Providence Rec Centers opening – Summer Jobs available

At a press conference held at the recreation center next to the Harry Kizirian Elementary School, Mayor Elorza announced plans for the “safe reopening” of all Providence Recreation Centers beginning Monday, April 12^th.

Providence is also offering youth summer employment opportunities to operate lunch program sites, camps, and water parks across the city, etc. All plans will be subject to changes, due to COVID-19. Applications can be submitted through the Providence youth summer jobs portal pvdsummerjobs.com<https://jobs.providenceri.gov/summer/>. Youth must be at least 14 years of age as of June 15, 2021, to apply.

“Our Recreation Centers are often the focus of community life and vital to the physical and emotional wellbeing of our youth,” said Mayor Jorge O. Elorza. “It’s critical that, as our state continues to reopen, we prioritize promoting safe and healthy ways for youth to stay active and engaged all year round through enrichment programming and summer employment opportunities.”

“Over the years, our community has learned that when we intentionally create spaces for our youth to play, grow, and create, the entire neighborhood benefits,” said Councilwoman Katherine Kerwin. “I am thrilled to open the doors to Rogers Rec Center and work alongside the community to ensure that neighborhood youth have a space that is wholly theirs. I am excited to work alongside Michael Stephens and Michael Holland, leaders who put youth first to ensure that Madeline Rogers Recreation Center lives up to its name as a community-oriented center for Smith Hill.“

All 11 Providence Recreation Centers will each offer a unique schedule of socially distant enrichment programming free of charge for Providence youth ages 7-15 weekdays beginning Monday, April 12. For a full list of socially distant enrichment programming for each recreation center, please visit providenceri.gov/providence-recreation/providence-recreation-centers<https://www.providenceri.gov/providence-recreation/providence-recreation-centers/>.

Beginning Monday, April 19, Recreation Centers will resume grab-and-go meals for youth to take away. No food will be allowed in Recreation Centers at this time.“

As part of the activation of the City of Providence’s Art in City Life Plan<https://artculturetourism.com/city-of-providence-public-art-master-plan/>, the Department of Art, Culture + Tourism (ACT) established an ongoing Public Art Residency Program that places artists in City facilities. In April 2019, Providence-based artists Ysanel Torres was awarded the City’s first Public Art Residency<https://artculturetourism.com/public-art-residency-at-rogers-rec/> at Madeline Selim Rogers Recreation Center. Through her residency, Torres, in collaboration with community members and youth from the Recreation Center, co-designed, fabricated and installed a mural of the Recreation Center’s namesake on the center’s exterior wall. Although the installation was completed last winter, the unveiling was delayed due to the public health crisis.For updated hours of operations for each Recreation Center as well as the updated safety protocols that will be enforced to protect the health of youth, families, and staff, please visit https://www.providenceri.gov/recreation/.

Participating in the announcement were Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza; Councilwoman Katherine Kerwin; Recreation Director of Support Services, Jackie Poulios; Art, Culture + Tourism Cultural Affairs Manager, Gina Rodríguez-Drix; local artist Ysanel Torres; and community members.