A diverse, representative, local group has been assembled to inform and assist the process of determining critical spending recommendations for the investment of federal American Rescue Act (ARP) funding.

The Steering Committee's work is guided by the following principles:

1. Equity
   Recommended investments will address the root causes and conditions of systemic inequalities based on race, gender, disability, economic status, and other historically marginalized or oppressed communities which predated and were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
2. Sustainability
   Recommended investments will deliver enduring change and solutions that enhance the resilience of impacted communities.
3. Impact
   Recommended investments will transform economic opportunities and quality of life, and build community assets for impacted communities for the short and long term.
4. Process
   Recommended investments will reflect both broad input from impacted communities and public stakeholders, as well as solid data and research.

Steering Committee Members

• Marcela Betancur, executive director of the Latino Policy Institute
  

• Jessica David, founder and principal at Good Worth Working For

• Ditra Edwards, executive director of Sista Fire

• John Friedman, professor of economics and international and political affairs at Brown University

• John Galvin, president and CEO of AAA Northeast

• Marie Ganim, former state health insurance commissioner and former state Senate policy director

• Ross Gittell, president of Bryant University

• Rajiv Kumar, technology entrepreneur and founder ShapeUp

• Tony Maione, former president and CEO of the United Way of R.I.

• Anna Cano Morales, associate vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion at Rhode Island College

• Nina Pande, executive director of Skills for Rhode Island’s Future

• Megan Ranney, MD, associate professor of emergency medicine and associate dean of the School of Public Health at Brown University

• Nic Retsinas, director emeritus, Harvard Joint Centers for Housing Studies

• Don Stanford, adjunct professor of computer science at Brown University and former chief technology officer at GTECH
• Neil D. Steinberg, chair, president and CEO of Rhode Island Foundation

• Edi Tebaldi, professor of economics and executive director of institutional effectiveness and strategy at Bryant University.