Economic Progress Institute — PVD, RI

Mike Healey has wrapped up his time as EPI's Communications Manager, stating, "It’s been a privilege to support EPI’s mission and work with so many dedicated community and government partners. Thank you!"

Going forward, please direct all media inquiries to:

communications@economicprogressri.org

Training frontline workers to guide families through OBBBA’s cruel new barriers — because every Rhode Islander deserves food, healthcare, and dignity!

Nov. 7 at @rhodeislandcollege.bsky.social w/big ups to RIC, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of RI, RI Dept. of Human Services & RI Legal Services!

Last week, EPI hosted a training at @rhodeislandcollege.bsky.social to equip social & community health workers with tools to help clients access SNAP, Medicaid & other benefits.

Led by Divya Nair, with RI Dept. of Human Services & RI Legal Services. Sponsored by @bcbsri.bsky.social & RIC. 💙

RI’s delegation — including @weayonnoh.bsky.social — concluded its participation in the State Policy Academy by @pn3policy.bsky.social, advancing family-supporting tax policies like #EITC & #CTC.

@risenate.bsky.social, Sens. DiPalma & Vargas, @tanzister.bsky.social, @rikidscount.bsky.social, RICCF

Update: RI Legal Services (www.helprilaw.org) is now also presenting!🫡

Updated flyer. Limited space. Register today!🔗 bit.ly/42TsYbh

🥇to sponsors @bcbsri.bsky.social & @rhodeislandcollege.bsky.social & co-presenter RIDHS!

Rhode Island opened window shopping today for 2026 ACA marketplace plans. Because of expiring premium tax credit enhancements, a typical 60-year-old couple making $85,000 will have to pay an additional $18,600 annually for benchmark coverage. (1/4)

YouTube video by economicprogressri Weayonnoh Nelson-Davies — No Kings Day speech, Oct. 18, 2025

“The time is now for dangerous unselfishness.”

At #NoKingsDay, @weayonnoh.bsky.social urged Rhode Islanders to embrace dangerous unselfishness — the moral courage MLK called for the night before his death.

🎥 via Steve Ahlquist
🔗 youtu.be/EDXy_et8xNQ

🗓️ Join our in-person training to help community health & social workers & community orgs guide clients thru public benefits.🫡Blue Cross Blue Shield of RI

📍Gaige Hall, @rhodeislandcollege.bsky.social
🕘Nov. 7 | 9 AM–12 PM
💬W/Divya Nair & RI DHS Director Merolla-Brito

Limited space.🔗 bit.ly/42TsYbh

The Trump administration can take available steps to ensure SNAP participants get November benefits • Rhode Island Current Nearly two-thirds of the funds needed for a full month of food assistance benefits are available in SNAP’s contingency fund and must be used when regular funding for SNAP runs short. The administratio...

144,000 Rhode Islanders rely on SNAP for food assistance.

🫡@centeronbudget.bsky.social for demanding that the Trump admin. act now to ensure that these folks — & millions more nationally — have their benefits to use at the start of Nov.!

🫡@ricurrent.bsky.social for this timely op-ed bit.ly/4oyT77E

We support princesses, not kings! #nokings #wethepeople

Sat is going to be a beautiful day for free speech in America!
@weayonnoh.bsky.social
@epi-ri.bsky.social
#NoKingsRI

At our Celebration of Children’s Health + Well-Being on Nov. 24, we are delighted to be honoring RIght from the Start and the RI Paid Family Leave Coalition!

#PaidLeave @rightstartri.bsky.social @epi-ri.bsky.social

The Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry honored the RI Coalition for Predatory Lending Reform with its Snowball Award — for winning a “snowball’s chance in hell” fight: passing a bill capping payday loan interest rates.❄️👏

🫡RI Interfaith Coalition to Reduce Poverty, @alankrinsky.bsky.social!

Before our 14th Annual Policy & Budget Conference gets too far in the rearview mirror, here's a sample of what made it so special👀🔥📢

#wethepeople #therhodeforward

@sabinamatos.bsky.social, @lisaranglin.bsky.social, @rebeccakislak.bsky.social, @tanzister.bsky.social, @weayonnoh.bsky.social

Ever wondered how state & federal budget processes really work — & why tax justice matters?

Join EPI’s Fall Policy Institute
@rhodeislandcollege.bsky.social
to learn how fair budgets build strong, equitable communities.

📅 Oct 16 | 5–6 PM

🔗 bit.ly/3VJYDb8

#RIC #PolicyInstitute #EPI

Speaker @joeshekarchi.bsky.social, @tanzister.bsky.social, @rebeccakislak.bsky.social and Rep. Tina Spears attended @epi-ri.bsky.social's Annual Policy & Budget Conference recently.

Speaker Shekarchi was one of the featured speakers, where he shared insight on the budget process in Rhode Island.

Thanks for joining us!

This is the moment when we remember: "We are the People."

We Are The People!

This is EPI's love letter to you❤️📣🔥

🫡🫡🫡Video courtesy of @steveahlquist.bsky.social

#wethepeople #theconstitution #democracy #whatdemocracylookslike

2/2

YouTube video by economicprogressri We See You! You Are "We the People!"

Ending the week how we started it: Inspired!

If you missed the "We See You" ceremony with Eugenie Rose Belony & Max Beattie at our 14th Annual Policy & Budget Conference, or if you need a reminder of who you are...

This is the moment we say to each other, "We see you!"

youtu.be/K1tUWrpaNMU

1/2

YouTube video by economicprogressri Name that tune, Peeps!

Name that tune! (Or as the case may be, name that podcast!🫡🔥😂)

youtube.com/shorts/mxOBZ...

EPI Executive Director @weayonnoh.bsky.social: Stop the blame game & end the government shutdown now!

Full statement here: bit.ly/46xDO99

Thank you, Peeps!

New episode: Law 401 asks, “How Attractive is the Big Beautiful Bill?”
SNAP & Medicaid cuts. Civil rights at stake. What’s fair in tax policy?
Guest: @weayonnoh.bsky.social @epi-ri.bsky.social 🎧 podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/l...

#Law401 #EconomicJustice #bigbeautifulbill

Easy to see why the AP history & civics students of East Prov. HS revered @greggamore.bsky.social/ @risecstate.bsky.social, because he showed his chops at our conf. this morning. His takeaway? Democracy is strong when we nurture it, but fragile when we take it for granted.

@tanzister.bsky.social

Thank you!

Today at EPI’s 14th Annual Policy & Budget Conference—
Tomorrow on Law 401: The “Big Beautiful Bill.” Cuts to Medicaid & SNAP, civil rights at stake. Guest: Weayonnoh Nelson-Davies @epi-ri.bsky.social @weayonnoh.bsky.social
🎧 linktr.ee/rwulaw
#Law401 #bigbeautifulbill

After a minute or 2, the EPI hipsters are back together again. Watch them change the world.🫡🫡🫡

@divyanair.bsky.social, @hperezaponte.bsky.social

EPI appreciates @rihouseofreps.bsky.social, @tanzister.bsky.social, @joeshekarchi.bsky.social, @rebeccakislak.bsky.social & Rep. Tina Spears for joining our conference this morning. And we appreciate the Speaker's ringing speech on confronting & solving big problems in the budget making process!

Thank you for coming out & supporting. We appreciate you!

Join us this Monday, Sept. 29, 8-11:30 AM at the Crowne Plaza for EPI’s 14th Annual Policy & Budget Conference.

Final call for tickets or to donate to our inaugural Giving Month: givebutter.com/EPI2025

🫡🫡🫡 to the Nellie Mae Educational Foundation!