The Empowerment Factory hosts free Art in the Park event as part of Blackstone River Watershed Parade

Pawtucket, Rhode Island - The Empowerment Factory, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children develop the skills they need to live happier, healthier, more empowered lives, is now registering families with children in grades K-5 for its upcoming Art in the Park event on May 21, 2023, from 1-2pm at Old Slater Mill in Pawtucket. This event is a part of the Blackstone River Watershed Spring Migration Parade, which will take place from 1-4pm. These events are free and open to the public.

Art in the Park will begin at 1pm with “Mindful Moments” mindfulness exercises, followed by a group story time themed by friendship, kindness, positivity, diversity, and acceptance. Then, registered families will be able participate in a rain stick craft activity that they can take with them on the parade. Families can register for this special Art in the Park event and other summer workshops at https://www.empowermentfactory.org/art-in-the-park. 

The Blackstone River Watershed Event and Spring Migration Parade, led by the Narragansett Indian Tribe and the Hassanamisco Band of Nipmuc, will feature drumming, dancing, crafts, music, and more. The event aims to create a stronger voice for the Blackstone River, or Kittacuck, and show support for the need to create fish passage over the lower four dams in Rhode Island and bring back migratory fish such as the herring.

Participants can color a paper fish and join the march to symbolically carry these paper herring over the lower two dams. They can also join indigenous partners to learn about the migratory fish's long and important history to tribal culture. The event will educate attendees on why getting fish around the dams in Pawtucket and Central Falls is beneficial to community well-being, tourism, recreation, the economy, and more.

"We are very pleased to be a part of the Kittacuck event by offering Art in the Park to our community's children," said Gail Ahlers, Founder and Executive Director of The Empowerment Factory. "We view this as an excellent opportunity to engage families in local conservation efforts in a fun and educational way."

For more information, please visit https://empowermentfactory.org/art-in-the-park  or reach out to The Empowerment Factory Team by email at howdy@empowermentfactory.org  or phone at 401-365-1010.

The Empowerment Factory is a local nonprofit organization whose mission is to help children develop the skills they need to live happier, healthier, more empowered lives. Through their many programs and events, they have positively impacted over 6000 urban youth, 90% of whom live in underserved communities. The primary areas served are Pawtucket, Central Falls, and Providence. Every child deserves to feel that they matter and can make a difference in the world.