WEEI Providence

There's so much to celebrate in June! We're celebrating Juneteenth all week and Pride all month with Providence's Stages of Freedom. Ray Rickman, Co-Founder and Executive Director and Robb Dimmick, Co-Founder and Program Director join us for a rundown of what can be learned from their museum exhibits, programs and events. All their efforts are to further fund the goal of free swimming lessons for BIPOC youths, who are five times more likely to drown than white youths. With this being summertime, everyone should be able to enjoy a dip in the pool or waterways! They're having a FREE Juneteenth historic walking tour/event "Finding Bannister- A lively introduction to the exciting lives, work and sites of Providence artist and visionary Edward, and hair doctress and

philanthropist Christiana". Listen as they detail the theme for this month's e-blast "Connected", a daily email arriving in your inbox full of interesting people, places and events with respect to Black Rhode Island. All through June, the subject of "Connected" is "Mysteries & Marvels of Black RI", with historical figures highlighted such as Elleanor Eldridge (1st RI Woman to Represent Herself in Court) to Perry Watkins (Broadway’s 1st Black Scenic Designer) among many others. Mr Watkins is also featured in Stages of Freedom’s Black Lavender exhibit, currently on display in the SOF museum. Be sure to check out the Stages of Freedom website for materials, exhibits and programs that can further your education or be shared as a learning tool. Coming attractions include "The Underground Railroad in RI" project.

"Rhode Island's Original Waterfire" happens this time of the year in Pawtuxet Village RI, otherwise known as The Gaspee Days burning of the HMS Gaspee, now in it's 60th year. Jen Kious, Director of The Gaspee Days Committee joins us to reveal the history and happenings. This weekend of events "kicks off" with a 5K footrace and when the race concludes, the Gaspee Days Parade begins. The Gaspee Days Committee is a community nonprofit organization that operates many events in and around Pawtuxet Village, and is active year round. "These events are all designed to commemorate the burning of the hated British revenue schooner, HMS Gaspee, by Rhode Island patriots in 1772 as "America’s ‘First Blow for Freedom’, a short step from here to the First Continental Congress and eventually the Declaration of Independence". The weekend continues with a "Colonial Reenactment" (Saturday & Sunday), "Blessing of the Fleet" (Sunday) for all nautical participants, culminating in a scenic "Sunday in the Park" with a view of Pawtuxet Cove, for the HMS Gaspee symbolic blaze. Listen as Jen describes the scene as people line their chairs along the street in an annual pilgrimage, for the parade along Narragansett Parkway. The parade never disappoints, as individuals march in period garb with fife and drum and muskets performed by the Pawtuxet rangers and Lexington Minutemen. There's also always a show of vintage automobiles. She also describes the folks who participate in the Colonial Reenactment, true to the period in all aspects. You can hear the passion in Jen's voice as she reveals the history of the conflict and victory of the colonists. They used the sloop "Hannah" commanded by Captain Lindsey as a decoy, against the British soldiers under "the hated commander, Lt. William Dudingston, sent by King George III." Curiously, the Hannah has never been found!

We welcome Rich Mona and John Coletti, Esq., Chairs for the IAABO Board 84 Golf Tournament, representing Rhode Island IAABO Board 84, the "Home of Rhode Island's High School Basketball Officials". They join us to talk up the IAABO Board 84 Annual Golf Tournament, honoring the legacy of one of their own, Ralph Catuogno. It's more than a golf tournament, it's an opportunity to raise funds for scholarships benefiting high school athletes in hopes of a college education. To date, The Ralph Catuongo Memorial Scholarship has raised over $300,000 and has brought together officials, coaches, community leaders, and corporate partners in a shared mission to give back and build futures. Listen as they describe the legacy of Ralph Catugno who selflessly gave of himself as "a mentor, a role model, a philanthropist, and a true friend. He inspired countless men and women within Board 84, always leading with integrity and putting others first. His values continue to guide our work as basketball officials and as a community". They also discuss how the game of high school basketball has changed from years past, for the officials on the court. There is concern over the behavoir and actions of those watching the game from the stands, and how they interact with the officials. However, don't let that deter you, they always need officials, so grab your whistle and join IAABO Board 84.

The Ice Bucket Challenge is back! We welcome to the program, Mauret Brinser, Senior Vice President, Community Engagement of The ALS Association Rhode Island. Listen as Mauret challenges Scott to the 2025 CEO Soak Boston (Friday, August 8, 2025) in collaboration with "Active Minds",

at Boston College (Mass). Will he say "Challenge Accepted!"? Locally, we have been moved by Pete Frates who co-founded the successful "Ice Bucket Challenge" launched in 2014 with Pat Quinn, and Anthony Senerchia, all living with ALS. The campaign globally raised an impressive (estimate) $135 million for ALS in the United States, and $220 million worldwide. Participants poured a bucket of ice water over their heads and posted a video of it on social media, challenging others to do the same within 24 hours or donate to ALS. These donations helped facilitate a hopeful update. The FDA recently approved QALSODY™ (tofersen) as the first treatment targeting a genetic cause of ALS. Mauret shares a curious statistic, ALS and Veterans​​ Studies have shown that U.S. Veterans are about 1.5 times more likely to get ALS compared to people who were never in the service. You may also recall well known names, who have been afflicted with this condition. Individuals such as Roberta Flack, Stephen Hawking and Lou Gehrig, Gehrig the namesake for the term "Lou Gehrig's Disease". Their high public profile has significantly contributed to ALS awareness and research. However Mauret expresses her concern over the threat of federal funding being pulled, funding which is critical for studies with the hope of finding a livable solution to this debilitating condition.

It's Memorial Day Weekend, a solemn time to remember those brave individuals who lost their lives in service to the country. We couldn't think of a better "educator" for a guest than Tim Gray, Filmmaker, President and Founder of The World War II Foundation and International Museum of World War II in Wakefield RI. Listen as he speaks of the humility of the survivors of WWII as they recount their personal stories. A generation of men and women "who saved the world", however decline any label of "hero". Tim has earned "6 Regional Emmy Awards for documentary film writing and outstanding documentary film. The Foundation has also captured dozens of awards in both domestic and international competitions. Most prestigiously, the World War II Foundation and Tim Gray Media have also been recognized with American Public Television’s National Programming Excellence Award". The Foundation gives back to the community, by providing resources to educators and schools for students to learn about these subjects omitted from the current school curriculum. Tim details the Museum's May 21st 2025 event, "Discussion with Ken Nomiyama, Born in a Japanese Internment Camp During World War II". A recounting of a second generation Japanese-American who was born in the Tule Lake Relocation Center in California, one of several U.S. government internment camps for Japanese-Americans during World War II, and how the history of his family's time in the California camp has had a lasting impact on his life. Tim goes on to hail the narrators of the many documentaries, including Bill Belichick, Gary Sinise, Jim Nantz, Tom Selleck and Dan Aykroyd, to name just a few, all who have personal connections to these conflicts and give fine voice to the soundtrack. You can imagine the scene when Tim speaks of receiving a phone call from Dan Ackroyd, as he's driving through Wakefield RI.

We welcome back Senator Whitehouse to provide a little insight on issues of interest to the constituency, locally, regionally and nationally. He's been busy getting things done for Rhode Island, working in concert with our delegation and select bi-partisan leaders. "USDOT is freeing a quarter billion dollars we had secured for the I-95 bridge repairs on top of our previously announced $221 million emergency Washington Bridge funding,” He credits Chairperson Capito of United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works for the bi-partisan assistance. He also touts The INFRA Program he spearheaded, through the Environment and Public Works Committee, which will provide grant-funded support for continued economic growth at Quonset and finally add the missing move to go between Route 4 and I-95. If you've traveled 95 South, you most likely have had to perform the off/on maneuver to get to Route 4, which was hassle. Listen as he rails against "bad actors" known as pirate fishing fleets, who pillage our waters without concern of local laws or safety. There's also a cancer in our democracy in the form "dark money", thanks to "Citzens United", special interests with unlimited amounts of money, with the goal of swaying voters and influencing elections. The disparity of drugs prices outside of the USA, to our detriment is also discussed. As was noted, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse has been busy!

"The Ripple Effect " is attributed to a famous "mother" Mother Teresa, however our guest is the mother of Tori Lynn Andreozzi, Cathy Andreozzi, President of the Tori Lynn Andreozzi Foundation and Rhode Island's 2023 Remarkable Woman. For two decades, Cathy devoted herself to her daughter’s care after Tori was struck by an impaired driver while walking home from school. Severe injuries confined her to a wheelchair requiring life-long care from her family. Unfortunately, she passed away in 2022. Listen as she describes the "old soul" that Tori was, as she touched those less fortunate than her, with a caring and generous heart. Cathy joins us to explain how she "channeled her grief into action, sharing Tori’s story in a powerful public awareness campaign called The Ripple Effect, a series of television commercials depicting the devastating consequences of impaired driving. Through advocacy, education, and partnerships with law enforcement, the Foundation sparks critical conversations among parents, children, and community leaders". There's optimism in her voice when she describes the reaction of students when they are faced with the sober reality of such a tragedy. There's no better time to educate teens on impaired driving than prom season. The programming isn't only for youth, there's also programming for the 60 year old (and over), interspersing humor with the lesson. You can learn while you play "Impairment Bingo or Wheel of Intoxication"! April 28th was "Global Pay it Forward Day" worldwide. In RI, it was "Pay it Forward with Love from Tori", lighting the State House with the color blue in her honor. Cathy provides us with this thought, "Recognizing there is a CHOICE in every MOMENT, finding the COURAGE to make a difference, sustaining HOPE for the future".

\We're celebrating a Centennial! This year the Rhode Island State Police is celebrating 100 years “In The service of the State”. On April 1, 2025, a Resolution at the State House named April as “State Police Month in Rhode Island. We've asked Lt. Kenneth Bowman (Ret) to join us for the rundown. As a former "Trooper" his knowledge of the history is extensive. He can be found at the North Scituate Barracks where they house the RISP Museum in the historic former Coggeshall Mansion caretakers residence. Listen as he remembers and honors the seven (7) Troopers who lost their lives in the service of the State, in addition to the men and women of the State Police who have passed during the year. On Friday, May 16, 2025, at Rhode Island State Police Headquarters in North Scituate RI a special event will be held and open to the public. Superintendent, Col. Darnell S. Deaver and Governor Dan McKee will oversee the Centennial Inspection of the Troops last inspection of this type was in the early 1990’s. He encourages the public to visit the museum where they have 21st Century technology to tell the stories of the men and women on the force. You can even go back to the Blizzard of '78 for the accounts those who were on duty. There's so much to hear and see from the past 100 years.

We're celebrating Earth Week and Arbor Day with Mary Gannon, Principal Biologist, Wildlife Outreach Coordinator with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM), Division of Fish and Wildlife. Did you know that you can follow RIDEM on the various social media platforms? There you can check out locations in RI for updates to Trout stocking, and tracking the wildlife, flora and fauna all over our beautiful state. On Instagram (May 22, 2024), you can view Mary and bio-technician, Gabby DeMeillon wade through wetlands to survey for spotted turtles. She discusses the FREE classroom aid (K-5) developed and provided by RIDEM, "Critter Kit" for the classroom with the goal of connecting kids with the RI wildlife in their backyard, hopefully setting them on a course to becoming environmental stewards. Also detailed are the FREE upcoming programs on bears, coyotes, bats dragonflies and damselflies you don't want to miss, check their website for those dates. Listen to the excitement in her voice as she speaks on turtles and trees, it's absolutely captivating! As we should continue to celebrate the Earth year round, a final thought from Mary Gannon "Think Globally, Act Locally".

It's Genocide Awareness Month and we're recognizing the 110th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide with Pauline Getzoyan, Chair of the RI Holocaust and Genocide Education Commission and an adjunct professor of English at CCRI. Pauline educates us with a brief history lesson, and some of the events that are happening to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in RI. As a descendant of survivors of the genocide she provides a sober account of the atrocities committed by the Ottoman Empire upon the Armenian people which started on April 24th, 1915 and are being denied and repeated to this day. Listen as she details the important work being done by Rhode Island Holocaust and Genocide Education Commission to reach today's youth in the classroom. We discuss some important events in commemoration, throughout the month. There will be flag raisings organized by the Armenian National Committee of RI and the RI Senate resolution; House Resolution 6282, “Proclaiming April 24, 2023, as ‘Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day’ to Commemorate the Armenian Genocide of 1915 to 1923, and in Honor of Armenian-Americans" will be introduced by Senate Majority Whip David Tikoian and by House Majority Whip Katherine Kazarian.