East Providence Library receives grant to provide programs for LGBTQ+ residents
EAST PROVIDENCE, RI – The East Providence Library is one of 14 organizations serving LGBTQ+ residents that will share $87,000 in grants through the Equity Action Fund at the Rhode Island Foundation. The funding will underwrite free teen and adult programs that combine education, artistry and social awareness in partnership with Haus of Glitter and Youth Pride Inc.
“Our city is deeply committed to fostering inclusion, cultural understanding and civic engagement through innovative programming for teens and adults at the library,” said Library Director Meredith Bonds-Harmon.
Possible events include Afro-Latinx Dance: An Embodied History, which explores the intersections of culture and movement; History of Drag Performance 101, an introduction to the artistry and activism embedded in drag; and Bystander Intervention Training, which equips participants with practical tools to promote safety and allyship.
“By centering LGBTQ+ voices, histories and lived experiences, these programs create a safe, welcoming environment for learning, dialogue and celebration,” said Bonds-Harmon. “Together, they strengthen the city’s reputation for equity, education and community building, ensuring that all individuals feel seen, valued and empowered.”
In addition, the funding will support organizations engaged in efforts ranging from civil rights advocacy for families and youth to housing and improving the delivery of health care.
“The Foundation has offered uninterrupted grant support to organizations on the front lines of housing, health, advocacy and youth services for more than 20 years. By supporting this work, we help ensure the services that most Rhode Islanders take for granted are available to all regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation,” said David N. Cicilline, the Foundation’s president and CEO.
Guided by a volunteer advisory committee comprised of leaders in the LGBTQ+ communities, the Equity Action Fund supports projects that meet the needs of LGBTQ+ Rhode Islanders across the state.
Also receiving grants are:
Black and Pink Providence
GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders
Haus of Codec
Newport Community School
Planned Parenthood of Southern New England
Pride in Aging RI
Project Weber/RENEW
Sojourner House
Thundermist Health Center
Wanderground Lesbian Archive Library
Woonasquatucket Valley Community Build
Woonsocket Pride
Youth Pride Inc.
Over the years, the fund has made more than $1.4 million in grants to dozens of organizations working on behalf of Rhode Island’s LGBTQ+ communities.
The Equity Action Fund is just one of the ways the Foundation supports Rhode Island’s LBGTQ+ communities. Just since 2017, the Foundation has awarded more than $2.3 million in additional funding to support housing and health services for LGBTQ+ people among other programs and released a multi-year research project on the experiences of the LGBTQ+ communities in Rhode Island, which includes a set of priorities for the future. The study – featuring oral interview transcriptions and a timeline of significant LGBTQ+ milestones – is posted at rifoundation.org/lgbtqinri.
The Rhode Island Foundation is the largest and most comprehensive funder of nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island. Through civic leadership, fundraising and grant-making activities, together with neighbors and partners, the Foundation is helping to create progress that lasts. For more information, visit rifoundation.org.
