Providence advisory council maps next steps for mentorship pilot, funding and a central youth resource

Chairperson Miguel Sanchez and Co-chairs Corey Jones and Diana Garmenton led a follow-up discussion Feb. 26 on the council’s mentorship pilot, funding strategies for community-based intervention (CBI) work, and options to centralize youth resources ahead of summer programming.

Council members agreed the immediate next step is to develop program details — training, recruitment and an application — and to convene a smaller working group to move planning forward. Staff reported an updated volunteer sign-up sheet and recommended working with local partners such as the Madeline Institute (referenced in the meeting) to design training before releasing an application.

The council discussed whether a formal city resolution is required to create a subcommittee. Staff cited rules saying a subcommittee may be formed by vote and can be given “discussion-only” powers; the subcommittee would report back while the full council retains voting authority. Members expressed a preference for a discussion-only subcommittee to draft program details before any formal policy action.

On funding, members reviewed several channels. The Attorney General’s office had a prior DOJ grant application that was not awarded (recipients named in the meeting were New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.). The council noted one state grant stream discussed at the meeting, identified in transcript remarks as “SCIP,” administered through the Public Safety Grama Administrative Office (PSGAO) and tied to the state-level red flag law; a $1,500,000 figure was cited in the discussion as associated with that program. Participants said details and timing for state and federal funding were uncertain and that some grant competitions may be changing in language or availability.

Members emphasized private-sector fundraising as a feasible complement, noting that other cities have used a mix of private and public funds (one participant referenced a private-share example of roughly 40 percent in another city). Several council members urged partnering with existing community organizations rather than creating new programs, and they proposed using this advisory table to coordinate grant asks and reduce competition among nonprofits.

To make services easier to find, the council agreed to centralize information. BJ Fox volunteered to contact United Way to explore consolidating a youth opportunities or resource guide; members suggested linking an updated guide to city services (311) and United Way’s 211 to improve accessibility. Staff noted the city already maintains youth employment and training guides, and members proposed compiling a single online resource and a short printed booklet for families. The group also discussed cross-agency communication plans and publicity strategies to ensure schools, recreation centers and nonprofits know how to refer youth.

Council members set an interim schedule for follow-up work and agreed to convene again in late March; members asked staff and chairs to coordinate presentations from city departments (parks, human services and the mayor’s office) at a future meeting so the group can map available programs and summer supports.

Discussion points, assignments and clarifying facts from the meeting: the volunteer sheet has been updated; staff will draft training content with an identified partner before releasing an application; a subcommittee can be formed with discussion-only authority; the AG’s office did not receive the earlier DOJ grant; the SCIP grant and PSGAO were named as a possible state channel (amount cited in the meeting: $1,500,000); BJ Fox will contact United Way about consolidating a youth resource guide; the council agreed to meet on March 26 for continued planning.