UPCOMING EVENTS

"Community & Justice Awards"
November 9, 5:30pm, RI Convention Center Rotunda, Providence. Single tickets @ $100 each.
RICJ's Annual Fundraiser. Honoring Christopher "Topher" Hamblett, founder and president of The Foundation for West Africa, and Michael D. Evora, Esq., executive director of the RI Commission for Human Rights.  Celebrate Rhode Island's diversity, philanthrophy, and community. Sponsorship levels range from $500 to $10,000.

"Dr. King's Dream and The Economic Impact of Discrimination in RI"
January 15, site & time TBA.
Celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with refreshments, cake, and an opportunity to hear and discuss the burning issue of the day.

Youth "Culture Bash"
April 2012, 6:30pm, date & location TBA Tickets $20 adult, $10 youth.
Performance. A cultural extravaganza celebrating the diversity of cultures in Rhode Island, featuring a huge variety of performance artists from all around America's smallest state.

If you're interested in learning more or have any further questions, please contact Jayme Mallindine at 401.467.1717 x100 or email leadership@ricj.org.

RECENT EVENTS

"Youth Standing Up for Peace"
September 21, 5:30pm, URI Providence Campus, Paff Auditorium. FREE.
The RICJ Youth Action Council promoted peace, nonviolence, diversity & respect for all in a multimedia performance of song, dance, fashion, video and the arts, to honor the International Day of Peace. In collaboration with the Peace Flag Project and the URI Providence Feinstein Campus.  View the photos here. 

"A Decade Later: Lost but not Forgotten"
September 10, 6:30pm, RI Wall of Hope at WaterPlace Park, Providence. FREE.
RICJ, WaterFire, and families of Rhode Islanders lost on 9/11 were honored as we renewed our commitment to peace. See coverage from the Providence Journal HERE and HERE.

RICJ's Youth Leadership Institute will be held June 24-29, 2012. 

High school youth will have the opportunity to build leadership skills, knowledge, and cultural awareness. It is a place where Delegates (Youth) explored issues of race, power and privilege; gender role expectations; community building; and nonviolent conflict resolution.

Learning occurred in interactive activities, discussion groups and workshops. Youth developed their talents and creativity throughout the weeklong camp. At their Culture Night event, parents and supporters came to witness their transition into positive young leaders. After camp they will continue practicing leadership through the afterschool Youth Action Council program.

Project Respect Youth Leadership Institute will be June 24 – 29, 2012 at Canonicus Camp and Conference Center in Exeter RI. For more information contact Jayme Mallindine, VISTA Youth Coordinator at 401-467-1717 x 100 or email at leadership@ricj.org.  For more about the camp experience, check out Skylar's video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKXojx8HKV0 .

Click here for a brochure. For the application click here.

For pictures of the camp click here. For the brochure in SPANISH click here

CONGRATULATIONS
Metcalf Diversity in the Media Honorees
May 12, 8:00am, Hotel Providence

Metcalf Awards honoring outstanding diversity journalism were presented May 12th at a breakfast ceremony at the Hotel Providence.  Our Emcee was Barbara Morse Silva of WJAR NBC 10 TV, and speakers were Howard Sutton, Dr. John McCray and Jenny Cabreja.  Established in 1998 to honor late publisher Michael Metcalf, this is the state's only award recognizing exemplary diversity journalism.  Congratulations to 2011 awardees:

DAILY*Kate Bramson, The Providence Journal, "Census bureau shows sharp rise in Hispanic-owned businesses".
WEEKLY* Mark Murphy & Contributing Writers, Providence Business News "2010 Business Women" special issue.
MONTHLY*Cynthia Glinick, Prime Time Magazine "Sappho's Fire".
RADIO*Scott MacKay, WRNI-RI Public Radio "New England's Immigration Amnesia". 
BROADCAST*Hanna Rooke, NBC 10 WJAR, "Battle Against Bullying: A 10 Town Meeting".
SPECIAL AWARD*The Writing-Video-Online Team, The Providence Journal, "Central Falls: What It Takes".

Our 2011 generous supporters were: The Providence Journal, Amica Insurance, Washington Trust, AAA-SNE, BCBSRI, International Institute,  LGC&D, NBC 10 WJAR, and (in-kind) URI-Providence Campus.  

Click here for photos!
Click to see Entry Form Guidelines.  Click for a Save the Date.

2010 COMMUNITY & JUSTICE AWARDS
RI Convention Center, Rotunda
On October 12, 2010, at RICJ's annual fundraiser we honored two Rhode Island leaders in diversity:

James Purcell, President & CEO
Blue Cross Blue Shield of RI
For his commitment to creating a corporate culture that values community and diversity in the workplace and among suppliers, for his support of health and wellness programs, innovative healthcare delivery models and the Blue Angel community service program, and for his personal commitment to RICJ's mission.

Gertrude Jones, Vice President of Community Relations, Lifespan
For fostering an environment that draws value from the diverse backgrounds and talents of the Lifespan workforce, leading its inclusion and diversity corporate strategy, increasing minority representation, and for 25 years of examplary service to her company and community.

For more than 50 years this award has honored exemplary contributions to creating a society that values all its members. 

To view photos from the Awards, click here.
To view the invitation, click here.   

Community & Justice Awards are given at a reception each fall at the RI Convention Center.  Each year we celebrate two "Leaders Making A Difference", for their outstanding service to community and philanthropic endeavors.  . 

  
Click here to enjoy pictures from the past awards events!

CLASS OF 2010
Leadership for a Future 

RICJ and the Institute for Labor Studies and Research, with support from RI AFL-CIO and WorkingRI, organized this leadership institute for emerging leaders from community, labor, religious, nonprofit and business groups.

The program combines training from recognized experts, skills practice and network-building.  The 2010 theme was "RI Public Education" with sessions on Leadership, Organizing, Public Speaking, Community Building, Lobbying, RI Government, RI Economy, Public Education, a Peoples History of RI and Understanding Your Calling.   

2010 LFAF training ran from January 22 to graduation on May 21 at the RI State House Senate Chamber.  Contact Nanda Shewmangal at 467-1717 ext. 103 for information or to sponsor a participant who otherwise could not afford the $400 program fee.  

Click here for photo galleries of LFAF. 
Click here for a Brochure & Schedule for the Class of 2010.

HUMAN RIGHTS FORUMS
Health Care & Human Rights, 12/10/09
Education & Racial Disparities, 1/17/10
Myths & Realities of Immigration, 10/27/10

Our anti-discrimination mission leads RICJ to a particular concern with those most harmed by an inadequate health care system: children, the poor, minority populations and those with serious health conditions.  We have partnered with the RI Civil Rights Roundtable to lead a series of public forums on issues of health care, education and immigration. 

The RICJ Board of Directors created a Statement of Principles for Health Care Reform on the values and outcomes that health care reform must achieve.  The statement begins, "Health care is a fundamental human right".  RICJ, the URI Providence Campus and the Providence Human Relations Commission co-sponsored a Health Care Reform Forum on Human Rights Day, December 10, at 5:00pm at the URI Providence Campus Paff Auditorium.  A thoughful, respectful dialogue ensued at the well attended forum, with Lt Gov Elizabeth Roberts, a panel of health care experts, and with video messages from our RI Congressional Delegation.

Click here for the RICJ Statement of Principles.
Click here for the Forum Program & Speakers
Click here for the Providence Journal coverage. 
Click here for photos from the Dec 10 Forum

CELEBRATE THE LIFE AND WORK OF
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
4:00pm - 6:30pm
Paff Auditorium, URI Providence Campus
80 Washington Street, Providence

The Civil Rights Roundtable presented a forum on "Racial & Ethnic Disparities in Rhode Island Education".  Join us as we celebrate Dr. King's legacy with this important opportunity to explore the challenges we face in our state to ensure equal access to a quality education for all.  A free event for education and networking, with light refreshments and a birthday cake for Dr. King.

Sponsored by the Rhode Island Civil Rights Roundtable, Rhode Island for Community & Justice and the University of Rhode Island-Providence Feinstein Campus.  Please join us for this lively, informative and inspirational event!

Click HERE for an event flyer.
Click HERE for the event program.

Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North
Documenting RI's Slave Trade History        

RICJ and Ebb Pod Productions partnered to conduct documentary film preview showings with community dialogues, prior to the film's national tv debut on PBS June 24.  Traces was also at the Sundance & Newport Film Festivals.  Contact Ann Clanton aclanton@etal.uri.edu or 467-1717 x 101 to arrange facilitated dialogues on "Traces". 

Click here for information about "Traces".
See pics from Traces screenings here. 

Roundtable's CANDIDATES FORUM

The RI Civil Rights Roundtable sponsors educational programs and forums with candidates for statewide office. Candidates respond to key questions on civil rights and social justice.  Spanish language translation and real-time captioning was available.    

Click here for a flyer from past event.    
Click here for an article about a past forum. 

JUNE 22, 2010:
PRESS CONFERENCE
RICJ Juvenile Justice Program

This collaborative program, bringing together representatives of community, courts, law enforcement, education, juvenile hearing boards, mental health and social service professionals and youth, has quietly been working on a data-driven, systems-change model to reduce the disproportionate numbers of minority juveniles in the RI juvenile justice system.  Their approach is to improve systems and policies and provide diversionary alternatives to give troubled youth needed serrvices and a better chance.  After working together over the past year and a half through a grant from the RI Justice Commission, we are now beginning to see postive change and we wanted to tell Rhode Island about this important work, our partners and successes.