News Coverage

How ONE Neighborhood Builders continues to develop Providence neighborhoods through affordable housing and more For many Providence residents, the most consistent reason to go to Olneyville was to “dine” at the famed Olneyville NY System, the Home of RI’s Best Wieners established in the 1930s. The once-vibrant manufacturing center that employed thousands declined rapidly after World War II as factories closed or moved south; as jobs fled, so did the residents, and with the Woonasquatucket River polluted with chemical waste and raw sewage, the problem only worsened. Then, when the Route 6 connector was built, the neighborhoods were divided and…

ONE Neighborhood Builders Receives $10,000 In Funding from Tufts Health Plan to Expand High Speed Internet Access in Providence PROVIDENCE, RI – Sept. 4th, 2020 – ONE Neighborhood Builders (ONE|NB) has received $10,000 from Tufts Health Plan to support the creation of a wireless mesh network over the Olneyville neighborhood of Providence. “The Covid-19 health crisis has brought great suffering to a Providence neighborhood that already suffers from some of the highest poverty in Rhode Island—and average lifespans that are nearly nine years lower than those of other Providence neighborhoods,” said Jennifer Hawkins, executive director of ONE|NB. “What may have…

The Canonicus Prize: ONE Neighborhood Builders/led by Haley Hardwick-Witman, was 1 of 2 proposals recognized as outstanding. The ONE Neighborhood Builders team led by Haley Hardwick-Whitman presented a sensitive and realistic scheme that imagines transit-oriented development with 3-5 story multi-family dwellings. The proposal, which they named “Canonicus Commons,” is a mixed-use, mixed-income development designed to serve the neighborhood with pedestrian-scale residential and commercial buildings. A public market occupying the 1921 bank building was featured in this proposal, and in many others, and was applauded by the jury. Providence Preservation Society Read Full Article and Interview with Haley Hardwick-Witman on the…

For additional information please read “Taking aim at coronavirus in 10 Providence neighborhoods” published by the Providence Journal and written by Madeleine List PROVIDENCE, RI (August 3, 2020) On Monday, August 3, ONE Neighborhood Builders announced its launch of Central Providence Conquers COVID-19. While the pandemic has affected all peoples and places, certain ZIP codes have been disproportionately impacted due to the social and economic conditions of their residents. The purpose of Central Providence Conquers COVID-19 is to reduce the imbalance of cases in these areas, many of which are high density communities of color. In order to address this disparity, ONE…

Rethinking Eviction Prevention Jennifer Hawkins, our president and executive director, in her most recent blog post, outlines seven possible innovations to help reduce evictions. Her post honors the expertise of other organizations in the area, such as the RI Center for Justice and Direct Action for Rights and Equality, noting that we have far more to learn from them on this matter than to offer, but shares some suggestions to consider that might help to move the dialog forward. The Pandemic and Community Health Work: The State of the State and Notes from the Neighborhood Laurie Moïse, director of community health integration, and Yuselly Mendoza, community health worker,...

We announced our Strategic Direction and Spirit Film in our June 11, 2020 e-Newsletter:   See our: Strategic Direction Spirit Film

PROVIDENCE, RI– On Friday, May 22, ONE Neighborhood Builders (ONE|NB) awarded grants totaling $125,300 to six partner organizations from our Central Providence Health Equity Zone (CP-HEZ) to support their work improving economic opportunities and ameliorating health disparities. There were 11 submissions received in response to our request for proposals, with nearly $275,000 in total funding requested. The CP-HEZ is a 25-member collaborative convened by ONE Neighborhood Builders. Across the state, HEZs, which Governor Gina Raimondo and Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott, director of the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH), frequently highlight in their daily COVID-19 press briefings, have proven to be…

Published by ConvergenceRI PROVIDENCE – The messages were filled with “aspiration.” In a series of posts on Twitter on Thursday, April 16, and Friday, April 17, Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza wrote about Providence being a “city that cares for the wellbeing of all neighbors.” “Even when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges, our local businesses continue to find new and inspirational ways to help keep our community healthy and safe,” Elorza wrote in his first message. “Physical doors may be shut, but Providence is still open for business.” In his second message, Elorza wrote: “I have seen neighbors and business owners step…

April 2020 — ONE Neighborhood Builders is proud to announce the addition of three new members to its board of directors.  The Providence-based community development organization builds affordable housing and addresses issues of health equity throughout the state. The organization relies on its board to guide these efforts and ensure community voices are represented. New director Raysa Marte is a Silver Lake resident and former board member of Olneyville Housing Corporation, ONE|NB’s predecessor. She is a health data analyst at Lifespan and has lived in the Central Providence area for over twenty years. Raysa is dedicated to working with and…