How I Got Here:
Corey and I first met during the statewide Black Lives Matter protests in the summer of 2020. At the time, I was 15 years old and organizing demonstrations and community events in Woonsocket. As we all know, the work done in one Rhode Island community affects the work done in others—so we got together. In July of 2020, Corey and a few other organizers approached me and asked me to join BLM RI PAC as their Deputy Youth Director. I had no idea how electoral politics actually worked at the time, let alone what a political action committee was—but I agreed. I felt strongly that the division in our beautiful Ocean State had to come to an end. From there, a group of young adults in their early 20s—and a few teens like me—got to work. At the same time, I was attending the Woonsocket Area Career and Technical Center, focusing on Digital Media. There, I learned the importance of media literacy and how what we consume and release to the media truly shapes our reality. Far too often, public discourse strays from the truth—or is simply rooted in misinformation—which is deeply harmful to our communities. Today, I’m a student at Temple University in Philadelphia, majoring in Community Development, because I believe Rhode Islanders deserve better. I plan to transfer to a school closer to home this fall. Why I’m Reaching Out:
I’m asking for your support for an initiative that will directly improve the community’s access to information and engagement with local education decisions. Why This Matters to You:
A top priority of Corey’s is clear and accessible communication around school board decisions, policies, and meetings. We are committed to making it as easy as possible for students and families to be involved and aware of what's in motion. One way we’d like to accomplish this, is by creating video content that presents information in a clear, engaging, and accessible way. Our Goal:
We’re currently fundraising to fund my internship to make this internship as impactful as possible. I'd like to license Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, and a few other tools so I can learn how to make professional political digital communications. This will allow us to produce high-quality, informative videos covering:
School board meetings and key decisions New educational programs and policy updates Budget discussions and their impact on our schools Opportunities for community members to get involved and make their voices heard
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