“This work is my life,” Gionna says. “The kids trust me, and I don’t take that lightly. I feel like equality lives here.
“This work is my life,” Gionna says. “The kids trust me, and I don’t take that lightly. I feel like equality lives here.
Black women power. Gionna Michel, and Ellen Pinnock. Mentee and Mentor.
Dear Friends,
This Black History Month we are honored to celebrate Ellen Pinnock and Gionna Michel, two extraordinary Black women whose lives and leadership are beautifully intertwined.
On February 25th, as part of Newport’s Black History Month celebration, Ellen will present a City of Newport certificate recognizing Gionna’s youth leadership. This year’s celebration carries special significance: thanks to Ellen’s advocacy as Newport’s only Black City Councilor, the City Council voted on February 11th to permanently recognize Black History Month as part of Newport’s civic calendar.
At FabNewport, we believe equity is not a statement we publish, it is a practice we live by growing leaders from within our own community.
Ellen, FabNewport’s Director of Community Engagement and Equity, has known Gionna, 19, since she was a child. She has known Gionna’s mother, Latisha, Newport’s first Black doula, since they were five years old. What we are witnessing now is not coincidence. It is legacy. It is community. It is what happens when women pour into one another across generations.
Gionna once thought she might follow her mother’s path into maternal health, continuing Latisha’s sacred work nurturing Black mothers. But something shifted during her summers as a Navigator at FabNewport. Working side-by-side with Ellen, mentoring young girls, she discovered where her joy lives.
“This work is my life,” Gionna says. “The kids trust me, and I don’t take that lightly. I feel like equality lives here.
Last summer, that calling became visible in a quiet but powerful moment. A 12-year-old girl was wrestling with her identity, trying to conform to standards that did not reflect who she was. Gionna looked at her and said simply, “Be yourself. Wear your hair the way you want. Don’t worry about what other people think.”
The message landed. The young girl began wearing her hair naturally again. She stood a little taller. She felt she belonged.
That is mentorship. That is representation. That is Black history unfolding in real time.
Gionna’s own story carries that same courage. After a challenging period at Rogers High School, she made the audacious decision to finish high school in Arkansas with her grandparents. She returned to Newport stronger, clearer, and ready to lead.
Now she stands beside Ellen — her mentor, her “auntie,” a city leader — helping shape the next chapter of Heart Club and joining our Learner Center Collaborative. Together, they are creating spaces where young people, especially young Black girls, can grow without shrinking.
Think about that for a moment.
A Black woman who has known her since childhood. A mentor. An auntie. A councilor. Standing publicly to honor the next generation.
This is not just a ceremony.
It is lineage. It is civic leadership meeting lived mentorship. It is a circle of Black women loving this community forward.
And we are deeply grateful to be in their company.
Steve
Educators from Conanicut Island Sailing Foundation, Norman Bird Sanctuary, Newport Film, Ocean Hour Farm, Bike Newport, Gnome Surf, Newport Restoration Foundation, Boys & Girls Club, and Newport Prevention Coalition attended the first session of a Learner Centered Collaborative.
Chris Gross, Fab’s Director of Ecosystem Impact Last Friday, hosted a group of 15 learner-centered educators from partner organizations across Aquidneck Island. The goal is to build a community of like minded adults by creating a safe space for reflection, collaboration and growth. This group works tirelessly to provide these same conditions for young people – now is a chance to experience it for themselves!
The feedback was positive: “It brought me lots of joy & connection! Opening by grounding in why we love working with kids was especially sweet. I see a lot of potential for collective growth and collaboration in this space.” -Grace
“A lot of us are feeling and experiencing the same things, it feels powerful to be together in community.” -Fiona
Recenlty in from Bobbi McDonald, one of our Education Reimagined colleagues referring to a commision from New America on Learner Centered Ecosystems., Learner What strikes me most is this: the language of ecosystems is no longer living only in our gatherings and site visits. It is moving into the national conversation. That kind of traction doesn’t happen by accident. It reflects years of steady, courageous work in communities like yours – the work of reimagining relationships, expanding pathways, and ensuring young people are known, supported, and connected.
Current Programming Highlights
“I never used to think of myself as an artist — now I realize I can use my creativity to make anything I want.”
🎨 Art Club is thriving.
Nine young artists wrapped up their first projects — creating original zines, custom stickers, and even “Palentines” for friends. Led by Nycole Matthews and guest artist Jaylen, the club is already building confidence and creative voice.
💻 Cyber Saturdays at CCRI.
Through our partnership with CCRI, ten FabNewport learners are diving into hands-on cybersecurity training using platforms like TryHackMe and Sakura. They’ll soon transition into cryptography — with the goal of competing in the National Cyber League.
🛠️ Design, Make, Manufacture Partnership.
Fifteen Met School students are learning tools like 3D printing, sewing, laser cutting, and vinyl design at the Providence Public Library workshop. As one 9th grader put it:
“I never used to think of myself as an artist — now I realize I can use my creativity to make anything I want.”
This is what learner-centered education looks like in motion — hands on, community rooted, and filled with possibility.
While we occupy our temporary home at La Farge Arts, renovations are underway at the Florence Gray Community Center. We engaged Leeland McPhail, of Here Here and RISD, to work through, team members and learners, how we might modify the space while there is still time. Stay tuned.
On a cold drizzly February Wednesday the Fab Team and friends gathered to explore two questions:
What would a year-round, full-day learning community look and feel like?
What questions would we need to answer to make this a reality?
We will gather again from 5-7PM on March 19 to share some prototypes and start designing.
Finally, we have streamlined our website in an attempt to make it more functional. You can find our 2025 Annual Impact Report here. And these links will take Our Stories, reflections from Ellen and Steve.
