WRWC’s Community Programs Department Becomes Community Action

The Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council is proud to announce a bold new chapter for one of our most dynamic departments. What was formerly known as the Community Programs Department will now be called the Community Action Department — a name that better reflects the vision, voice, and impact that this team is driving across our neighborhoods.

This isn’t just a name change. It’s a reflection of what’s already happening on the ground.

For years, this department has worked alongside residents of Providence’s Woonasquatucket River neighborhoods — not simply to serve the community, but to help activate it. Together, we’ve built programs that empower neighbors to lead, educate, organize, advocate, and transform the places they live, work, and play. Through leadership training, bilingual advocacy, community-led design, and public gatherings, our goal has always been to ensure that those closest to the challenges are the ones shaping the solutions.

As we transition into the Community Action Department, we’re taking a moment to reintroduce the incredible initiatives that fall under this growing umbrella. These programs reflect the heart of our mission: to center community voices in decisions that impact our environment, health, infrastructure, and future.

WRWC Community Action

Empowering communities through bilingual advocacy, local resilience, and deep connection.

The Community Action Department engages residents of the lower Woonasquatucket River Watershed through bilingual (English and Spanish) leadership programs and free, family-friendly events that foster connection, learning, and community pride. In partnership with the Olneyville Resilience Hub and dozens of local organizations, we’re creating lasting pathways for collaboration and collective advocacy.

To get involved or learn more, reach out to our department director: David Morales.

Nuevas Voces

Our flagship leadership program, Nuevas Voces (“New Voices”), is a 10-month bilingual training that helps Providence residents become local environmental justice leaders. With classes led by alumni María José Gutiérrez and Sayda Arriaza, participants dive deep into topics like public health, flooding, climate justice, government, and community organizing — all while receiving stipends, meals, and childcare.

Since 2020, over 50 graduates have gone on to serve as decision-makers in some of the city’s most impactful community initiatives. Nuevas Voces doesn’t just teach advocacy — it builds a network of leaders who are already shaping Providence’s future.

Campeones del Combate Climático

This advanced, 18-month program supports graduates of Nuevas Voces as they become experts in stormwater infrastructure, flood mitigation, and green design. Campeones work hand-in-hand with city engineers and planners to develop real infrastructure projects — from San Souci Drive to DeSoto Street — proving that resident input isn’t just welcome, it’s essential.

The Olneyville Resilience Hub

Located at 17 Hyatt Street, the Hub opened in 2024 as a collaboration between WRWC and partners like the City of Providence and the Olneyville Neighborhood Association. It now serves as a vital neighborhood resource for environmental education, free programming, and emergency preparedness. From lead-filter distributions to multilingual events and cooling center operations, the Hub is a beacon of local resilience.

Monthly Speaker’s Programs

Each month, neighbors gather for a free, bilingual Speaker’s Program — a space to learn about local issues and connect with community organizations. Topics range from composting and waste management to lead safety and emergency prep. Want to attend or host a Speaker’s Program? Contact us or check our events calendar.

Neighborhood Gardens

In partnership with local residents, WRWC has helped launch two neighborhood garden sites:

  • The Community Pollinator Garden at Donigian Park, which offers bilingual education about native plants and pollinators.

  • The Joslin Community Garden, a beloved greenspace where over 20 gardeners are building sustainable food systems and community connections.

Both sites provide hands-on ways for neighbors to reconnect with the land and each other.

VECINA

Co-designed by Nuevas Voces alumni and research institutions, VECINA (Visualizing Environmental and Community Information for Neighborhood Advocacy) is a bilingual online tool that helps neighbors access critical data about local schools and healthcare resources.

Explore the tool: vecina.wrwc.org

Join the Action

We are proud to be a bilingual, community-powered department — and we believe that everyone has a role to play in shaping a healthier, more just future for the Woonasquatucket River and the neighborhoods it runs through.

The Community Action Department is not just about programs. It’s about people. It’s about power. And it’s about showing what’s possible when neighbors come together to lead.

To learn more, get involved, or bring a program to your neighborhood, contact: David Morales (DMorales@wrwc.org)