Latest news with #Women'sFundofRhodeIsland
Boston Globe
29-04-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
Every Rhode Islander should care about RIPTA's $32.6m budget gap
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 First and foremost, fully funding RIPTA is a catalyst for economic growth. Public transit connects workers to jobs, students to educational institutions and social activities, and consumers to local businesses. Visitors to our state may expect a vibrant public transit system that lets them explore the sights without the hassle of renting a car or navigating unfamiliar driving customs. When people can reliably commute without the burden of car ownership, they have more disposable income to spend within the community. Additionally, businesses thrive when their employees have dependable and affordable means of getting to work. Advertisement Moreover, a fully funded transit system promotes equity. RIPTA is a lifeline for low-income individuals, seniors, and people with disabilities who rely on public transit for essential activities like medical appointments and grocery shopping. Ensuring that these populations have access to affordable and efficient transportation is a matter of social justice that benefits the overall cohesion of our society. Advertisement As climate-conscious citizens, we recognize the role RIPTA plays in Increased public transit options contribute to public health and safety. Reduced traffic leads to fewer accidents and less air pollution, which can improve respiratory health. Furthermore, reliable transportation options can help combat social isolation, particularly for seniors and individuals with disabilities who might otherwise be homebound. Investing in public transit is an investment in the future. As Rhode Island seeks to attract young professionals and new businesses, a modern and efficient transit system is a significant draw. Cities and states with strong public transit systems are more competitive in the job market and are seen as more livable and sustainable. A well-funded public transit system is essential for the economic vitality, environmental sustainability, and social equity of our state. Fully funding RIPTA is not just about helping those who ride the bus today — it's about building a more resilient and connected Rhode Island for everyone. We urge policymakers to acknowledge the broader benefits of public transit and allocate the $32.6 million needed to maintain RIPTA's current service levels. Additionally, we encourage them to increase funding in the coming years, allowing RIPTA to grow into a public transit system that all Rhode Islanders can take pride in. Advertisement Lisa Jones, Kisa Takesue, and Liza Berkin are members of the Women's Fund of Rhode Island policy and advocacy committee, and the .
Boston Globe
31-03-2025
- General
- Boston Globe
Amid soaring child care costs and staff shortages, investing in child care is crucial for Rhode Island's future
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 Access to affordable child care empowers women to remain in the workforce without having to worry about the quality of their children's care. When mothers are no longer forced to cut their work hours because they're unable to afford child care – or worse, remove themselves from the workforce entirely – women can sustain long-term careers that lead to better pay. Advertisement At the same time that Rhode Island families are struggling with the cost of child care, our child care providers are facing a staffing crisis. Rhode Island child care educators, who are overwhelmingly women, and often women of color, make about $15 per hour on average. This has led many to Fortunately, Governor Dan McKee and the General Assembly have recognized the challenges facing our state's child care sector and have made strategic investments in recent years to address access, affordability, and staffing issues. This General Assembly session, we need to expand and strengthen policies and investments we know are working. That's why the Women's Fund of Rhode Island is supporting three important pieces of legislation to strengthen our state's child care infrastructure: Advertisement Rhode Island must trust moms so they can access the state Child Care Assistance Program. Rhode Island is one of the few states that requires mothers to pursue Rhode Island must make its successful Child Care for Child Care Educators program permanent ( The General Assembly needs to restore $1.1 million in funding for infant/toddler child care that was left out of the proposed FY 2026 state budget ( Advertisement The Linda Shaw and Nicholas Ventola are members of the child-care subcommittee of the Women's Fund of Rhode Island's policy and advocacy committee.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Investing in people delivers the best return. The Women's Fund helps RIers succeed: Commentary
When faced with an opportunity to make an investment, the main consideration often is whether you're confident it will return more than what is put in. Yet no matter how successful the track record is of a broker or trader, there's never a guarantee that an investment will hit. But what if you were to consider the gains of investing in the betterment of your fellow Rhode Islanders? What if you were presented with information and data indicating the long-term return on those investments could multiply time and time over? I am fortunate each day to have a front-row seat to the transformative nature that's realized by investing in programs and services that empower our neighbors. Seeing how these same investments advance our communities is of equal importance, which, in turn, makes our state better and stronger. There truly are incredible people and organizations doing life-changing work in Rhode Island. Make no mistake, there remains a lack of equity in our state and far too much need among our people. That, however, should not overshadow the lasting change we see by lifting up each other … by investing in each other and in all Rhode Islanders' opportunity for a good life. Nonprofits around the state, like the Women's Fund of Rhode Island, are working each day to highlight and address the most important issues our communities face. That work, investing in every person, is also an investment in family stability, in education, economic and workforce development, and in overall health and well-being. And more than just being the right thing to do, the long-term return is significant, generational. We are all interconnected, even more so in a place like Rhode Island. I will always believe, "When one succeeds, we all succeed." Roshni Darnal is the director of community investments at the United Way of Rhode Island This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Women's Fund of RI creates opportunity for a good life in RI: Commentary
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Investing in people delivers the best return. The Women's Fund helps RIers succeed: Commentary
When faced with an opportunity to make an investment, the main consideration often is whether you're confident it will return more than what is put in. Yet no matter how successful the track record is of a broker or trader, there's never a guarantee that an investment will hit. But what if you were to consider the gains of investing in the betterment of your fellow Rhode Islanders? What if you were presented with information and data indicating the long-term return on those investments could multiply time and time over? I am fortunate each day to have a front-row seat to the transformative nature that's realized by investing in programs and services that empower our neighbors. Seeing how these same investments advance our communities is of equal importance, which, in turn, makes our state better and stronger. There truly are incredible people and organizations doing life-changing work in Rhode Island. Make no mistake, there remains a lack of equity in our state and far too much need among our people. That, however, should not overshadow the lasting change we see by lifting up each other … by investing in each other and in all Rhode Islanders' opportunity for a good life. Nonprofits around the state, like the Women's Fund of Rhode Island, are working each day to highlight and address the most important issues our communities face. That work, investing in every person, is also an investment in family stability, in education, economic and workforce development, and in overall health and well-being. And more than just being the right thing to do, the long-term return is significant, generational. We are all interconnected, even more so in a place like Rhode Island. I will always believe, "When one succeeds, we all succeed." Roshni Darnal is the director of community investments at the United Way of Rhode Island This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Women's Fund of RI creates opportunity for a good life in RI: Commentary
