Local Action Team

Church Community Housing

CCH is committed to the mission of “striving to create homes that meet the particular needs of Newport County citizens from specialized housing that allows seniors to “age in place” to homes that allow local artist the opportunity to afford spaces to live and work.” Church Community Housing works to create opportunities for home ownership and home maintenance through homebuyer training; down payment assistance and low interest home repair loans. Since inception, Community and Economic Development has been a core element. Storefront improvements, sewer extensions and street beautification are just a few efforts that Church Community Housing has successfully assisted. Dedicated to the promotion of well-planned, integrated, stable and healthy communities; Church Community Housing employs local contractors and uses local businesses for all of its projects, which helps bring outside development dollars into the local community.

Boys & Girls Club of Newport County

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County mission is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need help most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. The Boys & Girls Club provides a positive, safe and exciting environment for children to learn, grow and develop. We provide quality programs for children, teens, adults and families. Our three core areas of focus are: Health & Wellness, Education & Career Development and Character & Leadership. The Boys & Girls club is the backbone organization for the Newport Working Cities. Together, they will lead the Education, Innovation, and Economic focus of the NHEZ.

Alliance For A Livable Newport

The Alliance For a Livable Newport is a local non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in Newport. With representation on its governing board from the city’s neighborhood associations and the local Chamber of Commerce, its primary activity is to educate residents and businesses about key issues impacting Newport’s livability. It will be lending its resources to the Health Equity Zone Collaborative by facilitating interaction with neighborhood groups, business groups and the Newport City Government, as well as utilizing its media connections and extensive email list to publicize HEZ activities.

Sankofa Community Connections

At Sankofa Community Connection, we strive to disrupt inequalities and injustice within our community and schools. Through our work, we will continue to bring awareness, encouragement and education to empower our community members that are not often heard.

Our mission is to increase pride of place within the African American Community of Newport County , through a community-led initiative with  3 main focus areas: 1. Community events and gatherings to increase our social cohesion 2. Community Meetings where we discuss  the impact of institutional racism and racial oppression to promote dialogue and create solutions to the issues  3. Historical Education to reveal, honor and celebrate the cultural heritage of African Americans of early Newport.

Aquidneck Land Trust

The Aquidneck Land Trust (ALT) is dedicated to preserving open spaces and the natural character of Aquidneck Island. ALT preserves farms, wildlife habitat, recreational areas, parks, properties that improve water quality, historic estates, and scenic landscapes, and offers various educational events on conservation throughout the year. ALT plays a supporting role in the Newport community for ensuring all residents have access to open spaces, which has proven to be an important part of living a healthy lifestyle. ALT will be the lead of the Greening Urban Space Working Group.

Newport Mental Health

The Mission of Newport Mental Health is to improve the lives of children, adults and families living and working in Newport County by providing the highest quality, recovery-oriented, evidence-based and integrated mental health and substance use care.

Worldways Social Marketing

Worldways Social Marketing is the communication and social marketing agency for the project, and will provide communication, web and social media services. Worldways is a full service agency exclusively serving organizations working for public good.

Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence

The purpose of the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence (RICADV) is to eliminate domestic violence in Rhode Island. Their mission is to support and enhance the work of their member agencies and to provide leadership on the issue of domestic violence. They envision a society where domestic violence is not tolerated because communities are enlightened and responsive to the needs of victims and their children. RICADV will act as the empowerment evaluation support for the NHEZ.

The Arts & Culture Alliance

Since 1994, the Arts & Cultural Alliance of Newport County has promoted and advanced arts and culture in Newport County for the benefit of the community. Membership is free to all artists. The ACA will lead the Arts & Cultural Working Group, encouraging residents to incorporate the arts into their everyday lives by developing methods and means of making arts and culture more accessible, relevant and enjoyable.

Women’s Resource Center

The Women’s Resource Center (WRC) is the lead organization and will provide the collaborative with project management, training coordination, consultant management, and evaluation support. The WRC provides people in Newport and Bristol Counties with services that include counseling, a 24-hour help hotline, educational materials, support, court advocacy, shelter and safety planning to assist victims of domestic violence.

Fab Newport

FabNewport’s mission is to inspire the maker in all of us. 
Our vision is that all students will have the skills, commitment and confidence to positively impact their communities and make their lives.

Bike Newport

Bike Newport’s mission is to create the conditions that lead to more people biking more often, and to ensure that bicycling is a viable, safe and comfortable primary choice for transportation and recreation. We advocate for transportation equity including improved, accessible bike infrastructure, public transit and safe walking environments for all Newport residents and surrounding communities. Bike Newport will lead the Transportation Working Group.

Aquidneck Community Table

ACT’s mission is build a healthy local food system, accessible to all on the island.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center (MLK Community Center) provides Newport County’s largest food pantry, only daily meal site, a pantry delivery service to homebound residents, and access to nutrition education and free nutrition counseling through a registered dietitian. Additional services include educational programs for children age 3-grade 4, community programs for adults, and social service resources. The MLK Community Center will support the Food Justice Working Group, striving toward providing the community with education and resources to ensure all residents have access to healthy foods.