FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Gita Brown, 401-456-8465, gbrown@ric.edu
Laura Hart, 401-456-8977, lhart@ric.edu
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Six of the state’s leading figures in the African American community will hold a panel discussion on “African Americans and Politics: Challenges and Opportunities,” hosted by the American Democracy Project at Rhode Island College on Wednesday, April 1, from 2-4 p.m., in Alger Hall 110, 600 Mt. Pleasant Ave., Providence. Co-sponsored by the RIC Unity Center and the Dialogue on Diversity Committee, this event is free and open to the public.
Moderated by former R.I. State Representative and Deputy Secretary of State Ray Rickman, the panel consists of:
• Travis Escobar, community engagement coordinator for Olneyville Housing Corporation and cofounder of Millennial Professional Group of Rhode Island;
• Armeather Gibbs, managing director of Urban Finance and Business Development at the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation and Diversity Implementation Team Coordinator for the Rhode Island Department of Administration;
• Ray Hull, R.I. state representative and sergeant of the Providence Police Department;
• Donald King, vice president of Fete Music and founder of the former Providence Black Repertory Company; and
• Lisa Ranglin, vice president at Bank of America and founding president of the Rhode Island Black Business Association.
Author of “African American Politics” and media commentator Kendra King Momons will deliver the keynote. Momons is associate professor of politics at Oglethorpe University and director of the Rich Foundation Urban Program in Atlanta, Ga.
Although statistics show African Americans are more involved in the political process than any other minority group in the country (based on the number of African Americans who vote), panelists will explore whether this fact translates into real political and economic power nationally and in the state of Rhode Island.
“ADP is very pleased to have such a distinguished panel of community leaders offer their perspective on this important topic,” said Valerie Endress, ADP coordinator and RIC professor of political communication. “Because the struggle for equality continues, this is an examination that is long overdue and an important discussion to have both nationally and in Rhode Island.”
“It will be an evocative and educational program,” added Unity Center Director Antoinette Gomes. “I hope everyone – from the RIC administration, to students, to community partners – will join us.”
For more information, contact Valerie Endress at 401-456-4781 or email vendress@ric.edu.
The ADP is a campus initiative to promote political engagement throughout the state. Rhode Island College is the only college in the state to participate in the ADP and is considered one of the leading programs in the country for political and civic engagement.
Established in 1854, Rhode Island College serves approximately 9,000 graduate and undergraduate students through its five schools: the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the Feinstein School of Education and Human Development, the School of Social Work, the School of Management and the School of Nursing. For more information, visit www.ric.edu.
