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. Read some client stories and program news in FRCA's 2012 Annual Report. and in our Spring 2013 Newsletter and Fall 2012 Newsletter.
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Fifty youth and 20 parents participated in the second annual Youth Summit at Woonsocket High School on April 19th. The event, whose theme was "health & wellness," included youth-led workshops and activities addressing issues such as community and school violence prevention, promoting healthy relationships, reducing dating violence and substance abuse. The event was organized by the Woonsocket After School Coalition and the northern RI Family Care Community Partnership. Read news article.
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U.S. Senator Jack Reed visited FRCA's Employment & Training Center on March 26th to learn about the agency's programs and hear first-hand about the issues of concern to individuals and families in the community. Pictured in left photo, from left: FRCA Board Chair Nancy Benoit, Deputy Director Nancy Paradee, FRCA Executive Director Ben Lessing, RI Representative Stephen Casey, Senator Reed, FRCA Youth Services Manager Stump Olsen. In addition, FRCA Instructor Melissa Rouleau shared information about FRCA's adult training programs during a brief tour; staff also shared information about FRCA's Financial Opportunity Center. Read press release.
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The EITC Public Awareness Campaign kicked off on January 25th at the Museum of Work & Culture in Woonsocket to help promote free tax preparation assistance available to eligible families through the VITA program. Guest speakers included U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Lt. Governor Elizabeth Roberts, RI Treasurer Gina Raimondo, and Woonsocket Mayor Leo Fontaine. In 2012, Earned Income Tax Credits brought nearly $5 million to the state of RI, and VITA sites brought nearly $15 million to RI. Read more about FRCA's VITA program.
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Twelve youth served in the Woonsocket Shelter and one youth in FRCA's Treatment Foster Care Program were graciously included in the Gifts from the Gridiron event curtesy of the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation. The youth received gift cards to purchase items for themselves and their families as they were escorted through the Bass Pro Shop by representatives from The New England Patriots. Many thanks to the NE Patriots Foundation for including these youth in this fantastic event! View more photos...
Over 100 youth gained valuable work experience as well as a paycheck through FRCA's summer youth employment program funded by the Workforce Partnership of Greater Rhode Island. Employer partners included the City of Woonsocket, Beacon Charter High School for the Arts, the Brickle Group, The Call, Farm Fresh, RI, Connecting for Children & Families, RiverzEdge Arts Project, and St. Antoine's Residence. View news article.
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Over 150 people, including the Board of Directors, staff, local community members and volunteers, attended Family Resources Community Action’s (FRCA) Annual Meeting on June 12th during which the Board elected officers for the upcoming year and presented numerous awards to members of the community. Teny Gross, Executive Director of the Institute for the Study & Practice of Non-Violence, was the keynote speaker. The Paul H. Dempster award was presented to Joe Garlick, Executive Director of NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley (pictured above left with FRCA Board Chair Nancy Benoit and FRCA Executive Director Ben Lessing.) FRCA staff member Deb Grasso (pictured above right) received the Doris L. O'Brien memorial award, as well as a staff tenure award for her 15 years of service. Additional staff tenure awards, and community and volunteer awards were also presented. Read press release and view more photos...
FRCA staff, Board, youth center participants and invited guests came together on March 28th to celebrate the opening of the new Woonsocket YouthWorks411 computer lab donated by GTECH Corporation. The lab, provided through GTECH's After School Advantage program, includes 8 new computers, a printer, educational software and computer work stations. The new lab will greatly enhance the quality of the education and career readiness programs provided at FRCA's Youth Center. Read full news article.