Providence City Council President David A. Salvatore is partnering with the Providence College men’s and women’s basketball teams and the Providence Recreation Department to host a free youth basketball clinic at Corliss Park on Thursday, July 12, 2018 from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
“As a former basketball player and a die-hard Friars fan, this is my favorite event of the year,” stated David A. Salvatore, Providence City Council President. “For the past six years, we have offered this free clinic to provide our youth with a chance to learn from competitive collegiate athletes. I believe this helps college players make deeper connections in our community; they quickly become role models to these young athletes, inspiring them to excel in school and sports. I can’t wait to get on the court next Thursday!”
The youth basketball clinic is open to all residents of Providence, and due to NCAA rules and regulations, collegiate players and coaches can only work with girls entering the ninth grade and younger and boys entering the seventh grade and younger.
Providence City Council President David A. Salvatore participated in National Summer Learning Day today at Young Woods Elementary Schools’ Bell Summer Learning Program.
“The summer is a great time for Providence youth to enjoy our parks and recreation centers, but it is also a time to remind students to keep learning,” stated Council President David A. Salvatore. “Learning does not just happen in our schools but can happen all the time. By reading for 20 minutes a day, students can avoid the “summer slide” and be prepared for the next school year. Learning opportunities for our students are very important to me, which is why last month I helped kick off the Providence Schools “Passport to Summer Learning” program, and now am taking part in National Summer Learning Day by reading to students.”
Council President Salvatore read “Diary of a Spider” by Doreen Cronin with illustrations by Harry Bliss to rising first graders.
National Summer Learning Day is a national advocacy day aimed at elevating the importance of keeping kids learning, safe and healthy every summer, and ensuring they return to school in the fall ready to succeed in the year. Participations sends a powerful message across the nation that summers matter and offers an opportunity to showcase how summers can make a life-changing difference in the lives of young people. Council President Salvatore encourages families to make every day a learning day and to read every day.
Today City Council President David Salvatore launched the Council’s Be Heard PVD campaign. The campaign is designed to expand community access to and participation in Council-led public hearings by broadening outreach and notification to constituents.
“The City Council holds several public hearings each year, but often I only hear from residents after the fact,” stated City Council President David A. Salvatore. “They frequently tell me they were not notified or didn’t know it was happening. Although the City follows all state and city statutes to notify the public about hearings, we can do better, and that is what Be Heard PVD is about. I hope that our colleagues throughout the City will follow suit and also examine how they are notifying residents of important community conversations and public hearings.”
The Be Heard PVD campaign is a multi-platform approach to notifying residents about Council-led public hearings. It includes the use of social media, the City Council website, print advertising, media advisories, and other technologies.
Council President Salvatore continued, “We live in the 21st century, yet we are using 20th-century communication outlets to notify residents about these hearings. Our constituents deserve to be heard, and they cannot do that if they aren’t aware they have the chance.”
Community members may be notified about public hearings by following the campaign on Twitter at @BeHeardPVD and Facebook at @BeHeardPVD for notices of public hearings and other information relating to City Council-led meetings. These channels will only have information regarding public hearings or Council-led meetings. For information about City Council events, please follow along on Twitter @ProvCityCouncil and Facebook at @ProvCityCouncil.
Constituents who are unable to attend a public hearing can provide written testimony by mail or email to Lori L. Hagen, City Clerk: lhagen@providenceri.gov or City Clerk, 25 Dorrance Street, Room 311, Providence, RI 02903. (Please note, if you submit written testimony you are not required to appear or read your testimony at the public hearing.)
In 2013, the City Council launched the Providence City Open Meetings Portal to make access to meeting notices, searching agenda items, and viewing attendance and voting records for the City Council and its boards and commissions much easier for constituents. It is a single public access point and can be found online at providenceri.iqm2.com. Community members can also choose to be notified about public meetings and hearings by registering on the Open Meetings Portal and choosing “Public City Council (All Associated Meetings)” on the distribution list.
If anyone has other suggestions as to how the Council can share this information we encourage you to call the City Council office at 401-521-7477 or email us at council@providenceri.gov.
The Providence City Council helped secure a location in South Providence for a carnival for children and families of that neighborhood and beyond. Family-owned Rockwell Amusements’ midway will be located between Point and Eddy Streets from April 27 to May 6.
City Councilors Michael Correia, Mary Kay Harris, and Luis A. Aponte worked with Lifespan and Rhode Island Hospital to secure a location for the carnival on a piece of hospital property located across the street from Lifespan’s Coro Center.
“As City Councilors, we know that events like carnivals are not always something that our community members can access,” stated Councilman Michael Correia (Ward 6). “We’re thrilled to be able to help find a location for this event with support from our community partner Rhode Island Hospital.”
“Rhode Island Hospital is happy to work with the Providence City Council to secure a location for the carnival in the neighborhood we share with so many residents and businesses of South Providence. My hope is that the children and families in our surrounding communities have a safe and enjoyable time,” said Margaret M. Van Bree, MHA, DrPH, president of Rhode Island Hospital.
Lifespan will also provide free parking to carnival patrons at the Coro Center garage, and a surface lot at 139 Point St. Street parking will also be available on one side of Hospital and Globe streets.
Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11) shared that “we’re grateful to Lifespan for their commitment to community and for providing a location for the carnival and also offering free parking during the event.”
City councilors will be distributing bracelets to community groups in South Providence for free carnival rides.
“I want to thank our partners at Lifespan for their willingness to work with us and Rockwell Amusements in order to make this festival possible on the Southside of the city,” said Councilman Luis A. Aponte (Ward 10). “The festival will bring together families from around our community and city, and I’m grateful to Rockwell for providing free admission for many of our young people who would not otherwise be able to attend.”
Carnival hours will be from 5-10 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1-10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
