On the Frontlines
Editor's Note: This story was written before the current U.S. presidential administration took office and does not reflect any changes in federal funding or programming that may have affected these individuals or organizations.
Rhode Island is frequently referred to as one of the United States’ most LGBTQ+-friendly states (Out Leadership, 2024). Across the state, there are a range of nonprofit organizations and institutions dedicated to providing inclusive services – Rhode Island College being one of them.
RIC’s commitment to creating a safe, welcoming and supportive environment has empowered many students to make a difference in the LGBTQ+ community and to support LGBTQ+ causes. Some are leading and others are serving in supportive roles at institutions and organizations that focus on the specific needs of this vibrant community.
ELDER SUPPORT | Caroline Dillon ’21
Caroline Dillon ’21, who earned her M.S. degree at RIC in healthcare administration, is executive director of The Village Common of RI, a nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization supporting older adults who desire to age in their own homes. One of the programs she oversees is Circle of Pride, dedicated to supporting the well-being of the LGBTQ+ elderly.
Circle of Pride staff and volunteers assist this demographic in a wide range of activities, including transportation to medical appointments; household tasks; errands; tech assistance for televisions, phones and computers; and companionship.
“It’s been a life calling of mine to work with older adults,” says Dillon. “I deeply appreciate everything they do and are, and I’ve aspired to establish a secure place for them, enabling them to fulfill their dream of aging in their own homes and within their own communities.”
For Dillon, Rhode Island College played a crucial role in her calling. As a graduate assistant, she worked with Age-Friendly Rhode Island and with Marianne Raimondo, RIC dean of the School of Business, and Tonya Glantz, executive director of the Institute for Education in Healthcare at RIC.
“Working as a grad assistant was an experience that launched me into my position here at the Village. I’m very grateful to RIC for the impact it had on me personally and professionally.”
Dillon’s goal is to expand Circle of Pride’s services to cover as many cities as possible across Rhode Island. It currently serves Providence, Westerly, Barrington and a few other localities.
“We couldn’t do this work without the help of our volunteers,” she says. “Many are from the LGBTQ+ community or allies. They play a crucial role in our efforts.”
LGBTQ+ elder services are very much needed, she adds, “Shocking statistics reveal that a significant percentage of LGBTQ+ elders would rather contemplate suicide than endure living in a care facility where they have to hide their own identity. In my current role, witnessing our elder members age gracefully in the comfort of their own homes is truly a remarkable privilege.”
YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH AND POLICY WORK | Andy Taubman ’19
Upon completion of an M.S.W. degree at Rhode Island College, Andy Taubman ’19 assumed the role of director of youth services at Youth Pride Inc.
A native Rhode Islander, Taubman earned a bachelor’s degree in multicultural psychology in 1995 at The Evergreen State College and has had over 20 years of experience at nonprofits that aid vulnerable populations, such as marginalized, at-risk youth and adults with cognitive disabilities. However, when Taubman enrolled at RIC, Taubman’s focus turned to systemic reform.
“I enrolled in RIC’s M.S.W. program in 2016 with the thought of taking the micro social work track, which focuses on clinical and direct service work. However, a political shift in the country that year made me shift course to systems change and policy work in the macro track. Youth Pride Inc. allows me to do both clinical work as well as policy work.”
Taubman has a particular love for working with LGBTQ+ youth, helping them navigate adolescence and young adulthood. At Youth Pride Inc., Taubman works with groups of LGBTQ+ kids and trans kids as young as five and up to age 24.
“It’s an honor to serve this amazing community that I am also a part of,” Taubman says.
“Through a grant, we now have rapid rehousing support and other housing services. We also continue to build our clinical and mental health services. In 2023 we were able to bring in advanced clinical psychology trainees to provide therapy for our clients. That’s unheard of in a small, community-based nonprofit. As with all of our services, therapy is free of charge,” says Taubman.
Youth Pride Inc. also collaborates with numerous nonprofit organizations, such as Sojourner House, Foster Forward, the Office of Rehabilitative Services and the Harbor Youth Center.
“We do our best to build collaborations across the state to get resources for our youth and to make sure they are getting the best care they possibly can,” Taubman says.
Taubman also works at the policy and legislative levels to help influence bills that impact LGBTQ+ youth, stating, “In Rhode Island and beyond, we want every place to be a safe and affirming space for LGBTQ+ youth.”
HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT | Julio Berroa ’21
Julio Berroa ’21 holds a B.F.A. degree in fine arts, with dual concentrations in digital media design and photography. He serves as founder and executive director of Haus of Codec, a nonprofit organization he created in 2021 to build community through art and educational empowerment and to provide shelter for homeless individuals ages 18-24.
Haus of Codec’s creation can be traced back to the years Berroa was a RIC student. He recalls, “At RIC I learned to be myself and experience my own freedom. My professors encouraged and challenged me to break the mold and develop my full potential. I often look back at my time there, and I’m very appreciative of what I did and who I met. RIC was home and it remains a special place for me.”
At age 19 Berroa was forced out of his home after revealing his sexual identity to his family. That transformative experience, he says, along with his foundational experiences at RIC, helped make him the community organizer he is today.
His fervor for the arts and for advocating for the LGBTQ+ community is channeled through Haus of Codec.
Haus of Codec operates with six staff members dedicated to supporting over 30 individuals through three diverse housing initiatives: an emergency shelter, transitional housing and a rapid re-housing program aimed at providing rental assistance.
Berroa emphasizes the importance of housing as a basic human need and right. “As part of the LGBTQ+ community myself, this is personal,” he says. “I wish these types of services were around when I was experiencing homelessness. I know how it feels to lack a home and stability and to not have someone look after you and show you care.”
The emergency shelter at Haus of Codec includes a food and clothing pantry, a self-service kitchen, a communal bathroom, access to vital services via partner providers “and a sense of community where there wasn’t one before,” he says. Berroa also ensures that individuals have access to medical care and medical insurance.
During their stay, each resident works on updating their resumé to facilitate job placement. They learn to write professional letters and emails and train for successful job interviews. “We try to connect them to jobs as fast as we can,” he says. “A temporary position could evolve into a semi-permanent job in the future.”
“In essence, this is life-saving work for people experiencing homelessness,” he says. “It’s arduous work that I am very proud to be doing.”
PUBLIC HEALTH AND PREVENTATIVE HEALTHCARE | Nicole Proulx ’13
Nicole Proulx ’13 embarked on a professional career in healthcare after earning her B.S.N. degree at Rhode Island College.
“During nursing school at RIC, I learned about the health disparities experienced by the LGBTQ+ community and their struggle to access healthcare and other essential services. It created a commitment in me to support this community,” she says. “As a queer woman, working for my community is very near to my heart.”
Proulx notes how Professor of Nursing Debra Servello “imparted invaluable lessons about how to treat patients with profound affection and consideration” and how Professor of Nursing Lynn Blanchette instilled in her “a passion for preventive healthcare.”
For eight years, she worked as a nurse in the emergency room and post-anesthesia care unit at Saint Anne’s Hospital in Fall River. Then four years ago, she was able to secure a nursing position at Open Door Health, an initiative of the Rhode Island Public Health Institute.
Open Door Health is a leading LGBTQ+ clinic in Rhode Island that provides affirming primary and gender care and promotes sexual health within the LGBTQ+ community. Services include collaborative hormone therapy, referrals for surgical interventions on behalf of the transgender and non-binary (gender-diverse) community in Rhode Island and nurse-led visits with patients.
“We provide sexually transmitted infection screenings, we prescribe prophylactic medications, such as PrEP, a highly effective medication in preventing HIV infection, and we educate patients about other primary care and gender care services, vaccinations and self-administered hormone injections that aid them in their gender transition journey,” says Proulx.
As far as advocacy, “Recently, our leadership team supported the PrEP advocacy bill, aimed at enhancing the availability of PrEP medication in Rhode Island.”
Proulx encourages allies of the LGBTQ+ community to stay informed about new legislation and healthcare initiatives that affect their community, for “it can significantly uplift the well-being of our community.”
These four alumni bravely and boldly illustrate the values of Rhode Island College, an institution that believes in bettering the lives of others. They are not only building a legacy of activism by maintaining the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals, they are role models for the next generation.