Marta V. Martínez | Executive Director
Marta is RILA's Executive Director and Founder of RILA. She is a Community Oral Historian and leads Nuestras Raíces: Latino Oral History Project of Rhode Island. Martínez also published a book in 2014 based on her work with the Latino Oral History Project.
She received her Bachelor’s and Doctorate degrees from Providence College, and has a Master’s degree in Journalism from The George Washington University.
Marta is fluent in Spanish, English and Sign Language. She is of Mexican heritage, was raised in El Paso, TX and currently lives in (Pawtuxet Village) Warwick, RI.
She received her Bachelor’s and Doctorate degrees from Providence College, and has a Master’s degree in Journalism from The George Washington University.
Marta is fluent in Spanish, English and Sign Language. She is of Mexican heritage, was raised in El Paso, TX and currently lives in (Pawtuxet Village) Warwick, RI.
Click here to contact Marta
Gabriela López-Ruiz | Teatro Programs Coordinator
Gabi is a Production & Stage Manager of Mexican descent. She holds a degree in Theatre Arts with a minor in Community Entrepreneurship from Loyola University New Orleans. Her theater experience is stage management, directing, & playwriting.
She began her professional career working in local theaters in New Orleans, Louisiana, and joined RILA as the Arts in 2022.
Click here to contact Gabi ➤
She began her professional career working in local theaters in New Orleans, Louisiana, and joined RILA as the Arts in 2022.
Click here to contact Gabi ➤
Jaqueline Estrada | Latino Archives Assistant
Jacki will be working with RILA in 2025 as the Latino Archives Assistant. Her main focus will be organizing existing documents, digitizing photographs, audio, and video files.
She is a Junior at Rhode Island College and recently completed six months Fellowship as one of five RILA's Latinx Oral History Fellows.
Jacki is originally from Central Falls, currently lives in Pawtucket. She is fluent in Spanish and English and is of Bolivian-Guatemalan heritage.
She is a Junior at Rhode Island College and recently completed six months Fellowship as one of five RILA's Latinx Oral History Fellows.
Jacki is originally from Central Falls, currently lives in Pawtucket. She is fluent in Spanish and English and is of Bolivian-Guatemalan heritage.
RILA's Board | How We Lead Together
RILA is guided by a generative board model, where the Board of Directors and Executive Director work in close partnership—thinking together, asking questions, and shaping the organization’s direction collaboratively.
Rather than relying on standing committees, the board engages in shared conversations about mission, programs, and long-term stewardship. When focused work is needed, we form time-limited, purpose-driven working groups that may include board members, staff, and community participants.
This approach reflects who we are as a grassroots, community-based cultural organization. It supports thoughtful decision-making, shared responsibility, and clear accountability, while intentionally avoiding unnecessary bureaucracy so that energy remains focused on the work itself for the better of the organization.
Rather than relying on standing committees, the board engages in shared conversations about mission, programs, and long-term stewardship. When focused work is needed, we form time-limited, purpose-driven working groups that may include board members, staff, and community participants.
This approach reflects who we are as a grassroots, community-based cultural organization. It supports thoughtful decision-making, shared responsibility, and clear accountability, while intentionally avoiding unnecessary bureaucracy so that energy remains focused on the work itself for the better of the organization.
José Ramírez, Chair
Tia Ristaino-Siegel, Treasurer
Robin Xiong, Secretary
Tyler Dobrowsky
Taino Palermo, PhD Esq.
Clarissa Hertnández
Rabbi Preston Neimeiser
Bill Stark, PhD
Wensley Sarkar Bynoe
Sandra Victorino
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 25118
Providence, RI 02905
Office:
La Galería @RILA
Nuestras Raíces: Latino History Archives
391 Dyer St.
Providence, RI 02903
Teatro del Pueblo @RILA Black Box performance space is located behind La Galería @RILA in Central Falls.
P.O. Box 25118
Providence, RI 02905
Office:
La Galería @RILA
Nuestras Raíces: Latino History Archives
391 Dyer St.
Providence, RI 02903
Teatro del Pueblo @RILA Black Box performance space is located behind La Galería @RILA in Central Falls.
Marta V. Martínez
Executive Director and
Community Oral Historian
Latino Archives
Jacki Delgado, Archives Assistant
Teatro del Pueblo @RILA Gabriela López Ruiz, Teatro Programs Coordinator
Executive Director and
Community Oral Historian
Latino Archives
Jacki Delgado, Archives Assistant
Teatro del Pueblo @RILA Gabriela López Ruiz, Teatro Programs Coordinator
Teaching Artists
Jesús Andujar, Latin Percussion (2023-2027)
Alexander "Crespo" Rosario, Lead Theater Artist (2026-2027)
Gabriel Rojas, Youth Art Camp (2025-2027)
Cultural Partners
Southside Cultural Center
393 Broad St.
Providence, RI 02907
Trinity Repertory Company
201 Washington St.
Providence, RI 02903
Jesús Andujar, Latin Percussion (2023-2027)
Alexander "Crespo" Rosario, Lead Theater Artist (2026-2027)
Gabriel Rojas, Youth Art Camp (2025-2027)
Cultural Partners
Southside Cultural Center
393 Broad St.
Providence, RI 02907
Trinity Repertory Company
201 Washington St.
Providence, RI 02903
❤︎ Volunteer | Wish List:
RILA is always looking for volunteers and donations of household items and for our various programs and activities. Go here to signup and to learn more ➤
RILA is always looking for volunteers and donations of household items and for our various programs and activities. Go here to signup and to learn more ➤
We are listed on NEFA’s Creative Ground website
Would you like to support the mission of Rhode Island Latino Arts? Please consider making a donation. Your contributions will help us maintain this website — the only one of its kind in Rhode Island that provides the most comprehensive free cultural and educational information that features Latinos in the arts.
Follow RILA on Instagram and Facebook and share our posts with your friends. By supporting RILA and sharing our information you are also supporting the many Latino artists in our network.
Follow RILA on Instagram and Facebook and share our posts with your friends. By supporting RILA and sharing our information you are also supporting the many Latino artists in our network.
RILA is proud to be a recipient
of the 2024 Guidestar
Platinum Seal of Transparency.
Contact Us
What's Up?
Rhode Island Latino Arts was founded in 1988 as the Hispanic Heritage Committee and today is Rhode Island’s leading nonprofit organization exclusively dedicated to the promotion, advancement, development and cultivation of Latino arts.
We celebrate and promote Latino art & artists through our Rhode Island Latino Artists Network events, and each year we coordinate the sharing of information and activities to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month.
Through strategic partnering with local community organizations, including schools, libraries, museums and senior centers in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods of our urban centers – we ensure our mission’s fulfillment: To raise awareness and preserve Latino arts, heritage and cultures in Rhode Island and to build community pride.
Hispanic Heritage Month ➤
National Hispanic Heritage Month is September 15-October 15. Hispanic Heritage Month-Rhode Island was started in 1988 by Marta V. Martínez, RILA's founder and it continues to be our signature community event. To participate contact us. To list your event on the Hispanic Heritage Month webpage and poster, go here. ➤
We celebrate and promote Latino art & artists through our Rhode Island Latino Artists Network events, and each year we coordinate the sharing of information and activities to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month.
Through strategic partnering with local community organizations, including schools, libraries, museums and senior centers in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods of our urban centers – we ensure our mission’s fulfillment: To raise awareness and preserve Latino arts, heritage and cultures in Rhode Island and to build community pride.
Hispanic Heritage Month ➤
National Hispanic Heritage Month is September 15-October 15. Hispanic Heritage Month-Rhode Island was started in 1988 by Marta V. Martínez, RILA's founder and it continues to be our signature community event. To participate contact us. To list your event on the Hispanic Heritage Month webpage and poster, go here. ➤
The Latino Oral History Project of Rhode Island (Nuestras Raíces) has been collecting personal stories since 1991. It is Rhode Island’s first oral history project that celebrates the stories of our Latino / Hispanic pioneers. More ➤
RILA’s popular Barrio Tours feature the history of the people and neighborhoods relevant to Latinos in Rhode Island. For more details, visit this page dedicated to these tours. »
The original Café Recuerdos: A Traveling Memory Café was created by Cuban artist, Ana Flores and is on display at La Galería @RILA. Read the story behind its creation. More ➤
The Rhode Island Latino Artists Network (RILAN) is an artists collective created by RILA to support, create and stimulate artistic activities and cultural interaction among Latinx artists and non-Latinos. The RILAN Collective meets the last Thursday of every month at La Galería del Pueblo in Central Falls.. More ➤
Latino Artists Directory
The Latino Artists Directory is a listing of Rhode Island (and some neighboring New England states) Latino artists who are willing to share their art and traditions to a wider audience. Sign up if you are an artist, or see our list of local artists for your programs. More ➤
Latino Festivals & Events
A listing of events celebrating the art and culture of Rhode Island’s Latino community. Post your events or read what’s going on! More ➤
Cultural Groups and Community Resources
Visit this page for a listing of cultural groups and Latino organizations in RI More ➤
Latino Artists Directory
The Latino Artists Directory is a listing of Rhode Island (and some neighboring New England states) Latino artists who are willing to share their art and traditions to a wider audience. Sign up if you are an artist, or see our list of local artists for your programs. More ➤
Latino Festivals & Events
A listing of events celebrating the art and culture of Rhode Island’s Latino community. Post your events or read what’s going on! More ➤
Cultural Groups and Community Resources
Visit this page for a listing of cultural groups and Latino organizations in RI More ➤
La Tiendita @La Galería is an online market where you can buy art made and sold my local Latinx artists and artisans. We carry limited items on site, so check our hours if you'd like to stop by.
