George A. Wiley Center

The George A. Wiley Center is a community organizing agency that directly involves low-income people on issues relevant to their needs. We are committed to changing legislative and public policies directed toward the achievement of social and economic justice. Our mission is: “...to build a community that addresses human need and ensures social and economic justice. This is accomplished by forming cooperative alliances with labor, church, business and community groups working collectively for justice. “

Description:
To achieve systematic changes, the George A. Wiley Center organizes people to volunteer in its Rhode Island Campaign to Eliminate Childhood Poverty (“the Campaign”). The Campaign volunteers raise community awareness and heighten public concern for the immediate food, energy and income needs of members of our community. The Wiley Center uses a range of tactics, including speaking out at public hearings and non-violent direct action, to involve ordinary citizens in winning victories on their behalf. Volunteers can join through monthly community meetings to plan and join activities or assist in the office.

History:
The George A. Wiley Center, named after Rhode Island civil rights activist, is led by Henry Shelton, a community activist and the Center’s chief organizer since its founding in 1981. Since then, the Wiley Center has successfully advocated for programs and policies that assist poor and working poor families. In 1988 the Rhode Island Campaign to Eliminate Childhood Poverty was developed as a membership program of the George Wiley Center. The Campaign is a successful advocacy organization, especially in its leadership role in the crafting and passage of:
• Rhode Island School Breakfast Mandate. Our push for school breakfast took Rhode Island from 50th to 22nd place from 2000 to 2006 in the percentage of children eating school breakfast statewide through the federally funded program. Making this program available at no cost to the students, “universal breakfast” is our goals. In 2006-2007, all students in the high poverty areas of Woonsocket and East Providence Title I school participate.
• Parts of the state conservation and affordable energy act of 2006 to include a) a reduced down payment required for restoration of utility service, from 25% to 18%, with 50% of past due balance forgiven in a 36 month repayment program for very low income; and b) the establishment of a $14 million fund from 1% of electric and gas receipts used in part to defray the costs of home heating fuel by up to 25% for very low income households.
• Food stamp reforms, including a national end to “group recertification” for the protection of the privacy rights of recipients.

For the past nineteen years the Campaign’s Annual Action Conference has been a rallying point and informational resource for Rhode Island’s advocates, human service workers, and low-income people. In 2007, three regional conferences will be held throughout March to discuss utility, food and income issues that are on the legislative agenda in Rhode Island.

Contact people:

Elizabeth Marsis, Operations Manager, (4001) 728-5555, (email) Henry Shelton, Coordinator/Founder, (4001) 728-5555, (email) Julie Silvia, Organizer - Providence, (4001) 728-5555, (email)

Office fax number: (401) 725-1020

Address:

32 East Ave. Pawtucket, RI 02860 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.georgewileycenter.org

Directions:

Directions: Take 95 North to exit 27 (Downtown Pawtucket) Go straight through two sets of traffic lights. Turn left onto George Street at traffic light. Go straight through first set of lights. At second set of lights(after Ground Round/Comfort Inn), take a right. . . (more)   Nearest Bus Stop: 99, 42, 1 minute walk

Miscellaneous Information

Handicap accessible?
	No
Interests Served:
	Solutions for Children, Youth, Families
Does your agency accept court-appointed volunteers?
	Yes
What type of organization
	Nonprofit 501(c)(3)

Last updated on August 20, 2009