The Arts & The Humanities
Heather Ahern -- founding member, Groundwerx * Keeping a space for
burgeoning choreographers.
Jon Berberian -- proprietor, Columbus Theater * Savior of a gem.
Roberto Julio Bessin -- sculptor * A gift for natural forms.
Peter Bramante -- executive director, Business Volunteers for the
Arts/Rhode Island * A staunch advocate.
Len Cabral -- storyteller, national/international recognition * Giving
his stories to generations of listeners.
Colleen Cavanaugh -- freelance choreographer * Modern ballet with
emotional content.
Liz Collins -- clothing designer * A blast of funky flair.
Jo-Ann Conklin -- director, Brown's David Winton Bell Gallery *
Cutting-edge curator.
Trudy Coxe -- executive director, Newport Preservation Society * The
homes of Newport's Gilded Agers.
Bert Crenca -- artistic director, AS220 * Helping to build something
great.
Amanda Dehnert -- associate artistic director, Trinity Rep * Leading
the next generation at Trinity with skill and imagination.
Misha Djuric -- artistic director, Festival Ballet * Rhode Island's
oldest professional ballet company.
Kim Nathanson D'Oliveira -- designer, Mill's Tavern, Golden Key
nomination * Turned old mill building into elegant early American tavern.
Oskar Eustis -- artistic director, Trinity Repertory Company * Getting
the regional theater to look beyond Washington Street.
Barnaby Evans -- artist * Playing with WaterFire.
Cheryl Faria -- director, The Center for Design and Business, a
collaboration of RISD and Bryant College * A concept long overdue.
Barbara Gaines -- program coordinator, Rhode Island Historical Society
* Don't forget the past.
David Gasper -- director, Rhode Island Philharmonic * And the beat goes
on.
Vanessa Gilbert -- associate artistic director, Perishable Theatre *
Keeping the annual Women's Playwriting Festival memorable.
Malcolm Grear -- president, Malcolm Grear Designers * From logos to
environments, merge sight and sense.
Bill Harley -- storyteller, NPR commentator * Makes you remember what
it was like to be a kid.
Catherine Horsey -- director, Providence Preservation Society * Saved
from the wrecking ball.
Paula Hunter -- dancer, choreographer, founder, JUMP! children's
choreography group * Channeling boundless energy into performance pieces.
Bob Jaffe -- actor, independent theater producer * Improving the level
of conversation through theater.
Phillip M. Johnston -- director, The RISD Museum * A treasure trove on
tap.
Dorothy Jungels -- artistic director, founder, Everett Dance Theatre *
Moving with the times.
Don W. King -- artistic director, Providence Black Repertory Company *
Opportunities for local theater and performance artists.
Al Klyberg -- historian, executive director of Heritage Harbor Museum *
A rich source of knowledge.
Michelle Koulibaly -- African dance instructor, performer,
choreographer * Going back to the basics.
Marc Lerman -- artistic director, Perishable Theatre * Making sure
Providence keeps an avant-garde edge.
Kathryne Jennings -- executive director, Opera Providence * Guiding the
transformation from light opera.
Virginia Lynch -- founder, Virginia Lynch Gallery * Supporting the
arts by discovering new artists.
Xander Marro -- puppet maker, projectionist * Steeped in the
underground.
George Marshall -- executive director, Rhode Island International Film
Festival * A haven for filmmakers.
Don Mays -- freelance filmmaker * Bringing issues of the hood into film
and arts literacy into the classroom.
Deb Meunier -- artistic director, Fusionworks Dance Company * Jazzy,
spirited modern troupe.
Denny Moers -- photographer, RISD teacher * Passing on what he's
learned from the likes of Aaron Siskind.
M. Drake Patten -- executive director, Rhode Island Committee for the
Humanities * Committed and charting an intelligent course.
Erminio Pinque -- artistic director, Big Nazo * Whimsical humor and
over-the-top puppets.
Bob Rizzo -- director, Office of Cultural Affairs at the Providence
Department of Public Parks; and prime mover, Convergence Arts Festival * Much
more than public sculpture.
Bernadet and Ricardo Pitts-Wiley -- producers, directors, performers,
original African-American plays and musical performances * Celebrate diversity
and ethnic heritage.
Mimo Riley -- painter * Bringing Fox Point to life.
Ed Shea -- co-founder with Pat Hegnauer, 2nd Story Theatre * Carrying
on a tradition of excellence.
Monica Shinn -- painter, set designer * Another local favorite.
J.L. "Lynn" Singleton -- president, Providence Performing Arts Center *
Leading the landmark theater from near bankruptcy to first-rank tours.
Doris Stephens -- director, First Night Providence * Ringing in the New
Year with the performing arts.
Julie Strandberg -- professor of Dance, Brown University, co-founder,
American Dance Legacy Institute * Preserving modern dance choreography.
Fred Sullivan Jr. -- actor, Trinity Rep; director, Sandra
Feinstein-Gamm Theater * His productions have been must-sees.
Dale Thompson -- director, Providence Public Library * Winning
recognition for strong leadership.
Valerie Tutson -- founder, FUNDA Fest * A gathering of ethnic
storytellers from around the country.
Katherine Veneman -- artist, director, Hera Gallery, Wakefield *
Guiding a creative wellspring away from the big city.
Paula Vogel -- playwright and educator * Inspiring generations of
playwrights.
Bill Warner -- architect for the Renaissance City * He leaps tall
buildings and moves wide rivers.
Rose Weaver -- actor, singer, playwright * Speaking out on women's
issues.
Jeremy Woodward -- set designer * A behind-the-scene talent.
Community Activists
Ade Becker -- founder of the Multicultural/Multilingual Center at Brown
* National model for teaching languages and ESL.
Debbie Block, Erbin Crowell, and Anna Galland -- organizers, American
Friends Service Committee in southeastern New England * Sending out high alerts
for peace.
Carol Bragg -- coordinator, Rhode Island Peace Mission * A gathering of
peace groups.
Elizabeth Burke-Bryant -- executive director, KIDS COUNT * Making the
numbers talk.
Christopher Butler -- AIDS Project RI * Compassion is his job.
Carole Costanza, Marc Levitt, Kim and Jamie Murdoch -- South Kingstown
Neighborhood Congress * Watchdogs for over-development in southern Rhode
Island.
Kate Coyne-McCoy -- rabble-rouser and local force for women in politics
* Gutsy, funny, and a food-lover, too.
Deb DeBare -- executive director Coalition Against Domestic Violence *
Violence against women hurts everyone.
John Dineen -- lawyer, ACLU volunteer * His heart's in the right
place.
Nancy Fleming -- environmental activist and successful SLAPP suit
defendant * Turned the other cheek and passed stricter legislation.
Bill Flynn -- community organizer, Campaign to Eliminate Childhood
Poverty * Give me your tired, your poor.
Greg Gerritt -- standard-bearer of the Rhode Island Green Party * An
active voice for ecology and alternative ideas.
Nancy Gewirtz -- director, Poverty Institute * A war that never ends.
The Reverend Anne Grant -- pastor, Trinity United Methodist Church *
Reaching out to recent immigrants.
Teny O. Gross -- executive director, the Institute for the Study and
Practice of Nonviolence * Helping to make a difference in Providence.
Marguerita Guedes -- director, Southside Broad Street * Visibility for
neighborhood concerns.
Casby Harrison III and Mary Sylvia Harrison -- lawyer-activist, and
executive director of Rhode Island Children's Crusade for Higher Education * A
truly dynamic duo.
Eileen Hayes -- executive director, Amos House * Feeding the hungry
through thick and thin.
James Holt -- executive minister, Rhode Island State Council of
Churches * Bringing new meaning to the bully pulpit.
Matthew Jerzyk -- director, Rhode Island Jobs With Justice * Taking it
to the streets.
The Reverend Matthew Kai -- president, Ministers' Alliance * Drawing on
each other's strengths.
Linda Katz -- policy director, Poverty Institute * Changing attitudes,
changing laws.
Joyce Katzberg -- longtime peace activist/folksinger * All she is
singing is "give peace a chance."
The Reverend Duane Klinker -- activist, pastor, Hillsgrove United
Methodist Church * Working for peace and justice.
Bernard LaFayette Jr. -- civil rights veteran of the '60s and
scholar-in-residence at the University of Rhode Island * Bringing wisdom and
idealism into the present.
Peg Langhammer -- executive director of the Sexual Assault and Trauma
Prevention Center * Making children and women strong.
Dennis Langley -- executive director, Urban League * Working in the
neighborhoods for justice and education.
Joseph Lee -- executive director, Socioeconomic Development Corporation
for Southeast Asians * A hand up, not a hand out.
Martin Lepkowski -- coordinator, Coalition for Central America; member,
Witness for Peace and School of the Americas Watch * Fighting the good fight.
Dr. David C. Lewis -- project director, Physician Leadership on
National Drug Policy * Lifting reason and rationality against the war on
drugs.
Anthony Maione -- executive director, National Conference for Community
and Justice, southern New England chapter * An energetic foe of bigotry and
prejudice.
Dr. Ken Mayer and Dr. Chuck Carpenter -- AIDS researchers * On the
frontlines of this war.
Pat McGuigan -- director, The Providence Plan * An eye on the future of
the city.
Makna Men -- Liaison to the Southeast Asian community at the Education
Alliance, Brown University * Promoting fair representation.
Sara Mersha -- executive director, Direct Action for Rights and
Equality * The people united will never be defeated.
James C. Miller -- minister of the First Baptist Church * An activist
on an array of important issues.
Kate Monteiro -- president, Rhode Island Alliance for Gay and Lesbian
Civil Rights * An articulate and forceful advocate.
Liz Morancy -- director, Alzheimer's Foundation * Providing respite
when most needed.
Robert Mulvee -- bishop, Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence * Keeping
the faith.
Luisa Murillo -- executive director, Center for Hispanic Policy * Viva
Latinos de Rhode Island!
Anne A. Nolan -- president, Traveler's Aid * A place to lay your
head.
Howard Phengsomphone -- director, Southeast Asian Youth and Family
Development Project * Helping to wean teens from gangs.
Jean Rayack -- coordinator, South County Coalition Against Racism *
Bringing "town and gown" together for a common good.
Marti Rosenberg -- executive director, Ocean State Action * Watchdogs
on our elected officials.
Noreen Shawcross -- Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless * Striving
for affordable and available housing.
Henry and Carol Shelton -- founders of George Wiley Center * The
Energizer bunnies of RI activists for social justice.
William Shuey -- executive director, International Institute * Haven
for refugees and immigrants.
Jennifer Cole Steele -- Rhode Island coordinator, Conservation Law
Foundation * A bastion of well-informed community values.
Angel Taveras -- lawyer-community activist * Exemplifying intelligence
and commitment in public service.
Nondas Hurst Voll -- executive director, The Fund for Community
Progress * Steering money where it's most needed.
Food and Drink
Bob Antignano -- Angelo's * Down-home Italian cooking for more than 75
years.
Jed Arkley & Tonya Langford -- proprietors, White Electric Coffee *
Dedicated to the best beans and doing the right thing.
Bob Burke -- owner, Pot au Feu * French to the core.
Maurice Collins -- co-proprietor, the Wild Colonial, Providence * The
thinking person's barkeep.
Ralph Conti -- chef/owner, Raphael's Bistro * Nuovo Italiano with
panache.
Tony Diciccone -- owner, Tony's Colonial Food Store * Biggest variety
of Italian delicacies of all kinds.
Jaime D'Oliveira -- owner, Mill's Tavern * Heavy
hitter/trend setter back in town.
John Elkhay -- owner,10 Steak & Sushi * The happening surf/turf and
bar spot.
Loren Falcone and Eric Moshier -- chef/owners, Empire * The heirs to Al
Forno.
Stephanie Finizia -- proprietor, Nick-a-Nee's, * Keeping it real.
Steve & Regina Goulding -- proprietors, Snookers, Metropolis *
Showing a knack for nightlife.
Jimmy Ilarraza -- co-proprietor, the Safari Lounge, Providence * He
knows the kids are alright.
Mike Kent -- owner, NV@ The Strand, America, Finnegan's Wake, the Keg
Room, ReBar, and the Art Bar * Rhode Island innovator.
Sara Kilguss & Ed Reposa -- proprietors, the Red Fez, Providence *
Serious about two floors of food and fun without taking themselves too
seriously.
Johanne Killeen and George Germon -- chef/owners, Al Forno * They
started the Renaissance in Providence's food scene.
Josh Miller -- proprietor, the Hot Club and Trinity Brewhouse,
Providence * Factoring in the fun and frivolity.
Neath Pol -- chef/owner, Neath's * Cambodian-French that nicely
fuses.
Joann Seddon -- co-owner, the Decatur Lounge, Providence * A stitch and
one of our favorite 24-hour party people.
Bruce Tillinghast -- chef/owner, New Rivers * International
inspirations with the farm-fresh ingredients.
Derek Wagner -- chef and co-owner, Nick's on Broadway * A culinary
rising star.
Education
Robert Carothers -- president, University of Rhode Island -- Leading
the charge for the Rams.
Robert Coover -- professor of English, Brown University * Hip on
hypertext.
Laura Freid -- vice president of public affairs and university
relations, Brown University * Part of the power in the administration.
Lorraine Howes -- former head of the apparel department, Rhode Island
School of Design * Paradigmatically soignée professor emeritus.
Melody Johnson -- Providence school superintendent * Taking on a
world-class challenge.
Dennis Littky and Elliot Washor -- co-directors of the Met School and
the Big Picture Company * Offering hope for the future of public education.
Roger Mandle -- president, Rhode Island School of Design * Erudite,
personable, and charting the expansion into downtown.
Patricia McLaughlin -- director of corporate and foundation relations,
Rhode Island School of Design * Cianci confidante moves to College Hill.
Peter McWalters -- state education commissioner * Focusing on
partnerships.
Ruth Simmons -- president, Brown University * An inspiring and
unstoppable force.
The Reverend Philip A. Smith -- president, Providence College * The
main Friar.
Charles Sullivan -- poet, scholar, professor of English at the
Community College of Rhode Island * Beloved friend of the humanities.
Labor, Business and Law
Dr. Joseph Amaral -- president, Rhode Island Hospital * Modest enough
to take a smoke with the nurses.
Ronald Battista -- president, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode
Island * Undeniably powerful.
Rick Brooks -- director, United Nurses and Allied Professionals * Labor
still exerts might, part I.
Steve Brown -- executive director, American Civil Liberties Union,
Rhode Island chapter * Standing up for civil liberties and other unpopular
things.
Lewis Campbell -- CEO, Textron * The quiet power behind this corporate
giant.
Lawrence K. Fish -- president and CEO of Citizens Financial Group *
Helming Citizens' growth to mega-status.
Carol Grant -- vice president for human resource, Textron * Ubiquitous
in serving on boards.
Jim Hagan -- president, Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce * A
steady voice for business interests.
Alan Hassenfeld -- CEO and chairman, Hasbro Inc., Pawtucket * Reaching
beyond Potato Heads and G.I. Joes.
Stan Israel -- vice president, New England Health Care Employees Union,
District 1199 * Labor still exerts might, part II.
Ira Magaziner -- president of SJS Advisors, former Clinton wonk *
Thinking about the big issues of the Internet economy.
Robert Mann -- lawyer * A keen advocate for civil rights.
Frank J. Montanaro -- president, Rhode Island AFL-CIO * Labor still
exerts might, part III.
Stuart Mundy -- secretary-treasurer, International Brotherhood of
Teamsters, Local 251 * Labor still exerts might, part IV.
Terrence Murray -- chairman, FleetBoston Financial * Oversaw the rise
of the little bank that could.
George Nee -- secretary-treasurer, Rhode Island AFL-CIO * Labor still
exerts might, part V.
Joseph R. Paolino Jr. -- developer, Paolino Properties * Decidedly
well-connected.
Maria Reback -- president, Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and
Health Professionals * Labor still exerts might, part VI.
Edward C. Roy Jr. -- president of the Rhode Island Association of
Criminal Defense Lawyers * Speaking out for the other side.
Tom Ryan -- CEO, CVS Corporation, Woonsocket * There's a lot of money
in that dental floss.
Gary Sasse -- executive director, Rhode Island Public Expenditure
Council * The man with the numbers.
Timothy F. Schick -- administrator, Providence Newspaper Guild * Taking
on the powers that be at Belo.
Matthew Thomas -- chief sachem of the Narragansett Indians * Fighting
for an even break.
George Vecchione -- president and CEO, Lifespan * Overseeing the
state's health-care colossus.
Joe Walsh -- former Warwick mayor, lobbyist * Still a player.
Letters
Jon Cooke -- publisher/editor of COMIX, just won another Eisner
Award * Not just "the funny papers" anymore.
Ann Hood -- novelist, memoirist * Evocative scenes of Rhode Island,
poignant scenes of family life.
Peter D. Kramer -- writer, psychologist * Got everyone Listening to
Prozac.
David Macaulay -- Caldecott-winning children's book author *
Illuminates how things get built and The Way Things Work.
Ray Rickman -- host, Booksellers, Channel 36 * Conversations
with new and distinguished authors.
Chris van Allsburg -- Caldecott-winning children's book author * A wild
ride in Jumanji and aboard The Polar Express.
Keith and Rosmarie Waldrop -- poets, teachers, founders, Burning Deck
Press * Publishing writers, proving small is beautiful.
C.D. Wright and Forrest Gander -- poets, teachers, Brown Creative
Writing Program * Inspiring others to spread their creative wings.
Media, Pundits, and PR Types
