Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England
Since its inception in 1912, equitable accessibility has been a founding tenet of Girl Scouts troops across the country. In 2023, the Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England (GSSNE) were awarded a grant to transform the over three miles of trails at their Camp Hoffman in South Kingstown to be fully wheelchair accessible, along with acquiring 2 all-terrain wheelchairs. The grant also allowed GSSNE to further develop a trail that abuts the vernal pools located on the camp property. The vernal pools and surrounding woodlands make for a highly educational outdoor classroom that allows for hands-on exploration of the natural environment. Their goal with this part of the project is to create educational opportunities to partner with outside organizations focused on exposing urban youth to the outdoors. “We are simultaneously bettering our camps while also working to promote our work in communities where people have been historically excluded from outdoor spaces. With this project, GSSNE is able to further eliminate barriers, both physical and perceived, to provide access for historically marginalized communities throughout our region,” said Jill Martens, director of development for GSSNE.
Thundermist Health Center
With locations throughout the state, Thundermist Health Center serves over 63,000 patients each year. However, there is a significant need to provide care beyond the walls of their health centers. In 2023, they received a grant for a mobile medical unit and funding from other community partners. After a year-long design and build out, the vehicle is near ready for operation and to serve the community. Fully accessible for any patient with mobility concerns and equipped with two exam rooms, including a space for behavioral health services and a reception area, the unit will create an entry point to care for patients with complex healthcare needs. The new vehicle will allow the team to provide medical and behavioral health care to an anticipated 500 patients annually, providing care for some of the most under-served people in Woonsocket, West Warwick, and South County. Many of the patients Thundermist can now reach include patients who are unhoused and others with transportation barriers. “The ability to deliver care and meet patients where they are is helpful in establishing trusting relationships with patients. Those who remain engaged in care for prolonged periods are more likely to have better health outcomes,” said Senior Director of Philanthropy and External Affairs Jessica Null.
Segue Institute for Learning
Segue’s Academic Center for Enrichment (ACE Space) was designed to support middle school learners in a flexible learning environment. The new space builds upon previous projects that created smaller spaces for more focused science training. “With the ACE Space, the goal was to create a welcoming environment where our students could explore big ideas through various workstations, where they could create and feature their art, and where we could welcome guest speakers to enrich our academic programs” said Segue Institute principal Kevin Montoya. The ACE Space, a large room that formerly housed a church auditorium before the school acquired the property, is equipped with a library, a computer lab, art installment walls, and modular desks that can be situated based on the programming on any given day. In developing the space, teachers and administration worked together to identify changes in workforce demands and the skills their students would need to remain competitive. Rather than settle on a space with a limited focus, plans were put in place to create a space that could serve multiple functions for their students and encourage project-based learning—a methodology that research suggests is beneficial for students who may be emerging English speakers. The space is accessible to any teacher in the middle school at Segue to reserve, as well as any teacher in the Central Falls community to work on projects with their secondary level students.
Jonnycake Center of Peace Dale
For 48 years, the building at 1231 Kingstown Road in Wakefield served as a thrift store operated by the Jonnycake Center for Hope. However, with an increasing demand for after school activities, tutoring and mentoring opportunities, and a welcoming social center for the area’s youth, it was determined that this space would better serve the people of the community as a youth center. “We offered a variety of after school programs and formats at various locations around town. However, with the scheduling challenges and transitory nature of the programs, it was clear we needed a dedicated and welcoming space, where kids could get the attention they deserve,” said Kate Brewster, Chief Executive Officer of the Jonnycake Center. Repurposing this space will provide youth with access to a computer lab with printers, an area for academics and tutoring, a maker space and workshop, a recreational area, and most importantly will serve as a permanent hub which will provide a sense of normalcy and routine in their neighborhood. “Using the positive youth development model, we want to open this space to economically disadvantaged families to provide children with the tools they need to succeed, and to provide educational advocacy for parents. This space will have a huge impact in our community,” said Duran Searles, the Youth Center Director.
Beautiful Day
Over the past few years, Beautiful Day has grown exponentially, more than doubling in size and offerings. They have moved into a new space which now houses their entire operation of education and job trainings, their kitchen and packaging services, and they even host markets at which consumers can purchase different foods or crafts made by the different cohorts at Beautiful Day. With this growth comes the need for a second vehicle (they received a 2019 grant for their first) to transport products, people, and equipment to their many events. “We’re especially pleased that it’s a hybrid, making it cost effective as well as environmentally friendly,” said Rebecca Garland, director of strategic partnerships. In addition to transporting materials to markets, the new van will assist in taking youth groups to field trips, provide the women in the cohorts with safe and reliable transportation to and from Beautiful Day, and delivering food products to grocery stores. And now that both vans are wrapped with the Beautiful Day logos, they will serve as a traveling billboard bringing more attention to the organization. “They look great, and the bright colors will catch people’s attention. We have a QR code on the side of each van that people can scan to learn more about what we do. We’re creating brand recognition along with the transportation” said Roberto Romero, director of operations.
African Alliance of Rhode Island
On Bami Farm, a 6-acre community farm in Johnston, RI run by the African Alliance of Rhode Island (AARI), farmers grow a wide variety of produce to sell at farmer’s markets and take home to their communities. AARI has embarked on a project to replace their obsolete water supply system with a new efficient system that will provide on-demand access throughout the entire farm. This involved digging trenches and a well and navigating the many issues that arose from not knowing what was beneath the ground. This new state-of-the-art well supply system will replace an older system that relied on a motorized pump that pulled from a lake on the property. With the growing effects of climate change, the lake’s lower levels over recent years have proven to be a challenge, in conjunction with an old pump that often wasn’t powerful enough to deliver water to the far reaches of the farm. When asked what this new system will provide the farmers and the farm itself, AARI president Julius Kolawole offers a one-word answer—“relief. Relief, and freedom in our farming. No more worrying if the pump is broken or if the lake will have enough water to last the farming season. With the new well and aquatic system in place, our farmers can work independently, at their own pace, and on their own schedules.”
Cranston League for Cranston’s Future
The extensive renovations to both the gymnasium and the welcome area of the headquarters of Cranston Leage for Cranston’s Future (CLCF) have not only redefined their appearance, they have also redefined their place in the community. “This is really the story of how a community can come together,” says Steven Marocco, the past president of the organization. Through donations of time, money, materials, and labor, they were able to fully renovate their building and basketball court, serving over 4,000 youth from Cranston and the surrounding communities each year. Now fully ADA accessible, CLCF is able to partner with more organizations like the Special Olympics of RI to expand access to their facilities. “The most important part of this renovation is that we have the ability to meet the demands of the youth as they change—our programming isn’t static. We’re here to stay, we’ll still be relevant in 50 or 60 years,” said Steven. He also noted a sense of ownership that members have of the facility. “There’s a pride in the community, that we have a clubhouse this special, and people want to take care of it.”
OpenDoors
A former 19th century mansion on Elmwood Avenue in Providence has been reimagined and fully renovated by OpenDoors as a shelter, specifically to house women and their children. OpenDoors partners with family court and DCYF to develop referral and funding sources that will allow this particular location to focus on mothers struggling with reunification due to housing instability. In addition to the 8 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms, it has four common rooms, nine offices, a kitchen, a dining room, a children’s playroom, and a finished basement with storage. “This project will be integrated into our existing programming, including our Reentry Resource Center, Employment Program, and our upcoming Federal 2nd Chance Act grant,” said co-executive director Nick Horton. OpenDoors is the first and the largest organization in the state dedicated to helping people that have been in prison.
College Visions
Celebrating their 20th anniversary and moving their headquarters to a new building in downtown Providence, College Visions recently received a Champlin Foundation grant for Chromebooks for students in programs after school at the College Visions office, for students at the new location in Woonsocket High School, and for students taking part in their summer program. The equipment from this grant has proven to be useful throughout their many initiatives for both the academic year and the summer. Having this equipment on hand provides more flexibility in meeting students where they are, allowing them to work independently and at their own pace. College Visions served more than 600 young people in 2023-2024, providing equitable access to higher educational opportunities for all historically underserved communities. In thinking about how this grant has improved the student experience, executive director Lamont Gordon notes that with so much of the college and job application process being online, “we’re able to offer real-world exercises to more of the people we serve.”
Wood River Health
Wood River Health recently completed an extensive renovation of their Hope Valley facility, which included adding a new wing to their existing building that now houses their administrative offices, a physical therapy suite, two new medical exam rooms, expansion of their behavioral health counseling, a permanent space for the only WIC program in Washington County, new community space to expand their vibrant programming, and adding on to their dental suite. The $6M expansion began in 2021 and the Champlin Foundation has provided support over the years. President and CEO Alison Croke says, “Wood River Health has always had a positive reputation and role in our community. With this expansion, we have increased our exposure and are seen as a trusted and innovative partner to address the medical, behavioral, and dental needs of our community, as well as addressing the social determinants of health. Given the current health care workforce shortages, it is even more important for organizations like Wood River Health to grow and thrive.” Designated as a Federally Qualified Health Center and an LGBTQ+ Safe Zone, Wood River Health provides care to over 10,000 patients each year and anticipates that number to grow substantially with this new addition.