RI Foundation awards $120K to local nonprofits through Black philanthropy fund

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — The Rhode Island Foundation has awarded over $120,000 to 24 nonprofits that provide services to Rhode Island’s Black community through its Black Philanthropy Bannister Fund.

The Fund has given more than $1.2 million in grants and scholarships to local organizations since it was established in 2007 as a portion of the Rhode Island Foundation’s support for Black Rhode Islanders.

In a release, the Foundation highlighted four organizations that received grants: FirstWorks, Juneteenth RI, Rhode Islanders Sponsoring Education (RISE) and the Southside Community Land Trust.

• FirstWorks will use its grant to fund arts-integrated education programming focused on students of color in Providence, Central Falls, Pawtucket, and Newport.
• Juneteenth RI plans to create an exhibit exploring the local impacts of slavery on those who experienced it.
• RISE will put its grant to use by providing mentoring and support services for about 90 children whose parents are incarcerated.
• The Southside Community Land Trust’s funding will go toward giving teens of color practical work experience at the organization’s community farms in Pawtucket and South Providence.

The Black Philanthropy Bannister Fund also offers scholarships for Black students pursuing careers in health care. The deadline to apply is April 15.

The other local organizations that received funding are listed alphabetically below.

• AS220 is a nonprofit community arts organization in downtown Providence that focuses on providing affordable access to galleries, performance venues, and studios.
• Center for Women & Enterprise: Rhode Island’s Center for Women and Enterprise is partnered with the United States Small Business Administration and offers consultations, workshops, and networking opportunities for women entrepreneurs.
• College Visions guides low-income and first-generation college students through the application and admissions process.
• Youth participating in DownCity Design‘s programs have built more than 100 permanent amenities for public spaces in and around Providence, including community gardens, outdoor classrooms, and play structures.
• Everett is a performing arts company that focuses on teaching and mentoring young artists in theater, dance, music, and video.
• The Genesis Center provides adults with education, job training, and workforce development opportunities.
• Habitat for Humanity of Greater Providence focuses its local efforts on constructing safe, affordable housing for residents of Greater Providence and the East Bay area.
• Haus of Codec helps displaced and homeless young people between the ages of 18 and 24 access housing, care, and social services.
• Higher Ground International was founded to help Liberian and West African immigrants and refugees in Rhode Island access services within their community.
• A Leadership Journey allows underserved youth of color to explore domestic and international culture through travel.
• Mini Entrepreneurs of Rhode Island teaches children the fundamentals of entrepreneurship.
• Oasis International, Inc. is concentrated in Providence’s West End, Elmwood, Upper Southwest Providence, Lower Southwest Providence, and Washington Park neighborhoods, where it offers business assistance and cultural activities for African immigrants.
• Providence Promise encourages the families of Providence Public School and Charter School students to open college savings accounts and provides education on financial literacy.
• The Providence Student Union is made up of students in Providence schools who advocate for improvements in their schools and their communities.
• The Rhode Island Black Storytellers bring awareness, appreciation, and application of the oral art form that is Black storytelling to communities of all types in the Ocean State.
• The Rhode Island Slave History Medallions is an organization dedicated to documenting the history of slavery in Rhode Island.
• The Rhode Island Black Business Association provides business development resources for Black- and minority-owned businesses in Rhode Island.
• The Venture Cafe in Providence connects local business owners, entrepreneurs, innovators, and investors to help create thriving business partnerships.
• WattsNatural Tutoring offers affordable, equitable tutoring services to students and families of all times.
• Women’s Refugee Care is an advocacy center for African refugees in Rhode Island with a focus on women’s rights and gender equality.