History and culture are the underlying bond of a community. They bring people together and inform their identities in relation to the rest of the world. In Rhode Island, much of the local histories and cultures have been purposefully erased to center around the narrative of white colonization. Recently we have started a process of Truth and Reconciliation with the local Indigenous, Black, Immigrant, and other communities that have been marginalized. We seek to highlight their important contributions to the history and culture of the Ocean State. 

 

Our work in this field is to help local communities unearth their past and highlight their contributions to the local cultural contexts. We research archives, record oral histories, digitize old historical documents, and work with the communities to bring their rich histories and cultures back to the forefront by including them in educational curricula, public spaces, and the daily lives of community members for all to enjoy and share with pride. Much of this work has been refined by Dr. Bernardo H. Motta in what we call transformative and transformational journalism.