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Rhode Island has a rich and impressive history, extending back through a network of native tribes, early European exploration and a longstanding position as a hub of independent, secular and empathetic thought in the New World.

From key events like the post-King Philip's War era, to the burning of the Gaspee in Pawtuxet harbor, to enactment of The Bill of Rights, the triangle trade, to The Dorr Rebellion, The Industrial Revolution, and its modern day position as a state on the verge of great reinvention, Rhode Island’s history presents a fascinating and enlightening lens to forge a narrative of the evolution of United States.

The State of Rhode Island possesses a vast collection of historical documents and artifacts which, when viewed in tandem with historical context, can transform a person’s understanding and appreciation of many of the key events, periods and people that have come to shape the Ocean State.

As Rhode Island Secretary of State, Nellie Gorbea oversees the Rhode Island State Archives, a facility located in downtown Providence, which offers some modest displays and access to thousands of materials.

However, the current facility is essentially a converted commercial office space, not particularly large or interactive, and seated in the heart of a potential flood zone.

Secretary of State Gorbea has undertaken the beginnings of a legacy project, to oversee the construction of a brand new Rhode Island State Archives and Educational Center, which would be walking distance from The State House, and presented as an impressive and interactive experience. 

Secretary Gorbea reached out and asked if I’d like to tour the State Archives with her, talk Rhode Island history, and why a new facility would greatly benefit all Rhode Islanders, and I was very happy to take her up on the offer.

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In this special roundtable episode, Bill Bartholomew discusses the state of Rhode Island arts with leadership from three key stakeholders: AS220 Executive Director Shauna Duffy, Rhode Island State Council on the Arts Executive Director Randy Rosenbaum and The Columbus Theatre's Shawn Schiillberg

http://www.ass220.org
https://risca.online
https://columbustheatre.com

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Joseph Paolino Jr. is a prominent Providence-based developer, who oversees Paolino Properties, operating an impressive slice of the capital city’s real estate.

Paolino served as the 33rd mayor of Providence and as The United State Ambassador to Malta from 1994 - 1996.

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Travis Escobar was recently appointed to The Providence School Board by Mayor Jorge Elorza, is the founder of award-winning organization Millennial RI and also works for The United Way.

Our conversation focused on Travis’ vision for reshaping Providence’s future through educational practices and new ideas.

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On this episode I speak with a roundtable of Rhode Island environmental experts in light of the most recent report from the Executive Committee on Climate Change, or EC4, which the panel universally agree shows that, when it comes to the state’s collective carbon footprint, implementation and enforcement of many of the key policies already on the books is lagging significantly.

With much attention paid of late to The New Green Deal on the national level, I wanted to further examine specific elements of environmental policy right here in Rhode Island.  

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The City of Pawtucket, Rhode Island sits in the northern portion of the state on the Massachusetts border, ostensibly serving as transition point between the urban Providence-metro area and rural Northwest, Rhode Island.  

The city has a storied history, often connected to the Blackstone River, which flows mightily through Pawtucket, once powering Samuel Slater and other’s Industrial Revolution.

But in recent months, Pawtucket has seemingly been dealt a series of unfortunate industrial and economic development blows, none more prominent than the Boston Red Sox AAA affiliate, currently and historically known as the PawSox, announcing their departure from the city to Worcester, Massachusetts, after a years-long battle between local, state and team leaders over a new stadium agreement finally came to a head.

In the teeth of the PawSox fiasco was Pawtucket Mayor Don Grebien, who proved himself to be a champion for his City in his attempts to collectively organize a solution to keep the team in Pawtucket.  

Although he was ultimately unsuccessful in constructing such a deal, and Pawtucket still faces other concerning economic development issues, during our conversation that you will hear in a matter of moments, Mayor Grebien presented an optimistic, if not excited perspective, sharing ideas that hinted that Pawtucket may well be positioning itself to be once again be a city of innovation, in areas ranging from housing, healthcare infrastructure, business relations and community development approaches. 

It was always clear to me that Don Grebien loved his City, and hearing his backstory only further cemented that notion to me.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or visit bartholomewtown.com or RIpodcast.com

Follow me on Twitter @billbartholomew and Instagram @bartholomewtownpodcast

Follow Mayor Grebien on Twitter @DonGrebien

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Reverend Donnie Anderson is a Rhode Island spiritual, social and intellectual leader, who in recent years has outwardly transitioned from man to woman.

During our compelling conversation, Reverend Anderson spoke of her own experiences on her journey towards self-actualization.  

We also discussed some of the specific challenges that marginalized people confront, including systemic issues within the generally-progressive New England region.

FOLLOW THE BARTHOLOMEWTOWN PODCAST ON INSTAGRAM: @BARTHOLOMEWTOWNPODCAST 

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Providence’s Roger Williams Park Zoo has consistently been recognized as a leading zoological institution, as well as regional tourism magnet.  

But with increased scrutiny being placed on animal captivity, I sat down with Roger Williams’ Executive Director, Dr. Jeremy Goodman, for a wide-ranging conversation about the his operation’s conservation, rehabilitation and educational work, captive animal management practices and the role that the zoo serves in Rhode Island communities.  

I asked Dr. Goodman about the broad ethics of zoos and animal captivity, leading to a discussion that ranged from his experience with Roger Williams’ three elephants to a look at South American bird and fish trafficking.  

Our discussion revealed many specific details that should factor into any debate about Roger Williams Park Zoo’s own practices.

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Democrat Jorge Elorza was overwhelmingly re-elected to a second term as mayor of Providence this past November.

Our conversation focused on the mayor’s backstory and experiences, and how they inform his decision making process and policy priorities.  

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A roundtable discussion about Rhode Island’s future with Rhode Island Representative Mike Chippendale (R) and Providence-based activist / performer / political commentator Nika Lomazzo.

This panel features two vocal leaders within Rhode Island’s political ecosystem that oftentimes present differing positions.  But as we discovered through our nearly hour-long discussion, when it comes to many of the key issues affecting Rhode Island’s future, many similar, core concerns are shared across political ideologies.

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