PROVIDENCE – The Rhode Island Foundation has announced that it has awarded nearly $400,000 in grants to community-based projects across the state that create bonds between people.
"In a time when division seems to rule, it’s never been more important to support work that brings people together," David N. Cicilline, the foundation’s president and CEO, said in a news release announcing the awards. "Our hope is that every one of these projects will strengthen the bonds that bind us together as neighbors and as Rhode Islanders."
Sixty-three projects in 18 cities and towns received grants. The maximum amount was $10,000.
Some of the most interesting work the grants go to support:
Grant recipients include the Contemporary Theater Company in South Kingstown, which received $10,000 to help stage the three-day Ocean State Black and Funny Improv Festival; the South County Museum in Narragansett, which got $5,000 to support a community quilt project; and the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council in Providence, which received $7,500 to develop pollinator gardens.
Five pollinator garden beds with native plants have already been built and planted in Donigian Park off Valley Street in Providence's Olneyville neighborhood, according to India Jencks, TerraCorps community engagement coordinator at the council.
"We've already seen a lot of butterflies coming through. We've seen lots of bumblebees," Jencks said in an interview.
Established in the early 1990s, the council's stated mission is to "create positive environmental, social and economic change by revitalizing the Woonasquatucket River, its greenway and its communities."
The gardens support bees and other insects, which in turn pollinate plants, Jencks noted.
"These insects will transport pollen all over Rhode Island," Jencks said.
The gardens also beautify the park, giving people a place to enjoy, while providing lessons in the importance of native plants and the role of pollinators, she said.
How have the gardens brought the community together?
Dozens of people have helped develop the gardens and continue to work on them, Jencks said. The council took on the project after community members said they wanted the gardens, she said.
"It's always better with lots of community involvement," Jenks said.
Staff at the University of Rhode Island helped pick out plants that would attract butterflies and bees. An Olneyville organization called Building Futures, which runs apprenticeship programs for building and other occupations, helped build the garden beds. The building plans, with cost estimates, are shared with anyone who might want to make their own pollinator garden, Jencks said.
A volunteer day is planned for Sept. 28. Jencks says the gardens gives people a good opportunity to "get their hands dirty," beautify the property and have a positive impact on the neighborhood.
From gardens to and pollinators to Latino dance workshops
Another grant recipient is Conexion Latina Newport, which got $5,000 to add mini-workshops in Latin dance, Latino music and other Latino arts- and culture-related experiences to its Festival Latino on Sept. 21.
The group's executive director, Rebekah Gomez, told the Rhode Island Foundation, "While last year’s Festival Latino was focused on bringing the Hispanic community together, this year we plan to put more emphasis on inviting non-Hispanics to join in the celebration, to learn more about their beauty and culture, participate in the activities and truly build a holistic understanding of their Hispanic neighbors."
Other recipients include the Coalition Center for Environmental Sustainability in Providence, Borders Farm Preservation in Foster, the African Alliance of R.I. in Providence, Crossroads Rhode Island in North Kingstown, Friends of Canonchet Farms in Narragansett, Good Neighbors in East Providence, House of Hope in Warwick and the Greenville Public Library.
To see a list of every organization that received a grant, visit rifoundation.org/community .
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Building bonds: RI Foundation announces some $400k in grants for community projects
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