The Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council (WRWC) is excited to share the news that we have been awarded significant funding from the United Way of Rhode Island’s Providence Equity Fund. This grant will support our Community Program, Nuevas Voces, and is part of a broader initiative aimed at addressing educational and economic disparities in Providence. Through this generous grant, Nuevas Voces will receive $50,000 per year for the next two years, empowering our mission to foster leadership and environmental justice within the local community.
Supporting Equity and Opportunity in Providence
The Providence Equity Fund program, launched by the United Way in collaboration with the City of Providence, is a vital effort to promote racial and social equity, economic mobility, and educational opportunities for underserved populations. Developed with the support of Mayor Brett Smiley’s administration and the Providence City Council, the fund targets investments to uplift marginalized communities through strategic grants and community-driven projects.
“We are honored to be among the organizations chosen for this significant grant,” said WRWC’s Community Programs Director, David Morales. “The funding will directly support Nuevas Voces, a 10-month bilingual program that empowers residents of Providence, particularly those in neighborhoods near the Woonasquatucket River watershed, to become local leaders in environmental justice and civic engagement. Our goal is to provide participants with the tools and knowledge needed to address critical issues such as public health, climate change, and environmental racism, and this grant makes that possible.”
Nuevas Voces: Empowering Local Leaders
Nuevas Voces is designed to foster leadership within Providence’s diverse communities. The program offers interactive classes, guest lectures, and community projects focused on key issues like public health, climate change, transportation, and advocacy. Participants will develop the skills necessary to become influential voices in their communities, advocating for social change and environmental justice. The Providence Equity Fund grant will be used to cover ongoing programming costs, including resident leader stipends, field trips, and outdoor activities.
“This funding is especially meaningful given our program empowers neighbors to become environmental justice leaders specifically in zip codes that have been disproportionately affected by environmental racism and climate change,” added Morales.
Celebrating Community Progress
The WRWC is proud to stand alongside other incredible organizations that have also been selected as grant recipients by the United Way of Rhode Island. These groups are making significant strides in promoting social equity and improving the lives of Providence residents. We would like to congratulate:
- Building Futures, which offers construction pre-apprenticeship programs
- Center for Indigenous Peoples Rights, which helps Indigenous people with legal support
- Center for Women & Enterprise, which helps women build their businesses
- College Unbound, which offers college education opportunities to adult learners
- DARE (Direct Action for Rights and Equality), which organizes low-income families and communities of color around various sociopolitical goals
- Justice Assistance, which provides unique solutions for people navigating the criminal justice system
- Manton Avenue Project, a year-round program for Olneyville children that offers playwriting and performance classes
- Mini Entrepreneurs of Rhode Island, which offers workshops and mentorships to help young people learn about entrepreneurship
- Olneyville Neighborhood Association, a community organizing group serving Providence’s Olneyville neighborhood
- Providence Promise, which supports families in planning for education from birth through higher education
- Providence Revolving Fund, which offers programs for affordable home repair loans and historic preservation
- Rhode Island Black Business Association, which helps Black business owners build generational wealth and access capital and career opportunities
- Rhode Island Black Heritage Society, which collects, records, interprets, and preserves historical materials and artifacts relating to Black people in Rhode Island
- Sojourner House, which provides housing and support services to survivors of abuse
We extend our deepest thanks to the Providence Equity Fund, United Way of Rhode Island, Building Futures, Mayor Brett Smiley, and the Providence City Council for their unwavering support. The combined efforts of these organizations and leaders are helping to build a more equitable and inclusive Providence, and we are proud to be a part of this collective progress.