Ocean State Stories

Ocean State Stories is a media platform based at Salve Regina University’s Pell Center, dedicated to serving the diverse communities throughout Rhode Island. We publish weekly, providing important journalism on topics that matter to our state. All of our original articles are available in both English and Spanish, ensuring accessibility for a wider audience. As a non-profit and non-partisan organization, we offer our content free of charge. Our mission is to shed light on issues that are often overlooked or underrepresented. We cover a range of topics including healthcare, education, public policy, socioeconomic and racial inequalities, domestic violence, food and housing challenges, environmental issues, agriculture, ageism, suicide prevention, mental health, veterans affairs, and developmental and intellectual disabilities. Our stories are backed by data, expert insights, and, most importantly, the personal experiences of Rhode Islanders.

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Articles

Forest in Tiverton will shine light on how, why, where trees grow the way they do

1 week ago | oceanstatestories.org | Bonnie Phillips

This story was originally published by ecoRI News, a publication partner of Ocean State Stories. TIVERTON, R.I. — One day when Roger Williams University professor Joel Singley was walking with his young daughter in the Pardon Gray Preserve, he noticed something that perhaps only a scientist with a specialty in hydrology would track. As he followed the preserve’s trail up a forested ridge, he noticed the oaks at the bottom of the ridge were larger and taller than the oaks at the top.
Q & A with medieval scholar Joëlle Rollo-Koster, lead editor of the soon-to-be-published three-volume The Cambridge History of the Papacy

3 weeks ago | oceanstatestories.org | G. Wayne Miller

Editor’s note: This interview was conducted before the death of Pope Francis on April 21. Thanks, Joëlle, for agreeing to do this. You are the lead editor of the soon-to-be-published three-volume The Cambridge History of the Papacy. The total length is some 2,400 pages. This is a monumental achievement, years in the making. Can you please give us an overview? The volumes have been published. Because it is Cambridge UP, they start by distributing in the UK and then they ship to the US.
Q & A with Kelly Clifton, Head of Library Community Engagement at Brown

3 weeks ago | oceanstatestories.org | G. Wayne Miller

Thanks for agreeing to do this, Kelly. Let’s start with the office you lead. Can you please give us an overview? And then we’ll get into some of the details. Brown University Library received funding from a generous donor to establish the Center for Library Exploration and Research, CLEAR, which houses my office: library community engagement. Though I am an office of one, I work very closely with many colleagues, and I’ll share how our work overlaps throughout our discussion.
ICE keeps New Bedford mayor, police in dark about violent arrest of Guatemalan immigrant

1 month ago | oceanstatestories.org | Anastasia Lennon |Gerardo Beltran Salinas |Eleonora Bianchi

Originally published in The New Bedford Light, a publication partner of Ocean State Stories. New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell answers reporters’ questions at a press conference about the incident on Tallman Street.
Q & A with Theresa Guzmán Stokes

1 month ago | oceanstatestories.org | G. Wayne Miller

Thanks, Theresa, for doing this interview. You have many responsibilities and community commitments and we will get into all of them. Let’s start with the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society, or RIBHS. You are the founder and director. Can you please give us an overview of the organization? The Rhode Island Black Heritage Society (RIBHS) has proudly served the state of Rhode Island for over 50 years.
Ocean State Stories asked rabbis to reflect on the meaning and observance of Passover. Here’s what they said.

1 month ago | oceanstatestories.org | G. Wayne Miller

This story was originally published on April 15, 2024, with a headline noting the dates last year. Its meaning remains relevant in 2025. — Rabbi Ethan Adler, the religious leader of Congregation Beth David in Narragansett. He also serves Congregation Sharah Zedek in Westerly. At its core, Passover commemorates the Jewish People’s escape from Egyptian bondage over 3400 years ago. It is celebrated at a special meal, called a Seder, using food items to symbolize the messages of the Biblical narrative.
Q & A with artist and writer Joe Duggan

1 month ago | oceanstatestories.org | G. Wayne Miller

Thanks for doing this, Joe. We discovered your work when I was at Cru Cafe in Newport and you kindly gave me one of your books, RoseBlood, which we have reprinted at the end. Tell us about RoseBlood please. RoseBlood is the first book I’ve written for a new venture that I call: the ArtHelps project. I’ve been feeling a little overwhelmed by the state of the world and was taking inventory of my skills to see if there was any way I could help.
New Samaritans website offers calm and resources for people with mental health challenges or thoughts of suicide.

1 month ago | oceanstatestories.org | G. Wayne Miller

PROVIDENCE – Its creation took four years and involved input from many sources. And since it went live late last year, the new website for the Samaritans of Rhode Island has drawn praise for its welcoming appearance, resources, and links to help for those who live with mental health challenges or might be contemplating suicide. The site also offers guidance for caregivers.
Q & A with Susan Siprelle, founder and co-president of RENEWport

1 month ago | oceanstatestories.org | G. Wayne Miller

Susan, can you please tell us about RENEWport’s mission. You touched on it in an interview in April 2024, but please tell us more. RENEWport brings together nonprofit and business leaders, government officials, community organizations, and citizens to tackle local challenges. RENEWport is committed to creating a caring pipeline into the public schools and connecting individuals of all ages with needed resources.
Q & A with author Raina C. Smith

2 months ago | oceanstatestories.org | G. Wayne Miller

Raina, congratulations on publication of your latest novel, The Vampire – A Covenant for Peace. We’ll dig into it momentarily, but let’s start with your background. Where did you grow up and what schools did you attend? I grew up in North Scituate, not far from the Scituate Reservoir (largest freshwater body in the state of RI), in a peaceful country setting.