District partners with eight local non-profit organizations to improve and enrich school experience

Providence, RI - The Providence Public School District has awarded eight local non-profit organizations a total of more than $150,000 in Community Impact Grants to improve and enrich the school experience for both students and families. All funded activities are aligned with the work of the community-designed Turnaround Action Plan, which sets clear expectations for district transformation in the areas of Excellence in Learning, Engaged Communities and World-Class Talent. Grants are as follows:

• The YMCA of Greater Providence will offer a Shooting Stars Academic Program to provide afterschool literacy and math support for elementary school students.
• Inspiring Minds of Rhode Island will provide tutoring and mentoring services to elementary school students.
• The College Crusade of Rhode Island will offer bilingual transition to college curricula for families of middle school students.
• Mentor Rhode Island will create a mentor-mentee program for middle school students at DelSesto Middle School.
• Family Service of Rhode Island will launch a family care community partnership to build relationships with pre-Kindergarten and kindergarten families at Anthony Carnevale Elementary School.
• New England Basecamp will establish a school culture community team at DelSesto Middle School to support school-wide social-emotional support.
• Rhode Island for Community and Justice will pilot a community support team focused on restorative practices for youth at Central High School.
• The Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council will offer a variety of environmental education programs for the William D’Abate Elementary School community.

“We’re pleased to partner with outstanding community organizations to offer high-quality educational programs to Providence students,” said Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green. “We know students were adversely impacted by the disruption to schools caused by the pandemic and our Community Impact Grants support opportunities and experiences focused on academics and social-emotional supports that will help them not just recover but get ahead.”

“Our Community Impact Grants allow us to leverage the expertise and capacity of partner organizations that share our commitment to student success,” said Acting Superintendent Javier Montañez. “These added resources are particularly important in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and will help accelerate student learning this year.”

The grants were made possible through federal Elementary and Secondary School Relief (ESSER) Funds.