Meet our first Career Lab
cohort, in partnership with
The Providence Eye
Thank you, Providence Eye, for believing in this program, nominating four trainees, and building capacity to create sustainable news. Please check back for incredible stories and coverage of Providence, Rhode Island.
Career Lab in Action
by Eric Halvarson
“Hi sweetheart, would you like some free Narcan?” Three smiling faces stood outside the Valley Street Price Rite. They wore black shirts with a big purple heart and a ribbon that read: “One Big Family United In Hope,” and on the back of the shirt, in six different languages, “End Overdose RI.” Read more
by Andrea Gutierrez
Walking the 3.3 mile loop of Blackstone Boulevard is a ritual for many health conscious Providence residents. A walk outdoors is a financially accessible daily practice that contributes to overall health. Five years after a global pandemic that took the lives of over 1 million Americans, a healthy lifestyle is a more present concern for many. Read more
by Eric Halvarson
After teaching an interactive course about erosion with a second grade science class at Vartan Gregorian Elementary School, Kris Haines took a 30 minute bus ride from Fox Point to Wanskuck Library. There was another class to lead. It’s the sort of trip Haines would take every Wednesday this spring as a Youth Makerspace Specialist at the Community Libraries of Providence, a job that takes them all across the city— and almost always via RIPTA. Read more
by Andrea Gutierrez, Eric Halvarson, Jessamy LeBeau
Krysten, 56, Retired
“I won’t be able to come out as often as I do. The only reason we went out to Smithfield is because it was on the bus line. Now I’m stuck out in Smithfield and they canceled early morning buses. Read more
Meet Cohort One
Originally from California, Andrea traversed much of the country before finding home in Providence. She worked in hospitality for 20 years, and finds joy in dining al fresco on a perfect summer evening. She is interested in places where food, art, history, and the natural world intersect to create an aesthetically rich environment, which makes the Creative Capital a perfect fit. She’s eager to shine a light on the city’s greatness, and to be a community builder that contributes to what makes the city great.
Andrea Gutierrez
Eric Halvarson is a multimedia journalist focused on the political ecology shaping a new world in climate crisis. His work has been featured by Democracy Now!, Burnaway, the Appalachian Voice and ecoRI News. Hobbies include gardening, science-fiction, volleyball, dancing and holding onto a sense of wonder.
Eric Halvarson
Jessamy moved to Rhode Island over 20 years ago from her rural Pennsylvania hometown, and has been living in Providence for over 7 years. Her professional background spans from working in education access to graphic design and marketing, and finds fulfillment in connecting people to the community. Her love for local journalism began at the Community College of Rhode Island, where she worked her way up the ladder from staff writer to become the student newspaper's youngest editor in chief, and continued past graduation when she took on a videographer role at the Norfolk Community Television station. Jessamy is excited to revive her passion for community-focused journalism with the PVD Eye, and finds most fulfillment covering local art, music, education, and environmental news.
Jessamy LeBeau
We share stories to entertain, understand, laugh, distract, connect and to create community. I have told stories in classrooms, museums, libraries about people, places and events that have been understudied and underserved. My goal with the Providence Eye every week is to curate a story that provides the reader a written and visual experience of this great city and the people that call it home.
Christopher West