Celebrating the Fifth Cohort of Nuevas Voces
The Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council recently celebrated a major milestone as 20 participants graduated from the fifth cohort of Nuevas Voces, our bilingual leadership and advocacy program.
Family, friends, partners, alumni, and supporters gathered at Farm Fresh Rhode Island to recognize the graduates’ hard work and commitment over the past 10 months. The evening featured delicious food from Venda Ravioli, beautiful violin music by Sofia Vasquez, and inspiring remarks from WRWC Executive Director Alicia Lehrer, Shiloh, and María José Gutiérrez.
Several graduates shared reflections on their experience in the program, including Nelly Branez, Eduardo Ampuero, Henry Chaj, and Kimberly Marin. Each spoke about how Nuevas Voces connected them with resources, information, and opportunities they had not previously known about, while building the skills and confidence needed to participate in local decision-making and advocate for their communities.
Graduates were recognized for their achievements with certificates from WRWC, citations from the Rhode Island State House presented by State Representative David Morales, and citations from the Providence City Council provided by Councilor Miguel Sanchez. We are grateful to both elected officials for helping honor the accomplishments of this year’s cohort.
A special thank you goes to former Nuevas Voces graduates Mirna Estrada and Keren Estrada, who provided childcare throughout the program and during graduation. Their support helped ensure that parents and caregivers could fully participate in classes and complete the program.
We are also deeply grateful to the partners and funders who make Nuevas Voces possible. Thank you to United Way of Rhode Island, EPA SNEP SOAR, the Rhode Island Foundation, the Papitto Opportunity Connection, and the New England Grassroots Environment Fund for investing in community leadership and environmental justice. We would especially like to recognize United Way of Rhode Island and Karla Alba for their continued partnership and advocacy. This year, United Way generously hosted Nuevas Voces classes while the Olneyville Resilience Hub was closed, helping us provide a welcoming and accessible learning environment for participants.
Additional thanks to the many partners who joined us to celebrate, including representatives from RIDEM, the Office of Neighborhood and Community Relations, Providence Emergency Management Agency, and the Equitable Climate Futures initiative at Brown University.
About Nuevas Voces
Nuevas Voces, which translates to “New Voices,” is WRWC’s 10-month bilingual advocacy and leadership program designed to empower Providence residents to become community leaders and advocates.
Through a combination of classroom learning, guest speakers, and hands-on site visits, participants explore topics including environmental science, public health, flooding, transportation, wastewater treatment, local and state government, community organizing, climate resilience, and environmental justice. Classes are led by a team of dedicated co-facilitators, María José Gutiérrez and Sayda Arriaza, both alumni of the program.
To remove barriers to participation, students receive stipends for attending classes, free meals, and childcare. Sessions are offered bilingually and scheduled during evenings and weekends to accommodate working families.
Since launching in 2020, more than 100 residents have graduated from Nuevas Voces. Alumni continue to make an impact throughout Providence as volunteers, board members, community leaders, and staff members. Graduates have gone on to participate in initiatives such as the Nine Neighborhood Fund Participatory Budgeting Program, the Olneyville Neighborhood Association, the Urban Growers Leadership Program, ONE Neighborhood Builders’ Resident Advisory Committee, the Providence School Board, the Joslin Community Garden Committee, the Providence Tree Plan, and many other community-driven efforts.
Congratulations to the newest cohort of Nuevas Voces graduates. We look forward to seeing the many ways they continue to strengthen and advocate for their neighborhoods in the years ahead.