2023 Annual Report Update: Student Enrichment Program

In Spring 2023, the Simmons Center welcomed three Providence high school students to its Student Enrichment program, supporting youth-led social justice projects. From African American fashion to youth activism and Ethnic Studies in medicine, students explored local history, conducted research, and engaged with community partners.

In the spring of 2023, the Simmons Center enrolled three Providence high school students to its Student Enrichment program to develop and implement community-based projects deeply rooted in social justice. Students have built knowledge of local Black and Indigenous history, gained hands-on research experience, and conducted interviews with community partners. This program has allowed us to grow our relationships with visiting school communities and support student work at the intersection of education and activism. Our first student, Hafsat, is a 10th grader from the MET School who is currently interested in creating a project about the history of African American fashion. She has enjoyed participating in the Slavery & Legacy Walking Tours and is practicing to lead one for her advisor soon. Our second student, Demi, is an 11th grader from Classical High School who is currently researching youth activism in Providence for her junior research seminar. She is working on a 10–12 page research paper that involves both library research and interviews with community members with the support of our education team. Our third student, Emily, is a 12th grader from Classical High School researching Ethnic Studies implementation in medical school curricula.

Nada Samih-Rotondo
Manager of Public Education Initiatives and Community Outreach

2022-2023 Education Workshops

11th and 12th graders explored the Brown family’s involvement in the slave trade by analyzing a range of primary sources in an interactive workshop lead by the Simmons Center.

The Simmons Center welcomed students from School One, Shea High School and Mount Pleasant High School to the Center and presented information about educational resources and upcoming opportunities such as the Black & Indigenous Summer Institute.

Brown and RISD students participated in a Slavery & Legacy Walking Tour followed by a zine/art making workshop led by Nada Samih-Rotondo.

The Simmons Center and tour guides hosted a Slavery & Legacy Walking Tour for staff from Inspiring Minds as well as a post-tour reflection workshop.

5th graders along with their teachers took part in an educational workshop on the various connections between Rhode Island and the Caribbean along with a Slavery & Legacy Walking Tour.

The Simmons Center led a series of workshops for 5th–8th graders about the history of the Rhode Island trans-Atlantic slave trade.

8th graders took part in a Slavery & Legacy Walking Tour culminating in a post-tour reflection at the Center.

Brown University staff members participated in a Slavery & Legacy Walking Tour and post-tour reflection workshop in June.

Students in Theory and Practice of Engaged Scholarship, an introductory sociology course offered through the Swearer Center, participated in a Slavery & Legacy Walking Tour followed by a reflection session co-facilitated by Carmine Perotti, Assistant Professor of Public and Community Service Studies at Providence College, and our education team. The reflection session explored the relationship between Brown and the city of Providence beginning with the University’s founding and extending into the present.

We welcomed members of MFA Boston’s Curators Circles for a presentation and Q&A session on our work and our mission. We presented research and information from the Slavery and Justice Report while also engaging in a discussion around the Center’s goals and our priorities as an education team.