Together, we created an exciting space for discovery, empowerment and community.

 

·         We developed powerful historical exhibits and resources that challenge and thrill us

·          

·         We sparked the imagination of hundreds of schoolchildren through workshops, classes, mentorship and guided tours

·          

·         We funded swimming lessons for 379 BIPOC youth at nine partnering YMCAs

·          

·         And we deepened our commitment to racial justice, cultural enrichment, equity and building community

 

Our 2023 Accomplishments 

January 

 

Our Sissieretta Jones one-woman show with Becky Bass by Tom Maguire performed @ Funda Fest 25

 

Stages of Freedom featured nationally on ABC TV

 

Stages of Freedom programs featured on Community Matters - WEEI Radio

 

Served as Lead Consultants on the Edward Bannister Sculpture @ Providence Art Club

 

Our Rhode Island Black Press Exhibit concluded its two-month run at The Redwood Library in Newport

 

February

 

Served as a major partner with RIPBS for the national airing of “Becoming Frederick Douglass”

 

Served as major partner with the Rhode Island Philharmonic for jazz artist Regina Carter’s Providence Redlining Symposium @ Southside Cultural Center

 

Our Rhode Island Black Press Exhibit Spent a month at Providence City Hall

 

Ray Rickman presented “How to Talk about Race” lecture in East Providence Public Library

 

Ray Rickman presented “How to Talk about Race” lecture for South County Health

 

RI Community Justice Students visited SOF Museum

 

Presented Our Black Victorian Dress program with Lady Estelle at East Providence Public Library

 

Ray Rickman delivered the Black History Keynote for the Rhode Island Department of Health

 

March

 

Hosted Christiana Carteaux Bannister Tea Party

 

Conducted Edward and Christiana Bannister Walking Tour

 

Completed Third Year producing “Connected”, our daily Black culture e-blast for 12,000 readers

 

April

 

Conducted Black College Hill Walking Tour

 

Interviewed by Washington Post for article about Duchess Quamino, “the pastry queen of Rhode Island” 

 

Ray Rickman presented “How to Talk About Race” in North Kingstown Public Library 

 

Ray Rickman presented talk on Edward Bannister for Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts Students

 

Ray Rickman interviewed for Edward Bannister film produced by TAPA student

 

May

 

Nowell Academy Students tour our SOF Museum

 

Conducted Bannister Walking Tour

 

June

 

“Black Lavender: Black Gay Men in Rhode Island” exhibit opened at Providence City Hall and received front page coverage in Providence Journal

 

Ray Rickman presented Juneteenth Talk for the Rhode Island Department of Health

 

Dr. Glenn Loury, noted Brown economist, donated his book collection to our cause

 

Stages of Freedom programs featured on Community Matters - WEEI Radio

 

Ray Rickman presented “How to Talk About Race” at Brownell Library, Little Compton 

 

Presented Juneteenth Webinar for national corporation BNY Mellon

 

Conducted Bus Tour of Black Providence for New York Black history group

 

July

 

Conducted Black Lives Matter Class through Rhode Island Department of Education

 

Conducted Museums for All Class through Rhode Island Department of Education

 

Conducted African Americans on College Hill Walking Tour

 

Published special online Newspaper featuring pieces by Rhode Island Black youth under a RICH grant https://www.stagesoffreedom.org/gazette

 

August

 

Received Two Major Legislative Grants for Swim Empowerment & SOF Museum from US Senator Jack Reed

 

“A Swimming Pool for the People of Providence” presentation held at First Unitarian Church

 

Swim Empowerment featured on Channel 10 News

 

Forged partnership with the National Parks Service to create a special exhibit on African Americans in the Blackstone Valley

 

September

 

Conducted two Bus Tours of Black Providence for New York Black history group

 

Swim Empowerment featured nationally on PBS

 

“Finding Bannister” Walking Tour presented as part of PVDFest

 

Conducted African Americans on College Hill walking tour for Black Labor group

 

Funded art classes for 10 youth at New Urban Arts

 

October 

 

Honored with Yearlong Social Justice Donation from The First Baptist Church in America’s congregation

 

Christiana Carteaux Bannister Plaque (to be installed 3/2024) approved by Providence City Commemorative Works Committee

 

Conducted Black Lives Matter Class through Rhode Island Department of Education

 

Planted 31 Trees in South Providence under a June Rockwell Levy grant

 

Participated as a host site for Imagining America’s national conference

 

Ray Rickman served as featured speaker for the Edward Bannister statue dedication at the RISD Museum

 

Conducted African Americans on College Hill walking tour for anti-racist group from Smithfield

 

November

 

Presented groundbreaking “Saving Bannister” program with Ed Shein, Barnaby Evans and Ray Rickman at the RISD Museum

 

SOF Co-founder Robb Dimmick received Christiana Carteaux Bannister Award for 40 years service to the community

 

Attended “Disowning Slavery at 25” conference, celebrating the groundbreaking work of Joan Pope Melish, at the Rhode Island Historical Society

 

December

 

“My Favorite Things”, a Holiday Event for major SOF supporters, presented at SOF

 

Took 16 youth and parents to Ballet RI’s “The Nutcracker”

 

Stages of Freedom programs featured on Community Matters - WEEI Radio

 

Nutcracker"