Urban League of Rhode Island 

The Urban League of Rhode Island received $8,000 for its Helping Others Prosper through Empowerment Initiative, which serves people of color, including veterans and formerly incarcerated individuals. The grant provides support for career counseling, mentoring and financial fitness.

“The major outcome will be greater emotional intelligence and behavioral changes resulting from motivational empowerment related to career development and financial fitness,” said Belinda Philippe, the Urban League’s interim CEO. The training sessions will begin in February.

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Capital Good Fund

Capital Good Fund received $5,000 to offer its Financial Empowerment for Families program to 40 low-income, Black families. Participants will receive 20 hours of one-on-one coaching that covers the basics of budgeting, banking, credit, debt management and savings. In addition, families will be encouraged to eat healthy on a budget, access primary care and health insurance, reduce emergency room visits and sign up for public benefits such as food stamps.

“Clients come out of our Financial Empowerment program with a new budget, debt management plan and a whole host of other skills and tools that empower them to set and met goals and get on a path to financial and life success,” said CEO and founder Andy Posner.

Higher Ground International

Higher Ground International received $5,000 for its “Picking Up the Pieces” workforce development initiative, which serves youth and young adults of West African immigrant families living in Providence. The 6-week program will prepare people age 16-to-26 for employment and community leadership.

"This will empower young people who are at-risk, whose families have experienced the atrocities of civil war and are now struggling to adjust to their new lives. They will gain the foundational career skills necessary to become productive members of their community and sustain a high quality of life. We are grateful for the support of the Black Philanthropy Initiative as we continue to expand our work in the underserved community of West African immigrants in Providence." said CEO Henrietta White-Holder.

Refugee Dream Center

The Refugee Dream Center received $5,000 for its Refugee Adult Job Readiness Training program. By offering English classes and computer training, the initiative will prepare adult refugees from Africa and the Caribbean for self-sufficiency and employment.

“Our emphasis is on competence-based job development. Participants will learn read, write and speak functional English, operate computers at a basic level, develop job interview skills and understand workplace ethics and expectations,” said Omar Bah, founder and executive director of the Refugee Dream Center.

Rhode Island Black Business Association

The Rhode Island Black Business Association (RIBBA) received $2,000 to support its financial literacy and small business seminars.  The workshops will focus on generally accepted accounting principles customized to the needs of small business, including assessing financial status, financial reporting and disclosure and summarizing financial activity. 

“Because of lack of access to capital, most black owned businesses are self-financed with relatively low annual revenues. Poor recordkeeping is frequently cited by agencies and organizations that prepare minority businesses to apply for loans. With increased access to capital, these businesses will be in position to expand and to hire,” said RIBBA President Lisa Ranglin.