All Entries Tagged With: "philanthropy"
Middle School STEM Expo to Connect Industry with 125 Girls from 4 RI Schools
WHEN: Friday, November 4, 2015 – 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
WHERE: The Rhode Island STEAM Center at Rhode Island College
600 Mount Pleasant Ave, Providence, RI 02908
Opening Remarks: Student Union Ballroom
Workshops: To take place throughout campus
WHAT: Tech Collective’s STEM in the Middle career expo aims to raise awareness and participation in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields at the middle school level. Students will attend three hands-on interactive STEM workshops throughout the morning. The workshops are designed and facilitated by female industry professionals, RIC faculty and high school girls (new this year!) from Wm. Davies Career and Technical High School (Lincoln) and North Kingstown High School. Workshop topics include: computer science, cosmology, biotechnology, engineering, environmental science and engineering, marine science, wearable technology and laser printing.
WHO: STEM in the Middle will welcome an expected total of 125 students and 9 educators from 4 Rhode Island middle schools: Sophia Academy (Providence, RI), Woonsocket Middle School(Woonsocket, RI), Paul Cuffee Middle School (Providence, RI) and Calcutt Middle School(Central Falls, RI).
Participating companies and organizations include: Amgen, Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Dassault Systemes Simulia, Ocean Exploration Trust (URI), NASA, Fidelity Investments, Hasbro, RI State Police, TEALs, and RI College. New this year – two of the hands-on sessions will be facilitated by high school girls and not industry professionals
STEM in the Middle is funded through a Real Jobs Rhode Island grant and is sponsored byIBM and Dassault Systemes Simulia and the STEAM Center at RI College.
WHY: Educators and industry commonly agree that students need to be exposed to STEM awareness and engagement at a young age. Middle school age is often recognized as a turning point, where adolescence begins and the pressures of peers and education increase. Students – particularly girls – can shy away from STEM due to gender stereotypes or a lack of awareness and perceived opportunities. STEM in the Middle’s mission is to erase these barriers through raising awareness and increasing opportunities for and participation of young women in the sciences.
Looking for something to do this Summer? Love music? Read on!
WATERFRONT PRODUCTIONS AND CITY OF PROVIDENCE ANNOUNCE
THE PROVIDENCE EVENT SERIES PRESENTED BY
ROB LEVINE & ASSOCIATES, THE HEAVY HITTER®
AT THE ALEX AND ANI CITY CENTER
– Tickets to go on sale for all events this Friday, June 24th –
The Providence Event Series presented by Rob Levine & Associates, the Heavy Hitter®, will feature country singer-songwriter Chase Rice on Friday, August 19th whose 2014 CD, Ignite The Night, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top County Albums. The Celtic Rock Festival, featuring the musical star of Riverdance, founding member of Cherish the Ladies and Grammy award winning fiddle player, Eileen Ivers, as well as Tartan Terrors, The Town Pants and Pendragon, is up next on Saturday, September 10th . Ziggy Marley, multi Grammy award winner and eldest son of reggae legend, Bob Marley, will take the stage on Friday, September 23rd and then the 24th annual International Oktoberfest featuring seasonal brews, savory German cuisine and live Bavarian music on the weekend of September 24th and 25th , an earlier date for this popular annual festival. More events will be announced in the coming weeks.
“We want to thank the City of Providence for helping us bring an open air event series to downtown this summer and fall,” said Michele Maker Palmieri, President and CEO of Waterfront Productions. “When identifying unique venues, the ALEX AND ANI City Center presented a dynamic urban setting in the heart of the city which is sure to bring a vibrant energy to our events. Our focus was on a well-rounded entertainment schedule to attract a variety of audiences and demographics to downtown.” Palmeiri noted that there are plans to add a few other events to the line-up with details to be announced soon.
“Providence is known for its arts and culture scene and the Alex and Ani City Center serves as the perfect venue to display the creative passion of our City,” said Mayor Jorge Elorza. “Located in the heart of our downtown neighborhood, I look forward to a diverse summer concert series throughout the season and encourage visitors to explore all that the Creative Capital has to offer while they are here.”
For more information, please visit www.riwaterfrontevents.com or contact Michele Maker Palmieri, President and CEO of Waterfront Productions, LLC via email at mmaker@newportwaterfrontevents.com or call (888) 900-8640, Ext. 709. To receive future Rhode Island Waterfront Events and Newport Waterfront Events announcements, pre-sale opportunities or exclusive packages, sign up at riwaterfrontevents.com and become a fan on Facebook at facebook.com/waterfrontevents, Instagram and Twitter.
Johnnie C. Chace Named Family Service of RI Philanthropy Director
Johnnie C. Chace, of Providence, has joined non-profit Family Service of Rhode Island as its Director of Philanthropy. She brings a depth of experience in fundraising and non-profit management. Her background includes: being a founding board member of RISE; serving for many years on the board of the Gordon School; and serving for a number of years on the boards of Trinity Rep, Save the Bay, the Downtown Parks Conservancy, the Southside Community Land Trust, the Wolf School, and the Marion Institute.
In the 1990s she co-chaired the capital campaign moving the Children’s Museum from Pawtucket into more spacious quarters in Providence’s Jewelry District; in the early 2000s she was part of a $25 million capital campaign for Crossroads; and in 2010 and 2012 she served as Save the Bay’s development committee chair.
“Johnnie Chace is well-known for her tireless and creative efforts in the non-profit world and beyond,” said Margaret Holland McDuff, Family Service of Rhode Island’s CEO. “She will be critical to our efforts to improve the overall health and well-being of the communities we serve through high impact partnerships and high quality innovative programs.”
“I am delighted to welcome Johnnie to our team,” said Stephen Hourahan, Family Service of Rhode Island’s Chief Advancement Officer. “Her connections to the giving community are strong, and will serve to raise the dollars to ensure the continuation and creation of innovative programs serving the neediest Rhode Islanders.”
Ms. Chace’s public appointments include the Providence Tourism Council from 2011 to 2013, and the Rhode Island State Council for the Arts from 1986 to 1988. She has also been active in political fundraising, including raising money for President Barack Obama.
She’s formerly a principal at real estate development company Cornish Associates, a recognized leader in the preservation of the downtown Providence Historic District, and shared a Grow Smart Rhode Island honor in 2012 for redevelopment efforts in downtown Providence
She has a bachelor of arts degree in Asian studies from Hamilton College, Clinton, New York, and is a candidate for a master’s degree in environmental policy from the New School, in New York, New York.
To Give is Far Better Than to Receive
by Michael Brito
What does the saying, “to give is better than to receive” really mean? Maybe we should look back to our own way of conducting business for a deeper understanding of why we went into business in the first place. When we had that first idea that being an entrepreneur was real, achievable and nothing was impossible…then shortly after we heard that first “no.”
We will always need others to make gains whether it be in our professional or personal lives. We live in communities with other people. If we embrace the idea that other people are involved in our lives, we will indeed be successful. If we operate as if we do not need the help of others, the road to success will be much more difficult. When our company applied for our MBE/DBE status certification it would have been impossible without the help of several individuals that I am still in relationship with! My life was and continues to be enhanced by helping them and being helped by them. We will always need others, no matter what we are involved in.
The way we advance in our careers is actually helping others achieve as well! Looking back at goals and milestones in my business and personal life, every time I reached the next level, I was also reaching back to help someone else on the way up. Call it karma, stewardship or whatever you like but for us, this is our way of conducting business. True success doesn’t happen without first thinking of how we are able to best serve our community.
In my business, we have always hired individuals that are somehow getting looked over or simply need a break. Once hired, often times that individual will be eager to excel through various educational programs we offer or support. We also have sponsored certificate courses that teach through exclusive class-time supported by our hands-on approach. Classes are conducted at our Church and through existing Christian based programs. Most of the time, you can find a course or study group that’s already in place so reinventing the wheel isn’t an issue. We chose to conduct programs through our Church since our business is based upon a “higher principal” however, you may find that there are many other programs out there that are a fine fit for your time and talent!
You will find as you progress into the “giving of yourself” mind-set that you’re the one learning the most. It’s hard to say what I’ve gained through all the various ways we’ve given of ourselves and our resources but I can say that I wouldn’t want one minute or one dime back! So, look to your community for groups in need of what your company has to offer; find a need and fill it.
My Grandfather always said, “Mike, if I don’t see your impact, I don’t see your blessing.” He was a very wise man and through his love of others, showed me just how important filling the needs of our community actually fills our own life to a point of over abundance. So, go ahead, give of yourself and see what a difference it makes in the lives of those you touch and what a difference it will make in you!
If you need any help getting matched with a community based program, civic group or just have a heart to reach out to your own employees and fill a need. Please feel free to contact me and I will be happy to meet with you! Live a full life, give of yourself!
