Together RI

Revising Rhode Island's funding formula

One of the hard problems we face here in Rhode Island is our school funding formula. The current system is broken, unfair, unpredictable, and insufficient. Last year, the Rhode Island Foundation and the Annenberg Institute at Brown University formed a blue-ribbon commission devoted to designing a more equitable approach to paying for public education. On January 22nd, we discussed our recommendations in a live panel discussion called Rhode Map Live: Funding the Future, Fixing the Formula. It was moderated by Dan McGowan and Steph Machado from Globe Rhode Island. This is a lightly edited recording of our discussion. Learn more about the Rhode Island Foundation at https://rifoundation.org/ [https://rifoundation.org/].

David Cicilline on Club Ambition

This week, we're doing something a little different- letting you listen in on a conversation our host, David Cicilline, had on another podcast. Earlier this year, he spoke to Victor Baez, the host of Club Ambition. His show is the most popular podcast and YouTube channel in Rhode Island. This is an edited version of their conversation. Learn more about the Rhode Island Foundation at https://rifoundation.org/ [https://rifoundation.org/].

Meet Providence Bishop Lewandowski

Providence Bishop Bruce Lewandowski says he entered the priesthood to be a missionary. So, when he got the call to become the auxiliary bishop of Baltimore, he asked, 'Are you sure you have the right person?' This year, he was promoted to become the Bishop of Providence. He joins host David Cicilline to talk about his impression of the Ocean State and his vision for serving the Providence community. Learn more about the Rhode Island Foundation at https://rifoundation.org/ [https://rifoundation.org/].

John Palfrey on the work of the MacArthur Foundation

Occasionally, the Rhode Island Foundation connects with thought leaders who are doing interesting work that might inform our efforts. We had our latest conversation with John Palfrey, the President of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Host David Cicilline interviewed him in front of a live audience last week. This is an edited version of their conversation. Learn more about the Rhode Island Foundation at https://rifoundation.org/ [https://rifoundation.org/].

Melissa Cherney on responding to the SNAP crisis

More than 140,000 Rhode Islanders rely on supplemental nutrition assistance, known as SNAP, from the federal government to buy their food. But, because of the government shutdown, they won't be getting those SNAP benefits in November. We can't let our neighbors go hungry. So, the Rhode Island Foundation is awarding one million dollars in emergency grants to address this crisis through our Community Partner Resilience Fund. And we're calling on everyone to help us match that amount to help fill in the gaps. Melissa Cherney, the CEO of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, joins host David Cicilline to talk about this crisis. Learn more about the Rhode Island Foundation at https://rifoundation.org/ [https://rifoundation.org/].