Root Out Poverty Conference & Fundraiser

Tuesday October 20, 2026 | 9AM-12:30PM

Our Root Out Poverty Conference and Fundraiser at Temple Beth-El was the needed convening to strategize and recharge together for the critical work ahead. After a troubling report on the state of poverty in RI from Nina Harrison, of The Economic Progress Institute, keynote speaker and Providence's own Shane Lee impacted the "room full of fighters" with his speech, Rekindling the Fire, Renewing the Fight. He asked them to remember the first time poverty became personal to them. He shared his own personal story. And he thanked them, and all the others who answer the call to help another and those with less.

"You may never meet every person whose life you touched," Lee said. "You may never know what they become. You may never see the full harvest of the seeds you planted, but don't you dare confuse not seeing the harvest with not making a difference."

The annual conference occurs to prepare faith-based activists for the upcoming legislative session. It is a critical thinktank event that convenes faith leaders from throughout the state, their congregants, advocacy organizations, community groups, elected officials, and residents to inform, inspire, and strategize how to best reduce poverty together - both with short term measures and long-term, sustaining changes.

This year’s conference focused on root causes and chief contributors to poverty. The second half of the morning event included breakout sessions on:

Housing Affordability - Inflation, rising mortgage rates, high rent and utility costs, a limited housing supply, etc.

Food Insecurity - SNAP reductions, food deserts, strain on food banks, school meals for all, food as medicine, etc.

Few Workforce Development Opportunities and Insufficient Wages - Minimum versus living wages, RI Works program aid, adult ed and job programs, etc.

Lack of Access to Healthcare - Medicaid and clinic aid cuts, higher insurance costs, doctor shortages, etc.

A facilitator and panelists first dived deeper in what has been done and what can be done for each issue, and then all in the breakout sessions brainstormed solutions and policy changes to address the issue. The convening continued with a report out of each breakout, a final charge from Interfaith Director Alisha A. Pina, and some additional closing moments and thanks to all who made the event possible - including our sponsors 1199 SEIU Rhode Island, Saint Martins Episcopal Church, in Providence, and the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.

Faith in Action Revenue Advocacy Day

On May 7, 2026, faith leaders and worshippers joined RI Interfaith partners for a Faith in Action: Revenue Advocacy Day at the Rhode Island State House in Providence, RI. All amplified raising revenue and increasing tax fairness with a three percent surtax on the top one percent of earners. The bill would have raised $203 million per year to recapture some of the revenue Rhode Island lost when the federal government cut trillions of dollars in funding for healthcare and SNAP to give tax breaks to the rich. In addition, the money could help address systemic issues that underlie poverty in the Ocean State sees by giving more to programs and supports that are solutions and opportunities for better.

It was an incredible day of collaboration - showing up for each other!

18th Annual Fighting Poverty with Faith Vigil January 8th, 2026 2pm @ RI State House Rotunda

On January 8th, 2026 in the rotunda of the Rhode Island State House, 82 Smith St. Providence, we held our 18th Annual RI Interfaith Poverty Vigil.

Faith leaders from around the state gathered alongside advocacy organizations, community groups, and elected officials to reaffirm that we have a moral obligation to fight poverty and inequality. Now more than ever we must uplift communities in need and protect those that are most vulnerable. A new legislative session means more opportunities to advocate for policy addressing housing insecurity, environmental justice, economic stability, healthcare access, food insecurity, criminal justice reform and many more issues to be a better Ocean State for all.

Faith Leaders also met earlier in the day at the Gloria Dei Church (15 Hayes St, Providence) to participate in the "March to the State House." Faith Leaders and Advocates read the names of the legislators in the State as a blessing and a call for action.