Governor-elect Foulkes Names Leadership Transition Committee Focused on Getting Results for Rhode Island
Governor-elect Helena Buonanno Foulkes has named 23 members to a Leadership Transition Committee to help shape her incoming administration and its priorities for Rhode Island.
Central Falls Mayor Maria Rivera and business leader Bari Harlam will co-chair the committee. Members will meet throughout November and December to develop strategic recommendations, drawing on their own experience and feedback from Rhode Islanders.
The full Leadership Transition Committee includes:
Mayor Maria Rivera, Central Falls – Co-Chair
Bari Harlam – Co-Chair
Maria Barry, RI Housing Board of Commissioners
Representative Nathan W. Biah, Sr.,
Danny Bianco, LIUNA
Joanne Chang, Investor, Advisor and Entrepreneur
David N. Cicilline, President and CEO, Rhode Island Foundation
Janet Coit, Farm Fresh RI
Christian Cowan, Executive Director, Polaris
Pat Crowley, President, Rhode Island AFL-CIO
Senator Lou DiPalma
Carrie Bridges Feliz, Vice President, Community Health and Equity, Brown University Health
Keith Kelly, Rhode Island State President, Citizens Bank
Billy Libby, Founder and CEO, Upper 90
Jesse Martin, President, SEIU Rhode Island State Council
Patricia Martinez, Central Falls School District (retired)
Dr. Sarah Friedman Lowe, Chief of Education, City of Central Falls
Mike McNally, Granite Construction
Cortney Nicolato, President and CEO, United Way of Rhode Island
Paige Parks, Executive Director, Rhode Island KIDS COUNT
Sandi Peterson, healthcare and technology executive and innovator, Operating Partner, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice
Mayor Joe Polisena, Jr., Johnston
Dr. Pablo Rodriguez, CEO, Nuestra Salud Products and Associate Professor Emeritus, Warren Alpert Medical School
Rivera said she brings both her personal experience growing up in a household where English was not the first language and her perspective as mayor of a city where many families struggle to cover basic expenses.
“As members of the Leadership Transition Committee, we aren’t just here to help Helena fill positions or put together an administration. We’re here to help her build a team that will keep the families of Rhode Island at the forefront when decisions are being made,” Rivera said.
Harlam said her experience working with Foulkes gives her confidence in the incoming governor’s approach.
“I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with Helena, and I know firsthand that she leads with compassion and a commitment to making a difference,” Harlam said. “Our committee will bring recommendations to the Governor-elect and her team to make real, lasting, meaningful change in Rhode Island for the benefit of all its residents.”
Foulkes said her transition team has already heard from hundreds of Rhode Islanders sharing ideas, concerns and feedback. Hundreds more have expressed interest in working in the incoming administration.
She identified lowering costs, expanding housing, creating opportunities for good-paying jobs and improving education as priorities for the team being assembled.
One area brought up by reporters was homelessness in RI and how the state used to be at the bottom of numbers of homeless according to the Point in Time count but is no longer, with the number calculated now being around 3,000. Foulkes talked about her experience at the Mathewson Street Friendship Breakfast where she assisted in serving food. Foulkes became visibly emotional in recalling what that experience was like for her.
Watch the press conference, HERE – shared from Steve Ahlquist at SteveAhlquist.news
“My incoming administration’s Leadership Transition Committee will focus on providing strategic recommendations around the issues that matter most to our residents,” Foulkes said.
“Over the past few years, I have had the chance to talk to so many Rhode Islanders about what’s on their mind. I have listened and learned, and now, we need to focus on the work of delivering real results on behalf of our residents.”
SHARE YOUR IDEAS with the new Transition Team:
Rhode Islanders can share ideas, express interest in public service and find updates on the transition at helenatransition.com.
. Photo, RI State House, Pamela Bhatia, Artistic Images
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