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About the WBNA
History PDF Print E-mail
Tuesday, 19 February 2008 01:55
The WBNA began in 1983 in a living room on Chapin Avenue.  Four neighbors were tired of the lack of services the West Broadway/Armory District received and decided to bring neighbors together to advocate for city attention and positive change.  In 1992, the WBNA incorporated as a 501c(3).  Today, the WBNA has a full-time executive director, a large volunteer network, an active board, a membership of over 250 households and businesses, and an interesting headquarters in a renovated gas station.  In recent years, the WBNA has brought in over $11 million to the neighborhood for infrastructure and public buildings.  The WBNA has demonstrated the power of grassroots organizing.  The impact of the WBNA can be seen in the neighborhood through renovated homes, repaired sidewalks, planted trees, and a stronger sense of community among neighbors, many of whom are involved in creating positive change and revitalization. 
Last Updated on Friday, 06 March 2009 06:34
 
Our Mission PDF Print E-mail
Written by administrator   
Thursday, 12 May 2005 17:16

The WBNA organizes neighbors and businesses on the West Side of Providence to preserve and promote our diverse, historic, urban community as a safe, vibrant, and sustainable place to live,work, and play.

WBNA -- in partnership with other organizations, businesses, and officials seeking to improve the City of Providence -- works to:

  • Provide neighbors with resources to solve community problems and opportunities to become a powerful voice in neighborhood planning and development
  • Strengthen relationships among neighbors to build community and civic involvement
  • Reflect the diversity of the West Side in the organization's leadership and membership
  • Promote a strong sense of pride and place
  • Maintain economic diversity in the neighborhood
  • Create and maintain a safe and clean neighborhood
  • Protect our parks, and return trees and green space to our neighborhoods
  • Advocate for equitable municipal and state policies and services for the West Side
  • Preserve the urban and historic fabric
  • Guide new development to complement the existing built environment
  • Develop renovation and infill projects for residential, commercial, and mixed-use properties that conform to the West Side Overlay District
  • Nurture local businesses and sustainable mixed-use development on the West Side's main streets

2012 WBNA Board of Directors

  • President: David Lawless, West Fountain Street
  • Vice President: Elaine Collins, Messer Street
  • Vice President: Manuel Cordero Alvarado, Hammond Street
  • Secretary: Matthew Murphy, University Avenue
  • Treasurer: John West, Messer Street
  • Susan Dupre, Brighton Street
  • Sara Emmenecker, Slocum Street
  • Greta Geiselman, Chapin Ave
  • Marcillia Huguley, Bridgham Street
  • Carey Jones, Vinton Street
  • Phidias Mendez, Westminster Street
  • Lauren Sanford, Chapin Street
  • Jennifer Shimkus, Parade Street
  • Jennifer Spaziano, Grove Street
  • Casey Spencer, Messer Street
  • Yarrow Thorne, Hudson Street
  • Patrick Ward, Florence Street
Last Updated on Wednesday, 11 January 2012 15:41
 
Important Numbers PDF Print E-mail
Written by Administrator   
Monday, 14 January 2008 12:53

Federal Government

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse

170 Westminster St. Suite 1100
Providence, RI 02903

Office: 401-453-5294
Fax: 401-453-5085

502 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Office: 202-224-2921
Fax: 202-228-6362

Senator Jack Reed

1000 Chapel View Blvd, Suite 290
Cranston, RI 02920

Office: 401-943-3100
Fax: 401-464-6837

728 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Office: 202-225-2735
Fax: 202-224-4680

Representative James Langevin

300 Centreville Rd. Suite 200 S
Warwick, RI 02886

Office: 401-732-9400
Fax: 401-737-2982

109 Cannon House Office Building
Washington D.C. 20515

Office: 202-225-2735
Fax: 202-225-5976


State Government

Governor Lincoln Chafee

Office of the Governor
State House, Room 115
Providence, RI 02903

Office: 401-222-2080
Fax: 401-222-8096

Senator Paul Jabour (District 5)

State House, Room 317
Providence, RI 02903

Office: 401-222-4541

Senator Harold Metts (District 6)

31 Tanner Street
Providence, RI 02907

401-272-0112

Senator Juan Pichardo (District 2)

Representative Michael A. Tarro (District 8)

433 Broadway
Providence, RI 02909

Office: (401) 272-8300
Office: (401) 272-5060

Representative Anastasia Williams (District 9)

32 Hammond St
Providence, RI 02909

Office: 401-272-8135


City Government

Mayor Angel Taveras

City Hall
25 Dorrance Street
Providence, RI 02903

Office: 401-421-7768

Councilman Bryan Prncipe (Ward 13)

City Council Office
25 Dorrance Street Room 310
Providence, RI 02903

Email: Ward13@providenceri.com
Office: 401-521-7477

Councilwoman Sabina Matos (Ward 15)

City Council Office
25 Dorrance Street Room 310
Providence, RI 02903

Email: Ward15@providenceri.com
Office: 401-521-7477


Other Important Numbers

WBNA

Office: 401-831-9344
Fax: 401-831-0388
wbna@wbna.org

Providence Police

Main: 401-272-3121

West Side Community Police
200 Cranston St
Office: 401-243-6940

Lt. Luis San Lucas
Cell: 401-243-6940

City Hall

Main: 401-421-7740

Department of Neighborhood Services
Office: 401-421-7768

Department of Planning and Development
Office: 401-421-4300

Historic District Commission
Office: 401-421-4300

Department of Inspection and Standards
(residential and West Side Overlay code violations)
Office: 401-421-7740

Last Updated on Wednesday, 04 January 2012 11:37
 
Awards PDF Print E-mail
Written by Administrator   
Tuesday, 05 January 2010 20:54

 

About the Awards

The WBNA presents awards at the Annual Meeting, held in January. While there are some awards that are given regularly, the WBNA also awards special recognition when the Board deems necessary. The following awards are given annually.

 

Ken and Rebecca Philips Award

This award is WBNA's highest and most prestigious award. It is not given out lightly and is only given when someone comes along that has done outstanding service to the neighborhood. Ken and Rebecca Phillips were board members in the 1980s who brought the WBNA to a new level, they organized and professionalized the organization. They went above and beyond for the neighborhood and for the WBNA. This award is only given out when there is someone who does that.

 

Rick Rembijas Outstanding Volunteer Award

Formerly named the Outstanding Volunteer Award, this award was renamed in 2010 to honor the late Rick Rembijas for his outstanding service to the community. The award is presented to an individual or group in recognition of voluntary service to the community or to the WBNA.

 

Outstanding Business Award

Presented to businesses in recognition of service to the neighborhood or WBNA.

 

Neighborhood Action Award

Presented to an individual or group in recognition of their leadership in organizing the community around a particular issue to improve the West Side.

 

Municipal Award

Presented to a civil servant in recognition to the neighborhood or WBNA.

Elected Official Award

Presented to an elected official in recognition to the neighborhood or WBNA.

 

2011 Awards

Ceremony held at Providence Hmong Church

Rick Rembijas Outstanding Volunteer Award - The Bodner Family

Outstanding Business Award - John Richard and The Avery

Community Development Award - Dexter Training Ground Playground Rebuild Planning Team

Neighborhood Action Award - Josh Gigantino and the Crime Watch in the Column Google Group

Municipal Award - Lt. Luis San Lucas

 

2010 Awards

Ceremony held at Providence Career and Technical Academy

Rick Rembijas Outstanding Volunteer Award - Alex Smith Bourget, Shery Principe, Kathleen Rehder

Outstanding Business Award - Mike Sears

Outstanding Business Award - E&O Tap

Outstanding Business Award - Seven Stars Bakery

Neighborhood Action Award - West Side Tree Planters: Tod Damon, David Udris, Christopher Utter

Municipal Award - Yvonne Graf

Elected Official Award - Senator Paul Jabour

 

2009 Awards

Ceremony held at Public Safety Complex

Outstanding Volunteer Award - Vinnie Bucci

Outstanding Business Award - Loie Fuller's

Neighborhood Action Award - Greater Knight Street Neighbors

Neighborhood Action Award - Neighbors for Neighborhood Design

Ken and Rebecca Phillips Award - Filomena Lupo

 

2008 Awards

Ceremony held at Central High School

Outstanding Volunteer Award - Chris Good & Robyn Ericsson, William Atwater, Wil Yoder

Neighborhood Action Award - Save Our Schools Coalition

Municipal Service Award - Mayor Cicilline

State Service Award - Robert Brunelle

Outstanding Business Award - Classic Café

 

2007 Awards

Ceremony held at Phoenix Dragon

Elected Official - Representative Anastasia Williams

Municipal Award - Francisco Ramirez

Outstanding Volunteer Award - Baruch Sachs

Outstanding Business Award - Nicks on Broadway

Outstanding Business Award - Citizens Bank

 

2006 Awards

Ceremony held at Providence Public Safety Complex

Community Service Award - West Side Arts

Ken and Rebecca Philips - Award: Deming Sherman

Special Recognition Award for Adaptive Re-Use and Community Development Project - West Elmwood Housing Development Corporation for Westfield Lofts (former Rau Fastner building), and Armory Revival Company for Pearl Street Lofts

Municipal Award - City of Prov. Department of Art, Culture and Tourism for Neighborhood Performing Arts Initiative

Non-Profit Business Award - Partnership for Creative Industrial Space

Preservation/Beautification Award - Dr. Cervone

 

2005 Awards

Ceremony held at Cranston Street Armory

Community Service Award - Gerry Collins

Community Service Award - Laura Mullen of Pinpoint Studio

Business Award - Parade Street Farmer's Market

Business Award - Joann Seddon and the Decatur Lounge.

Advocate Award - Mark Liberati of Liberati and Peretti LLP.

Elected Official Award - Representative Steven Costantino.

 

 

2004 Awards

Ceremony held at WBNA Design House

Community Service Award - Kari Zeigler and Linda Carlson

Public Servant Award - Lieutenant Anthony Sauro Patrolman Janis Noel, Patrolman  Chris Owens

Business Award - West Seven Merchants Association

Special Recognition Awards - Outstanding Contribution to Revitalization: Adler's Hardware and Gasbarro's Liquor

 

 

2003 Awards

Ceremony held at Najarians

Community Service Award - Vinnie Bucci, Paul Caswell, Grant Dahlgreen

Public Servant Award - James Baum, Linda Caldarone, Steve Dambruch AND  Bill Ferguson

Business Award - White Electric Coffee

Special Recognition - Columbus Theatre

Ken & Rebecca Philips Award - Peter Bramante, Janet Keller, and Gerry Roy

 

 

2002 Awards

Records have been lost for these awards. Please help us if you can!

 

 

2001 Awards

Elected Official Award - Senator Frank Caprio

Volunteer Award - Tacey Hellewell for Kids Activity Day and Margaret Richmond & Maria for Girl Scouts at the WBNA

Municipal Award - Jon Ozbek, Principal Planner, Department of Planning and Development

Business Award - Armando Nievez, Armando's Meat Market

 

2000 Awards

Elected Official Award - John Lombardi

Municipal Award - Bob McMahon et al on parks team

Outstanding Volunteer Award - Joyce and Roland Landry, participation, help, bulk mailings

Outstanding Volunteer Award - Judy Wood, Meg Denton, Cyd McKenna, Andrea Sims, Tony Silva (playground rebuild committee)

Outstanding Business Award - Jephry's Floral Studio

 

 

1999 Awards

Elected Official Award - Joan DiRuzzo

Ken and Rebecca Phillips Award - Nancy Courtney & Jim Quinn, Hudson Street Market

Municipal Official Award - Joe Elliot

Outstanding Volunteer Award - Gerry Roy

Outstanding Business Award - Chris and John Tavanian

 

 

1998 Awards

John Lombardi for his advocacy, availability and bond money

Steven Costantino for going above and beyond for the Armory

Susie Prouty for monthly youth activity program and continued work for youth through festival

Julie Van Noppen for West End Festival

Martina Windels for Armory Bash (special event fund raising for WBNA single handedly)

Fleet Bank for calendar

Tom Zincone and Rick Piccirillo, Community Police for quality of life issues

Carrie Marsh for service to WBNA

Chris Good for service to WBNA

Thom Deller, support

Bell Street Chapel for hosting us for 15 years and for continuing partnership

Tony and Nancy Freitas of JKL Engineering for their leadership role in the reuse of vacant and decrepit buildings into commercial, viable spaces that follow the vision for Westminster Street

Ken and Rebecca Phillips for their service to the community and WBNA

 

 

1997 Awards

Sally Spadaro, State of RI for help with Armory

Tony and Nancy Freitas for redevelopment of Westminster Street property

Christian Stolte for pro bono graphics

Kristen Kiley for pro bono graphics

Keith Lescarbeau for gas station renovation above call of duty

Julian's restaurant for new business in neighborhood

 

 

1996 Awards

Lesley Urgo and John Campanini, Trees

Cool Cats Café, business

Glen Buie and Virginia Branch, WBNA Headquarters

Ann Hill, long time service and efforts for community

PPS Revolving Fund, loan, technical and housing, preservation efforts in this community

Rosemary Milburn and Andy Barrett, 27 Sycamore Street restoration

 

 

Last Updated on Wednesday, 11 January 2012 15:28
 


Join the WBNA!

The WBNA organizes neighbors and businesses on the West Side of Providence to preserve and promote our diverse, historic, urban community as a safe, vibrant, and sustainable place to live, work, and play.

Upcoming Events

Tue Feb 07 @ 7:00PM - 08:00PM
WBNA Community Development Committee
Fri Feb 10 @ 6:00PM - 11:00PM
FUN-A-DAY
Sat Feb 11 @ 6:00PM - 11:00PM
FUN-A-DAY