Business Beat: Leaders join Community Advisory Board of United Way of R.I.

Diana Capellan, Charles “Chachi” Carvalho, Paige Clausius-Parks, Frank Flynn, and Weaynonnah Nelson-Davies appointed

At its recent 97^th Annual Celebration event, United Way of Rhode Island installed a slate of five local leaders to its Community Advisory Board. The advisory board is a diverse group that lends its expertise, experience, and insights to help guide the organization’s strategic initiatives and community investments.

Newly appointed to the Community Advisory Board for three-year terms are:

• Diana Capellan, co-founder, The Capellan Group
• Charles “Chachi” Carvalho, Chief Equity Officer, City of Pawtucket
• Paige Clausius-Parks, EdM, executive director, Rhode Island Kids Count
• Frank Flynn, Vice President, American Federation of Teachers
• Weaynonnah Nelson-Davies, JD, executive director, Economic Progress Institute

Born in Providence, Diana Capellan is co-founder of The Capellan Group, an educational consulting firm dedicated to providing specialized solutions to the education ecosystem. In addition to her diverse educational background and degree in Human Services from the University of Rhode Island, Diana has experience working in the mental health industry helping individuals reintegrate into their communities following hospitalization. She is also a food entrepreneur, having parlayed a degree in Pastry Arts from Johnson and Wales University into D’Licious Dessert, a Latin-inspired gourmet cake and cupcake business. Committed to helping others succeed, Diana is vice president of the Board of Directors of RI Latino Dollars for Scholars and sits on the board of the International Teachers Project.

Charles “Chachi” Carvalho was appointed as the City of Pawtucket’s first-ever Chief Equity Officer in March 2023, where he works alongside city leaders to create a more equitable, diverse and inclusive Pawtucket. He is a first generation Cape Verdean-American, and a tireless youth advocate and coach, teacher, writer, and performing artist whose daily mission is to support and inspire others. He is the founder and co-owner of Beat Box Studio in Pawtucket.

The Executive Director of Rhode Island KIDS COUNT since December 2022, Paige Clausius-Parks has a long history working in the areas of education and economic well-being. Prior to becoming director, she was KIDS COUNT’s Senior Policy Analyst, responsible for the organization’s policy analysis, advocacy, research, and project management. Before joining KIDS COUNT, Paige held various leadership roles with Youth in Action, the Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center, and Books Are Wings. She holds a B.A. from Providence College and earned a Master of Education from Harvard University.

Frank Flynn is Vice President of the American Federation of Teachers and has more than 30 years of experience working in education at the elementary, middle and high school levels. During his career, Frank was instrumental in developing and implementing several highly effective inclusion models to better serve the special needs student population in the City of Cranston. He has a history of involvement with United Way’s Annual Campaign and brings expertise in education to his seat on the Community Advisory Board. Additionally, Frank serves on several boards and committees, including the executive committee of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO and the Providence Central Labor Committee. He also chairs the state’s Certification Policy Advisory Board.

Weayonnoh Nelson-Davies joined the Economic Progress Institute as its executive director at the start of 2022. Previously, she worked as a legal aid attorney at South Coastal Counties Legal Services and then Community Legal Aid, where she became the managing attorney of its Worcester and Fitchburg offices. Weayonnoh’s areas of expertise include general poverty law, medical-legal partnership, the effect of structural racism on communities of color, public benefits, and housing law. She is a member of Rhode Island Foundation’s inaugural Equity Leadership Initiative and a proud alumna of the Shriver Center’s Racial Justice Institute and City Year Rhode Island. Weayonnoh received her Juris Doctorate from Roger Williams University School of Law and her undergraduate from Rhode Island College.

In welcoming its new Community Advisory Board members, United Way wishes to also recognize and thank those who have fulfilled their service on the advisory board. United Way expresses its gratitude to Tomas Avila, Lt. Governor Sabina Matos, Margaret McDuff, Ashley Gingerella O’Shea, Sue Stenhouse, and Reverand Chontell Washington for their leadership.

United Way of Rhode Island is uniting our community and resources to build racial equity and opportunities for all Rhode Islanders. As a member of the world’s largest nonprofit network, we bring together individuals, business, nonprofit, community leaders and government to tackle the root causes of inequity and achieve specific, measurable goals. Our programs include 211, the statewide front door connecting Rhode Islanders with social services, resources, and vital programs. Both directly and through grants to nonprofits, we are investing to build economic opportunity, advance childhood learning, expand philanthropy, and to drive policy and participation. To learn more, visit unitedwayri.org, or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram.