Dei - Providence Business News

MAKING A POINT: Shameem Awan, second from right, senior assistant vice president of Amica Mutual Insurance Co., speaks during a panel discussion at Providence Business News’ 2025 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Summit and Awards Program on Dec. 4. Also on the panel, from left, are Monika P. Zuluaga, CEO and president of the Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce; Tracey G. Wiley, executive director of diversity, equity and inclusion at Bally’s Corp.; and moderator Kevin Matta, senior director of people and culture at United Way of Rhode Island Inc. PBN PHOTO/MIKE SKORSKI

PBN summit: Diversity effort evolving ‘beyond the surface level’

PBN Summit 12/19/2025

Kevin Matta has watched the definition of diversity, equity and inclusion evolve before his eyes in Rhode Island’s corporate community. In his six years of...

STAYING THE COURSE: Dawn Apajee, founder and president of professional staffing service City Personnel Inc., speaks to Recruiting Coordinator Adora Andrade, who is writing on the board. Apajee says the nature of City Personnel’s business – which provides legal, administrative, accounting and support staffing services – calls for a commitment to diversity. PBN PHOTO/ MICHAEL SALERNO

DEI TEST: Roll back? Push ahead? For many organizations, a critical...

Cover Story 07/18/2025

The diversity pledges flooded corporate inboxes across the country as protests filled the streets over George Floyd, a Black man who died under the...

ALL IN: Dawn Apajee, right, owner and founder of professional staffing service City Personnel Inc., says the company is not pulling back on its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. Writing on the board above is Recruiting Coordinator Adora Andrade. PBN FILE PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

DEI commitments tested by federal rollbacks

Editorial and Op-Ed 07/18/2025

Business and civic support for diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives remains strong across the Ocean State. But as this week’s cover story reports, federal efforts...

HEALTH KICK: Attorney General Peter F. Neronha has focused much of his attention during his tenure in office on the state’s health care system. He says it remains a top priority for the final 18 months of his term.  PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

POWER SURGE: AG Neronha has asserted his authority in the name...

Cover Story 07/04/2025

Peter F. Neronha is in the homestretch of his second – and final – term as Rhode Island’s attorney general, and his workload is...

Five Questions With: Kevin Matta

In Their Own Words 06/03/2025

Kevin Matta is the senior director of people, culture and operations for United Way of Rhode Island Inc. He is also president of Diversity...

McKee nominates Bally’s executive for R.I. Commerce board

Economy 05/14/2025

PROVIDENCE – Gov. Daniel J. McKee on Wednesday announced his nomination of Bally’s Corp. executive Tracey Wiley to serve on the R.I. Commerce Corp....

A CLOSER LOOK: More than 30 scholarships offered at the University of Rhode Island are the focus of a complaint filed by the conservative nonprofit Legal Insurrection Foundation alleging that the scholarships violate federal law because eligibility is partially based on race and gender.  COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND

URI among schools targeted in civil rights complaints

Education 04/11/2025

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights has opened an investigation into 35 scholarships offered at the University of Rhode Island after...

TOUGH TIME: Katharine Amaral, right, director of programs and community partnerships for the nonprofit Junior Achievement of Rhode Island Inc., speaks during Providence Business News’ 2025 Workforce Development Summit on Feb. 13. With her on the panel, from left, are Ara Millette, director of talent acquisition at Brown University Health; Amy Grzybowski, New England Institute of Technology vice president of workforce development and community relations; and Nora Crowley, R.I. Department of Labor and Training deputy director.  PBN PHOTO/MIKE SKORSKI

PBN summit: Workforce challenges coming at federal, state levels

News Story 02/28/2025

It’s a challenging time for people charged with developing the workforce of the future for Rhode Island. Not only are state agencies and nonprofits nationwide...

DEI support still strong in Ocean State

Editorial and Op-Ed 02/28/2025

As disheartening as the national rollback in diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives is for local advocates, the commitment remains strong in the Ocean State. In...