Every Friday, GoLocalProv takes a look at who is rising and who is falling in Rhode Island and national politics, business, culture, and sports.
This week's list includes the real GOAT, a real COVID plan, and Instagram bringing foes together.
Now, we are expanding the list, the political perspectives, and we are going to a GoLocal team approach while encouraging readers to suggest nominees for who is "HOT" and who is "NOT."
Michael Rose has the beat on one of Rhode Island's most innovative and interesting arts programs:
The pipeline for the top tier of the art world often begins in community art centers that nourish local talents. So, the importance of small independent art spaces in connecting new audiences to the arts is difficult to overstate. In East Providence, energetic community leader Jennifer Gillooly Cahoon has created a valuable and accessible center that is bringing visual art to a broad range of neighbors from her community.
Cahoon completed her undergraduate studies at Rhode Island College, where she also earned a Master’s Degree in Education. For nearly twenty years, she served as a public school art educator. Switching gears in 2017, Cahoon opened HeARTspot Art Center and Gallery in a building nearby to East Providence High School. The space is part art gallery and part educational venue, giving local artists room to show work and emerging artists room to learn about art. READ MORE HERE
SENEDIA, the consortium of defense industry companies announced the addition of two new members to its Board of Directors: former FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor, now the senior vice president and director of National Resilience Response and Recovery Programs for The LiRo Group, and Ted Curley, the president and general manager of iXblue Defense Systems, Inc. in Lincoln, R.I.
“We are pleased to have the expertise of Pete Gaynor and Ted Curley joining our incredible board of defense industry innovators,” said Molly Donohue Magee, SENEDIA executive director. “These impressive leaders have significant experience across government, defense, military, and policy, bringing critical perspective to benefit our SENEDIA member companies.”
Gaynor is an emergency management and disaster response expert who recently served as Acting Secretary of Homeland Security, FEMA Administrator, and Deputy FEMA Administrator. Ted Curley has more than 30 years of experience in defense technology and unmanned underwater vehicles. He leads a talented team of engineers and business development managers who provide the latest technology to demanding and evolving markets.
Elected officials and nonprofit executives have announced that the City of Providence has provided a $495,000 award to Crossroads Rhode Island to support a new citywide mobile diversion program for Providence residents experiencing unsheltered homelessness.
Through this intervention initiative, Crossroads Rhode Island will assist individuals currently living in places not meant for human habitation to either regain permanent housing or enter a shelter or transitional housing program. Assistance can range from financial support for costs related to securing housing to referrals for mental and behavioral health supports.
“Our city and state are facing a housing affordability crisis and a growing need for mental health and social service supports,” said Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza. “This investment is just the beginning of allocating our Providence Rescue Plan dollars to supporting the crucial work of partners like Crossroads Rhode Island, who are dedicated to serving our unsheltered neighbors. Additionally, I am thankful for partners like the Rhode Island Foundation, Downtown Improvement District and the Providence Foundation who are collaborating with us to address this critical need in our city."
Rhode Island General Treasurer Seth Magaziner this week called for increased precautions in workplaces and public spaces following news that Rhode Island posted the highest number of new cases in a single day since January 21, 2021.
"As the number of new cases and hospitalizations due to COVID-19 continue to rise, we must take smart precautions to protect the health of Rhode Islanders while keeping the economy open," said Magaziner. "I urge the Governor and all Rhode Islanders to take the recent surge in cases seriously and take appropriate action. COVID-19 is still with us, and we need every Rhode Islander to do their part – get vaccinated and sign up for your booster as soon as possible."
Magaziner laid out several proactive steps that Rhode Island should take to limit the community spread of COVID-19 while mitigating its impact on the state’s economy:
- Reinstate a universal mask mandate for all people, regardless of vaccination status, for both indoor as well as crowded outdoor settings where individuals cannot maintain at least six feet of social distancing between themselves and others not in their household.
- Allocate CARES Act funding to mitigate the statewide staffing shortages at hospitals, nursing homes, group homes, and other healthcare settings.
- Employers who can provide accommodations for employees to work remotely without impacting operations should do so as soon as possible.
- Institute a statewide vaccination requirement for all teachers and school staff.
- All eligible Rhode Islanders should sign up to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and get a booster.
The Friars won the rivalry game with URI and the only blemish on the year so far is a loss to the University of Virginia when PC shooting could not hit the side of a barn.
This could be a very exciting season for the Friars.
