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Record of Proceedings

Providence City Council Committee Meeting on Ceremonial Street Naming Resolutions - July 28, 2025

City CouncilMonday, July 28, 2025
BodyProvidence, Rhode Island
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, July 28, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record

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Transcript — Verbatim
17:58

I just mean so I thought so I don't think I'm going to sleep for that.

19:06

Showing everything else.

19:19

We have three presidents.

19:22

Thank you.

19:23

Let the letter record show that we have council president joining us today.

19:40

And of course, I love the clerks.

19:44

So right now I'm going to ask the first read item number one.

19:49

I am number one.

20:00

Mikael, you must have took a list of people from speaking, but right now I'm gonna call the doctor up first who's visiting that Eugenia Fernandez.

20:09

Hey, we have hi.

20:17

Yes.

20:17

Uh that clerk took down the same.

20:20

Oh, please take your name for the racket.

20:23

Thanks.

20:23

Dr.

20:24

Henry Fernandez, Jr.

20:26

Thank you.

20:29

Good afternoon.

20:30

Thank you for the comment.

20:32

This is a great occasion for all of us.

20:34

So we invited you in to help the committee really, really embrace who Ms.

20:40

Barbara Thurman is.

20:42

So you may get thank you.

20:46

Good afternoon, everyone.

20:49

First, I want to thank Cosmo Mary K.

20:51

Harris for the invitation this week today.

20:53

Her leadership and unwavering dedication to uplifting our community gives us a space to have conversations that we've had.

20:59

Conversations about equity, dignity, and recognition.

21:04

I'm honored to speak in support of the ceremonial name, Mrs.

21:07

Barbara Thurman Way on Dash Province.

21:10

This isn't just about adding a name.

21:12

It's about honoring a legacy.

21:14

Mrs.

21:15

Thurman has been a pillar of care and strength and providence for death.

21:19

She's the kind of leader who shows up not with fanfare but with compassion.

21:24

Her impact and leadership is the kind that transforms neighborhoods, not through wealth or force, but with service, healing, and persistent care.

21:33

By naming the street half her, we're making a public statement.

21:37

That community matters.

21:39

That service matters.

21:42

And that quiet heroes among us deserve to be seen and celebrated.

21:47

This street naming is about more than tribute, it's about truth.

21:51

About recognizing someone who built a legacy on service and passion.

21:55

She walked beside the most vulnerable, listened when it was uncomfortable, and fought when few dared to raise their voices.

22:08

Compassion, service, resilience, and justice.

22:12

And we tell every child, every neighbor, every passifier in Wigan Village and Mrs.

22:17

Thurman Way that we we honor those who dedicate their lives to others, not just with thanks, but with permanence.

22:26

Every time someone walks down or drives down Mr.

22:28

Barbara Thurman Wayne, they'll be reminded of what true leadership looks like.

22:33

Thank you for considering this addition.

22:34

Let's move forward together in a way that uplifts the people who have uplifted us.

22:40

Thank you.

22:41

So you refer to Barbara Thurman as this bar.

22:45

Should we put that on the sign this far?

22:48

Sure.

22:48

Yeah, I mean, I'll refer to the family.

22:51

Okay.

22:51

No, I'm going to ask everybody because if I said Barbara in Ferner, you know what I mean?

22:58

So no.

22:59

Thank you.

22:59

Thank you, Miss Barbara.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Recognition███████████████████████████████31%
Community Engagement███████████████████████23%
Procedural███████████████15%
Indigenous Affairs████████████12%
Historic Preservation████████████12%
Affordable Housing████4%
Racial Equity███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Providence City Council Committee Meeting – July 28, 2025

This committee meeting considered two ceremonial street naming resolutions honoring longtime community activists Barbara Thurman and Maddie Smith. After public testimony and discussion, both resolutions were amended to include the honorific \

Meeting Transcript

I just mean so I thought so I don't think I'm going to sleep for that. Showing everything else. We have three presidents. Thank you. Let the letter record show that we have council president joining us today. And of course, I love the clerks. So right now I'm going to ask the first read item number one. I am number one. Mikael, you must have took a list of people from speaking, but right now I'm gonna call the doctor up first who's visiting that Eugenia Fernandez. Hey, we have hi. Yes. Uh that clerk took down the same. Oh, please take your name for the racket. Thanks. Dr. Henry Fernandez, Jr. Thank you. Good afternoon. Thank you for the comment. This is a great occasion for all of us. So we invited you in to help the committee really, really embrace who Ms. Barbara Thurman is. So you may get thank you. Good afternoon, everyone. First, I want to thank Cosmo Mary K. Harris for the invitation this week today. Her leadership and unwavering dedication to uplifting our community gives us a space to have conversations that we've had. Conversations about equity, dignity, and recognition. I'm honored to speak in support of the ceremonial name, Mrs. Barbara Thurman Way on Dash Province. This isn't just about adding a name. It's about honoring a legacy. Mrs. Thurman has been a pillar of care and strength and providence for death. She's the kind of leader who shows up not with fanfare but with compassion. Her impact and leadership is the kind that transforms neighborhoods, not through wealth or force, but with service, healing, and persistent care. By naming the street half her, we're making a public statement. That community matters. That service matters. And that quiet heroes among us deserve to be seen and celebrated. This street naming is about more than tribute, it's about truth. About recognizing someone who built a legacy on service and passion. She walked beside the most vulnerable, listened when it was uncomfortable, and fought when few dared to raise their voices. Compassion, service, resilience, and justice. And we tell every child, every neighbor, every passifier in Wigan Village and Mrs. Thurman Way that we we honor those who dedicate their lives to others, not just with thanks, but with permanence. Every time someone walks down or drives down Mr. Barbara Thurman Wayne, they'll be reminded of what true leadership looks like. Thank you for considering this addition. Let's move forward together in a way that uplifts the people who have uplifted us.

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