All Entries Tagged With: "rhode island"
Women’s Leadership Council of United Way, in Partnership with RI College Advancement Division, Invites Community to Participate in Statewide Forum on Grade-Level Reading Panel of speakers to present Rhode Island’s plan to ensure 75 percent of the state’s 3rd grade students are reading at grade-level by 2025; Rhode Island KIDS COUNT data to be made available
Providence, R.I. (November 7, 2016) In a state where just one-third of students are proficient in grade-level reading by 3rd grade, the Women’s Leadership Council (WLC) of United Way of Rhode Island(UWRI) is partnering with the Rhode Island College Advancement Division to host a statewide forum on grade-level reading, titled “75 by 2025.” The event will feature a panel of speakers who will present Rhode Island’s plan to ensure that 75 percent of all third graders are reading at grade-level by 2025, as well as group breakout sessions for attendees to identify strategies to improve education in Rhode Island.
The event, which is free and open to all who wish to attend, will be held on Friday, November 18 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Rhode Island College’s Alger Hall. Light refreshments will be served. Those interested in attending the “75 by 2025” forum are asked to register online by November 17.
The forum begins with a panel discussion featuring Victor Capellan, Superintendent of the Central Falls School District; Melissa Husband, Executive Director of the Community Action Partnership of Providence; and Caitlin Molina, Executive Director of Providence Talks, moderated by Elizabeth Burke Bryant, Executive Director of Rhode Island KIDS COUNT. As part of the discussion, the panel will unveil Rhode Island’s plan to dramatically improve grade-level reading among third grade students by 2025 and make KIDS COUNT data available. Each table of attendees will receive a copy of the latest 2016 KIDS COUNT Factbook.
Following the panel, attendees will break into small groups to discuss strategies and actions in support of the WLC’s work to improve education, focusing on four areas: the Hasbro Summer Learning Initiative, Chronic Absenteeism, High-Quality Pre-K Programming, and School-Based Interventions.
“This event is a great opportunity for all Rhode Islanders to come together and lend their leadership to the community around an important goal—improving the lives of youth across our state,” said Lisa Guillette, Chair of the Women’s Leadership Council, and Executive Director of Foster Forward. “We know that, according to research, students who lack proficiency in reading by third grade are four times more likely to drop-out of high school and that’s a troubling trend we can only reverse by working together.”
UWRI’s Women’s Leadership Council is an all-volunteer group that harnesses the power of women and our communities to improve childhood literacy and help youth succeed in the classroom and in life.
About United Way of Rhode Island
United Way of Rhode Island (UWRI) has been working to improve the quality of life in Rhode Island for nearly 90 years. Together with its partners, UWRI is changing lives and strengthening our communities by investing in proven programs that work over the short-term, and are scalable over the long-term. For more information, visit www.LIVEUNITEDri.org.
The Exploration Center and Aquarium’s November Theme focuses on “Habitats Around Narragansett Bay;” Aquarium open on Veterans Day with Veteran discount
NEWPORT, RI – After weeks of pumpkin picking, hayrides, and spooky happenings, it’s time to celebrate November at Save the Bay’s Exploration Center and Aquarium at Easton’s Beach Rotunda, 175 Memorial Boulevard in Newport RI, on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. The November theme at the aquarium is “Habitats Around Narragansett Bay,” because as the climate changes it’s a great time to explore all the corners of our ecosystem.
The Aquarium will also be open on Veteran’s Day, November 11, with half-price admission and discounted family memberships for active-duty military and veterans. Family members always enjoy unlimited free admission to the Exploration Center & Aquarium for two adults and four children, as well as member rates on seal tours, summer camps, Save The Bay swag, and other goodies. Family membership days are generously sponsored by Corvias Solutions.
“The Exploration Center and Aquarium has done extensive specimen collection over the summer. We have new amazing creatures, and many of our older specimens are breeding, giving visitors the opportunity to watch hatchlings grow. Just because Rhode Island is getting chilly, doesn’t mean life isn’t active at the aquarium,” says Adam Kovarsky, Save The Bay’s Exploration Center manager. Kovarsky has planned a full schedule of habitat-centered activities for November: including “Story Time: Octopus’s Garden”, “Create your own Habitat” craft, and a “Habitat scavenger hunt.”
For more information about the Exploration Center and Aquarium, visit www.savebay.org/aquarium or call 401-324-6020.
Adoption Rhode Island to Offer a FREE Family Fun, Health and Wellness Day
VALPAK EYES RHODE ISLAND COMMUNITIES FOR EXPANSION
ST. PETERSBURG, FL -Valpak, a leader in local print and digital coupons, announced today it is looking to further grow its brand in the Narragansett Bay area, which includes Providence, Warwick and Cranston. The company currently mails to as many as 140,000 homes in the Ocean State, but is looking to expand its reach to 230,000 homes that will receive its signature Blue Envelope.
The U.S. Census Bureau lists Providence as the state’s most populous city, making the location a target expansion market for Valpak. Growth rate data from the American Community Survey also indicates that within the past five years, Providence, Warwick and Cranston have all emerged as the Ocean States’ top 10 fastest growing cities – with Providence and Cranston leading the list as the top two cities. Additionally, the Providence-Warwick Metropolitan area continues to earn national recognition, such as a Forbes.com ranking for Best Places for Business and Careers and Cost of Doing Business.
“The Providence metropolitan area offers entrepreneurs an opportunity to capitalize on the local economic growth,” said Shak Turner, Valpak’s director of franchise sales. “It’s exciting to know that Valpak, as a leading direct marketing company, can assist local businesses in their own economic growth by offering services through our popular mailer, along with our vast suite of digital advertising tools.”
A leader in cooperative direct mail, Valpak mails coupons to nearly 39 million demographically targeted households per month in 45 states and four Canadian provinces. Today, in addition to its flagship Blue Envelope, Valpak offers its business customers an impressive portfolio of digital advertising products including valpak.com, Smartphone apps, Google partnerships, website development, mobile web optimization and reputation management.
With more than 25 million Americans using couponing apps each month, Valpak’s digital offerings have been a big draw for new franchisees. Digital coupon use is on the rise, and ample gains are projected in 2016. In the past year, Valpak’s print offerings have also expanded with on-pack advertising and circulars.
Ideal candidates for Valpak franchise ownership should possess a desire to join a trusted, industry-leading brand, work within a proven franchise system, develop relationships with local businesses and have a comfort level with selling new, digital technologies. Franchisees should also possess a minimum liquidity of $75,000, and a minimum net worth of $150,000.
For more information on Valpak franchise opportunities, please contact Shak Turner at
shak_turner@valpak.com or 727-399-3091 or visit www.valpakfranchising.com.
