STUDIO RHODE WOONSOCKET

Woonsocket, RI --- On October 4, 2017, the Studio Rhode team had the opportunity to interview Ben Lessing, Chief Executive Officer of Community Care Alliance.  In the interview, Lessing spoke at great length about his experience with Community Care Alliance, the challenges he sees in Woonsocket, and his greater vision for the city. Community Care Alliance has worked to empower people challenged by economic insecurity, mental illness and addictions, housing issues, and other trauma-related concerns. They provide counseling, treatment and support services; food, shelter and housing; programs to assist with self-sufficiency such as employment, financial iteracy and vocational training; and support for self help. The organization has over 125 years of experience of working to strengthen families, individuals and the community.  Lessing noted that his fondest memory in Woonsocket was his role in helping grow the annual ShelterWalk since his arrival in the year 2000. Due to the

This video was captured on August 18, 2017 at the Museum of Work and Culture. Pauline R. responded to the following three questions:  1) Tell us your favorite memory of your life in Woonsocket?  2) What do you like about living in Woonsocket or what do you find challenging?  3) What would you do today to change Woonsocket?  In May of 2017, the Woonsocket Harris Public Library won a state-wide contest sponsored by the Rhode Island Office of Innovation, and the Rhode Island State Library office of Information Services to come up with a way to come up with a creative way for public libraries to engage residents with technology and training in the digital age.  The winning idea was to collect 200 video interviews from city residents to help the City of Woonsocket create its comprehensive plan for future planning and economic development. The Woonsocket Harris Public Library also received 40 iPads, funding to convert a study room into a sound-proof creation studio, and $40,000

This video was captured on October 16, 2017 at Ciro’s Tavern. John W. responded to the following three questions:  1) Tell us your favorite memory of your life in Woonsocket?  2) What do you like about living in Woonsocket or what do you find challenging?  3) What would you do today to change Woonsocket?  In May of 2017, the Woonsocket Harris Public Library won a state-wide contest sponsored by the Rhode Island Office of Innovation, and the Rhode Island State Library office of Information Services to come up with a way to come up with a creative way for public libraries to engage residents with technology and training in the digital age.  The winning idea was to collect 200 video interviews from city residents to help the City of Woonsocket create its comprehensive plan for future planning and economic development. The Woonsocket Harris Public Library also received 40 iPads, funding to convert a study room into a sound-proof creation studio, and $40,000 from the Carnegie

This video was captured on October 16, 2017 at Ciro’s Tavern. Carole P. responded to the following three questions:  1) Tell us your favorite memory of your life in Woonsocket?  2) What do you like about living in Woonsocket or what do you find challenging?  3) What would you do today to change Woonsocket?   In May of 2017, the Woonsocket Harris Public Library won a state-wide contest sponsored by the Rhode Island Office of Innovation, and the Rhode Island State Library office of Information Services to come up with a way to come up with a creative way for public libraries to engage residents with technology and training in the digital age.  The winning idea was to collect 200 video interviews from city residents to help the City of Woonsocket create its comprehensive plan for future planning and economic development. The Woonsocket Harris Public Library also received 40 iPads, funding to convert a study room into a sound-proof creation studio, and $40,000 from the Carneg

This video was captured on October 16, 2017 at Ciro’s Tavern. Patrick M. responded to the following three questions:  1) Tell us your favorite memory of your life in Woonsocket?  2) What do you like about living in Woonsocket or what do you find challenging?  3) What would you do today to change Woonsocket?  In May of 2017, the Woonsocket Harris Public Library won a state-wide contest sponsored by the Rhode Island Office of Innovation, and the Rhode Island State Library office of Information Services to come up with a way to come up with a creative way for public libraries to engage residents with technology and training in the digital age.  The winning idea was to collect 200 video interviews from city residents to help the City of Woonsocket create its comprehensive plan for future planning and economic development. The Woonsocket Harris Public Library also received 40 iPads, funding to convert a study room into a sound-proof creation studio, and $40,000 from the Carneg

This video was captured on October 16, 2017 at Ciro's Tavern. Robert C. responded to the following three questions:  1) Tell us your favorite memory of your life in Woonsocket?  2) What do you like about living in Woonsocket or what do you find challenging?  3) What would you do today to change Woonsocket?  In May of 2017, the Woonsocket Harris Public Library won a state-wide contest sponsored by the Rhode Island Office of Innovation, and the Rhode Island State Library office of Information Services to come up with a way to come up with a creative way for public libraries to engage residents with technology and training in the digital age.  The winning idea was to collect 200 video interviews from city residents to help the City of Woonsocket create its comprehensive plan for future planning and economic development. The Woonsocket Harris Public Library also received 40 iPads, funding to convert a study room into a sound-proof creation studio, and $40,000 from the Ca

This video was captured on September 8, 2017 on Friday Food Night at River Island Art Park. Cherie & Greg S. responded to the following three questions:  1) Tell us your favorite memory of your life in Woonsocket?  2) What do you like about living in Woonsocket or what do you find challenging?  3) What would you do today to change Woonsocket?  In May of 2017, the Woonsocket Harris Public Library won a state-wide contest sponsored by the Rhode Island Office of Innovation, and the Rhode Island State Library office of Information Services to come up with a way to come up with a creative way for public libraries to engage residents with technology and training in the digital age.  The winning idea was to collect 200 video interviews from city residents to help the City of Woonsocket create its comprehensive plan for future planning and economic development. The Woonsocket Harris Public Library also received 40 iPads, funding to convert a study room into a sound-proof cre

This video was captured on October 16, 2017 at Ciro's Tavern. Connie H. responded to the following three questions:  1) Tell us your favorite memory of your life in Woonsocket?  2) What do you like about living in Woonsocket or what do you find challenging?  3) What would you do today to change Woonsocket?  In May of 2017, the Woonsocket Harris Public Library won a state-wide contest sponsored by the Rhode Island Office of Innovation, and the Rhode Island State Library office of Information Services to come up with a way to come up with a creative way for public libraries to engage residents with technology and training in the digital age.  The winning idea was to collect 200 video interviews from city residents to help the City of Woonsocket create its comprehensive plan for future planning and economic development. The Woonsocket Harris Public Library also received 40 iPads, funding to convert a study room into a sound-proof creation studio, and $40,000 from the Ca

This video was captured on October 16, 2017 at Ciro's Tavern. Michelle H. responded to the following three questions: 1) Tell us your favorite memory of your life in Woonsocket? 2) What do you like about living in Woonsocket or what do you find challenging? 3) What would you do today to change Woonsocket? In May of 2017, the Woonsocket Harris Public Library won a state-wide contest sponsored by the Rhode Island Office of Innovation, and the Rhode Island State Library office of Information Services to come up with a way to come up with a creative way for public libraries to engage residents with technology and training in the digital age.  The winning idea was to collect 200 video interviews from city residents to help the City of Woonsocket create its comprehensive plan for future planning and economic development. The Woonsocket Harris Public Library also received 40 iPads, funding to convert a study room into a sound-proof creation studio, and $40,000 from the Carnegi

Michelle Heroux, a lifelong Woonsocket resident and owner of ‘With Heart and Soul’ clothing and jewelry shop in Cumberland, readies to be interviewed for her ‘story.’ By Joseph B. Nadeau, Staff Writer Woonsocket, RI --- With the help of a funding grant and award of new technology, the city’s Harris Public Library is ready to film your story and add it to a treasury of city impressions and personal histories that it is building. The library’s “My Woonsocket Life,” A Storytelling Project, is the result of the Studio Rhode competition hosted by the Rhode Island Office of Innovation and the state Office of Library and Information Services. The Harris Public Library won a grant through the competition that provided it with 40 Apple IPad tablets, video production equipment, a Mac computer, a Macbook and an Apple television for display – a $50,000 technology award in all, according to Leslie Page, Harris director. The library has also received a $40,000 grant from the Carnegie Fo

This video was captured on September 8, 2017 on Friday Food Night at River Island Art Park. Pat M. responded to the following three questions:  1) Tell us your favorite memory of your life in Woonsocket? 2) What do you like about living in Woonsocket or what do you find challenging? 3) What would you do today to change Woonsocket?   In May of 2017, the Woonsocket Harris Public Library won a state-wide contest sponsored by the Rhode Island Office of Innovation, and the Rhode Island State Library office of Information Services to come up with a way to come up with a creative way for public libraries to engage residents with technology and training in the digital age.  The winning idea was to collect 200 video interviews from city residents to help the City of Woonsocket create its comprehensive plan for future planning and economic development. The Woonsocket Harris Public Library also received 40 iPads, funding to convert a study room into a sound-proof creation studio, and

Pictured from Left to Right: L-R: Karen Mellor (Chief Librarian, OLIS), Leslie Page (Library Director, Harris Library), Toban Shadlyn (Studio Rhode Creation Lab Designer, RISD), Margaret McNulty (Assistant Director, Harris Library), and Bao Vang (Rhode Island Office of Innovation) Woonsocket, RI --- On Thursday, September 28, the Woonsocket Harris Public Library officially opened the doors to its Studio Rhode Creation Lab. A “Grand Opening” event was held at the library from 7 PM to 9 PM, as the library showed off its new sound proof studio to dignitaries and members of the community. “We are excited and proud to offer this space to our community,” said Leslie Page, Woonsocket Library Director. “We now have a place, available to all, where our residents can use the latest in 21st century technology to learn new skills, to create film, art, and music, and to simply come together to share knowledge and experience.” In May, the Woonsocket Harris Public Library wo

Woonsocket, RI --- On Friday, September 15, the team from the Studio Rhode Woonsocket project made a trip to city hall to ask Woonsocket Mayor, Lisa Baldelli-Hunt, about her life living in Woonsocket. During the interview Baldelli-Hunt spoke about her early roots growing up in the city, about the challenges she saw in Woonsocket, and ways that she could help make it a better place.  “Woonsocket is a very special place,” said Baldelli-Hunt. ”It’s an urban community, but it has a flair of suburban living. The city has all the bones to be an extraordinary, phenomenal place.”  Baldelli-Hunt added, “You almost need to change the mind-set of the people who live in the community. There’s so much here, and it’s like the bud of a flower, and you’re waiting for it to bloom, but you need people to recognize that it’s a rose, it’s not the thorns. It’s sort of like having faith in the underdog, and I always like the underdog, because I always think the underdog has great drive, great pot