Together RI

Hosted by David Cicilline

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Jan 2026

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About the show

We're living in a time when facts are fiercely debated, news sources can be polarizing, and it's easy to vilify our neighbors. But it doesn't have to be this way. On this podcast, we talk to people who seek a different reality.

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19 recent

January 29, 202655 min

Revising Rhode Island's funding formula

One of the hard problems we face here in Rhode Island is our school funding formula. The current system is broken, unfair, unpredictable, and insufficient. Last year, the Rhode Island Foundation and the Annenberg Institute at Brown University formed a blue-ribbon commission devoted to designing a more equitable approach to paying for public education. On January 22nd, we discussed our recommendations in a live panel discussion called Rhode Map Live: Funding the Future, Fixing the Formula. It was moderated by Dan McGowan and Steph Machado from Globe Rhode Island. This is a lightly edited recording of our discussion. Learn more about the Rhode Island Foundation at https://rifoundation.org/.

December 4, 202526 min

David Cicilline on Club Ambition

This week, we're doing something a little different- letting you listen in on a conversation our host, David Cicilline, had on another podcast. Earlier this year, he spoke to Victor Baez, the host of Club Ambition. His show is the most popular podcast and YouTube channel in Rhode Island. This is an edited version of their conversation. Learn more about the Rhode Island Foundation at https://rifoundation.org/.

November 20, 202525 min

Meet Providence Bishop Lewandowski

Providence Bishop Bruce Lewandowski says he entered the priesthood to be a missionary. So, when he got the call to become the auxiliary bishop of Baltimore, he asked, 'Are you sure you have the right person?' This year, he was promoted to become the Bishop of Providence. He joins host David Cicilline to talk about his impression of the Ocean State and his vision for serving the Providence community. Learn more about the Rhode Island Foundation at https://rifoundation.org/.

November 13, 202520 min

John Palfrey on the work of the MacArthur Foundation

Occasionally, the Rhode Island Foundation connects with thought leaders who are doing interesting work that might inform our efforts. We had our latest conversation with John Palfrey, the President of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Host David Cicilline interviewed him in front of a live audience last week. This is an edited version of their conversation. Learn more about the Rhode Island Foundation at https://rifoundation.org/.

October 30, 202510 min

Melissa Cherney on responding to the SNAP crisis

More than 140,000 Rhode Islanders rely on supplemental nutrition assistance, known as SNAP, from the federal government to buy their food. But, because of the government shutdown, they won't be getting those SNAP benefits in November. We can't let our neighbors go hungry. So, the Rhode Island Foundation is awarding one million dollars in emergency grants to address this crisis through our Community Partner Resilience Fund. And we're calling on everyone to help us match that amount to help fill in the gaps. Melissa Cherney, the CEO of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, joins host David Cicilline to talk about this crisis. Learn more about the Rhode Island Foundation at https://rifoundation.org/.

October 23, 202521 min

The program helping RI schools throw away less food

Rhode Island schools throw away nearly 2,500 tons of food into the landfill every year. And nearly 400 tons of that food is perfectly edible. That's a problem for a lot of reasons. The landfill is running out of space. Rotting food creates methane gas, and that food isn't going to families that struggle to buy groceries. But the RI Schools Recycling Project has a solution. It goes into schools and trains students to sort their food, instead of throwing it all away. The group is aiming to reach every school in Rhode Island by 2030. Co-directors Jim Corwin and Warren Hammond join host David Cicilline to talk more about their progress. Learn more about the Rhode Island Foundation at https://rifoundation.org/.

October 16, 202518 min

NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley on addressing RI's housing shortage

Affordable housing is one of Rhode Island's most pressing issues. According to a recent poll, more than 90 percent of Rhode Islanders say housing costs are a problem, and the state is the 18th most expensive place to rent in the country. Joe Garlick and Meghan Rego are trying to change this. They're with NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley, a group working to make housing more affordable in Northern Rhode Island. They sat down with host David Cicilline to talk about how their organization is addressing the problem at its source. Learn more about the Rhode Island Foundation at https://rifoundation.org/.

October 9, 202517 min

Amy Nunn on supporting the LGBTQ+ community despite federal budget cuts

This has been a rocky year for members of the LGBTQ+ community and organizations that serve them. Earlier this year, Opendoor Health, the state's only LGBTQ+ Health Clinic, lost about a million dollars in Federal Funding. But they're continuing to move forward with their mission. David Cicilline talks to Open Door's Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Amy Nunn, about how the organization is coping in this new environment. Learn more about the Rhode Island Foundation at https://rifoundation.org/

October 2, 202522 min

How to use AI for good

Virtual assistants. Chat GPT. Facial recognition. Artificial intelligence is all around us. And it's creating a lot of anxiety- will it replace our jobs? Make it easier for students to cheat? Use up all of our energy? But Sam Azar, the founder of Ascend Impact Advisors, says there are opportunities to use AI that are thoughtful and ethical. He talks with host David Cicilline about ways to help non-profits harness the power of these new tools. Learn more about the Rhode Island Foundation at https://rifoundation.org/

September 25, 202511 min

Meet our scholarship students

Every year, the Rhode Island Foundation awards scholarships to hundreds of students, ranging from middle schoolers to people in graduate school. In 2025, we were able to give more than 4 million dollars to make their academic dreams a reality. We wanted to celebrate all of the recipients, so we brought them together for a celebration. Take a listen to what some of them had to say about the impact of these scholarships and their hopes for the future. Learn more about the Rhode Island Foundation at https://rifoundation.org/.