See the Impact: Chi II 2026 in Action

Disclaimer: Team members are listed alphabetically by last name and may not appear in the order shown in the photo.

Team 1 (Rhode to Growth)

Team 1: Melissa Aguiar-Rivard, Mary Costa, Charlene Marshall, Jeff Merhige, Brittany Noble, Phanida Phivilay, Patrick J. Saggal, Keith Whitt.

Project Summary:  “Our Leadership Rhode Island team is partnering with the Rhode Island Training School’s Urban Garden Project to support youth development, food education, and community engagement. Building on a program that gives students hands-on experience in culinary arts, landscaping, and agriculture, our team plans to construct a free farmstand where visiting families can access fresh produce grown by the students. The project is intended to strengthen connections between the youth, their families, and the community while promoting food sustainability and pride in the students’ work.”

Partner: Rhode Island Training School

 

Team 2 (PRoJeK Now)

Team 2: Randy Buck, Kaitlin Carver, Kristin Couto, Neyda DeJesus, Joseph Dufault, Pin Prum, Gerald Miele, Paige Therien.

Project Summary: “To date, we have identified the Providence Career and Technical Academy’s Food Rescue program as our project. Over 28,000 pounds of food are wasted every day in schools in RI. The purpose of this program is to reutilize/repurpose the food which is not served to the community. At PCTA, over 86% of the student population is considered economically disadvantaged. This program will help those in need of quality food to obtain it in a nonjudgmental way.  Part of our program was to identify the external needs of the program. (Small fundraising is needed) and how we can bring similar programs to other schools in RI (i.e. Davies in Newport, Chariho). The reason for choosing career technical schools is that they have access to people who are food safety certified to ensure it is safe for consumption.”

Partner: Providence Career and Technical Academy

 

Team 3 (Rhode Island Deer Donation Pilot Program)

Team 3: Matthew Bellisle, Autumn May, Nora C. Crowley, Melissa Holcomb, Taylor L. Matook, John Olerio, Ysa Ortega, Ananda Fraser Ramirez.

Project Summary: “We are developing a pilot program that will allow licensed Rhode Island deer hunters to earn a bonus antlerless tag by donating a harvested deer to a certified processor, with the resulting venison distributed through Rhode Island’s food bank and pantry network. This approach serves two purposes: it expands access to high-quality, locally sourced protein for food-insecure Rhode Islanders, and it supports the state’s efforts to manage the deer population. Because similar programs already operate successfully in other states, we have a proven model to adapt rather than build from the ground up.”

Partners: Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RI DEM), Deer Hunting Community, Rhode Island Food Bank

 

Team 4 

Team 4: Erin Berard, Jaime Comella, Regina Costa, Aquila Harris, Stephen Larbi, David Lieng, Lindsey Potter.

Project Summary:  “Leadership Rhode Island Team 4 is committed to expanding the successful model of Pawtucket Backpackers into Central Falls to help combat food insecurity among local students and families. Inspired by the work of founder Joanne Bonollo, whose 100-percent volunteer-run organization packs and distributes nearly 500 bags of food each week, LRI Team 4 is partnering with community leaders and local organizations to bring reliable meals to children in need throughout Central Falls. Through collaboration, service, and community engagement, the team’s mission is to ensure that the designated community leader has the startup foundation, operational resources, strategic partnerships, and sustainable plan necessary to successfully replicate and grow this program into a thriving, community-driven initiative that will serve families in Central Falls for years to come.”

Partner: Pawtucket Backpackers

 

Team 5 (Hops, Grapes, and Green Goals)

Team 5: Jude Amoako, Aaron Clark, Melina Lodge, Elizabeth Neves, Jessica Neubauer, Lori Turner, Amy S Vogel.

Project Summary: “Our overall goal is to assist the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management in increasing awareness among breweries and wineries regarding environmental sustainability initiatives through participation in the BetterBev Recognition Program. To date, RIDEM has primarily engaged with breweries and has not yet significantly involved wineries. Our project aims to continue outreach efforts with breweries while also expanding engagement to wineries to bring awareness about RIDEM’s sustainable practices. These initiatives include, but are not limited to, pollution prevention, wastewater reduction, and other environmentally responsible operational practices.”

Partner: Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RI DEM)

 

Team 6 (Meal Team 6)

Team 6: Brian Butterworth, Sandra Cano, Katy Coutley, Kate MacDonald, Andrew Omer, Brian Thorn, Maryoli Vargas Ayala.

Program Summary: “Our project is to support the revitalization of the downtown Pawtucket community through one of its anchor tenants, Las Delicias De Mi Tierra. This local restaurant serves as a community hub for both Pawtucket and the local Colombian community, but has struggled since relocating to its current space.”

Partner: Las Delicias De Mi Tierra

 

Team 7 (The Eight 7’s)

Team 7: Danilo A. Borgas, Nicole Christie, Serena J Gralla, Fernanda Lopes, Sylvia Mburu, Patrick McQuade, Amanda E. Strauss, Michael S. Templeton.

Project Summary:  “The Eight 7’s are creating a digital cookbook entitled Little State, Big Table. The cookbook focuses on sustainability, reducing food waste, and celebrating Rhode Island’s food community. Our goal is to share recipes that encourage cooking at home, highlight local ingredients, and provide practical ways to make full use of those ingredients. Additionally, we will host a cookbook launch party at the end of September, with all proceeds raised being donated to Feed RI.“

Partners: Feed RI, The University of Rhode Island SNAP Outreach Project (URI-SNAP), Johnson & Wales, Newport Restaurant Group, Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH).

 

Team 8

Team 8: Sheri Akinfolarin, Ed Brady, Kelly Coelho, Christine Grele, Eric Gregoire, Erin A. Hockensmith, Annie Jeong, Nicholas P. Rivello, Jr..

Project Summary:  “Our team is exploring a Collaborative Community Food Ecosystem Pilot designed to connect existing food recovery efforts with community distribution networks. Working with Farm Fresh Rhode Island, Hope’s Harvest, and the RI Dream Center, we are evaluating a small-scale pilot that would redirect recovered fresh produce to community outreach channels while documenting a framework for future collaboration and expansion.”

Partners: Farm Fresh RI, Hope’s Harvest, Rhode Island Dream Center

 

Team 9 

Team 9: Tatiana Baena, Shelby Doggett, Timothy F. Gaulin, Donna Marie Rook, Russell St. George, Mark Thompson-Salisbury, Latoya Watts.

Project Summary:  “Our team is partnering with the University of Rhode Island (URI) Master Gardener Program and School Garden Initiative to review and improve program communications, training materials, volunteer pathways, and school partnership frameworks. The project focuses on strengthening long-term sustainability, accessibility, and program scalability through clearer communications, lifecycle planning, curriculum review, and strategic modernization recommendations. Current work includes reviewing existing program materials, mentor frameworks, website resources, and school partnership structures to identify opportunities for improvement and alignment with evolving community and volunteer needs.”

Partner: University of Rhode Island Master Gardener Program

 

Team 10 (The Perfect 10)

Team 10: Derek Czenczelewski, Krissy Hu, Stacey Levin, Matthew Lofaro, Jill Rasmussen, Eric Timothy Shoen, Whitley Werts.

Project Summary:  “Team 10—the Perfect 10—advanced two major community gardening initiatives in Woonsocket to expand access to fresh produce for seniors and vulnerable residents. The team secured funding and partnerships for an accessible garden at the Woonsocket Senior Center and a second garden through Community Care Alliance, including contributions from Age Friendly Rhode Island, AARP, USI Securities, Dimeo Construction, and the Rhode Island Department of Health. Although timing limited some grant opportunities, both gardens are progressing on schedule, with next steps focused on long‑term funding, training, and community leadership.”

Partners: Senior Center Garden at Aging Well, Woonsocket Community Garden