It has been an exceptional year here in Woonsocket at NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley. We’d like to take a minute to acknowledge and highlight some of the amazing work we’ve had the honor of being a part of in 2022.
One of our most valuable assets, our AmeriCorps Accessing Home department, works to bring low to moderate-income families home through partnerships with affordable housing providers throughout Rhode Island. The Accessing Home initiative, which was launched in 2016, helps Rhode Island families acquire and maintain affordable, safe, and healthy housing. Through this initiative, NWBRV partners with community development organizations, public housing authorities, and other non-profits to equip Rhode Islanders with the resources necessary to acquire and maintain affordable, high quality housing. Their work this year has been unparalleled; from publishing a newly updated, comprehensive Resident Resource Guide to participating in Sankofa Garden Earth Day cleanups hosted by West Elmwood Housing.
“AmeriCorps is at its best when we are not only meeting the needs of local communities, but when we’re also creating pathways and possibilities for our members and volunteers.”
AmeriCorps CEO Michael D. Smith.
We never lose site of the fact of our biggest aim as an organization is to generate affordable housing for Rhode Islanders. This year we’ve been proud to make huge strides in this area with two Mutual ‘Self Help’ Housing Developments, Fernwood and Ivy Place.
Employing one of our favorite homeowner techniques, self-help housing, Fernwood is built in part by the homeowners themselves in an effort to preserve affordability within the 30-unit neighborhood. Located in Pascoag, Fernwood has thus far created 22 homeownership opportunities for families. On October 27, we were joined by U.S. Senators Jack reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, Housing Secretary Josh Saal, RIHousing, funding and community partners and new homeowners, to celebrate the completion of Phase III and start of construction for Phase IV at the Fernwood ‘Mutual Self-Help’ Housing Development in Burrillville.
Earlier this fall, in partnership with federal, state, and local officials, we broke ground for a new, mixed-use, affordable workforce housing development located on Ivy Street and Taunton Avenue in East Providence, called Ivy Place. The ‘Mutual Self Help Housing’ program, USDA Rural Development’s unique and innovative initiative, gives qualified first-time homebuyers the opportunity to work under the supervision of a construction manager to help build their own homes. This ‘sweat equity’ cuts the cost of each home nearly in half, making the dream of homeownership affordable for low- to moderate-income families.
NeighborWorks is excited to offer the sweat equity model of affordable homeownership in Rhode Island. It is not for the faint hearted, but for those who are able to put in the time and effort, this is a great opportunity to own their own. The ‘Selfies’ are the State’s frontline affordable housing do-ers. We celebrate them for their grit and determination to put a roof over their heads. We also acknowledge the support of our Federal, State & local partners who make it all possible with the financing and other financial support.”
Joe Garlick, Executive Director of NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley.
In support of our HomeOwnership Center, we were thrilled to develop a new department this year at NeighborWorks, that thanks to a generous Blue Angel Community Investor grant from BCBSRI, has been able to flourish. Addressing several pressing needs on the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic, the goal of our new department is to advance the impact our community-based housing solutions to ensure financial stability and health of residents living in NWBRV’s affordable housing. In working closely with residents of all ages, NWBRV has been able to help each and every household to develop a clear plan for their time in NeighborWorks housing and act as a trusted ally connecting them with available resources. We are so grateful of everyone involved in the establishment of this new, thriving department.
One of our favorite–and tastiest!–NeighborWorks components will always be our Millrace Kitchen! From hot cocoa bombs and gourmet Belgium chocolate treats, to scratch made wood fired pizzas and fried chicken, Millrace Kitchen members have your cuisine preferences bases covered—right down to your beloved family pets! Since opening in 2017, over 40 food businesses have worked out of the kitchen space at 40 South Main Street. Kitchen members, who rent the kitchen by the hour while also utilizing cooler and/or dry storage, have the opportunity to showcase what makes their food business startup special and unique.
This year, the Millrace Kitchen celebrated our love of food all season long, ending with a festive Taste of Millrace during the Main Street Holiday Stroll! Additionally, emerging one after another from the Millrace Kitchen are several women-owned members who, after gaining the experience and customer base necessary during their time with NeighborWorks, have planted their very own culinary roots. Among these female powerhouse businesses are Providence based ice cream shop, Helado Taiyaki, Providence vegan and allergen friendly Blush Bakeshop, plant-based Warwick bakery Celebrated and Pawtucket chocolate shop Divas Dips and Gourmet Treats! We’d like to pass along our congratulations to these powerhouse businesses!
Our youth programs here at NWBRV are one of the most joyous staples of our organization. Woonsocket and NeighborWorks youth consistently bring the positivity, light and energy to our city, and we’d like to take a moment to acknowledge their hard work throughout 2022!
Always placing emphasis on the importance of the arts, we were proud our youth were a part of the newest public art installation on the streets of Woonsocket. Created by Riverzedge Arts’ Public Art Studio and funded by an Urban and Community Forestry Grant provided by the RI Department of Environmental Management, the massive sculpture, titled “Chronicles of the SS Ocean State,” is the culmination of the Woonsocket Tree Project.
This summer, in collaboration with two local artists, Gabrielle Lopez and Joyce Kutty, students designed and painted a mural on NeighborWorks’ beloved C3 Center fence. The newly completed mural, which lines the basketball court and main parking lot, truly encapsulates the heart and soul of the C3 Center. The end result of the project was a beautiful design comprised of colorful bubbles and silhouettes of students engaged in typical C3 Center activities; including basketball, soccer, cooking, baking and knitting.
We’d also like to give a nod to our Sure Track to College program. NeighborWorks’ Sure Track to College provides personalized guidance to high school and college aged students. The program prepares students for the future by devising long term goals and providing the instrumental small steps necessary to achieve them. For many Woonsocket students, the Sure Track to College program fills a crucial gap in the education system. We’d like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to CVS for their CVS Charity Classic award, as their $10,000 donation, received this past December, allowed our NeighborWorks’ team to continue progressing Sure Track students on their own personal journeys to higher education throughout 2022.
And last, but most definitely not least, we’d like to highlight the impact that music has on our city. We are so proud to have been able to bring multiple free, live music opportunities to Woonsocket in 2022, and would like to thank everyone who helped make these opportunities possible. Our 5th annual Levitt AMP Woonsocket Music Series was named the Best FREE Outdoor Concert Series in Rhode Island by Rhode Island Monthly, a huge honor that we couldn’t be more excited about. The summertime series, which occurred Friday nights from June through August at River Island Art Park in Woonsocket, delivered acts ranging in musical genres, from Pop and Reggae to Americana and Zydeco. Every week, concert attendees were greeted by food trucks, local craft vendors, cultural activities, and an on-site bar provided by Ciro’s Tavern.
I could not be more proud of the Levitt AMP Woonsocket Music Series community. To everyone who attends our shows, every musician who’s performed on our stage, every food and craft vendor, the nonprofits who pop up to share resources, to each and every person who has volunteered their time to make this series possible, to the sponsors who financially support the Series year after year, and to the thousands of people who voted to bring free music to Woonsocket – CONGRATULATIONS! In just 4 short years, you’ve created Rhode Island Monthly’s Best FREE Concert Series in the State of Rhode Island. It’s a dream to be a part of this community.
Meg Rego, NWBRV Director of Resource Development & Communications
Additionally this year, we were thrilled to run a five-week Millrace Music Series! This series was ( as always!) outdoor, family-friendly and FREE; held from Friday, October 21 through Friday November 11. Music enthusiasts were able to enjoy live music on the patio while sampling wood-fired pizza from Pizza Magic. We were so honored to share our multifaceted Millrace Kitchen and Patio space with everyone, and would like to extend our sincere gratitude to area partners, LISC, RI Commerce and Citizens Bank. Without their generosity and involvement, opportunities like this wouldn’t be possible.
On behalf of our whole team here at NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley, thank you for a FABULOUS 2022 and cheers to a healthy, happy and homey 2023!
