Michael S. Van Leesten Memorial Bridge Dedication

The Michael S. Van Leesten Memorial Bridge Dedication ceremony will be held on Sunday, September 25th from noon to 2pm.

The Van Leesten family and friends will honor the life and legacy of Michael S. Van Leesten at the DEDICATION CEREMONY, to be emceed by Lenny Cabral.

Michael S. Van Leesten
Civil rights advocate, community leader, veteran, entrepreneur, father, friend, athlete, and mentor.

Michael “Mike” S. Van Leesten was a civil rights activist, US Air Force veteran, business leader, and economic change agent, who spent his life in service to the public, and in pursuit of justice for all. A lifelong resident of Providence, and devoted father of six children, Mike was a founding member and CEO of the Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC) of Rhode Island, paving the way for the education and job training of countless African-American and other economic and racial minorities. Through his leadership, OIC constructed and Education and Job Training facility in South Providence which transformed into CCRI’s Liston Campus. At OIC, Mike created other organizations including Omni Development, providing affordable housing, and Opportunities Development Corporation, a business development Organization.

A basketball phenom at Rhode Island College, Mike holds the record for all-time rebounder with 1,494 rebounds, and was inducted into the RIC Athletes Hall of Fame in 1989, and The New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009. In 1963 and 1965, Mike joined Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference efforts to promote voter registration in the South, and the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

A Formational Commissioner on the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission, Mike served as Director of Planning and Development for The City of Providence, and the first Black Director at Industrial National Bank, which later became Fleet Bank of RI. Additionally, Mike worked closely with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation for years and was instrumental in the development of Foxwoods Resort Casino. Recognized for his life’s exemplary work, Mike received honorary doctoral degrees from URI, RIC, and Roger Williams University.

The bridge serves as a symbol of Mike’s life work of bringing people together to build community, institutions, opportunity, and shared cultural experiences, and his ability to always see the vast imaginative potential where there is a blank canvas.

The agenda:

– Introduction

– Blessing of the Bridge

· Iman Abdul Lafit, Masjid Al Kareem – Prayer

· Rabbi Wayne Franklin – Prayer

· Rev. Howard Jenkins, Bethel AME Church – Prayer

– Friends of Michael S. Van Leesten – Acknowledgements

· Governor Daniel McKee

· Lt. Governor Sabin Matos

· Rep. David Cicilline

· Mayor Jorge Elorza

· Brant Gawrys – Parks and Recreation

· Mary Kay Harris, Providence City Council

· Nirva LaFortune, Providence City Council

· John Goncalves, Providence City Council

– Reading of Michael S. Van Leesten Bio

· Alexis Brown

– Reflection

· Jordan Van Leesten

– Acknowledgements – Friends & Family of Michael S. Van Leesten

· Michael Jon Van Leesten

· Jill Van Leesten – Acknowledgments – “The Uncles”

· Uncle Waleed Muhammad – Poem Reading

· Juan Wilson

· Karriem Van Leesten

– Closing

Immediately following the dedication, celebrate with spoken word and the 1 year anniversary of OUTSPOKEN.

Powered By: The MUSE Foundation of Rhode Island (MUSEOFRI)

To RSVP:
http://bit.ly/msvlbridge22