News

Latest

Take two minutes of your time for the West Side

Details: Created on Thursday, 24 March 2011 12:11; Written by Kari Nel Lang

Hi Neighbors,

I know we don't all have time in our busy days for lengthy explanations so before I get into the "why" here's the "what":

Go to www.wspec.org and fill out the two minute online survey. If you've got a few more minutes, sign up for the email list and mark your calendar for Saturday's March to the Community Forum from Hudson Street Market at 8am.

Now here's the important news about what's going on in our community...

Nearly two weeks ago, the Providence Public School District and Mayor Taveras proposed closing 6 public schools. 4 of them (3 elementary and 1 middle school) serve our neighborhood.

No matter what you plan to do for your children's education, having viable neighborhood public schools on the west side has a profound impact on the health and stability of our community. Looking further into the future, supporting neighborhood schools also protects the Mayor's tax base, as residents are likely to flee an area of the city that does not have viable schools thereby driving down property values and tax revenues.

Community advocates have been telling the City and School Dept for years that our neighborhood is experiencing a baby boom and that we need to support our neighborhood public schools in order to support the health of our neighborhood and the city as a whole.

In an effort to demonstrate to the Mayor and to the school department the existence of this baby boom and the potential threat to the city's coffers, we are collecting some information.

PLEASE HELP by going to the new West Side Public Education Coalition (WSPEC) website at www.wspec.org and fill out the online survey! It will take, literally, two minutes of your time. If you have closer to five minutes you can also sign up for the mailing list to stay informed and read about upcoming events like THIS SATURDAY'S march to the community forum from Hudson Street Market at 8am.

Again, the goal is to paint a picture to the city of the children that will be disenfranchised by closing our schools. Through this survey, we hope to demonstrate the number of real children living on the West Side who will be affected by these decisions.

Collecting information is vital. Please fill out the survey even if your children do not attend Providence public schools! We need to hear from ALL members of the community on the issue of our public schools, whether you intend to send your children to public schools or not.

The groups and individuals represented by WSPEC have been working hard over the past few years to develop a plan to promote high-performing neighborhood schools on the west side which will help ALL neighbors, kids or no kids, public-school-educated or not. The stability of our neighborhood depends on having viable public school options in our community.

Make your voice count. Get involved and help save our community.

Thanks for your time and your help!

Your neighbor,

Judi Jeroslow

Calling all West Siders to come out and Walk for the West Side on Saturday!

Details: Created on Thursday, 24 March 2011 16:47; Written by Kari Nel Lang

CALLING ALL WEST SIDE NEIGHBORS!!!

PLEASE COME OUT AND MARCH FOR THE STABILITY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ON SATURDAY AT 8AM.

March to the Providence Schools Community Forum

Saturday, March 26, 2011 - 8:00am - 9:00am

Event Location:

START AT:
Hudson St. Deli 68 Hudson St
Providence, RI 02909

END AT:
Classical High School 70 Fricker Street
Providence, RI 02903

Bring your children, your neighbors, your friends! The health and vitality of our community is at stake and we need the Mayor and Superintendent to see how many of us truly care.

This week Mayor Taveras announced that he was proposing to close FOUR of our neighborhood schools: 1) Asa Messer Elementary School; (2) Asa Messer Annex; (3) West Broadway Elementary School; (4) Bridgham Middle School. The proposal wants to make Bridgham Middle School an elementary School moving the elementary school children at the Del Sesto campus (who formerly had attended the West Broadway Elementary School on Bainbridge Avenue) and at Asa Messer .

Since 2007 many neighbors and parents have worked closely with the School Department to jointly arrive at sound choices for our West Side Schools. This recent announcement has come as a blow and stands to negatively and profoundly impact the stability of our neighborhood for all. It also stands to negatively impact the tax base of Providence because parents have said they will move out of Providence West Side neighbors want a seat at the table when making decisions about our neighborhood schools and our children’s and neighborhood’s future.

This is the single most important issue facing the West Side- with effects across the entire city. Make your VOICE heard by participating in the March. We will meet at Hudson Deli at 8am and march to Classical High School for the 9am Providence Public School Department Community Forum meeting.

WSPEC, NoMADS, Project FUTURE, and the WBNA www.wspec.org

Special thanks to Equal Exchange Coffee & the Hudson Street Deli

There will also be a sign/banner making potluck party at the WBNA (1560 Westminster) tomorrow (Friday) from 5-7pm. Even if you can't make the march, we can use your help in getting ready. If you're coming to make signs, you can also bring a snack to share.

p.s. FORWARD THIS MESSAGE! HELP SPREAD THE WORD TO NEIGHBORS!

West Side Groups ask Mayor for collaboration, partnership

Details: Created on Tuesday, 22 March 2011 15:38; Written by Kari Nel Lang

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

West Broadway Neighborhood Association, 1560 Westminster Street, Providence, RI 02909

Contact: Kari Lang, 401-301-3821, 401-831-9344 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

West side groups ask Mayor for collaboration, partnership

Parents and residents offer their vision for future of community and its schools

Providence, Rhode Island – March 22, 2011 – A broad coalition of community members seeking to improve schools in the Federal Hill and West End neighborhoods have come together in response to the recent school closure announcement by Mayor Angel Taveras and Superintendent Tom Brady.

Several groups of concerned residents, including West Side Public Education Coalition (WSPEC), NoMADS (Neighborhood Moms and Dads for Schools), Project FUTURE, and the West Broadway Neighborhood Association (WBNA) gathered last week to respond to the decision, which directly impacts four schools on the West Side.

The group issues the following statement:

While we recognize the severity of the present fiscal emergency, we do not want the city to lose sight of the pre-existing educational emergency. For years, the majority of our city’s schools have been characterized as being low-performing. School buildings lack adequate facilities for 21^st century learning, and too many are in states of disrepair.

We see this fiscal crisis as an opportunity to craft a creative vision for the future of education in Providence. WSPEC, NoMADS, Project FUTURE, and the WBNA are excited to participate in the process of shaping that vision.

We understand that great schools contribute to the development of healthy, thriving communities, which in turn can strengthen the entire city. We stand ready to help make our local schools great. We hope to work with Mayor Taveras to generate cost-effective solutions that help the city meet its goals while giving our children a quality educational experience that recognizes their worth as the future citizens of Providence.

“The city and the school district can’t transform this school system alone, especially with limited resources,” says West Side resident and father of three Michael Udris. “We’d like to show them the advantages of working with a committed, creative group of parents and community members dedicated to improving our schools. Let’s put Providence on the map as a model for working together to promote quality education.”

Among the six schools that are slated to be closed or relocated in the Mayor’s proposal are Asa Messer Elementary, Asa Messer Annex, Bridgham Middle, and West Broadway Elementary – all West Side schools. We feel that our neighborhood has been disproportionately affected by this decision. We urge the city to recognize our growing school age population and ensure that West Side students will be able to attend high quality elementary and middle schools in our neighborhood.

“Mayor Taveras ran on a platform of transparency and collaboration,” says Megan Heinze, co-founder of NoMADS. “We have faith that he will see the value of working with us to deliver on that promise and help the West Side fulfill its potential as a thriving community that gives back to the city.”

In a meeting last Wednesday with Carleton Jones, Chief Operating Officer of the Providence Public School Department, and Angela Romans, Senior Adviser on Education to Mayor Taveras, the coalition requested an urgent meeting with the Mayor and Superintendent Brady. We eagerly await the opportunity to present our ideas to the Mayor and Superintendent.

Established in 1983, the West Broadway Neighborhood Association organizes neighbors and businesses on the West Side of Providence to preserve and promote their diverse, historic, urban community as a safe, vibrant and sustainable place to live, work, and play. For more information about the WBNA, please visit www.wbna.org or call 401.831.9344.

– 30 –

Come to a Party to support the Fertile Underground Grocery at 1577 Wesminster Street

Details: Created on Thursday, 03 March 2011 09:54; Written by Kari Nel Lang

Do you love LIVE healthy LOCAL food and want more of it for Providence?

On the Westside?

Do you believe in food justice and green cities? Or want to learn to grow food hands-on? Or just support sustainable living and alternative resources? Love art, music, and organicy things?

SO COME TO:

The Fertile Underground’s Kickstarter Release Party

Friday March 4^th, 7 – 10p

@109 SUMMER ST.

(off Broad St. @ Central High, big brick, entrance around back)

FEATURING THE RELEASE OF OUR KICKSTARTER CAMPEIGN TO RAISE FUNDS FOR A NEW WESTSIDE LOCAL NATURAL GROCERY!

REFRESHMENTS, VIDEO, ART, MUSIC, INSPIRED DIALOGUE…

JOIN A COMMUNAL GARDEN, OR START ONE!

EVENT IS FREE!!! AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

POTLUCK WELCOME BUT SO ARE EMPTY HANDS.

FOR MORE INFO CONTACT FERTILEUNDERGROUND@GMAIL OR CALL 401.480.6782, OR CHECK OUT FERTILEUNDERGROUND.COM

WE WELCOME NEW MEMBERS, VENDORS, FOOD STEWARDS, AND ALCHEMISTS!

, from 7 to 10 pm, at 109 Summer St. in Providence. This Kickstarter Campaign is slated to fund the build-out of Fertile Underground’s new local, natural grocery store, opening in June of 2011 at 1577 Westminster St. The store will be located in the first floor of this new green-construction building developed by the WBNA and Spurwink, Inc., and supported by a United Way Community Impact Grant. All citizens passionate about food justice, interested in the local food movement, green living, or this store are encouraged to attend. For more information contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or call (401) 480 – 6782, or check out fertileunderground.com. Admission is free, and refreshments will be potluck.

The party will feature the premier of Fertile Underground’s Kickstarter Video, an on-line fundraising venue, and serve as an informational gathering for parties interested in becoming part of the store or a member of Fertile Underground’s Communal Garden. Live music, art, and inspired dialogue are also on the agenda for the evening. The store, once open, will feature; local produce from RI Farms, including discount produce raised at the Fertile Underground Garden, fresh local baked goods, including vegan and gluten-free options, a significant bulk section with a feature on reduced packaging, and general staple and household items, all selected with a conscience from local and/or reputable sources with a mind on providing a more sustainable lifestyle to the residents of Providence’s Westside and beyond.

The Fertile Underground Garden, located at 219 Pearl St. on Providence’s Southside, is operated by the membership as a small urban farm, and functions similarly to a CSA, with the harvest being divided among the members. The cost of membership for the 2011 season is only $100 for the year, and entitles members to fresh produce and herbs on a weekly basis throughout the growing season, as well as additional membership perks. Membership will be offered at this release party, and is open through March, but is first come first serve, so don’t wait! Again, for more information contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or call (401) 480 – 6782.

West Side group finds partner for natural foods grocery

Details: Created on Wednesday, 02 March 2011 14:44; Written by Kari Nel Lang

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

West Broadway Neighborhood Association / Kari Lang at 401-301-3821, 831-9344 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dauna Noble at 401-480-6782 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

West Side group finds partner for natural foods grocery

Fertile Underground deemed “right fit” for grocery co-op in newly constructed, green retail space

Providence, Rhode Island – March 2, 2011 – The West Broadway Neighborhood Association (WBNA) has signed a letter of intent with Fertile Underground to open a healthy, affordable grocery cooperative to occupy the ground floor retail space of its newly constructed building on Westminster Street.

On a site that was once a vacant and blighted auto shop, the sparkling new mixed-use building at 1577 Westminster Street is the result of a collaboration between the WBNA and SpurwinkRI, two organizations that came together with the express purpose of creating a place that would contribute positively to the community.

Central to that partnership was a promise to residents to bring a local, affordable, natural grocery store to a community that has no grocery store and where up to 35 percent do not own a car.

Last fall, the WBNA issued a request for proposals for such a store. A group of agricultural growers that call themselves Fertile Underground emerged as the most compatible with the vision for the grocery and with the terms of a three year Community Impact Grant from the United Way awarded to the WBNA to attract and provide incentives for an urban local food cooperative initiative in this new space.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Fertile Underground,” said WBNA Executive Director Kari Lang. “Their creativity and passion for growing healthy, good food is exactly what we were looking for in a tenant. By summer neighbors will be able to walk to buy their weekly groceries which will be affordable, locally grown and healthy.”

Fertile Underground began as an artist-driven eco-collective founded in the first days of 2009. They have made gardens in vacant lots, backyards, porches, farmland, windowsills, rooftops and sidewalk strips. Their main garden, located on Pearl Street in Providence, has become a vibrant example of the impactful results that can be had through spontaneous community effort. Originally a weed-strewn home for broken cars, it now feeds and educates the neighborhood, and generates true community spirit.

As a result of the tremendous response to this work, Fertile Underground will open a grocery store with a conscience that promotes living in sync with the natural way and teaches people the truth about food. This store, located in the center of a low-income neighborhood, will be the first to offer a real-food lifestyle anywhere in our city and will support the movement nation-wide.

“This wouldn’t be possible without years of dedicated work by the WBNA and other groups in the neighborhood to open this path for us,” said Community Outreach Coordinator Dauna J. Noble. “Fertile Underground was in the unique position to answer this call, and it is the community that is rising to meet it. This is the creative community of Providence banding together to inspire and form a lifestyle we can all live with.”

Accompanying the store will be a food truck that will travel the neighborhood with its mobile kitchen. The goal is to bring good health on the road by serving natural, locally grown foods in tasty, nutritiously balanced recipes.

The 1577 Westminster Street project has become the centerpiece of the WBNA’s “SWELL” campaign that supports local food systems and community economic development. “SWELL” is an acronym for “Shop, Work, Eat and Live Local.” Anticipating an occupancy date in April and the store opening in June, the WBNA is happy to be making the intent of this campaign a reality by partnering with Fertile Underground Grocery.

To help support this effort, Fertile Underground is holding a Kickstarter party this Friday, March 4, from 7 – 10 p.m., at 109 Summer Street in Providence (fertileunderground/kickstarter.com). All are welcome. Fertile Underground is also seeking Angel Donors. Find more information at fertileunderground.com.

The grand opening party of the 1577 Westminster Street building, called the SWELL Soiree, will be held on Friday, April 1 (no joke!), from 5:30 - 9:00 p.m.

Established in 1983, the West Broadway Neighborhood Association organizes neighbors and businesses on the West Side of Providence to preserve and promote their diverse, historic, urban community as a safe, vibrant and sustainable place to live, work, and play. For more information about the WBNA, please visit www.wbna.org or call 401.831.9344.

The Fertile Underground is an agricultural artists’ initiative dedicated to creating and promoting a more sustainable urban lifestyle here in Providence, RI, and answering the call for food justice and Earth stewardship worldwide. We work to creatively dismantle the pavement that separates us from our sustenance, and reduce our dependence on over-processed, non-living food by increasing urban agriculture and reclaiming underused land to grow local, natural food. For more information please visit fertileunderground.com or call 401.480.6782