PROVIDENCE PROUD

Providence is home to talented creative artists and musicians who deserve the opportunity to be heard and supported by neighbors all across our city. As Mayor, David will focus on supporting existing programs like the Michael S. Van Leesten (MSVL) Bridge Sunset Free Concert Series and AS220’s Foo Fest, while also partnering with local musicians to bring free community concerts to neighborhood parks throughout Providence. Art and music belong to all of us. Local talent should echo through every park and neighborhood. 

Our community libraries in Providence do so much to support our neighbors. They are the heart of our communities and must be open and accessible when our families, youth, and neighbors need them most. As Mayor, David will provide every community library with the staffing and resources to open on Saturdays and expand weekday hours until 8pm. These expanded hours will help working parents bring their kids to the library more often, students will have a consistent space to study, and seniors will have a welcoming place for connection throughout the day. By strengthening our libraries, we will not only expand access to knowledge and technology but also nurture community pride and public joy.

Providence is full of talented filmmakers and community groups eager to share their stories with our fellow neighbors. As Mayor, David will be a collaborative partner with local filmmakers and organizations like the Providence Children’s Film Festival. This means streamlining the permit process and offering technical support for free film screenings in neighborhood spaces. From Dexter Park to George J. West Park to Lippitt Park to our community libraries and schools, every corner of our city can become a stage for enjoying films and creative storytelling.

As Mayor, David will bring art directly into our public housing communities and local libraries by contracting local artists to serve as resident mentors and facilitators. These artists will receive stipends to lead weekly workshops in painting, music, dance, writing, and other creative forms. Together, these spaces will allow children, families, and elders to express themselves, share their stories, and strengthen community bonds. 

Providence’s creative energy belongs in every neighborhood! As Mayor, David will partner with AS220, New Urban Arts, the Steel Yard, the Avenue Concept, and others to expand funding opportunities that support neighborhood-based art projects and opportunities for local artists. Small businesses, including storefront galleries, restaurants, coffee shops, and retail will be encouraged and supported by the city to collaborate with local artists and turn every block into a hub of creativity, strengthening both our culture and our economy. 

Providence has creative artists, educators, and culture bearers whose talents should be woven directly into our schools. As Mayor, David will champion a citywide effort to bring teaching artists into classrooms, ensuring they are supported with real resources as they help students connect learning to real-world issues and strengthening social-emotional care. By making the creative arts a core part of public education, we will help create classrooms that reflect our city’s creativity. 

From recreation centers to schools to libraries, David will host regular community meetings across Providence. These gatherings will be open forums where neighbors can receive direct updates from City Hall, ask questions, and share ideas about the future of our city. David knows how important this practice is because he’s done it before. In his five years as a State Representative, David hosted more than 40 community meetings in the neighborhoods he serves. As Mayor, David is excited to bring transparency, accountability, and neighborhood-level engagement to all of Providence!