by Billy Kepner | Jun 30, 2020 | Ward-11
Congratulations to Dr. Eugenio Fernandez Jr. owner of Asthenis Pharmacy and Dwayne Keys of Compass Working Capital for being named to Providence Business News “40 under 40.” Both call Ward 11 home and are tireless advocates for the community.
As the Councilwoman for Ward 11, I want to ensure that I lift up and highlight the folks on the ground doing the work. Both Dwayne and Eugenio are fantastic community partners and I couldn’t be prouder that they both received this honor. I can say for certain that it is well deserved.
Learn more about them below:
Dr. Eugenio Fernandez Jr while pursuing four majors at the University of Rhode Island, Dr. Eugenio Fernandez Jr. got an idea. Why not take an integrative approach to bringing health care to his home community on the west side by creating a new kind of pharmacy, one without the candy and junk food aisles, that focuses solely on the patient. And why not take health care out of the bounds and control of prescriptions and medical diagnoses and into the community by educating some of our most vulnerable populations. That’s how Asthenis, the only pharmacy in the Ward 11 neighborhood and the only independent pharmacy for miles around, was born.
Asthenis is a pharmacy built on the values of health equity and is based on a socially-conscious business model.
Dwayne Keys:
Dwayne has spent over 15 years advocating on behalf of historically excluded & disenfranchised communities for economic justice & full inclusion in economic prosperity. Dwayne serves as the volunteer Chairperson of the South Providence Neighborhood Association (SPNA), leading efforts to provide public forums where all residents of the Southside of Providence have direct input in the urban planning decisions that shape the future of the neighborhood. He has resided in the Southside of Providence for over 20 years (most of that time in Ward 11) & is involved in many other community organizations throughout the state of RI. In addition to his advocacy & volunteer efforts, Dwayne is a full-time Senior Financial Coach with Compass Working Capital, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing financial coaching & education to families with low incomes in support of them building assets & financial capabilities. With over 13 years of experience working in for-profit banking & financial services prior to joining Compass in 2017, Dwayne still participates in various personal finance programs & economic mobility events geared towards eliminating poverty. A graduate of Johnson & Wales University, Dwayne earned his A.S. in Retailing, B.S. in Marketing, & M.B.A. in International Trade.
Congratulations to these exceptional men from Ward 11!
by Billy Kepner | Jun 29, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-10, Ward-11, Ward-4, Ward-6, Ward-9
Providence City Council’s Committee on Urban Redevelopment, Renewal, and Planning Today Voted to Rename the Providence Pedestrian Bridge in Memory of Local Civil Rights Advocate Michael S. Van Leesten
This afternoon Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11) and Chairwoman of the Council’s Committee on Urban Redevelopment, Renewal, and Planning announced that they have voted to rename the Providence Pedestrian Bridge in memory of Michael S. Van Leesten, who was a long-time resident of Providence and passed away on August 23, 2019, at the age of 80. The Resolution to change the name of the Pedestrian Bridge was sponsored by Council President Sabina Matos, and Co-Sponsored by the Full Council.
“I worked closely with Mr. Van Leesten over the years, and his loss has left a hole in the fabric of our city,” stated Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris. “I can think of no better way than to honor the memory of a man who built bridges within the community than by renaming the Providence Pedestrian Bridge in memory and in honor of the significant contributions he made to this City and our State.”
Mr. Michael S. Van Leesten was a graduate of Hope High School. After graduation, he served his nation as a communications specialist in the United States Air Force, and upon discharge, he attended Rhode Island College, where he was a star basketball player. After he graduated college in 1965, he became active in the Civil Rights Movement. He participated in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference Summer Conference on Community Organizing and Political Education Project (SCLC SCOPE) in Choctaw County, Alabama.
City Council President Sabina Matos (Ward 15) shared, “Mr. Van Leesten was a giant amongst men, and he did so much for our city, state, and nation. I commend my colleague Chairwoman Harris for pushing this forward. When young and old cross that bridge, may it be a reminder of the good that can be done when you do the work like Mr. Van Leesten did.”
At SCLC SCOPE, he, along with six other college students, worked doing community organizing and voter registration in rural Alabama during the height of the Civil Rights struggle. He spoke of his time in the Movement as a “defining moment in my life.” He believed that singular experience made him a better person, a better husband, a better father, and a better community leader.
“I want to thank Chairwoman Harris for bringing this important matter to the committee,” stated Vice-Chairman Nicholas J. Narducci Jr (Ward 4). “I was proud to be a Co-sponsor, along with all my fellow members on the City Council. His life’s work deserves to be remembered and honored.”
Van Leesten served as the Executive Director of Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC) of Rhode Island, which he helped found, for more than 15years. He had a successful consulting business, and also served as the Director of Planning and Development for the City of Providence. Additionally, he then went on to be the Director of Public Affairs for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe from 1994 to 2006, eventually returning to the role at the OIC from 2006 until his passing in August of 2019.
He was a board member of numerous organizations, including the Board of Regents, Peerless Precision, and Fleet Bank. He was also awarded honorary doctorate degrees from Roger Williams College, Rhode Island College, and the University of Rhode Island.
Mr. Van Leesten is survived by his former spouses Natalie E. Brown, Andrea G. Van Leesten, and Paula Van Leesteen, and his loving children Jill, Michael, Ayyub, Andrew, Jordan, and Alexis, and his beloved grandchildren Aliza, Aaron, Az-Zubair, and Huria, and his siblings Rashad Munir, David Van Leesten, Lisa Van Leesten, and Dorothy “Dee Dee” Van Lesten, and was predeceased by his brother Karriem Muhammad (ne Hendrik Van Leesten Jr.) and both his beloved parents.
Michael S. Van Leesten was and will continue to be a beloved and admired member of the community, and his energy and smile have been missed by all that knew him. Upon passage from Committee, it will go before the City Council, where it will be voted on by the Full Council. Then it will be sent to Mayor Elorza for his signature.
by Abigail Appel | Jun 25, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-11
Council Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11) joined Kobe Dennis, the YMCA of Greater Providence, the Rhode Island Office of Healthy Aging and her neighbors at Wiggin Village to kick off a new food and fitness program.
“The health and wellbeing of our neighbors is always a top priority, especially in times of a global pandemic. As a community, we must work to adapt to these changing times while staying at our best mentally and physically,” stated Deputy Majority Leader Harris.
Nearly 100 older adults will be receiving twice-weekly meals from now until August, along with exercise bands, fitness instruction, and nutrition tips. Wiggin Village is located in the West End neighborhood of Providence, an area that has one of the largest COVID-19 positive cases in the City.
‘I am so grateful to the YMCA, the Office of Healthy Aging, and the local restaurants who have all worked together to create healthy outcomes for residents in our neighborhood,” added Deputy Majority Leader Harris.
The goal of this program is to encourage a healthy lifestyle among residents throughout the changes that come with social distancing. Currently, the pilot program is prepared to run through August, but may be extended if there is a need and if additional funding is available.
by Billy Kepner | May 13, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-10, Ward-11, Ward-4, Ward-6
Tonight, the City Council’s Committee on Urban Redevelopment, Renewal, and Planning (URRP) passed a second round of Community Block Development Grant (CDBG) Funding to help local agencies in the fight against COVID-19.
“This evening the URRP Committee ensured that 33 Providence-based social service agencies shared in the allocation of over nearly $3 Million in funding to assist in the fight against COVID-19,” stated Chairwoman of the Council’s Committee on Urban Redevelopment, Renewal, and Planning Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11). “The CARES Act which was passed by both the United States House of Representatives and the Senate, and championed by our own federal delegation, allocated nearly $3 Billion in funds for local municipalities across the Country in the fight against the COVID-19 crisis. I am so grateful that we could help use these funds to support organizations like Meals on Wheels, DORCAS International, and Federal Hill House to name just a few. Each of these 33 organizations are doing critical work in every one of our City’s neighborhoods, and I am so proud of the work my Committee has done.”
In addition to the $3 Million in additional CDBG funding, the Committee had recently approved the allocation of more than $5 Million in CDBG funding for organizations that provide essential services in our community.
Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Redevelopment, Renewal, and Planning Nicholas J. Narducci Jr. stated, “It has been a difficult process to allocate this important funding to our neighborhood agencies. Each and every applicant was deserving, but with only limited resources, I believe we were able to make the most impact in our City. I thank each and every organization for their dedicated work to the residents of our City.”
Chairwoman Harris continued, “I want to thank the work of the Committee, City Council Chief of Staff Erlin Rogel, and Director of Community Development Emily Freedman of the Department of Planning and Development for their dedication and hard work in ensuring that we were able to maximize the allocation of funding for the residents of our City.”
The two CDBG budget allocations will go to the full Council for vote and passage.
For a complete list of awardees please visit the Open Meetings Portal at: https://bit.ly/URRPCommittee
by Billy Kepner | Mar 19, 2020 | Council News, COVID-19, Press Release, Ward-1, Ward-10, Ward-11, Ward-12, Ward-13, Ward-14, Ward-15, Ward-2, Ward-3, Ward-4, Ward-5, Ward-6, Ward-7, Ward-8, Ward-9
Participants Can Call Into the Meeting With Their Phones
Providence will be the first Council Body to use this Teleconferencing Technology
In light of the worldwide COVID-19 outbreak which has affected many of us here in Rhode Island, the Governor issued an executive order earlier this week lifting the Open Meetings Act (OMA) restrictions for public meetings.
The order allows for adequate alternative means of public access such as over phone, internet, and audio or videoconferencing when it comes to public body meetings.
“Our goal as a City Council is to be as transparent as possible,” stated City Council President Sabina Matos (Ward 15). “We have decided to move from livestreaming to teleconferencing due to the rapid spread of the virus here in Rhode Island. In the last 48 hours, we have seen an increase of 21 positive infections, totaling 44 positive infections here in Rhode Island as of 1:30 PM today. It’s with that in mind that we have made the difficult decision to host our meeting using a teleconference line, a widely used and implemented practice. This will allow for residents to hear the discussions as it happens by our body in real-time.”
In light of this executive order, in addition to the prior executive order limiting gatherings of more than 25 people, and to protect the health of our Councilors, staff, and our residents Council President Sabina Matos has decided to seek alternative public access mediums for tonight’s Council meeting. The City Council will be using a teleconferencing platform for tonight’s meeting.
Call-In Information is Below:
Please dial: 1-646-558-8656
Pin: 692739810#
Press # again to enter the conference waiting room.
This tough decision is premised on an urgency to preserve public health while also maintaining the spirit of an open and transparent governmental process.
by Billy Kepner | Mar 15, 2020 | COVID-19, Ward-1, Ward-10, Ward-11, Ward-12, Ward-13, Ward-14, Ward-15, Ward-2, Ward-3, Ward-4, Ward-5, Ward-6, Ward-7, Ward-8, Ward-9
There are 13 sites across the city where children ages 18 and younger, can access several days worth of “Grab & Go” meals (breakfast and lunch). The locations will be open from 11:00 am until 2:00 pm on Tuesday and Thursday during the duration of the school closure.
Service lines will be located at the front entrance of each school. No families will be allowed in the buildings. Sodexo staff will hand each student pre-packaged meals. Please note that children do not need to be enrolled in the Providence Public School District to access this program. This is a change to what has been previously shared.
The 13 Sites Are:
- William D’Abate Elementary School School located at 60 Kossuth Street.
- Gilbert Stuart Middle School located at 188 Princeton Street.
- Providence Career and Technical Academy located at 41 Fricker Street.
- Mt. Pleasant High School located at 434 Mt. Pleasant Avenue.
- Reservoir Elementary School located at 156 Reservoir Avenue.
- E-Cubed Academy located at 812 Branch Avenue.
- Juanita Sanchez High School located at 182 Thurbers Avenue.
- Hope High School located at 324 Hope Street.
- DelSesto Middle School located at 152 Springfield Street.
- Vartan Gregorian Elementary School located at 455 Wickenden Street.
- Nathanael Greene Middle School located at 721 Chalkstone Avenue.
- Alan Shawn Feinstein Elementary School, 1450 Broad Street.
- Times2 Academy, 50 Filmore Street.
In addition, the City of Providence will be offering free, several days worth of packaged dinner meals at each of Providence’s eleven recreation centers. Meals can be picked up between 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays and are available for those 18 and under, but they must be personally present at the distribution site.
- Vincent Brown at 438 Hope Street.
- John H. Rollins at 674 Praire Avenue.
- Madeline Rogers at 60 Camden Avenue.
- Davey Lopes at 227 Dudley Street.
- Zuccolo at 18 Gesler Street.
- Armand E. Batastini Jr. at 50 Obediah Brown Road.
- Joslin at 17 Hyatt Street.
- Neutaconkanut at 675 Plainfield Street.
- West End at 109 Bucklin Street.
- Sackett at 159 Sackett Street.
- Kennedy at 195 Nelson Street.
Please note that all childcare centers have been ordered closed by Governor Raimondo effective Monday, March 16, 2020 for at least one week. This is a change from what was originally reported.
We will update as other sites are designated for this service.
