Amid nationwide protests last summer over racial injustice, a small, mostly white Rhode Island school district created an Anti-Racism Task Force, to begin looking at the issue of race closer to home. The move sparked a contentious, ongoing community conversation about systemic racism.
In The Spotlight
Posted inArticle, Arts And Culture, Newport Bureau
‘It’s going to look different’: What to expect at Newport’s music festivals this summer
Newport’s iconic folk and jazz festivals are returning to Fort Adams State Park this summer, after being canceled last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This time around, Newport Folk will be split into two three-day events. Tickets go on sale Tuesday morning. Reporter Antonia Ayres-Brown spoke with Jay Sweet, the executive producer of Newport […]
Posted inEpisode
Special Encore: The Last Jewish Bakery In Rhode Island
Murray Kaplan learned how to bake from his father, who learned how to bake from his father, who started the family bakery in 1917 after coming over from Russia. After this weekend, Murray will officially be retired.
Posted inArticle
A domestic violence survivor’s story of ‘becoming whole again’ during the pandemic
Calls to domestic violence helplines jumped this past year in Rhode Island. And the isolation sparked by the pandemic has also been challenging for many survivors of domestic violence who have left abusive relationships. Among those survivors is Leah, who ended an abusive, 21-year marriage just as the state was shutting down last spring. This […]
Posted inArticle, Health
Domestic violence advocates describe increased demand for support services during pandemic
Rhode Island saw a surge in calls to domestic violence helplines in 2020, as people were directed to stay home to prevent the spread of COVID-19. As much of the state reopens, domestic violence prevention advocates say the need for support services remains high.
Posted inArticle
‘God Talks to an Agnostic’: A conversation with creator Don Mays
Don Mays is a writer, director and actor who’s produced and directed a handful of films and plays. Most recently, he’s the writer and director of ‘God Talks To An Agnostic’, a 12-part audio play that examines the role of religion in Black families. He spoke with reporter Ana Gonzalez about his work.
Posted inArticle, Health, Newport Bureau
‘We need it down here’: Newport races to vaccinate Latino residents
Newport now has one of the highest rates of new COVID-19 cases in the state, with a particularly worrying uptick in the Hispanic and Latino community. City officials and community groups are racing to get vaccines in the arms of high-risk residents, who some worry weren’t adequately prioritized by the state’s early vaccination strategy.
Posted inArticle, Education, Metro Desk
Pandemic takes toll on R.I. home-based child care providers
Home-based child care providers in Rhode Island faced increased costs, declining enrollments and closures during the pandemic, on top of long-standing staffing and pay issues. That worries advocates concerned about an already fragile, but vital support service in often-underserved communities.
Posted inArticle, Health, Newport Bureau
Newport pushes to vaccinate Latino residents, as community faces rise in COVID-19 cases
A pop-up vaccination clinic in Newport on Wednesday is targeting the city’s Hispanic and Latino community, as well as BIPOC residents and other communities of color. Advocates say they’re worried by an uptick in cases among Latino residents — and by low vaccination rates among this community.
Reporter Antonia Ayres-Brown sat down with Rebekah Gomez and Yolanda MacÃas, of Conexión Latina Newport, a local group that supports and advocates for Hispanic families.
Posted inArticle, Newport Bureau
‘We don’t want to lose anyone else’: The push for safety barriers on Rhode Island’s bridges
A coalition of residents, mental health advocates, and lawmakers is calling on the state to install safety measures to prevent suicides on the three largest Narragansett Bay bridges. Among those behind the push are two local residents who have been talking about bridge safety for the last five years to anyone who would listen.
