SPRING NEWSLETTER 2001  .

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Brenda Clement, Photo by Jean Duffy

Housing has been the "Rodney Dangerfield of issues," remarks Brenda Clement, Executive Director of The Housing Network of Rhode Island. "It never gets the respect it needs." But not if she can help it.

Coordinating with the 24 Housing Network members and other housing organizations within the state, Brenda has spearheaded an active campaign to sensitize Rhode Island legislators about making affordable housing a state priority. As a result of such hard work, last fall the State government finally committed $3.4 million to the issue. In 1999, legislation was passed which provided $1.7 million for lead paint abatement. Rhode Island’s consignment of $5.1 million to housing has put the State on the road to beginning to catch up with the rest of the nation.

Although this is the first time the State has allocated funds for affordable housing, Brenda says it is still a relatively small investment. Neighboring states such as Connecticut and Massachusetts annually spend approximately $70 million and $150 million respectively. According to her, many people assume that the expenditures should be lower as Rhode Island is a considerably small state. However, she insists that per capita Rhode Island still ranks significantly behind. As a result, Brenda believes the State needs to become a larger player in housing by demonstrating commitment to neighborhood development, affordable housing, and increased home ownership.

To facilitate this, Brenda has been deeply involved with policy-makers to create a "Home for Housing" in the State’s budget. After helping to create a Housing Resource Commission last year, a commission of 25 members representing nonprofit organizations, bankers, realtors, community development corporations, and heads of various State departments, she is now advocating for a "Neighborhood Opportunities Program." The commission is currently in the process of proposing a bill to provide $5 million in 2001 and $5 million in 2002 along with bond issues for over $25 million through the "Building Homes, Building Lives" campaign.

Brenda is confident of the State’s commitment to maintain and create affordable housing. "Housing is a need we all have in common," she says. It is this understanding of communal need and concern that led her to housing-related issues more than 10 years ago. From creating a community development corporation through her church to volunteering at others, Brenda has gained a great deal of knowledge and commitment to the need for fair and safe housing. Although the struggle for affordable housing can be "complicated and at times overwhelming," she insists that "is no reason to not get involved." Brenda encourages everyone to contact his or her local legislators to move the issue of affordable housing to the top of the State’s agenda.

Believe that a farther shore is reachable from here.

Seamus Heaney

Habitat for Humanity – Providence has expanded the area in which they build through their new strategic plan, "Blueprint 2000." Currently 11 units are under construction on six sites sponsored and built by many community groups, including the United Church of Christ, university students, and the Women’s Council of the R.I. Builders’ Association.

Woonsocket Neighborhood Development Corporation worked with the U.S. Rural Development Administration to develop a $500,000 Rural Home Loan partnership to provide low-interest mortgage financing to first-time home buyers. WNDC is one of 50 groups nationwide to participate in the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation’s "Multi-Family Initiative." WNDC received a $1.5 million equity investment from Fleet for affordable housing and economic development.

Childhood Lead Action Project was recently awarded a $1,900 grant from Haymarket People’s Fund. The grant will continue the Providence Lead-Safe Housing Campaign with the goal of removing this threat from public housing. Childhood Lead Action Project has been instrumental in the "Get the Lead Out Coalition" in its efforts to remove this virtual epidemic.

Gray Panthers of R.I. received $2,000 from Haymarket to expand their Medical Assistance Program for the elderly and disabled. The Gray Panthers were also instrumental in passing the free bus legislation for elderly and disabled Rhode Island residents.

Coalition for Consumer Justice has actively mounted a campaign to enact a universal, single-payer health care system in Rhode Island. CCJ is advocating for a bill requiring the State to allocate $65,000 to Boston University School of Public Health to conduct a study and determine whether such a system is feasible. CCJ received a $1,000 grant from Haymarket People’s Fund to further their efforts.

Hope Center recently merged with Rite of Passage Cancer Project and gained a new Executive Director, Miriam Goldsmith. The merger will provide the new Hope Center with greater resources for one-on-one patient and family counseling as well as an expansion of programs.

The Housing Network of R.I. featured guest speaker Mary Nelson, former head of the National Congress for Community Economic Development, at its annual meeting on March 27. President of Bethel New Life of Chicago, she addressed the topic of faith-based community development projects. The Housing Network’s annual meetings delight guests as it presents awards creatively titled "When We Meet, We Eat," "Golden Faucet," "Cutting Red Tape," and the "George Bailey Banker."

NRI Community Services received grants targeted at improving services to people at-risk. One was a federal grant from CSAT for $145,000 to expand substance-free housing and resources for African American and Hispanic clients, especially ex-offenders. Another was a State grant from the R.I. Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals for $105,000 to create a consumer-run peer support center in Woonsocket for people with mental illness.

Providence Community Mediation Center convened the first meeting of its Advisory Board in December. U.S. Senator Jack Reed is Honorary Chair; Julius and Rita Michaelson are Co-chairs. Rita, one of the founders of PCMC, is enthusiastic about her new role, describing the Advisory Board as a "distinguished group of leaders from a broad spectrum of the Rhode Island community. Their expertise will provide invaluable support and the promotion of mediation as a viable way to resolve disputes." PCMC received a $9,000 grant from Fleet Bank to further their efforts.

Providence Family Learning Center kicked off its Parent AIDE Program aimed at bringing together parents and aides to develop skills in child development, household management, and personal organization. The program is an opportunity for parents to work together in devising parenting, living, and working strategies in order to succeed.

R.I. Coalition for Minority Investment was granted $50,000 from The Rhode Island Foundation to provide expanded technical assistance to minority and disadvantaged small businesses in Rhode Island. Executive Director Denise Barge has been appointed to the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

R.I. Parent Information Network was awarded the contract for Parent Consultant Services through the R.I. Department of Health, Division of Family Health. RIPIN also received a grant to look into violence in schools and to build strategies to deter violence. Dawn Wardyga, R.I. Family Voices Project Director, was selected as Volunteer of the Year by Family Voices USA. Also impressive, RIPIN’s staff has tripled from 12 to 36 in the last three years.

West Elmwood Housing Development Corporation received a $1 million grant from Fleet for loan processing and new construction. Executive Director Sharon Conard-Wells was singled out by Governor Lincoln Almond in his 2001 State of the State address for her success in developing affordable housing and promoting community economic development.

In a gentle way you can shake the world.

Gandhi

We hand one another along.

Walker Percy

Courage is leadership affirmed.

Erik Erikson

Surprise Gifts

On a blustery winter morning a Santa Claus unexpectedly dropped into The Fund’s office bearing a gift of $100 in cash. Earlier in the day our visitor, who was later identified as Gilbert Giles, had presented his daughter Beth Giles-Bowe with the money as her holiday present. She urged him to deliver it instead to The Fund. Later upon hearing that her father had called her a "saint" for her generosity, Beth responded that she was determined that The Fund meet its $50/$50 Feinstein challenge. Her father’s gift has moved us closer to our goal. Incidently, Beth is an owner of Documation, the firm which turns our newsletter into such a handsome publication. Thank you, Papa Giles, for raising such a selfless daughter. As the proverb says, "The apple never falls far from the tree."

Long-time friends of The Fund, Dana Holmgren and Jim Tull, held a party recently for their friends and neighbors. Throughout their festivities, guests dropped donations earmarked to The Fund into a bowl placed on the table. The amount totaled $217. Thank you, Jim, Dana, and your generous guests. Jim reports that he is presenting and facilitating workshops and seminars for interested organizations to explore community, service and social change. To contact him directly, phone 941-2874.

Partner in Philanthropy

Marsha Rice, Photo by Jean Duffy

At National Philanthropy Day, The Fund proudly honored Marsha Rice, Vice-chair of our Board of Directors, as our Partner in Philanthropy for 2000. A long-time friend, she has served on our Board of Directors and several significant committees.

Marsha was recognized "for her early recognition of the pivotal, historic role of The Fund for Community Progress in democratizing philanthropy in Rhode Island; for her wisdom, energy, and commitment to our mission of equality and opportunity for all; and for her superb organizational and leadership skills."

Learning and Serving

Sushma Sheth, Photo by Jean Duffy

For three years, senior Sushma Sheth has interned with The Fund while concentrating on Development Studies at Brown University. She has assisted us with administrative, fund-raising and communication tasks, including the writing and editing of this newsletter.

Sushma has been active in community organizing and health issues. She spent three years on the Executive Board of VISIONS Worldwide, a youth-run international organization conducting HIV/AIDS education and empowerment among youth. Following graduation, she plans to work in her hometown of Miami before proceeding to graduate school for public health. Sushma promises to remain committed to the concerns of underserved communities as a means of achieving social change. The Fund has been fortunate to have had this gifted young woman on board. Her unique experiences, insights and moral vision will continue to inspire us.

Historic Roast

Al Klyberg, Photo: Courtesy of Heritage Harbor

One of Rhode Island’s premier humorists, Al Klyberg, Executive Director of Heritage Harbor and Director Emeritus of The Rhode Island Historical Society, will be roasted on September 20 at Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet to benefit The Fund and its member agencies. Al is a popular and influential figure in numerous arenas, including government, education, business, labor and the nonprofit sector. While head of The Rhode Island Historical Society for 30 years, he was active with the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame, Leadership Rhode Island, Old Harbor District Association, Rhode Island Black Heritage Society, Jewelry District Association and the Old Harbor District Planning Committee.

Al is being honored for his sensitivity to ethnically and culturally diverse communities throughout the state. His vision in the mid-1980s led to the development of Heritage Harbor, Rhode Island’s first state-wide history museum to be sited at the former Narragansett Electric complex in Providence. Heritage Harbor is a consortium of 18 organizations comprised of 11 museums exploring the heritage of Rhode Island peoples, five museums exploring distinct historical themes, The Rhode Island Historical Society, and the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame.

Creating Community Change

Social justice advocates are well aware that change occurs not over a period of months or years, but most often over decades. Imagine our delight, therefore, to open a GTech annual report subtitled, "Catalyst for Change." Or hear President Dean Holt of Fleet Bank – Rhode Island announce that his company’s charitable giving program will focus upon projects dedicated to "systemic social change." After 18 years, The Fund’s message of creating community change is being adopted locally and, our colleagues confirm, nationally.

When The Fund began to educate local employers and employees about the need to expand charity to include change, not just charity, the term "advocate" was a pejorative word. Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration, Chambers of Commerce, and other mainstream organizations applaud individuals for standing up and speaking out on public policy issues. Years ago, the words "diversity," "grassroots," "collaboration," and "shared governance" were practically unheard of, much less practiced.

If "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery," then The Fund proudly accepts its partial responsibility for this shift in the public perception of advocacy and social justice. However, we continue to challenge corporations and organizations to open their doors to The Fund for Community Progress as Rhode Island’s premier "catalyst for change" and leader in the international movement for "systemic social change."

Win a Vacation

How will a chance on a vacation to Aruba or other U.S. Airways destination help us with the Feinstein challenge? It’s simple. We’re raffling off an expense-paid trip for two. The odds of winning are great as only 2,000 tickets were printed. What’s more, whoever sells the winning ticket will win $1,000. The drawing will take place at our annual Awards event, May 1, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. at the Brown Faculty Club. For raffle tickets ($10 each) or tickets

PROGRESS is published to inform friends of The Fund for Community Progress about the activities and concerns of its member agencies. Gifts to The Fund have a definite impact on solving problems of poverty, hunger, homelessness, mental illness, housing, discrimination and other issues of injustice. PROGRESS stresses the importance of your continued support as together we "build a better community." Editor: Sashima Sheth