Laura Calenda

VALUABLE EXPERIENCE: Laura Calenda, chief marketing and philanthropy officer for Crossroads Rhode Island in Providence, a nonprofit providing services for homeless individuals and families, says her previous leadership experiences in the health care and housing industries have translated to her current role at Crossroads. / PBN PHOTO/TRACY JENKINS

PBN 2021 Leaders & Achievers Awards
Laura Calenda | Chief marketing and philanthropy officer, Crossroads Rhode Island


Laura Calenda and her colleagues at Crossroads Rhode Island have been working to end homelessness in the state. And their work is as critical as ever: Rhode Island saw a 4.6% increase in homelessness from 2019 to 2020, according to the 2020 Annual Homeless Assessment from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“Over the course of the [COVID-19] pandemic, we saw the homelessness numbers start to increase, and I think they’re going to get worse,” said Calenda, chief marketing and philanthropy officer at Providence’s Crossroads.

The nonprofit provides housing, educational opportunities, job training and emergency shelter to individuals and families facing homelessness. In January, the organization announced plans to renovate its Travelers Aid Housing building at 160 Broad St. in Providence, transforming the single-occupancy rooms into one-bedroom apartments with private kitchens and bathrooms.

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In June, in partnership with the R.I. Housing and Mortgage Finance Corp. and Providence Housing Authority, Crossroads announced the completion of 30 newly renovated apartments throughout Providence.

With upward of 35 years of experience in marketing and communications, Calenda leads Crossroads’ fundraising initiatives. Throughout the pandemic, much of her work has been remote, including organizing virtual fundraising events and maintaining donor relations.

“Through it all, we continue to maintain our laser focus on getting as many people as possible housed,” Calenda said.

Before joining Crossroads in 2017, she worked in marketing and communications management positions for Corvias Group, a development company, and Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island. She said the leadership experiences in health insurance and housing have translated to her current role at Crossroads.

“It’s been really exciting to be able to leverage my experience in those two different industries here in a really meaningful way,” Calenda said.

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