For Immediate Release
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June 22, 2023
PROVIDENCE, RI – ONE Neighborhood Builders (ONE|NB), Rhode Island’s leading community development corporation, announced the appointment of three new board members who each bring critical and unique expertise to the nonprofit’s board of directors. Bonnie Nickerson, Lauren Greene, and Valentina Gomez filled three vacancies on the ONE|NB board and bring a range of relevant professional and lived experience. ONE|NB’s board reflects the diversity of the community it serves. Additionally, at its June Annual Meeting, the Board elected its new officers, naming Lorraine Lalli as Chairperson, Evelyn Ranone as Vice Chairperson, Domenic Delmonico as Treasurer, and reelected Rochelle Lee as Secretary.
“As we embark on our new strategy that will guide us for the next five years, it is all the more important to have exceptional governance that listens to the voices coming from within our communities and understand their needs. The addition of Bonnie, Lauren, and Valentina bring to ONE|NB extraordinary talents and proven track-records of community service,” said Jennifer Hawkins, President and Executive Director of ONE|NB. “And I’m thrilled to be working alongside the newly elected leadership team of our expanded Board of Directors. Lorraine has served on the Board since 2017; her election to Chair comes at a time of organizational growth. Lorraine’s leadership will be critical as we expand our work into new communities and build new partnerships, while maintaining our unwavering commitment to racial justice and addressing root causes of health disparities.
Bonnie Nickerson, Principal of Nickerson Planning, LLC, has a successful track record of designing and executing complex projects to improve the health, vitality, and well-being of communities. As a senior public-sector leader in Providence for many years, most recently serving as City Planning Director and Executive Director of the Providence Redevelopment Agency, Bonnie’s interconnected portfolio of citywide transportation, housing, redevelopment, and public realm projects transformed the city’s approach to planning and redevelopment. Under her leadership and strategic direction, Providence advanced an ambitious agenda of large-scale planning efforts focused on context-sensitive development, affordable housing, mobility choice, equity, and meaningful community engagement.
Lauren Greene, Managing Director of New Harbor Group, is highly skilled in developing and implementing strategic communication plans for high-profile, multifaceted government issues and programs. Greene previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education where she implemented a strategic plan for communications, a first for the agency. Most recently, Greene served as Communications Director for the City of Pawtucket. There she served as spokesperson for Mayor Donald Grebien’s office on local and statewide issues such as the PawSox stadium, Pawtucket-Central Falls Train Station, the annual budget, and business growth.
Valentina Gomez, Employee Services Advisor at Tiffany & Co, is a Central Providence resident who has been active in her community for the past 14 years. She has volunteered at Capitol Ridge nursing home and interned for the Providence Library and various programs during her undergraduate studies. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Rhode Island College and works as an HR professional at Tiffany & Co. in Cumberland. She will be pursuing a virtual master’s degree in psychology from Louisiana State University starting in the fall of 2023.
ABOUT ONE NEIGHBORHOOD BUILDERS:
ONE Neighborhood Builders (ONE|NB) is a nonprofit community development leader in Rhode Island that is expanding its work to the broader Greater Providence area while maintaining its deep roots in its historic home of Olneyville. ONE|NB’s mission is to develop affordable housing and engage neighbors to cultivate healthy, vibrant, and safe communities. Since its founding in 1988, then as Olneyville Housing Corporation, ONE|NB has developed 466 affordable apartments; 130 for-sale homes for low- to moderate-income homebuyers; and nearly 35,000 square feet of commercial and community space—totaling more than $135 million of investments. ONE|NB is the convening entity of Central Providence Opportunities: A Health Equity Zone, which brings together residents, more than five dozen community-based organizations, health professionals, local businesses, elected officials, and others to address root causes of health disparities and to improve neighborhood conditions. As the convener, ONE|NB is the backbone organization of this collective-impact initiative to increase economic mobility for residents in Central Providence. ONE|NB also created the first free community wireless network in Rhode Island, providing high-speed broadband to nearly 3000 unique users in the Olneyville neighborhood.
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Media Contact (for ONE Neighborhood Builders)
Mike Raia, Half Street Group
401-340-9425 | mike@nullhalfstreetgroup.com
