Swearer Center for Public Service

Community Advisory Board Awards

The Swearer Center's Community Advisory Board presents annual awards to Rhode Island community-based agencies that demonstrate innovative approaches and meaningful impact in serving local communities.

2025 Call for Nominations

The call for nominations for the 2025 Community Advisory Board Awards is open. The Swearer Center Community Advisory Board invites nominations, including self-nominations, to receive one of four (4) $2500 awards recognizing organizational innovation and work that positively impacts Rhode Islanders. Open to any community-based organizations in Rhode Island, we invite nominations of organizations working to address various social and civic issues. In the past, organizations have been recognized for work that inspires community joy and resilience, supports diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racist practice and creates a positive impact for vulnerable Rhode Islanders. Nominations close March 14, 2025 at 5 p.m. ET.
Submit a Nomination

Past Recipients

Mary A. Longtin C3 Center
The Mary A. Longtin C3 Center caters to middle and high school youth in Woonsocket and the surrounding community. Their programming includes homework help and tutoring, college preparation, mentorship, healthy meal options and enrichment.

Shades of Knowledge
Shades of Knowledge's mission is to provide access to education for students worldwide through global citizenship and collaboration with those in need. They work to collect, curate and distribute books with people of color as the main characters; ensure the books are diverse in genre, reading level and cultural background; provide equitable access to high-quality literature for children free from underrepresented backgrounds; work with community organizations, schools and libraries to distribute books; enhance BIPOC youth self-esteem and literacy development.

Student Clinic for Immigrant Justice
The Student Clinic for Immigrant Justice provides representation for all asylum seekers by training college students to become immigration advocates and to fight for a socially just immigration system and community transformation.

Anyhow Studio
Anyhow Studio is a community ceramics studio located in the Valley Arts District neighborhood of Providence. It is described as a center for community building for many queer, trans and BIPOC people who are interested in starting their journeys in clay. Through its offerings, and programs like the QT/BIPOC scholarship, Anyhow Studio lives out its values of education, community, allyship, financial accessibility and commitment to the environment.

Camp RYSE
The mission of RYSE (Refugee Youth Solidarity through Education) is to foster literacy, confidence and community among K-12 refugee youth in Rhode Island through hands-on, joyful summer learning and leadership development. Annually, Camp RYSE enrolls 70-120 refugee youth. Many campers are newly resettled in Providence, often having experienced interrupted education. 

Youth Action Board
The Rhode Island Youth Action Board (YAB) is a group of 13-24-year-olds with lived experience and their allies, who work collaboratively with Youth In Action to discuss and create sustainable solutions to end youth homelessness.

Roger Williams Park Conservancy
In response to the social isolation and economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Roger Williams Park Conservancy has offered low- or no-cost multicultural programs at Roger Williams Park. These programs have benefited approximately 7,000 individuals.

Refugee Dream Center
The Refugee Dream Center supports members of the refugee community in their efforts toward self-sufficiency and integration. RDC includes members of the diverse refugee community at all levels of decision-making and employment within the organization. Founded and led by refugees from the Gambia, RDC works closely with the community they serve to ensure that their programming and resources accurately address the community’s unique needs. 

The Petey Greene Program
The Petey Greene program engages volunteer tutors in supporting the academic goals of currently and formerly incarcerated individuals. PGP supports a wide range of educational goals, from earning a high school diploma to pursuing a Ph.D. to improving English language skills. Volunteer tutors forge vital human connections with PGP students while deepening their understanding of the carceral system and ways that they might reimagine and change the system of crime and incarceration. 

A Leadership Journey
A Leadership Jounrey's mission is to empower and equip youth ages 13-18 from marginalized identities to serve and see themselves as global citizens. Their values focus on equity, access, health and wellness and education.

Diversity Talks
Diversity Talks offers workshops, fellowships and anti-racism resources, focusing on youth-led professional development to promote systemic change and cultural competence. They train youth to lead conversations about diversity, equity and inclusion with adults in their communities.

HYPE
HYPE supports the youth by building community well-being and advocating for social justice. Serving Rhode Islanders between the ages of 13-24 who do not have stable housing and aren’t in the physical custody of a guardian, their program offers important resources for individuals to get back on track.

Community Advisory Board

The Community Advisory Board (CAB) is a diverse body of community stakeholders that advise Swearer Center staff on the implementation of the Center’s community engagement mission and strategies. The CAB offers support, facilitates partner initiatives and contributes to ensuring that the Swearer Center lives up to its values of community agency and reciprocity. CAB members apply their experiences and perspectives to support the Center’s decision-making, strategic processes and program development.

Current Community Advisors