On the recordNovember 17, 2016
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Barbara Wong, an incredible advocate for the arts, who has been executive director of Providence CityArts for Youth for 16 years. Throughout her career, Barbara has helped thousands of youth realize the importance of art in their own lives, as well as its extraordinary power to create social change. Thanks to her, the arts community in Providence is more vibrant, more diverse, and more accessible for children from all backgrounds than ever before. In 2014, her dedication to ensuring that all children have the same opportunities to learn about and pursue the arts helped Providence CityArts for Youth earn a trip to the White House to receive the prestigious National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award. It is my honor to thank Barbara for her years of service to the children and young people of Providence, and I wish her all the best in the coming years. ____________________
