Thursday, October 17, 2013

Langevin Embarks on “It’s All In Our Backyard” Tour

Rhode Island Foundation and partner businesses showcase state’s strengths
WARWICK, RI – Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) will visit on Monday with innovative partners in the “Rhode Island: It’s All In Our Backyard” campaign. Launched recently by the Rhode Island Foundation, the statewide public education campaign has tapped into advertisements, social media and video interviews to celebrate the Ocean State and highlight its people, organizations, businesses and industries. The tour was rescheduled from September.

“It has been a challenging few years in Rhode Island, but we must not lose sight of all the wonderful and unique things that make our state great,” Langevin said. “I love Rhode Island, and I applaud the Rhode Island Foundation for highlighting the business and personal success stories that remind us how lucky we are to live in the Ocean State.”


Langevin and Rhode Island Foundation President and CEO Neil Steinberg will focus on some of the businesses thriving in the Ocean State. The tour will begin at the Foundation’s Providence office, where a number of Backyard participants will share their stories with Langevin. From there, Langevin and the Foundation will visit Armando & Sons Meat Market of Providence, Fielding Manufacturing of Cranston and FarSounder of Warwick.

“The state has a self-esteem problem. This will change the way Rhode Islanders talk about their state. There are plenty of successes to feel good about right here in our own backyard – global industry and cutting-edge innovation, thriving entrepreneurship, world-class universities and a vibrant arts and culture scene,” Steinberg said. “Backyard is a fact-based campaign that uses the real stories of real people to remind us of all the good things that are happening here.”

“I visit often with constituents and businesses that make me proud to represent Rhode Island in Congress. I know that this tour will be no different, and I look forward to brainstorming with the state’s best and brightest about how we can improve our business climate and make sure everyone hears about the good news being created every day in our state,” Langevin added.

The Foundation is encouraging Rhode Islanders to share their own success stories on the campaign’s blog at ourbackyardri.com and on Twitter using the hashtag #ourbackyardri. Backyard’s funding comes from the Foundation, the R.I. Commodores, Delta Dental of R.I. and the Victor and Gussie Baxt Fund at the Foundation. Support and services have been donated by Channels 6, 10 and 12, Clear Channel Media, Cox Communications, Cumulus Media, Full Channel, GoLocalProv, Lamar, Paul Masse, PPAC, the Rhode Island Airport Corporation, RIPBS, the Rhode Island Small Business Journal and Verizon.

EVENT DETAILS

WHAT: It’s All In Our Backyard Tour
WHEN: Monday, October 21, 2013
WHERE: Rhode Island Foundation
                One Union Station, Providence

Tour itinerary
• 11 to 11:30 a.m.: Meet at Rhode Island Foundation for a briefing on the campaign and to hear from Backyard partners, including Jesse Rye of Farm Fresh, Jeff Morgan of Brown University, Ray Fogarty of the Chafee Center for International Business at Bryant University, Navyn Salem of Edesia, Lisa Carnevale of the MYRANDA Group and Amy Bernhardt of Basics Group

• Noon-12:30 p.m.: Armando & Sons Meat Market
                                       895 Elmwood Avenue, Providence

• 1 to 1:30 p.m.: Fielding Manufacturing
                                  780 Wellington Avenue, Cranston

• 2 to 2:30 p.m.: FarSounder

                                151 Lavan Street, Warwick