stuffing, minced clams, and other things.

TOUR DE TENTACLE: A citywide, bike-bound, puzzlesolving adventure-race that pits riders against eldritch forces bent on nothing less than oblivion and familyfriendly, inclusive fun.

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FOOD & DRINK Experience | In The Kitchen | Food News

A Cultural Culinary Celebration Local Latino food vendors offer traditional eats for an evening backdropped by art and music “Sabor Latino” means “A Taste of Latino” in Spanish, explains Rhode Island Latino Arts (RILA) executive director Marta V. Martinez, but it’s likely guests won’t want to stop with just a taste after experiencing the vendors and food trucks slated to gather for the annual fundraiser event on September 18.

Founded in 1988, RILA is known for launching the first statewide celebration of Latino heritage, which continues every year during Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 through October 15. “Sabor Latino has become our signature fundraiser and as we enter our 35th year, this year we will kick off a year-long celebration with events happening statewide, leading up to our Ruby Celebration in September of 2023,” says Martinez.

From Mexican aguas frescas (fruit drinks) crafted by Casa Azúl Taquería to birria tacos served up by One2Taco & More, local vendors demonstrate their culinary masterpieces alongside other cultural artforms, including live salsa and bachata sessions and goods by local artists. TrapBox PVD, Matilda RI Empanadas, and Nolee’s Custom Sweet Treats will also dish up delicacies, and when the evening chill sets in, Mexican hot chocolate with sweet pan dulce desserts will be on hand.

“Once you sample their food, the vendors hope you return later that evening to purchase something from their broader menu,” says Martinez.

“We promise a night filled with food, art, dancing, and conversation (in any language) – a wonderful outdoor experience.” Sabor Latino takes place at the SouthLight Pavilion of the Southside Cultural Center of Rhode Island, 393 Broad Street. Reserving tickets in advance online is recommended: RILatinoArts.org/SaborLatino.html | By Abbie Lahmers Photo courtesy of Sabor Latino ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2022

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FOOD & DRINK

Expe r i e nc e | By Kou Tukala Nyan

A Tailored Approach Modern Italian cuisine meets local ingredients at an eatery all about details Welcoming smiles, the smell of spices simmering, and upbeat lounge music ushered me into a contemporary Italian dining experience I won’t soon forget. Sarto Restaurant opened in 2018 as a part of the Providence G luxury apartment building and G Hospitality, and a much-awaited reopening this past spring introduced a new outdoor patio.

The team at Sarto pride themselves in using locally sourced ingredients (some vegetables are grown right upstairs!) while still honoring the tradition of Italian cuisine, and creating a community-style experience. According to director of sales at G Properties Rebecca Miller, the food is “about friends and family, and is meant to be shared,” with an open concept bringing patrons and staff together, too.

Sarto means “tailor” in Italian (a homage to the building’s roots as the former Philip Wolfe Haberdashery) so it makes sense that they weave fine details into every offering, including their cocktail list. Seeking a light late-summer refreshment, a friend and I started with the Lavender Lemonade and Mango Mule mocktails.

The former – which sipped like a health elixir

with lemon juice and honey – featured a lovely lavender fragrance and delicate mix of tart and sweet flavors. The Mango Mule includes spicy ginger beer at the forefront with a hint of lime and sweet mango balancing it out.

All the food offerings make use of simple ingredients, so I was surprised by how much flavor was packed into each menu item that arrived. As he handed us the special of the night to start the meal off with, executive chef Andrew Capella explained his secret: “Great food doesn’t have to be complicated.” We dug into the dish – an artful arrangement of seasonal tomatoes in all hues garnished with green olives, red peppers, and toasted garlic, drizzled in olive oil.

For the main course, we opted for the popular Porchetta – an authentic Italian pork roast – and Pan-Seared Diver Sea Scallops.

Served with polenta, the pork was savory with a crisp outside and juicy inside – soaking up the flavor of caramelized cipollinis (onions popular in Italian cuisine), salsa verde, and rosemary, it’s easy to see why this is a fan-favorite. The scallops didn’t disappoint either, with a seafood broth that warmed me

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Pan-Seared Diver Sea Scallops ($38) Local clams, fennel-saffron broth, roasted tomatoes, marble potatoes, bruschetta

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inside while tucking into the delicious clams.

A round of aperitifs was in order before dessert. A-Malfy Coast teased with zesty citrus while the Summer Negroni flirted with a soft candy-like scent – both are excellent fruit-forward cocktails with strong liquors.

However, my favorite was the Empower Sour, a lower-ABV choice named in homage to one 66

ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2022

Photos courtesy of Sarto

Lemon curd, lemon and lime sweet cream, candied lime zest

Porchetta served over polenta

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The Best Indian Food of the first female entrepreneurs in Europe, Maria Scala Branca. Pleasingly complicated, a concoction of Fernet branca, egg white, orgeat, lime, and orange bitters brings together sour and sweet notes, with floral, herbal, and slightly woody essences.

A couple slices of cake were a delightful end to a beautiful evening. The limoncello cake was creamy, soft, and fluffy – a sweet lemon dessert topped with whipped cream and tart lemon garnish. A nice contrast, the chocolate cake was a rich offering with semisweet creamy chocolate in the middle.

With each dish memorable and unique in its own way, it was hard to name a favorite part of this culinary journey with Sarto. For lovers of modern Italian dining that makes you feel like you’re part of the family, it’s a can’t-miss.

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FOOD & DRINK

I n T he Ki t c he n | By Karen Greco

Sibling Revelry The brothers behind Brother & Moffat want to cook for you, whether large-scale events or your daily dinner

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Cooking on location, Brother & Moffat offer an immersive experience

the West Side focused on economic development, whose support the entrepreneurs found invaluable. Through word of mouth, their business began to build, going from working a 30-person event to catering a 200-strong backyard wedding.

While Brother & Moffat are comfortable catering in any location – from white glove to casual – they really shine at outdoor events. Their grilled entrees are a big part of their growing following. From octopus to steak to ribs, the duo do more than dish out delicious food; they also offer a unique immersive experience for the guests, setting up their grill in the center of the action. “We cook on location and put on a little show,” says David. “We interact with the guests, explain how we make things. We serve them. When you get our services, you don’t just get the food. You get the chefs.”

The Gomes brothers’ scratch-made food receives rave reviews. They have invested in little to no marketing to grow their business, relying on happy customers to tell their friends and family. It took them several years to even start an Instagram account, which they did when they branched out into meal prep services.

Both are avid gym goers, and cooking in healthcare made them hyper-aware of the need for good nutrition. In the midst of COVID, a catering customer reached out to ask about meal prep services and David’s brain went into overdrive.

“That was another one of David’s ideas,” says Tiago. “I was like, you want to do more?

You want us to be busier? I asked him a lot of questions and threw up a lot of hurdles.”

The weekend they launched, they expected 100 orders at most. Instead, they doubled

Photo by Valecio Estrela, courtesy of Brother & Moffat

When David and Tiago Gomes arrived in Rhode Island from their native Portugal in 2004, they got their first taste of the culinary world as dishwashers at an Italian restaurant in Providence. “We were living the American dream, you know. Big pizzas, rap music, cool sneakers,” says David. This is when the closeknit brothers – who are six years apart – began working together.

“I wanted to impress a girl, so I would ask the chef, how do you make this? What do you do with that?” David says. The chef, impressed by their curiosity, began to give them small prep jobs in the kitchen. As they learned, they took on responsibility and “we just evolved from there.”

The restaurant grind, with its long hours and lack of benefits, began to wear on them and their young families. So they transitioned to cooking in a healthcare environment, working at an upscale retirement home. “We got benefits,” says David, who took Tiago with him to the new gig.

A death in the family led to a fortuitous circumstance. David offered to make a soup for the family while they were in mourning, which led to a request for him to cook for the repast.

At the end of the day, a family member handed him an unexpected envelope of money. When the shock wore off, he immediately called his younger sibling about opening up their own catering business. “I always loop my brother in,” he explains. “He’s the pragmatic one.”

“We had jobs,” says Tiago. “I said, we don’t need it.”

“We grew up very poor,” David explains.

“We didn’t have access to things; we saw my dad struggling. When you grow up like that, just trying to survive, it’s hard to dream. It’s hard to have big goals.”

But David was persistent, seeing the possibilities, so Tiago did the math – “I always look at the logistics,” he says. After a few months, Brother & Moffat was born. David grins. “I was like, let’s dream big. We have a good product.

We have that foundation, so let’s do it.”

They set up their commercial kitchen at Sankofa Community Kitchen, a non-profit on

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CITY KITTY Veterinary Care for Cats that number. While not solely for athletes, their service focuses on scratch-made food with healthy ingredients. It’s cooked fresh and in small batches; the meals are never frozen. For those who are athletically inclined, they work with their clients to offer meals with personalized macros. They also have vegan options.

David recently quit his day job as culinary director at an assisted living facility to focus 100 percent on growing Brother & Moffat. Meanwhile, the cautious Tiago, unsurprisingly, is still holding on to his similar gig for a little bit longer.

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Fo o d N e w s | By Karen Greco

Sweet new custom dessert biz

Neighborhood coffee joint opens in Smith Hill

Beloved Rhody bartender opens her own saloon

Baking is Parvin Okai’s love language.

The Providence native kept the summer launch of his custom dessert business, Okai Sweets, low key, partly because he was uncomfortable charging for his sensational treats. The baking bug struck Okai early and, by high school, he graduated from

Since the mid-’90s, coffee fanatic Neal Kaplan dreamed of opening a coffee shop.

A contractor with experience building out cafes – the RISD grad worked on The Nitro Bar’s Pond Avenue (Newport) location and the remodel of PVDonuts, to name a few – he merged his experience crafting third

The West Side’s bar scene got a little more vibrant with the opening of Kimi’s Bar by beloved Rhody bartender Kimi Rich. With 13 years’ experience running local watering holes, she knew exactly the space she wanted to open. “I wanted a friendly, inviting place that everyone from the neighbor-

Betty Crocker mixes to experimenting with his own recipes. “I’d bring my baked goods to school so friends could try out the recipes,” he explains, making him possibly the most popular kid at Classical.

The Johnson & Wales graduate also works in the kitchen at Broadway Bistro and it was owner Patrick Lowney who encouraged Okai’s side hustle, offering to purchase the handcrafted desserts for the restaurant.

The Slow Rhode restaurant joined soon after. Okai makes his custom creations for restaurants, special events, or simply anyone with a sweet tooth. “If you want me to make your grandma’s cookies, I’ll try to recreate them,” he says. Okai-Sweets.com

spaces with his love of java and opened Rise ‘n Shine Coffee Bar on Holden Street, just off of Smith Street. “There are so many professionals in the area, and I would see them walking to Dunkin,” he says.

Kaplan sources his coffee – a special blend made specifically for the cafe – from a local coffee roaster, and the pastries are from L’Artisan Café in Wayland Square. A fun touch is to-go hot coffee poured in oldschool Greek diner coffee cups. Kaplan, a 40-year Smith Hill resident, opened the cafe hoping to bring more foot-traffic to the area and jump-start revitalization, explaining, “I am involved, committed, and invested in this neighborhood.” RiseNShineRI.com

hood can go to,” she explains of the impetus to set up her own bar. “It’s not divey, not stuffy – just a positive atmosphere,” which includes a green-tiled accent wall, lending the old factory space a botanical feel.

The cocktail menu is limited by design, with the focus on crafting the freshest seasonal cocktails, featuring either house-pressed or locally cold-pressed juice. There are 60 local beers in cans or bottles, plus four rotating draft options. Once the back-ordered oven arrives, Kimi’s will offer a variety of English muffin pizzas to snack on. For those with heartier appetites, she plans on hosting food trucks outside. Kimis.bar

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Photo by George Duran, courtesy of Okai Sweets

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ART & CULTURE M u s i c S c e n e | A r t i s t P ro f i l e | C a l e n d a r

Mariana Ramos Ortiz in their studio

Crafting Access Central Contemporary Arts gives under-represented local artists a home for their work Central Contemporary Arts launched in a big way over the summer, with a public exhibit of Andrew Moon Bain’s art work on billboards around the city. It turns out, this was just an amuse-bouche, with the opening of their permanent gallery space in the West End coming this fall.

The new contemporary art gallery focuses on local BIPOC artists who are underrepresented in gallery spaces. “I think there are hundreds, if not thousands, of fantastic artists working in Providence, who have really strong local connections, but who haven’t been able to show their work in a more formal state,” says founder Natalie Cohen, who chose Bain’s work for the billboard project because he was “underappreciated by collectors.”

Cohen’s experience straddles both art and social justice. Frustrated by the art world’s inaccessibility, she detoured to a pre-med track at Harvard, where she got involved with Boston’s Healthcare for the Homeless. Ultimately, a love of contemporary art pulled her back, but brought with it a realization that the gatekeeping needed to change, both for artists and audiences. A prestigious internship at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York solidified that stance. “It was an interesting time to be at the Met,” she says, noting the institution was figuring out how to be more relevant and accessible while also grappling with being built on racist practices.

With art commissions in the gallery space, studio space to host artists for micro residencies, as well as a vibrant and accessible education program, Cohen says art lovers can expect, “experimental, innovative work grounded in social, economic, and environmental justice.”

Central Contemporary Arts’ new gallery space at 22 A Street hosts local artist Mariana Ramos Ortiz for their grand opening exhibition in October. Visit CentralContemporaryArts.org for details. | By Karen Greco Photo courtesy of Mariana Ramos Ortiz ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2022

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ART & CULTURE

M usi c Sc e ne | By Adam Hogue

Record Review Bochek’s latest captures sonic improv elements of live shows

LINER NOTES Released August 5, 2022 All songs written and performed by Bochek Tenor saxophone on tracks 6, 7, and 9 by Cat Walsh Artwork: Andrew Jackson Producing and mixing: Chaimes Parker Mastering: Bradford Krieger All recording done at Big Nice Studios, Lincoln Released on Dollhouse Lightning and SELF LUV

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plenty of room for improvisation. While their song structure forms organically, it lays the foundation for the intricate parts played live, when they often kick into a jam. Their musical communication gives each member space to elaborate and each musical element influences the next. In other words, they trust the process.

The track “Still Processin’” opens with a distinct vocal line that plays out more like a lead instrument in the opening chorus before becoming deliberate in its verse delivery over funky fuzzed-out guitars and busy bass. Unexpected and satisfying, Kosinski’s voice is very much its own instrument within the arrangement.

“I definitely want to sound like I’m blending with the song and focusing more on being an instrument, but at other times my focus is on the words and melody standing out,” says Kosinski. “Each song dictates what I’m going to do vocally for the most part. I like to have a balance of spoken sounding phrases, mixed with melodic as well. I would consider myself

more of a vocalist than a singer, because I like to vary up my vocal styles and techniques.”

Tightly Clung to Love is a co-release between Roz Raskin’s SELF LUV Records (which is producing and distributing cassette tapes) and Dollhouse Lightning (out of New Hampshire, which is producing the CDs and handling digital distribution). Production values from Lincoln’s Big Nice Studio are evident: kind of loose, reverb-heavy, and real sounds. Longtime producer Chaimes Parker returns on this effort; the band credit him as a major influence in the production style.

The spontaneity and improvisational quality Bochek finds in the studio is not lost on their live shows, which manifest this spirit into their performance. The set lists are created as they go, often dictated by the energy of the room, making each stage performance unique. Weird moments such as playing The Price Is Right theme song are the norm. Look for an album release show this November: OfficialBochek.bandcamp.com

Photo courtesy of BOCHEK

Providence band Bochek’s August release Tightly Clung to Love is a wonderful dive into a world brimming with spontaneity, forays, and rabbit holes that transcend genres. Their music carries elements of an improvisational jam, with R&B, pop, and a general “indie” feel.

The songs have movements, interplaying lead instrumentation, motifs, and non-repeating elements, and there is an ease to them that maintains a cohesive vibe across the album, yet each song continually switches up – playing with rhythm, time, and syncopation.

Nestled within the tapestries of each unfolding track on Tightly Clung to Love lie lyrical and melodic patterns rooted in equal parts guitar, keys, horns, rhythm, and bass with no particular instrument standing out as a clear lead. Halfway through the track “Rebuttal,” the building bridge resolves not back to the original shape but instead opens up to a choral, soaring land. Each track on the album keeps the listener engaged and guessing.

The band – composed of John Bonoan on guitar; Nevin Kosinski, vocals; Dante Krystman, bass; and Noah Mangelson, drums – explain that their songs evolve over time, leaving

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ART & CULTURE

A r t i st P r o fi l e | By Ken Abrams

Tuesdays with Mark Providence rock luminary Mark Cutler inspires all at free weekly songwriting workshop at Hope Artiste Village

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“It’s the hive mind thing. We become one big mind, the synapses start firing, and a song is formed” says Cutler, pictured with guitar at left.

present has songwriting duties. It’s inspiring to watch Cutler work with his collective cast of contributors, some who are clients of Avatar Residential in Warwick, a licensed provider of residential and day services to individuals with developmental disabilities.

When The Same Thing Project released its first album Walks of Life Collaborations in 2019 on Warren label 75orLess Records, many in the room became published songwriters, and another recording is in the works, according to Cutler. His formula for success is straightforward. “You get a group of people together and come up with a chord progression,” he explains. “I’ll ask for prompts, or if somebody plays an instrument, I’ll give them the guitar and ask them to come up with a simple chord progression which we can elaborate on later.

Then we have a conversation and maybe come up with a subject, or a title. Sometimes it’s just random thoughts that we string together to create a cohesive thought. It’s not necessarily about pie in the sky stuff, sometimes we can get a little dark.”

The project is designed to bring people together. “I want the banker and the bricklayer, the teacher and the firefighter, the blue-collar guy, the white-collar guy, the lefty and the righty to get into a room together and discover things that we have in common. That’s the goal,” he explains.

And he means it. On the day I visited the project, I collaborated with the group by adding a line or two to the song, “The Lonely Schoolhouse.”

“Every time I go there and do it, and I know

Photo by Ken Abrams

Mark Cutler has been a mainstay on the local music scene for over 40 years. He’s best known as the singer/songwriter/guitarist for The Schemers, the legendary RI-based band that barnstormed around the Northeast in the late 1970s and 1980s. Considered by many to be one of the greatest rock and roll bands ever to come out of the Ocean State, they never quite made it nationally, but their sound still resonates with longtime fans. “Back then I thought we were going to be, not necessarily rock stars, but touring musicians for the rest of our lives,” said Cutler in a recent interview.

“It didn’t turn out that way and that’s cool; this is where I ended up and it’s a mighty fine place to end up.”

Cutler and the band were inducted into the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame in 2015 and he still records as a solo artist. He can be found playing around the state on any given Saturday night with his current band, Men of Great Courage. So what’s a Rhody rock star like Cutler doing every Tuesday morning at the Outsider Collective in Pawtucket’s Hope Artiste Village? He’s leading The Same Thing Project, a songwriting workshop he developed several years ago. The project brings together people from all walks of life, including some with special needs, and that’s been the goal from the very beginning.

Backtrack to a few years ago: Cutler was approached to compose a soundtrack for a film about the Ladd School, a former state-run facility for youth and adults with developmental disabilities. That was the first time the musician collaborated with people with developmental challenges. That experience gave him the idea to start the songwriting workshop.

“When I was hanging out with my friends who had Down Syndrome and other developmental disabilities, I realized it was so great to be able to work with these folks, and more people need to know that we have so many similar qualities,” explains Cutler.

There’s an egalitarian spirit in the room where he works his magic. The creative process is a shared experience; everyone

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401.455.1625 www.elisepennpansey.com 401.521.9490 Butterman & Kryston, Inc. • 749 East Avenue, Pawtucket • @ Blackstone Blvd

it’s probably true for everybody there, I feel uplifted and firing on all cylinders, it’s a wonderful experience,” says Cutler.

Cutler has conducted the workshop at other sites including the Southside Community Center in Providence and the Rhode Island Folk Festival. He’s also working with the National Museum of Mental Health, a virtual museum, where he is the songwriter in residence. “I’m going to do the Same Thing Project and hopefully bring it to some college campuses locally and maybe expand to New England,” he adds.

There are no prerequisites for the Same Thing Project – you just show up on Tuesday morning and join the group. Outsider Collective, 1005 Main Street, Pawtucket.

Learn more at TheSameThingProject.com

5 Branch Ave Providence 02904 Hours may vary, please call ahead 401.421.9780 ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2022

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ART & CULTURE

Cal e ndar | By Caroline Mitchell

The Must List 10 essential events this month

September 14: Mile of History Association sponsors the Music in the Garden series presented by Providence Preservation Society at historic garden Shakespeare’s Head. This month bassist Dave Zinno and his jazz trio are featured. PPSRI.org

September 17: The 9th Annual RI Herb Festival invites enthusiasts and expert herbalists alike to experience a day packed with workshops, plant walks, community circles, family-friendly fun, food trucks, and more. RIHerbFestival.com

September 17: Bring the family to Heritage Day at the WaterFire Arts Center and explore world cultures represented in Rhode Island through exhibits, visual art, demonstrations, diverse cuisine, and a multicultural fashion show. Preservation.RI.gov

September 17:

Dine on plant-based eats for VegtoberFest

September 9-18:

September 10-11:

September 24:

Local music, theater, film, visual, and folk-traditional arts put the city’s creative and cultural life on full view for the Pawtucket Arts Festival, an annual celebration of art, music, and food, with free programming. PawtucketArtsFestival.org

Pack a picnic blanket and soak up the last rays of summer while dining on lobster rolls and clam chowder at the 12th Annual Rhode Island Seafood Festival at India Point Parkt. RISeafoodFest.com

Celebrate Roger Williams Park Zoo’s birthday by donning your fanciest attire for the 150th Tails and Trails Gala, featuring a three-course dinner, live music, and animal meet-and-greets in support of animal care and conservation. RWPZoo.org

September 10:

September 11-18:

September 23-30:

Dance to your favorite ska punk hits at The Strand – Streetlight Manifesto: The Calm Before The Chaos Tour takes the stage with opener Catbite for a reboot you never knew you needed. TheStrandRI.com

Take a wild ride with a rock and roll legend when Providence Performing Arts Center welcomes the national tour of TINA: The Tina Turner Musical by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Katori Hall to the stage. PPACRI.org

Rhode Island designers and entrepreneurs gather for DESIGN WEEK RI, an annual celebration of local talent featuring talks, tours, panel discussions, and parties, with Providence Monthly as a sponsor! DesignXRI.com

Photo courtesy of RI Veg Fest

ide statew For a f events o listing online! s visit u m ody.co h R Hey

Oktoberfest goes plant-based with the VegtoberFest foodie extravaganza at Trinity Beer Garden, showcasing samples from local restaurants and breweries, plus a vegan marketplace of artists and makers. RIVegFest.com

HUGE CARD SELECTION

The Camera Werks 766 Hope Street, Providence • thecamerawerks.com 401.273.5367 • Tues-Sat 10-5:30, Closed Sun-Mon

Relax We Have Your Yard Covered

LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE PACKAGES TAILORED TO YOUR NEEDS

401.935.2312 CITYESTATEGARDENER.COM

Local news for Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts www.thepublicsradio.org

Providence

102 Waterman Street Providence, RI 02906

401.421.5160 www.AllegraProvidence.com Print@AllegraProvidence.com ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2022

79

Pic of PVD

Capturing PVD in film

ABOUT BRYAN @bryanaroberts Working, filming, taking photos, and living in the Weird City

N O. 1 I N R H O D E I S L A N D LU X U RY R E A L E STAT E *

54 Cook Road | Cumberland, RI $1,490,000

3 BD

2F 1H BA

3,417 SF

14.14 Acres

401.339.2222

PENDING

125 Touisset Road | Warren, RI $785,000

3 BD 2 BA

2,050 SF

1.4 Acres

15 17 University Avenue | Providence, RI 401.383.0999

$640,000

Listed by The Stephanie Basile Group

18 Virginia Road | Barrington, RI

17 Carousel Drive | East Providence, RI

$595,000

$549,900

2 BD

1 BA

1,297 SF

608.628.9283

details@liladelman.com

|

3 BD

2F 1H BA

1,664 SF

401.465.3975

401.265.8316

4 0 1 . 2 74 .1 6 4 4

Lila Delman Compass is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. No statement is made as to the accuracy of any description. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of real estate brokerage. *Sales ranking based on info from RI Statewide MLS for period 1/1/10-12/1/21. Top sale based on info from the RI Statewide MLS for 1/1/93 - 6/1/22.

RHO D E I SLAN D ’S # 1 REAL ESTATE CO M PANY

*

T R U S T E D N A M E , P R O V E N R E S U LT S

EAST SIDE OF PROVIDENCE, RI 17 HALSE Y STREET | $1, 375,000

Jim DeRentis 401.529.2188

EAST SIDE OF PROVIDENCE, RI 59 EMELINE STREET | $985,000

Gerri Schiffman 401.474.3733

PROVIDENCE, RI 141 GROVE AVENUE | $629,900

Jane Driver 401.641.3723

EAST SIDE OF PROVIDENCE, RI 331 WILLIAMS ST, UNIT 3 | $395,000

Rachael Dotson 401.484.7015

PROVIDENCE, RI 19-21 PRATT STREET | $349,900

Ellen Kasle 401.451.7848

EAST SIDE OF PROVIDENCE, RI 45 EMELINE STREET | $1,100,000

David Hasslinger 401.465.8625

ResidentialProperties.com Barrington 401.245.9600

Cumberland 401.333.9333

East Greenwich 401.885.8400

Little Compton 401.635.8590

Narragansett 401.783.2474

Newport 401.619.5622

Providence 401.274.6740

West Side PVD 401.457.3400

Westport MA 508.636.4760

*Ranking based in whole or in part on data supplied by State-Wide Multiple Listing Service. The MLS does not guarantee and is not in any way responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by the MLS may not reflect all real estate activity in the market. Based on information from Statewide MLS for 202 as of anuary 2022.