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4/13/2026
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Rep. Diaz joins state, city leaders to open first community learning center in Providence
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 STATE HOUSE — Rep. Grace Diaz (D-Dist. 11, Providence) joined state and city leaders Friday, including Gov. Dan McKee and Providence Mayor Brett Smiley at a ribbon-cutting for the new Community Learning Center within Providence’s Elmwood Community Center.
The $3 million renovation and construction project is the first of three in Providence to open its doors in 2026, for a total investment of $16.2 million. Two other learning centers will open later this year at the Davey Lopes Recreation Center and the Joslin Community Center. The Elmwood site is already offering afterschool programming and is on track to offer workforce training and senior health programming later this month.
“With three Community Learning Centers coming online in Providence this year, city residents will benefit through valuable Learn365RI programming, career support, and health education,” said Governor McKee. “This $16.2 million investment in Providence is part of my administration’s statewide effort to make learning opportunities more accessible to all ages, right in their own neighborhoods.”
“Together with our local, state, and federal partners, we are prioritizing critical infrastructure investments that will both improve learning outcomes and provide our neighbors with safe, accessible spaces to come together,” said Mayor Smiley. “The Elmwood Community Center is a community anchor for our South Providence community, and I’m thankful to Governor McKee and our entire federal delegation for their support in getting these critical renovations completed.”
“Our community centers aren’t just recreation centers, but anchors to community services for children, veterans, seniors, and growing families,” said Council President Pro Tempore Juan M. Pichardo (Ward 9). “At Elmwood Community Center, renovations addressed major structural issues and modernization efforts that provide our neighborhood with a safer, more energy-efficient, more inviting place to gather. This new and improved space will be a place to play, learn, and strengthen our neighborhood for generations.”
Financed with approximately $82 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding approved by the General Assembly, Governor McKee’s Community Learning Center initiative is on track to open 21 centers around the state. Per federal requirements, the centers will be offering programming in education, workforce development, and health monitoring —mirroring the three priorities of the Governor’s RI2030 strategic plan. Within those parameters, the programming of each center can be tailored to the region it serves.
“No two Community Learning Centers will be exactly alike,” explained Governor McKee. “Municipal leaders have a deep understanding of the most critical and in-demand needs of their communities, and the Community Learning Center model gives them the flexibility to meet those needs.”
For more information, contact:
Daniel Trafford, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-1922
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