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Boston Globe
17-07-2025
- Boston Globe
‘Nonviolence is not for cowards. It's for courageous people.'
While her family stressed the importance of defending yourself, Pina-Warren gravitated toward the role of mediator. 'I wanted peace,' she said. 'I wanted people to get along." Today, Pina-Warren is executive director of the The Nonviolence Institute in Providence, R.I. The Nonviolence Institute The organization formed in response to the murder of Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up The institute teaches the practices and principles of nonviolence, going into schools, businesses, prisons, hospitals, and nonprofits, she said. And it provides 'boots on the ground,' sending street workers into cities such as Providence, Pawtucket, and Central Falls to mediate gang disputes and head off violence. Advertisement 'Nonviolence is not for cowards. It's for courageous people,' Pina-Warren said. 'It's very easy and cowardly to pull out a knife or a gun or fight someone. To be able to say to another person, 'I don't want this' and to be able to walk away from a situation takes a lot of courage. But the outcome is so much better.' Advertisement Pina-Warren, who recently appeared on 'That really impacted me,' she said. At a candlelight vigil, Gross introduced himself and asked her, 'What can we do? What are we going to do?' Pina-Warren joined the institute in 2009 and rose through the ranks. In July 2024, she replaced interim director Keith Morton, who'd been leading the organization since Pina-Warren spoke about how tragedies involving her family shaped her passion for nonviolence. She said that in 1996 her older brother was involved in a high-speed chase with the police that ended with her brother and his friend dying in a crash. 'That really, really impacted my life,' Pina-Warren said. 'He was my best friend. He taught me how to ride a bike, taught me how to tie my shoes, and taught me how to fight.' In losing her older brother, she said, 'I could have totally gone on the wrong path and given up.' But instead, she said, 'Losing him motivated me to really dig down deep, to help others and also to help myself — just to better my life because I knew that that's what he wanted for me." Advertisement Years later, Pina-Warren heard that a young man she'd worked with had been killed. At first, she was relieved to hear that someone had been charged with the shooting. But then she learned that the person charged with the homicide was her nephew — her brother's son. Pina-Warren said working at the Nonviolence Institute has helped her deal with those tragedies. 'Being able to give back to my community and help others that go through some of the things that I have gone through, or similar, is really healing,' she said. 'There's a passion.' To get the latest episode each week, follow Rhode Island Report podcast , , and other podcasting platforms, or listen in the player above. Edward Fitzpatrick can be reached at
Boston Globe
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Senator Reed and Representative Amo sound the alarm
The event marks the 200th episode of the Rhode Island Report podcast and celebrates the ongoing partnership between Globe Rhode Island and Rhode Island PBS The full podcast show will go live tomorrow — listen to it on Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up A sold-out crowd listens to a live recording of the Rhode Island Report podcast with US Senator Jack Reed, US Representative Gabe Amo, and hosts Jim Hummel, host of "A Lively Experiment" on Rhode Island PBS, and Globe Rhode Island political reporter Edward Fitzpatrick on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at Rhode Island PBS studios in Providence, R.I. Carlos Muñoz Advertisement Here are a few highlights. A looming constitutional crisis At several points, Reed made it clear he has concerns about Trump's willingness to defy the US Supreme Court, and what it would mean for the country. He said he hopes that Republicans in Congress will realize that they have to intervene, but he acknowledged that Trump knows it's highly unlikely he will be impeached, and he is 'playing on that now.' The case of Abrego Garcia is the Advertisement Harsh words for Hegseth Reed pulled no punches about his feelings on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, whose nomination he attempted to block. He said the latest reports that Hegseth shared sensitive information about forthcoming strikes in Yemen on March 15 with family members proves he is not qualified for the job, and should resign. Reed said Hegseth's tendency to work 'in this circle of very close cronies' is especially concerning. Following a live recording of the Rhode Island Report podcast at Rhode Island PBS studios, US Senator Jack Reed chats with guests. Carlos Muñoz Concerns about higher education Amo pointed out that the Trump administration's attempts to cut and freeze funding to colleges and universities could have a much larger negative impact on the economy – especially in Rhode Island. Amo said the state's attempt to become a player in the life sciences space will be at risk if Brown University has to pause construction or hiring. Reed said that rather than attempting to build a knowledge economy, Trump's 'trying to build an ignorance economy' by cutting research grants. USAID cuts are devastating Amo is a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, which has been digging into the gutting of USAID, said the 'heartlessness we've seen from President Trump, the weakness from Secretary [Marco] Rubio, the arbitrary cuts from Elon Musk, leave us in a position where around the world where our allies are saying, 'don't trust the US.'' He said Trump wants to force countries to come to the US and beg for help, 'and that's not OK.' Following a live recording of the Rhode Island Report podcast at Rhode Island PBS studios, Congressman Gabe Amo chats with guests. Carlos Muñoz 'We're abandoning the Ukrainians' Reacting to reports that Secretary Rubio plans to skip the next stage of the Ukrainian cease-fire talks, Reed said he fears that it's another sign that 'we're abandoning the Ukrainians.' Reed warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin will not be satisfied until he can pursue more former territories that were once controlled by Russia, and those countries are concerned that America won't be there to offer support. He also warned that China is watching the situation closely because it could become more aggressive with its neighbors if the US isn't in the picture. Advertisement Other quick hitters Reed does plan to seek reelection next year and is still backing Democratic Senate Leader Chuck Schumer: When it comes to Democratic infighting, Reed said, 'the worst thing we can do as Democrats is spend the next year and a half fighting with each other.' Amo said he would be supportive of Congress passing legislation to offer more student visas to help the innovation economy continue to flow. This story first appeared in Rhode Map, our free newsletter about Rhode Island that also contains information about local events, links to interesting stories, and more. If you'd like to receive it via email Monday through Friday, . Dan McGowan can be reached at
Boston Globe
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
🏆 As Rhode Island Report nears 200 episodes, go behind the scenes of the award-winning podcast with host Ed Fitzpatrick
Q: Aside from your perfectly Rhode Island accent, what has made the podcast such a success? Fitzpatrick: The podcast succeeds because we stay on top of the news, breaking stories and adding perspective to the big Rhode Island issues while listening to voices that might not otherwise be heard. It succeeds because of our great partnership with Rhode Island PBS. And it succeeds because we have a dream team in producer Megan Hall, editors Lylah Alphonse and Maria Caporizzo, plus reporters Amanda Milkovits, Dan McGowan, Steph Machado, Alexa Gagosz, Carlos Munoz, Chris Gavin, and Omar Mohammed. Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up Q: You've had a lot of different roles in journalism, but it's so fun to watch you get so much joy out of the podcast. What's the biggest difference between print and audio for you as a journalist? Advertisement Fitzpatrick: I get a kick out of it because it's a whole new way to tell the stories of Rhode Island. You can hear so much that you would never pick up in a print article, whether it's the sound of the pinball machines at Pawtucket's Advertisement Q: Rhode Island Report has made plenty of headlines since you launched. Tell us about some of your favorite moments from the podcast. Fitzpatrick: Our most popular episode was who's on the Mount Rushmore of great Rhode Island State House accents. Also, I've been moved by the accounts of the refugees who escaped Q: You're about to celebrate the 200th episode of Rhode Island Report, and you're hosting a live event to mark the occasion. What should we expect from that event? Advertisement Fitzpatrick: Join us April 22 for 'Rhode Island Report, Live: Washington decisions, Ocean State impact.' US Senator Jack Reed and US Congressman Gabe Amo will take part in a live, in-studio discussion about the impact that decisions and discussions in D.C. have on R.I. I'll ask questions along with Jim Hummel, host of RI PBS' 'A Lively Experiment,' as we mark the 200th episode and celebrate the partnership between Globe Rhode Island and Rhode Island PBS. The event runs 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at RI PBS Studios, 50 Park Lane, Providence. It will air as a special episode of 'A Lively Experiment' and the Rhode Island Report podcast. It's free, but This story first appeared in Rhode Map, our free newsletter about Rhode Island that also contains information about local events, links to interesting stories, and more. If you'd like to receive it via email Monday through Friday, . Dan McGowan can be reached at
Boston Globe
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
R.I. AG Neronha blasts Governor McKee for denying additional funding as his office battles Trump
On the Rhode Island Report podcast, Neronha said states such as California and Hawaii have given their attorneys general more funding to fight Trump. But he said Advertisement 'Governor McKee is doing what he often does in this situation, which is putting his personal problems with me ahead of what's best for Rhode Island,' Neronha said. 'The only people capable right now of pushing back against this president are people who are in a position to sue him.' Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up Neronha noted that he co-led a He emphasized that federal funding accounts for one-third of the state's $14.2 billion budget. And he noted that it's still unclear if 'If that doesn't work out, who's going to be in a position to have to go to court to try to get it?' Neronha said. 'My office.' While both are Democrats, Neronha and McKee have clashed in the past. In October, McKee accused Neronha of directing Advertisement On March 3, McKee released a video 'How?' Neronha said in response to the claim of fighting Trump. 'Governor McKee was really late to this fight.' So is Neronha, who is term-limited as attorney general, still considering 'I haven't ruled anything out,' he said. 'I believe that I could do the work and do it well. But I'm not sure that's how I want to spend my 60s, and I have to figure that out.' But Neronha indicated he is unlikely to run for lieutenant governor. 'I don't know that I'm wired to be a No. 2, honestly,' he said, noting he has led the attorney general's office and the US Attorney's Office in Rhode Island. Neronha said he does see leadership qualities in other potential candidates for governor, including former CVS executive On the podcast, Neronha said he does not support Advertisement With Trump vowing 'What I worry about are unintended consequences,' Neronha said. 'There are very few crimes that are victimless and don't impact somebody in a serious way.' He said, 'I can see a path to supporting aspects of that bill, but I don't support it in its current state.' To get the latest episode each week, follow Rhode Island Report podcast , , and other podcasting platforms, or listen in the player above. Edward Fitzpatrick can be reached at
Boston Globe
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Providence's Refugee Dream Center isn't going anywhere
'No matter how hard it is, we are going to work with them, and we will help them to be self-sufficient,' Jallow said on the Rhode Island Report podcast. 'That is what we are going to do, no matter what message we get from D.C.' Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up After taking office on Jan. 20, Trump immediately As a result, the Refugee Dream Center had been forced to cut five staff members devoted to refugee resettlement, bringing the center's total staffing down to 14, Jallow said. While she is worried, she said the center will continue its mission. 'I also have the belief that we will survive because we do have good people around,' Jallow said. 'Rhode Islanders are reaching out to volunteer a lot, and some are also donating individually. We receive calls every day.' Jallow and her husband, Advertisement Jallow believes it is illegal for the Trump administration to halt funding to resettle refugees who came to the United States legally. And the But meanwhile, Related : Refugees are in the United State legally and have I-94 forms documenting their entry, Jallow noted. But many have family members remaining in the country they came from, and they fear they will never be reunified now, she said. And since Trump's inauguration, some immigrants have decided to leave for Canada, she said. The chilling effect is evident at the Refugee Dream Center's weekly food pantry, for example. 'We used to see nothing less than 150 families, but now we see like 80 or even less,' Jallow said. Many immigrants are going to and from work only, while avoiding other public places, and some are Some young immigrants are trying to find second or even third jobs because they think they will need more money if they get deported. At the same time, factories and other employers are calling the center, looking for workers, she said. Jallow said she feels compelled to speak out despite the widespread fear. Advertisement 'I am a voice to so many thousands of people,' she said. 'It is important for me to speak up to tell America – or to tell the world – that this is happening every day. This is what we are facing. When people know what is going on, it is easier for them to help.' Jallow said she wants to challenge Trump's attempt to portray all immigrants as criminals. She said people like her are drawn here by the 'American dream.' 'People come here and become whatever they want to be, because America gave us that opportunity,' she said. 'I was born and raised in a very remote village in The Gambia where girls are not allowed to go to school, but America gave me the opportunity.' Now, Jallow said she is contributing to her community, the economy, and society. 'I am also a role model to so many other refugees and immigrants that I serve here, and even Americans,' she said. 'So I think Trump should see the impact that immigrants and refugees are creating in the United States, and not just brand them as criminals or illegal.' To get the latest episode each week, follow Rhode Island Report podcast , , and other podcasting platforms, or listen in the player above. Edward Fitzpatrick can be reached at
