Summary

Turning the Tide in Providence tells the story of a decade-long movement to confront environmental racism and reclaim power from polluting industries along the waterfront in Providence, RI. Sparked by health concerns in local families and led by neighborhood residents, the campaign grew from a fight to stop a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility into a broad and strategic effort to build lasting environmental and racial justice. Through coordination between community organizers and government allies, the movement created new infrastructure for co-governance, shifted public policy, and inspired statewide environmental action — while learning from the complexities and challenges of inside-outside work along the way.

At the heart of the story are organizers like Monica Huertas, Jesus Holguin, Vatic Kuumba, and Julian Drix, whose work has spanned grassroots mobilization, artistic engagement, and public health leadership. Together with their neighbors, they built power through the No LNG in PVD campaign, connected the dots between pollution and public health, and laid the groundwork for long-term collaboration with the City of Providence. Their strategy was grounded in a shared commitment to inside-outside partnerships, where organizers on the outside push for change while allies on the inside open up access and support.

The road was not without setbacks. Despite broad community opposition and support from local elected officials, the LNG liquefaction facility ultimately received federal approval in 2018. Coalition members also had to navigate deep mistrust of government, internal conflict, and turnover in both community organizations and city departments. Still, they stayed in the work. They created systems of shared leadership, protected one another during difficult meetings, and built relationships resilient enough to weather political shifts. Rather than giving up, they transformed these challenges into opportunities to deepen trust, build stronger structures, and push for more lasting change.

The creation of the Racial and Environmental Justice Committee (REJC) marked a turning point. This community-led body worked with the City to shape a sustainability plan rooted in racial equity, and later co-developed the Providence Climate Justice Plan. The plan set bold goals for reducing emissions, protecting public health, and strengthening community leadership. In 2021, the City codified these goals into law and created a Sustainability Commission with seats for environmental justice and youth leaders, helping to institutionalize community power.

Although the LNG facility moved forward, the campaign’s momentum led to several other major victories. These included blocking new polluting facilities, influencing the City’s long-term lease agreements and planning processes, and ensuring ongoing community oversight through the Sustainability Commission. The original campaign evolved into the People’s Port Authority, with additional leadership from new groups like the Ocean State Environmental Justice Alliance.

This case story highlights the power and the nuances of ongoing and long-term organizing, relationship-building, and strategic alignment between community and government. By working together, residents and advocates in Providence are creating lasting structures for accountability and change, so future generations can breathe cleaner air and live with greater dignity and health.

Watch this interview with the organizers to learn more.