In 2023, PPS is once again joining Rhode Island’s day of giving – an opportunity to unite our community around causes in which we truly believe and help nonprofit organizations connect to the larger community. Please join our 401Gives campaign and help us launch Building Works, our initiative to train the next generation of preservation…
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For 56 years, the Meeting Street School (primary and grammar) provided a formal education to Black students in Providence. When it opened, it was the only free public school for students of color, and it remained one of the very few options available to Black and Indigenous families throughout the 19th Century. Under the leadership…
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A Biography of Elizabeth H. Smith, Black Principal of the Meeting Street Primary School In March of 1865, a year before Rhode Island’s schools were legally desegregated, an opinion piece appeared in a Providence newspaper arguing that separate schools for Black children were just as good as those for whites. The author asserted, “Our Meeting…
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Elizabeth Howland Smith Internship Program The Providence Preservation Society welcomes student interest in the Elizabeth Howland Smith Internship Program during the summer of 2023. This paid internship provides career exploration opportunities for curious students from backgrounds historically excluded from jobs in the fields of historic preservation and cultural heritage. Students will explore key areas of…
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After 9 years at the helm of Providence Preservation Society, Brent Runyon has decided to step aside and make way for a new Executive Director in 2023. We cannot thank Brent enough for his steadfast leadership and passion for preservation in Providence. In this time, Brent has helped us become a stronger preservation advocate and…
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PPS’ annual Most Endangered Property list is our organization’s signature statement on the stewardship of Providence’s rich architectural legacy. This year’s list puts a focus on publicly-owned buildings, an effort to emphasize the urgency of decades of deferred maintenance, neglect, or underutilization that is reaching a critical point. In 2023, we have included the entirety of…
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Support a vibrant and sustainable future for Providence with a gift to the Annual Fund! This year has been a special one for our organization. After months of self-reflection, tough conversations, and vital input from our supporters (and our critics), PPS released our new Strategic Plan at the end of 2021. The plan has been…
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Our Biltmore Keepsake Ornaments Are Now SOLD OUT. A new ornament will be announced in Fall of 2023! PPS is pleased to announce our 2022 keepsake ornament, featuring Providence’s historic Biltmore Hotel! Proceeds from all sales will support our ongoing advocacy work. Click here to place your order. Ornaments are $30 each, including shipping and…
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