Governor Raimondo Announces $8 Million Central Providence Opportunities Initiative

By News Coverage

Governor Gina M. Raimondo today announced that Rhode Island has been awarded an $8 million, 24-month grant to implement Central Providence Opportunities – a place-based initiative to increase social and economic mobility for residents of the 02908 and 02909 zip codes, and then scale these strategies statewide. The pilot initiative, set to commence next month, brings together the Governor’s office, state agencies, the Rhode Island Foundation, and ONE Neighborhood Builders. Governor Raimondo was joined by community partners at a Facebook Live event to launch this initiative. The video can be viewed here: facebook.com/GinaMRaimondo. “This initiative is a critical step in building a stronger,…

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Changing life trajectories in Providence

By News Coverage

Blue Meridian invests $8 million in a new initiative being led by ONE Neighborhood Builders in Central Providence Jennifer Hawkins, executive director of ONE Neighborhood Builders, who will be shepherding a new $8 million pilot program focused on Central Providence WHY IS THIS STORY IMPORTANT? ONE Neighborhood Builders has been chosen to lead a new $8 million initiative funded by Blue Meridian Partners, focused on transforming lifetime trajectories for children and families in Central Providence. THE QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE ASKED What kinds of data coordination can be done with the social determinants of health surveys conducted by ONE…

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R.I. receives $8M for pilot initiative to increase economic stability in central Providence

By News Coverage

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island has been awarded an $8 million grant for a pilot initiative to increase social and economic mobility for city residents in the 02908 and 02909 zip codes, Gov. Gina M. Raimondo announced on Wednesday. The governor’s office said that the nonprofit Blue Meridian Partners made the two-year investment in the initiative, called Central Providence Opportunities, which will be managed by the Rhode Island Foundation. The foundation will serve as the fiscal sponsor of the initiative and provide technical assistance aimed at building toward a plan to scale the program statewide. The 24-month program will be a collaboration…

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$8-million grant aimed at helping 2 Providence zip codes

By News Coverage

PROVIDENCE — Gov. Gina Raimondo on Wednesday announced an $8-million grant for a pilot initiative to increase economic opportunities and health equity in two central Providence zip codes. The grant will be funded by the philanthropic organization Blue Meridian Partners over the course of two years and will be managed by the Rhode Island Foundation. The investment will be focused in two central Providence zip codes, 02908 and 02909, which have been some of the state’s hardest-hit areas during the coronavirus pandemic. Through Wednesday, 02909 had the second-most cases of COVID-19 per capita since the start of the pandemic. Zip code 02908…

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Broadband Access is a Health and Social Justice Issue — Episode 437 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast

By News Coverage, ONE|NB CONNECTS
by Ry Marcattilio-McCracken Jennifer Hawkins, President and Executive Director of ONE|NB and Christopher Mitchell of the Institute for Local Self Reliance discuss the Olneyville neighborhood, situated on the west side of Providence, and how significant health disparities in that community led ONE|NB to jump into action over the summer to build a free wireless network for the residents. Jennifer and Christopher talk about mapping the network, placing hardware on ONE|NB-owned buildings, and putting up 12 access points to cover more than half of the community with robust wireless. She shares why the project’s been worth it, and the health outcomes they...
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How Tufts Health Plan has supported Rhode Islanders during the COVID-19 Pandemic

By Our Stories & Voices

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to devastate many Rhode Island communities, addressing the unique needs of the families and small businesses that make up the very fabric of this state remains critical. Tufts Health Plan, a local nonprofit health plan, has been working to address food insecurity, the safe reopening of businesses, remote learning needs of students, and has been making other community-level investments that make the organization an integral part of the R.I. community. “This is the state where many of our members and employees proudly live, work and where their children go to school,” said Tom Croswell, president…

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Free Community Wi-Fi as a Health Imperative in One Providence, Rhode Island Neighborhood

By News Coverage, ONE|NB CONNECTS

Thu, November 12, 2020 |  by Ry Marcattilio-McCracken Originally posted on November 12, 2020 at Muninetworks.org When the pandemic hit American shores this past spring and cities around the country began to practice social distancing procedures, Rhode Island-based nonprofit One Neighborhood Builders (ONB) Executive Director Jennifer Hawkins quickly realized that many of those in her community were going to be hit hard. As spring turned to summer, this proved especially to be the case in the Olneyville neighborhood in west-central Providence, where Covid-19 cases surged among low-income residents with fewer options to get online to work, visit the doctor, and…

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