Providence Public Library (PPL) held its Annual Meeting on May 15, 2024, announcing and installing officers and incoming trustees. In formal proceedings, the Library confirmed its 2024 – 2025 officers of the Board as: Christopher Stevens (Easton, Mass.), Chair; Rodney Lopez (East Providence), Vice Chair; Juan Wilson (Providence), Secretary; and Derek Farias (of North Attleboro, Mass.) Treasurer.
In addition, the Library announced the following new members of the PPL Board of Trustees (photos attached):
Jessica David, of East Greenwich
Jessica is the Co-Founder and President of Local Return, which builds community wealth in Rhode Island through ownership and investment, particularly in neighborhoods that have experienced historical disinvestment. Jessica draws upon nearly 20 years working at the intersection of people, place, and money and her mission is to build community wealth and resilience in Rhode Island. She is also a full-time student working towards her Master of Divinity degree. Jessica serves on PPL’s Entrepreneurship Committee.
Derek Farias, of North Attleboro, Mass
Derek is the Senior Vice President for development and community planning at Barbara Sokoloff Associates. Derek provides development consulting services, including preparing development proformas and funding applications for state and federal programs. He has assisted in bringing several Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and New Markets Tax Credit projects to closing. Derek will serve as PPL’s Treasurer. He also has been a standing member of the Library’s Finance Committee and will become Committee Chair.
Dillon Jones, of Providence
Dillon is a second grade teacher in a multilingual learner-integrated classroom with Providence Public Schools. He began his teaching career as a fourth grade teacher in Prince George’s County, Maryland, and later transitioned to teaching first grade at Success Academy Charter Schools in Bronx, NY.
Isabella Porter, of Little Compton
Isabella joins PPL’s Board with a unique combination of 20-plus years of strategic planning, marketing and brand planning/consulting experience together with a recent leadership role in higher education consultancy. She specializes in healthcare marketing, education marketing, enrollment management, strategic planning. Isabella will be joining PPL’s Finance Committee.
Evelyn Ranone, of Lincoln
Evelyn is the First Vice President CRA Officer at BayCoast Bank. She is a financial and non-profit community leader focused on driving cultural transformation and maximizing resources by developing a contributing professional development infrastructure, leading critical projects, creating efficient processes and procedures, and innovating problem-solving solutions. Evelyn has received Rhode Island State, Congressional, and Senate recognition for her leadership, professional achievement, and contributions to the community.
Markeem Rodrigues, of Pawtucket
Markeem is the Visual Merchandising Supervisor at Uniqlo. He is a recent graduate of University of Rhode Island and focused in Computer Science, Textile Fashion Merchandising and Design and Film/Media. He has had various internships and leadership roles in the community.
Charlotte Abotsi, of Providence
Charlotte is a Writer and Content Specialist who works for the City of Providence Department of Art, Culture and Tourism. She is a spoken word poet, who has performed and competed on stages from New York City to San Francisco. Charlotte is a passionate defender of feminism, race and education.