News Stories
FRCA Client, Staff and Program News:
Employment & Training participants find success in the job market, area youth help lead the development of a new community garden, the community comes together to help the homeless, staff are honored for their commitment to the community. These are just some of the FRCA stories that have been highlighted recently about our many programs that help strengthen individuals, families and the community. View our most recent Newsletter. View our 2010 Annual Report.
The Rhode Island Community Action Association, Citizens Bank Foundation, the United Way of RI and the IRS kicked off an awareness campaign encouraging participation in the Earned Income Tax Credit program. Over 50 people attended the event held on January 27th, 2012 at the Museum of Work & Culture in Woonsocket to promote the EITC program and its benefits to working families. Guest speakers included Governor Chafee, U.S. Senator Reed, RI Treasurer Raimondo and Woonsocket Mayor Leo Fontaine. Read more about FRCA's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and other money management programs. Read news article.
US Treasurer Rosie Rios toured FRCA's Woonsocket Financial Opportunity Center on October 17th. The Treasurer visted classrooms and offered Employment & Training students words of encouragement. The Treasurer held a roundtable discussion with over a dozen members of the business community to discuss some of the federal approaches to assisting small businesses, and solicit the views and concerns of rountable participants relating to supporting local economies. Read news article about the Treasurer's visit.
Forty-one youth gained valuable experience while earning a paycheck through FRCA's Youth Summer Employment Program funded by the Workforce Partnership of Greater RI. Sean Prim, age 19, worked at The Cakery restaurant. He and several other youth were recognized at a State house event highlighting the importance of youth employment programs. Anwering a question from Governor Chafee, Sean noted that if it wasn't for the program, he would have been out on the street this summer. Other youth employment placements in Woonsocket included the GrowUp Community Garden, the Hope Street Child Care Center, Connecting for Children & Families summer programs, and Beacon Charter School.
Over 100 people including FRCA staff, board members, volunteers and community leaders attended our annual meeting on June 13th. Paul Loberti, Chief Administrator of the Office of HIV/AIDS & Viral Hepatitis at the RI Department of Public Health was the keynote speaker. The Paul Dempster Award was presented to St. James Episcopal Church ministries for their support to the individuals served by FRCA over the past twenty years. Lisa Lachance, a member of the FRCA finance staff received the Doris L. O'Brien memorial award. Read full press release and view more photos...
Over 50 guests attended the grand opening of the new Woonsocket Financial Opportunity Center at FRCA's Employment & Training Center. The Center is a one-stop career and personal finance service center providing support to low and moderate income individuals with: 1) Employment, education counseling and career improvement; 2) Financial education and coaching; and 3) Public benefits access and income supports. The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) has helped to launch FOC's in 10 metropolitan areas nationwide, including five in Rhode Island. Read news article.