Rhode Island Latino Arts ✭ Peeps

Marta founded Rhode Island Latinos (RILA) in 1988, first called the Hispanic Heritage Committee of RI (HHCRI).

She is a Community Oral Historian and Project Director of Nuestras Raíces: Latino Oral History Project of Rhode Island.

Marta is of Mexican heritage, was raised in El Paso, TX and currently lives in (Pawtuxet Village) Warwick, RI.

Orlando is RILA's main contact for our Teatro Latino initiative, including Teatro en El Verano and the bilingual script readings and pláticas.

Orlando is a Master Tap Dance Performer and Teaching Artist for RILA. To read more about Orlando, go here ➤

Yaruska plays a key role in helping catalogue RILA's oral histories materials and assists in scholarly research.

She supports RILA's Executive Director and Nuestras Raíces Director during community collecting events scheduled in 2019, as we expand our oral histories collection.

Yaruska was born in Lima, Peru and moved to the U.S. at the age of eight. She has attended public schools in Providence, RI and graduated with honors from University of Rhode Island in 2016 with a B.S. in Psychology, B.A. in Anthropology.

A Providence, Rhode Island resident and self-taught visual artist José Ramirez is not one to sit still for long, unless of course a camera is in his hand.

Along with doing vocational work for a non-profit that steer those in need towards public assistance resources, Ramirez co-hosts and co-produces the weekly radio show "Sonic Watermelons" out of Brown University while also being on the board for the Providence Latin American Film Festival, Rhode Island Latino Arts and the Rhode Island Latino Dollars for Scholars Foundation.

Many of Ramirez's photos reflect his personal view of the world and the dense landscapes that provide an inspirational backdrop for it.

José Chairs RILA's Executive Committee and serves on the Fundraising Committee.

Miguel is a native of the Dominican Republic and lives in the Elmwood neighborhood of Providence. He has over fifteen years experience in the bioenvironmental, financial and healthcare sectors and is currently Specialty Sr. Sales Professional at Sanofi, where he sells market branded products to Endocrinologists in Connecticut and Rhode Island. Miguel has an MBA from Babson College and served in the U.S. Army.

Miguel serves on RILA's Executive and Finance Committees.

Robin first served on RILA's fundraising committee and helped organize Sabor Latino 2018. She has a BA from Loyola University in Global Studies with a Minor in Writing and is currently a candidate for her Master's degree in Public Administration at Roger Williams University.

Robin serves on RILA's Executive Committee and Chair's the Fundraising Committee.

A resident of Central Falls, Tia earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of New Hampshire. She has worked in the areas of restaurant management, sales, project management, real estate and business development.

Tia is a former Councilwoman for the City of Central Falls and has become known as a “catalyst for change,” motivating creative, committed people to get involved in such activities as planting community gardens and organizing a task force to target so-called “nuisance properties,” where noisy residents or neglectful landlords cause problems.

Her affiliations, all in Central Falls, include: The Lions Club; Community Collaborative; the Tax Appeal Board; Adams Memorial Library; Segue Institute for Learning; Central Falls Prevention Coalition.

Tia serves on RILA's Executive and Finance Committees.

Tyler Dobrowsky is the associate artistic director at Trinity Repertory Company. He has been a member of the education, community engagement and artistic teams since 2003.

As the theater's education director, he expanded Trinity Rep's student matinee program, Project Discovery, as well as the theater's in-school and after-school programs, and createdYoung Actors Summer Institute (YASI) the popular summer program.

In the summers of 2016 and 2017 he directed a mobile, bilingual production of Shakespeare en el Verano — Romeo and Juliet in partnership with Rhode Island Latino Arts.

Tyler teaches at the Brown/Trinity MFA program, as well as in Trinity Rep’s education programs for children and adults. He received his MA in Education Policy from Brown University, and studied history, theater and Russian at Holy Cross.

Tyler serves on RILA's Strategy and Growth Committee

Born in Antwerp, Belgium, Winnie was raised in central Africa (her father was a tropical disease specialist); she moved to the United States in 1960 and received both her Bachelor of Arts and her PhD in Anthropology from the University of California (Berkeley). After a Post Doctorate at The Museum of Natural History (NY), she taught in the NY City University system and the School of Visual Arts (NY). She moved to RI where she founded and directed the Folk/Traditional & Community Arts Program at the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts. Winnie has done research and/or produced films in Perú, Egypt, Tanzania, México, France and the US. She directed several cultural exchanges, including with France, México and Québec. Winnie specializes in Visual Anthropology and is a documentary filmmaker.

In 1992, she was a co-founder (with two Bolivians) of The Providence Latin-American Film Festival. A resident of Lincoln, she currently teaches at the Rhode Island School of Design.

Wini serves on RILA's Strategy and Growth and Funds Development Committees.

Michelle is of El Salvadorian heritage. She has over 12 years’ experience in the Financial Services and Insurance industries and currently works as a Sr. Property & Casualty Communication Specialist at MetLife Auto & Home. She has a Bachelor's and also Master's in Business Administration from Bryant University. Michelle currently lives in Warwick.

Michelle serves on RILA's Governance and Nominating Committee.

Joseph is a native of Medellin, Colombia and a native Spanish speaker. He is self-employed and handles family, immigration, and criminal cases. He obtained his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School in Ann Arbor. He grew up in Pawtucket and currently lives in Warwick.

Joseph Chairs RILA's Governance and Nominating Committee.

• Angelica (Angie) Rivera - Angie is a resident of Providence. She currently works as the Assistant Branch Manager at Navigant Credit Union in Central Falls. She is a graduate of Rhode Island College with a degree in Business Operations.

Angie serves on RILA's Finance and Fundraising Committees.