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Havdalah #54: Sun Day, Housing Crisis, and HealthSource RI

Havdalah #54: Sun Day, Housing Crisis, and HealthSource RI

28 Elul, 5785 / September 20, 2025

White Rose RI
September 20, 2025

White text on black backgound that says "We are your bad conscience. We will not leave you peace."

"Havdalah" against a backdrop of sparks in the darkness, with a white rose on either side

Hi everyone,

I can’t help but feel a sense of mourning these last few weeks. Mourning for the America of my childhood. The America where racism, sexism, and homophobia were sins of our nation’s past that the best among us sacrificed their lives and reputations to fight against. The ‘melting pot’ America where anyone could come and seek a better life. The America where people have the right to political protest, freedom of religion, and can live their life however they see fit as long as they aren’t hurting anyone else.

Of course, America never has been a perfectly diverse, welcoming, or even free nation and my Scout-like naïveté does not reflect the reality of this country’s history. But there has been a notable timbre change in this administration. The powers that be can’t even be bothered to pretend to share American values. They revel in racism, sexism, and homophobia, they celebrate the deportation of nonviolent immigrants, and now they seem intent on restricting what I consider to be the most American value: freedom of speech. This is not the America I remember, and frankly, I mourn the innocence I once had about this country.

But hearing stories of people standing up for immigrants at risk of deportation, watching videos of campus protesters for Gaza, heck, even just seeing people show up to local protests, gives me so much hope for this country. I’m reminded that, yes, Americans fought a war for slavery, but they also fought a war for Abolition; America had Jim Crow laws, but Americans also endured police dogs and firehoses to protest segregation. It is not going to be comfortable to stand up to this fascist regime, but it is our duty, as Americans, to continue the struggle of our forefathers and foremothers to create a just and free America.

…

We have some great events coming up in the next few weeks as well as a lot of local news from Steve Ahlquist [ed. our Beloved], so go check it out.

So long, farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, adieu…

Jackie (she/her)

PS: We’d like to hear from you! Let us know how we’re doing!

"What's On" against a blue background with black silhouettes of figures with signs and banners, with a white rose on either side

The Art of Autonomy: An Exhibition Exploring Community and Art Activism

When: September 13 - October 11
Where: TWP Annex Gallery: Ritual Spaces, 719 Westminster Street, Providence, RI 02903
Through a combination of two community collaboration projects, The Womxn Project Education Fund is being hosted at Ritual Spaces to explore bodily freedom and one's own interaction with art, civic participation and democracy that intersect with our organizational focus — past, present, and future.
Schedule of events:
- 9/13: Opening installation “Looking Back, Learning Forward: Launching the Project, Sharing Our Memories” by Jordan Banick
- 9/21, 12:00pm-4:00pm: Community Mural Project Build with artist Abby Wright and Jonathan Izzard helping lead
- 9/28, 12:00pm-4:00pm: Community Mural Project Build with artist Jonathan Izzard
- 10/10, 4:00pm-7:00pm: Closing Reception Party and Talk. Explore and add to the final outcomes of the Community Mural Project and Oral History Report with a small speaking program about the oral history project by TWP co-founder, Jordan Banick at 6:00pm
The Art of Autonomy Information

Documentary & Discussion: Descendant

When: Wednesday, September 24, 2025, 6:30pm-8:30pm
Where: Salem Family Auditorium, Barrington Public Library, 281 County Road, Barrington, RI 02806
Join the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee for a screening of Descendant. Documentary filmmaker Margaret Brown returns to her hometown of Mobile, Alabama to document the search for and historic discovery of The Clotilda, the last known ship to arrive in the United States, illegally carrying enslaved Africans.
There will be two showings of this film.
- Register for the Sunday, September 21 at 1:00 pm screening HERE.
- Register for the Wednesday, September 24 at 6:30 pm screening HERE.
Free and open to all. Registration is recommended but not required.
2022 - 1 hr 49 mins - PG

PrYSM: Community Conversation

When: Thursday, September 25, 6:00pm-8:00pm
Where: WAT Thormikaram, 178 Hanover Street, Providence RI 02970
Join PrYSM for a meal and mutual aid support as they gather to deepen their understanding of Cambodia refugee resettlement in RI through collective learning, connection and healing.
They will explore the impact of U.S. imperialism, build solidarity with those affected, and strengthen their community through shared struggle and care.
Interpreters available
Contact them at [email protected]

Workers and Renters: Providence General Assembly

When: Saturday, October 4, 12:00pm and every other Saturday
Where: 134 Mathewson Street, Providence, RI 02903
From their Instagram:
- Worried about Trump?
- Want to defend our communities?
- Want a world that works for everyone?
- Come to the Providence General Assembly!
Spanish, ASL interpretation and childcare available upon email request
Masking requested and masks will be provided
Direct questions to [email protected]
Providence General Assembly
Workers and Renters Website

ACLU Rights Explainers

When: Up now
Where: Online
The ACLU just released two updated versions of their explainers about your rights when interacting with immigration agents (ICE) or the police. They have them available in 10 languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Cape Verdean, Haitian Creole, French, Swahili, Dari, Pashto, and Khmer.
Read and save this material – regardless of your own immigration status – and send to friends and family! Click the link below and scroll to the bottom of the page to download PDFs that you can print, plus the ACLU posted on all their social media platforms (@riaclu) if you want to save and share online.
If you have a specific way to distribute larger numbers of the paper copies, please email the RI ACLU at [email protected] or call them at 401-831-7171. They have a limited supply printed, but will provide as many as they are able.
ACLU Rights Explainers

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Offshore Wind Terminal Tour

When: Sunday, September 21, 2025, 10:00am-11:00am
Where: New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal, 4 Wright Street, New Bedford, MA 02740
Get a behind-the-scenes look at one of the nation’s most important clean energy ports. This guided tour of the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal (NBMCT) offers a unique view of the NBMCT quayside from the easily accessible New Bedford Harbor Walk, allowing attendees to see current port operations up close. During this tour, you will learn about the terminal’s history, current operations supporting the Vineyard Wind I offshore wind project, and hear about the work underway as part of an ongoing expansion and improvement project. The terminal plays a central role in regional offshore wind development and maritime commerce activities.
This event is hosted by Climate Action Rhode Island in collaboration with Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, Climate Jobs MA, and Sun Day.
Space is limited, please RSVP to register and let us know if you can no longer attend.
Registration for Offshore Wind Terminal Tour

Sun Day Rhode Island

When: Sunday, September 21, 2025, 12:00pm
Where: The Steel Yard, 27 Sims Ave, Providence, RI 02909
CARI is joining with events across the nation to celebrate the power of solar and wind energy! Sun Day Rhode Island is a family-friendly community event that will highlight the power of the sun and wind through art, play, and hands-on learning.
Sun Day Rhode Island will have:
- Opportunities to learn from RI clean energy advocacy organizations
- A clean energy showcase with electric vehicle and solar demos
- Kid-friendly art activities that celebrate the power of the sun and wind
- Live music
- A short speaking program beginning at 2:00pm
- Snacks and refreshments
Come celebrate clean energy while learning and engaging with the technologies (and the natural forces) that power it!
Hosted by Climate Action Rhode Island, Green Energy Consumers Alliance, and Citizens Climate Lobby RI.
Sun Day RI RSVP Link

The Climate Trees Project: Visualizing Global Change with LEGO

When: Wednesday, September 24, 2025, 6:00pm
Where: Cross’ Mills Public Library, 4417 Old Post Road, Charlestown, RI 02813
The Climate Trees project is a collaboration between a land preservationist, a physicist and a brick artist. Project coordinator Paul Roselli presents a 140-year timeline in trees as a unique and simple visualization of unbiased climate data collected from Providence County.
The intent of the Climate Trees Project is to help move the raw scientific and un-biased data of climate change into the realm of visualizing that data in an instinctive and immersive manner. “Communicating raw data insights ensures accuracy, consistency, clarity and simplicity, and may set the stage to sway a doubtful mind,” says Roselli.
Climate Trees Project Event Page

Tomaquag Museum: Lunch & Learn with Kimberly Toney

When: Monday, September 22, 2025, 12:00pm-1:00pm
Where: Online (Zoom)
Join the Tomaquag Museum for a free virtual presentation. This month’s is on Land Dispossession After KPW (King Phillip’s War).
This lecture will explore how 17th-century land deeds were used to dispossess Native peoples in the Northeast and examines the lasting impacts on tribes like the Narragansett, Nipmuc, Wampanoag, and Pequot. It highlights the experiences of those who signed these early documents and the colonial systems they confronted.
Zoom Link for Lunch and Learn

"Mutual Aid" on a grey-white gradient, flanked on each side by a loop of interlocking hands, with a white rose on either side

The Deportation Defense Line of Rhode Island

Anchored by PSL, AMOR, and ONA, and supported by the work of over 200 volunteers across dozens of Providence area neighborhoods, the Deportation Defense Line responds to ICE sightings and mobilizes our community whenever ICE is spotted in the neighborhood. They have successfully driven ICE away multiple times and stopped deportations.

Their work continues to grow because of a wide network of community members doing outreach and spreading the word about the defense line. To get the defense line phone number into people's hands, they print thousands of sheets every week to distribute to our community.

Your donation will help to purchase a printer, supplies, and ink, as well as to launch new and creative initiatives to spread the word so every Rhode Islander knows about the defense line, and whenever ICE shows up, they'll be there!

This fundraiser is hosted by the Providence Liberation Center, the home of PSL Rhode Island. 100% of your donation goes directly to the Deportation Defense Coalition.

Deportation Defense Line of Rhode Island Donation Link