PROVIDENCE – Joe Garlick, executive director of NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley, was honored for his work revitalizing urban neighborhoods as the 2018 recipient of the Murray Family Prize for Community Enrichment at the Rhode Island Foundation.
The award comes with an unrestricted $50,000 prize, which he accepted at a celebration earlier in November.
“I consider myself lucky to be part of Rhode Island’s network of nonprofit community-development corporations who work diligently to make sure our neighbors have homes they can afford in neighborhoods filled with opportunity,” said Garlick in a statement.
Paula McNamara, a member of the Murray family, said in prepared remarks: “Joe’s tireless dedication to improving the community around him is an inspiring example for others to follow. Our family takes great pride in honoring him for his drive and his accomplishments.”
Among the projects Garlick has led are the creation of more than 100 affordable apartments in the Constitution Hill neighborhood of Woonsocket, the construction of 80 affordable apartments for seniors at The Meadows in North Smithfield and the conversion of the former Stillwater Mill in Burrillville into 47 affordable rental units at Clocktower Apartments.
Garlick, a Providence resident, has led the nonprofit in Woonsocket for the past 24 years. In that time, NWBRV has developed $18 million of single-family housing, $98 million of rental housing and 90,000 square feet of commercial space.
The award marks the second prize presented through the fund. The inaugural award was presented in 2017 to UCAP School founder Rob DeBlois in recognition of his decadeslong commitment to educating low-income, urban and predominately immigrant students with a history of school failure.
Emily Gowdey-Backus is a staff writer for PBN. You can follow her on Twitter @FlashGowdey or contact her via email, gowdey-backus@pbn.com.
