The Blessing Way - Spiritual Support And Guidance For Reentry And Recovery

• About
  • Our History
  • Our Holistic Approach
  • Our Staff
  • Financial Info
• Services
  • Case Management
  • Job Assistance
  • Housing Program
  • Life Skills Circle
  • Spirituality
  • Mentoring
• Involvement
  • Join the Team
  • Business Partnerships
  • Resources
• News
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• Contact

Our Staff

Board of Directors

• Franklyn T. Cook, Chair. Former Pres. of Fund Consultants Inc.; Fundraising consultant
• Lynne K. Donahue, Treasurer. President, Seaside Philanthropy; Consultant
• Rev. Dorothy "Ricky" Brightman, Secretary. Chair, George Hunt HELP Center Board of Directors, Providence, RI
• Nancy Ferrazza, Esq., Member. Special Events Coordinator. Retired criminal justice lawyer
• Rev. Fr. Francis Giudice, Member. Retired priest, St. Vincent de Paul, Providence, RI
• Laura Harrington, Esq., Member. Attorney, Harrington Law Group; Former Mentor, Women's Mentoring program of the RI Department of Corrections
• James Kwon, Member. President, Figmints Delicious Design; Blessing Way Job Coach
• Robert J. McIntyre, Member. Retired Roman Catholic priest; Employment Counselor, Da Vinci Center, Providence
• Eileen Smith, Member. Attorney, Nicholas Barrett & Associates
• Elmer Stanley, Member. Resident Engagement and Leadership Coordinator, Making Connections Providence

Advisory Team

• Jeffrey Broadhead Executive Director, Washington Country Regional Planning Council
• Rev. Craig Burlington Rector, St. Luke's, East Greenwich, RI; former Chair, Episcopal Charities of RI
• Rev. John Hall Interim, St. Luke's, Pawtucket, RI
• Rev. Fred Jellison Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island; co-founding member of The Blessing Way
• Deborah Kortman Real estate Broker, independent; parent of former client
• Jill Legault Substance Abuse Counselor, Spectrum (RI Dept. of Corrections)
• Rev. Dr. Marian Styles-McClintock Deacon, United Methodist Church

Staff

• Rev. Dr. Joyce Penfield, Executive Director & Co-Founder
  
  Joyce Penfield has worked with incarcerated men and women since 1993. Her first experiences were at Sing Sing Correctional Facility Westchester County, New York where she participated in a Master's class in theology with inmates in the New York Theological Seminary Master's degree program. For 4 years, she also provided pastoral care for inmates with AIDS at that prison. In 2001, after completing her M.Div. degree at the Episcopal Divinity School and ordination to the priesthood, Joyce began her tenure as Chaplain at the Rhode Island Department of Corrections. With the assistance of a group of dedicated faith and community leaders, she co-founded The Blessing Way and has served as Executive Director since its founding in 2004. Prior to her call to the priesthood, Joyce used her scholarly background in linguistics and anthropology to research and in Nigeria, Texas, and New Jersey.
  
• Job Counselors - Cyndi Watson & Avis Gunther-Rosenberg
• Housing Program Directors - Donna Harty & Richard James
• Case Managers - Nina Neurell, Mary Ann Mello
• Administrative Assistants - Marlene Bento, Renee Washington
• VISTA Members - Antonia Omijie, Marketing Coordinator; Andrew Egan, Outreach Coordinator
• Recovery Mentors - Ulick Mahoney, Donna Harty, Richard James, Mary Ann Mello
• Accountant - Kevin Silva, Finance Management Consultants, Inc.

Eligibility: A demonstrated commitment to emotional and spiritual growth and a drug-free, crime-free life style. Call 401-709-3697 for an Intake Interview.

Learn more: About The Blessing Way, Explore Our History, Our Holistic Approach, Our Staff, Financial Information or Join our Mailing list to keep in touch with all of our on-going events.