Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center

20 Dr. Marcus F. Wheatland Blvd.
Newport, RI 02840
(O) 401-846-4828
(F) 401-848-7360

Marilyn Warren, Executive Director
401-846-4828 x 105
mwarren@mlkccenter.org

Alyson Novick,  Director of Development
401-846-4828 x 102
anovick@mlkccenter.org

Jane Kirkpatrick, Development Associate
401-846-4828 x 103
jkirkpatrick@mlkccenter.org

Thelma Williams, Business Manager
401-846-4828 x 101
twilliams@mlkccenter.org

Sally Swistak, Childcare Director
401-846-4828 x 117
sswistak@mlkccenter.org

Jeanine Richardson, Out of School Time Coordinator
401-846-4828 x 111
jrichardson@mlkccenter.org

Bea Brush, Hunger Services Coordinator
401-846-4828 x 100
bbrush@mlkccenter.org

NEWPORT, RI (April 2, 2013) – The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center, which has provided generations of Newporters with the tools and the knowledge to support their dreams, has received a $25,000 grant from Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island (BCBSRI) to fund the expansion of its nutrition education services for at-risk and low-income children, adults, families and seniors in the Newport area.

The Center is among ten state organizations to receive funding as part of the BlueAngel Community Health Grant Program (BACHG), which supports nonprofit organizations expanding access to care for un- and under-insured Rhode Islanders. The grant is expected to benefit 1,300 of the Center’s clients by funding five new and expanded nutritional programs, from education for children and parents to healthy dinner service. Among these impacted clients, 44 percent of adults and 24 percent of children are expected to be uninsured.

“The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center is very grateful to Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island for funding the expansion of our nutrition education and counseling services, states Marilyn Warren, Executive Director of the MLK Community Center. “We believe that education breaks the cycle of poverty and nutrition education will help both children and adults have a greater chance of living healthy, fulfilling lives. Because of the BlueAngel grant, nutrition education and counseling will be available to all of our families. Many of our clients are referred by their physicians to a dietitian, but without insurance, nutrition counseling is a luxury few can afford. We are grateful to Blue Cross & Blue Shield to be able to provide the tools to help our families live healthier lives.”

“Through the BlueAngel program, we seek to fund and partner with community-based agencies trying to break down cultural, cost, and communication barriers to healthcare access,” said Carolyn Belisle, director of community relations for BCBSRI. “The Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center’s motto of ‘food for the body and mind’ highlights the value of these educational programs to empower Newport County’s most vulnerable residents, from children to parents to the elderly, to make the healthy decisions that lead to healthier lives.”

In the Center’s 91st year of operation, as it expands many services to meet its clients’ needs, the BlueAngel grant will fund five key new and expanded programs:

Families using the Center’s Food Pantry will receive personal guidance from the on-staff dietician to explore reading nutrition labels, make healthy choices and discuss healthy cooking.
Demonstrations of healthy foods will model healthy eating using pantry foods and allow clients to try new recipes.
The afterschool program, Healthy Kids, Healthy Families, will increase from one day each week to two, incorporating trips to the local farmer’s market to learn how to choose and use fresh ingredients, assisting families with SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) enrollment and offering personal counseling to a greater number of at-risk families.
The Center will increase the number of family dinners from monthly to bi-weekly, which encourage healthy, family-style meals.
New targeted nutrition education workshops will be offered specifically for parents.

The BACHG Program is the cornerstone of BCBSRI’s charitable giving. Since the Program’s inception in 2002, BCBSRI has donated over $2.1 million dollars to support Rhode Island nonprofit organizations providing health programs aimed at expanding access to care for the thousands of un- and under-insured Rhode Islanders. Since the Program’s launch, more than 207,000 people in Rhode Island have been touched by funded programs.

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center maintains affordable, high quality child education programs that support personal development and academic achievement. It is our goal that all Preschool children will enter Kindergarten academically, emotionally and socially ready to succeed in school.  All children in our Out of School Time program will develop homework skills, work to grade level and become independent learners.  A wide range of exciting workshops are held daily throughout the year.  The summer months are packed with exciting field trips that expand the children’s academic success.

65+ friends of the Center, local, state and federal elected representatives gathered at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center to celebrate the Kiernan’s gift and to hear Peter’s inspiring words urging the community to band together to fight hunger.

Newport City Councilor Jeanne Napolitano (R) reads a proclamation from Mayor Harry Winthrop & the Council declaring March 6, 2013 “Peter and Eaddo Kiernan Day”

Executive Director Marilyn Warren gives Peter Kiernan his first look at the van he and Eaddo gave to the Center.

Eaddo and Peter Kiernan accept thanks from Tom Callahan, president of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center’s Board of Trustees.

The Kiernans share a laugh with Food 2 Friends volunteer Ted Roach.

Rep. Marvin Abney (center) chats with Eaddo and Peter Kiernan.

Former MLK Board member Ruth Thumbtzen, MLK Dir. of Development Alyson Novick and Center friend Liz Drayton celebrate the Kiernan’s gift and launch of Food 2 Friends.

Our generous benefactors, Peter and Eaddo Kiernan.

The MLKCommunity Center provides food assistance and nutritional education to anyone in need throughout NewportCounty. Our Breakfast Program provides a nutritious meal daily. The Feed a Friend Food Pantry provides non-perishable food items, frozen meat, fresh produce, bread and hygiene products once a month to our Newport County neighbors and Food 2 Friends delivers these items to our homebound neighbors.

For questions about any of our Hunger Programs, please email Bea Brush, Hunger Services Coordinator, at bbrush@mlkccenter.org or call her at 846-4828 x 100.

Community Programming encompasses a large range of activities and programs for the community at large and for the clients we serve. The Strong Woman Series began in 2008 as a series of workshops created to empower women as women. Community Forums are held quarterly on topics of interest to the community at large.  Healthy Kids, Healthy Families encompasses a broad range of services for our client families provided by our Registered Dietitian and Case Manager.  These include nutrition classes for the children in our educational program, cooking classes for adults, monthly Lunch and Learns for seniors, and bi-weekly Family Dinners.  A team of tech-savvy volunteers oversees our Computer Recycling Program, providing recycled computers to our clients at little or no cost or refurbishing computers for our neighbors.  Other services include Flu Shot clinics, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance for our clients, and no-cost chiropractic care provided by Dr. Ronald Marsh.

“I’m fortunate to do what I do in the Navy, but giving back to the community is an opportunity to change someone’s life,” said Quartermaster 3rd Class Derrell Gilbert of Cuthbert, Ga.

“We’re so grateful to the crew of the USS Bulkeley for their help. What they did in four hours normally takes us four days!” said Bea Brush, Food Pantry Coordinator.

Each year during the Thanksgiving and holiday seasons, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center provides Holiday Baskets to neighbors in need. Each basket contains the traditional holiday meal, plus enough food to feed the family during the holiday break. The Center also provides toy baskets to local children.

“I like being able to help out an organization like this one that does a lot of good for a lot of people,” said Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Spencer Forward of Cerritos, Calif.

The MLK Community Center was honored to be named a recipient charity.

Your donations of toys made this holiday season extra special for the children in our educational programs.

President of the Board of Trustees Whitney C. Slade welcomed guests to the start of the Center’s 90^th year and commended outgoing president Suzi Conklin Nance for her dedicated service.  Executive Director Marilyn Warren delivered the Annual Report, describing the Center’s many accomplishments over the past year.  Board Treasurer John L. Burke spoke of the Center’s move to fiscal health and Gail Lowney Alofsin, Chair of the Governance Committee, welcomed new board members David Howe ofJamestown, Wendy Kagan ofNewport and Erin Jantz of Middletown.

Keith W. Stokes, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation, delivered the evening’s keynote address. Stokes spoke of the state of RI’s economy with a focus on urban community development.  He challenged the audience to support the work of organizations like the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center whose strong education and entrepreneurial programs strengthen the community.

Later in the evening, the Center honored Keepers of the Dream Emlen and Liz Drayton ; Corporate Keeper of the Dream the Atlantic Beach Club and Pavilion; and Volunteers of the Year Bob and Liz Mastin, as those who best exemplify the ideals of Dr. King and the mission of the Center. The honorees were lauded for their passion for equality and justice, promotion of the Center and its work in the community, and a commitment to creating opportunities for those needing advocates.

Each honoree received special recognition from United States Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin.  Honorees were presented with personalized lighthouse awards, custom-designed and created by Michael Richardson of Anchor Bend Glassworks.