Above: WBNA's Luongo Memorial Square Ribbon-Cutting ceremony in May 2017 with neighbors, elected officials and other partners.
Your investment of time, talent and member dues is what fuels WBNA to build stronger relationships between neighbors and to create visible vibrancy at the local street level.
Membership directly impacts our ability to work on projects and initiatives such as advocacy for the reuse of the Armory, street-level improvements like that at Luongo Square, and a sensitive outreach program for the housing insecure at Dexter Training Ground, as well as great community events like the Neighborhood Wide Yard Sale and our summer performance series, West Side Thursdays.
Please take a look below at how far we've come in our 2017 Work Plan goals. And, if you haven't already, please become a member or renew your membership today to help West Broadway Neighborhood Association continue to work for you, our neighbors and our neighborhood.
Mid-Year Check-In
A snapshot of WBNA committee work so far this year
- Armory Advocacy / Worked with the State to allow WBNA to lead Armory Open! guided tours inside the Armory in English and Spanish to a diverse group of 200+ neighbors at PVDFest which we hope will become a twice monthly occurrence.
- Community Development Committee / Turned on the Decatur Fountain at Thomas F. and Vincent Luongo Memorial Square, transforming a once vacant neighborhood pocket into a vibrant urban oasis.
- Community/Comunidad One / Our newest committee, renamed from One West Side by its members, has been meeting twice a month to navigate tough issues that include affordability, equity, gentrification and connecting to more of our neighbors. This committee aims to move from listening, understanding and reach to collaborative action and policy change.
- Programs & Events / Held a town hall meeting in English and Spanish with Senators Metts and Jabour, Representatives Lombardi and Williams, and Councilman Principe. Catalyzed vibrant pedestrian activity at the Neighborhood-Wide Yard Sale with over 40 sale locations.
- Neighborhood Action Crime Watch / Held an outdoor meeting at Dexter Training Ground (DTG) with neighbors, House of Hope CDC and Lt. Fernandes. WBNA is partnering with House of Hope to provide outreach and supportive services to homeless and housing insecure denizens of the DTG. As part of this collaboration, the House of Hope welcomes members of the WBNA and the broader community to be trained and to participate in outreach.
- West Side Parks / Built two bocce courts with the Providence Parks Department, helped coordinate the making of an informational panel by Taylor Polites, is finalizing installation of three chess tables designed by The Steel Yard, and will celebrate with a Ribbon-Cutting on July 13, 2017.
In the second half of the year, look forward to:
- Green Initiatives / A new round of our solar panel bulk purchasing program prioritizing special incentives for businesses.
- House Tour: From Vacant to Vibrant with lower ticket prices to explore 16 homes in and around Luongo Memorial Square and cobblestoned West Fountain Street, Knight, Battey, Brighton and Carpenter Streets.
- West Side Kids / Our annual Halloween event in the park and a Conversation with the Principals of Asa Messer and Carl Lauro Elementary Schools and West Broadway Middle School.
[WBNA committees and meetings are open to the public. All are welcome.]
Please see our list of 2017 Member Benefits. Thank you for being a good neighbor!
WBNA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.