RIPR’s Talia Blake speaks with United Neighbors Executive Director Wendy Garf-Lipp and Director of Parent and Community Engagement for Fall River Schools Barbara Allard.

Six months after Hurricane Maria devastated the island of Puerto Rico, many families are still struggling to find a new place to feel at home. United Neighbors of Fall River and other human service agencies joined together to form the Hurricane Relief Coalition, and they’re saying Bienvenido or welcome to Puerto Ricans displaced by Hurricane Maria with an event May 12th. 

Wendy Garf-Lipp, United Neighbors Executive Director, is spearheading the event. It will include job fair, transitional paperwork assistance, a language translator, and more.

Rhode Island Public Radio’s Talia Blake spoke with her and Director of Parent and Community Engagement for Fall River Schools, Barbara Allard. Allard said, as of today, about 140 Puerto Rican students have enrolled in the schools.

Bienvenido event posters

Talia joined RIPR in February 2018 as the Morning Edition Producer. She graduated with a double-major in Broadcast Journalism and Psychology from the University of Central Florida. Before starting...