Dwayne Keys, President of the South Providence Neighborhood Association
Dwayne: You know, racism is in every aspect of American life. The area where I specialize is obviously economic. I’ve been in financial services for almost over 20 years. And now I work for a nonprofit focused on how to help families rise out of poverty. Well, we also have to talk about the policy and structures that create these outcomes where particularly Black and brown people are in persistent poverty. You have to state the facts. I think about the Neighborhood Association from an economic standpoint: if people aren’t healthy, they can’t go to school, they can’t go to work, they can’t earn a living, they can’t be prosperous because they’re struggling health-wise and the environment has a lot to do with that. So, I think I’ve unintentionally become an environmental justice advocate. It was more of a focus on quality of life that needs to be fixed. And I’m seeing a pattern here, which is what I see in financial services. [Policy makers and others] are deliberately doing these things to Black and brown people and people who are historically oppressed. And I’m gonna tell the truth.
Olivia: I’m glad you’re out there doing that. Like in the speech you gave about the potential pyrolysis bill, you said, “I’m just gonna say it, this is racism.” We’ve already gotten started, but do you mind introducing yourself and your general role in the community?
“We need to go to them, talk to them, ask their opinion and perspective and at the end of the day, we support what our neighbors want.”
D: Sure! I’m Dwayne Keys and I have lived in Providence since 1999. I came here as a student at Johnson & Wales University and I have lived here ever since. After completing my associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees, I decided to make Providence my permanent home. I have lived in the South Side since 2000. I lived in Washington Park and then moved to where I currently live on Pine Street in 2004. I’ve been here ever since. I’ve been involved with the RI Young Professionals, the Urban League, a number of activities going back to 2004. There’s been a lot of advocacy that I’ve done at the state and city level since then. Since about 2015 I’ve held this role as the volunteer chairperson of the South Providence Neighborhood Association. We did have neighborhood associations in the past. They’ve defaulted, neighbors move away, pass on, things change. We felt there was an opportunity for neighbors to have a setting or forum where they could not only get information but also be participants and deciders into the decisions, particularly zoning and urban planning, that impact our neighborhood. That has been the forum for them. So I always say when someone asks me something like, “What do you think about the neighborhood?” I’m say, “Well, what do the neighbors say?” We need to go to them, talk to them, ask their opinion and perspective and at the end of the day, we support what our neighbors want.
O: How often do you meet?
D: Originally we met once a month, but now we meet based on topic, so I’ve had it where—in this pandemic—we may have a month where we meet once a week. We’re trying to shift it from having one standing meeting, so we schedule them a minimum two weeks in advance, mostly by Zoom. We’ve had two in-person gatherings but for the most part we’ve found the convenience of Zoom has provided more opportunity for residents to participate in our activities.
O: That’s wonderful. I was speaking with someone yesterday about activating a community. Do you feel like you’re able to reach a wide audience? Are some folks too busy to participate?
D: So it’s a combination of both. There are folks who have a lot going on, but I’ve found that by having these meetings based on topic I’ve been able to determine if something is a priority for the neighborhood. If we have a meeting on the challenges of crime and homelessness and drug activity, and if there’s certain organizations that we feel are perpetuating or harmful, I’m going to have a full packed house. And then I may have a topic on something where I may have two or three people, and so I find that it’s been helpful to determine what the priorities of the neighborhood are. It has also been helpful to understand a particular person’s passion. So I know there are particular neighbors who are concerned about education; well, now I know who is going to come and who is going to be involved. If there’s issues about housing, I know there are certain neighbors who are going to be there front and center. Food insecurity, environmental hazards, health…. I have my passion with economics and there’s certain folks who will attend those sessions. We’re seeing that it really is a combination of folks being busy, but when they attend I’m like, “Oh, that’s their priority.” How do we channel that into action for them to participate and in a way that accommodates their work and life as well?
O: Sounds like you’re starting to get it all figured out! Living in Providence, how would you describe your neighborhood and what particularly do you notice about the air quality?
“Of course we’ve got issues with air quality, it’s a no-brainer. But I think over time, now I’m starting to see—particularly with the Port of Providence—it’s not by accident.”
D: So South Providence, or at least the part of the South Side that I live at, has been a neighborhood that’s a combination of multi-family houses and single family homes. When I first moved here I noticed there were much more owner-occupied family houses. So if you moved in, the landlord lived here. I have found that has shifted now, where [at] a number of our homes…people have gotten older, passed away, and their homes are being sold to investors, and there’s a lot of Airbnbs there because we’re so close to Downtown Providence. It has gone from, for me, a quiet community to not-so-quiet also because of issues with homelessness. In terms of air quality, we’re by the highway, so it’s always been an issue. RI Hospital, with all that parking and their employees, that also made it worse in my view, because of all the traffic coming in and out of the area. And then we’ve got the Port of Providence. My first couple years, and this is maybe typical of many Providence residents, I was struggling financially so I didn’t really have the time to pay attention to the overall quality of life. I was doing some minimal volunteer work, a young person that just didn’t have the capacity to really focus on that. As I’ve gotten older and can earn a living and still be involved, I’ve been paying attention to more stuff. So, as I got involved with the Neighborhood Association, I started to learn that we have the highest rates of asthma for children. I started to see a pattern where me and Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris were noticing that a lot of kids would get sick and a number of the longtime residents were becoming ill. Some had cancer. So it got me thinking, something’s wrong here. We get these reports about the amount of air pollution in Providence; our area always seemed to be the one that was highly congested. And for me it was like, “No surprise, look at all this traffic, look at the highway, the Port of Providence.” Of course we’ve got issues with air quality, it’s a no-brainer. But I think over time, now I’m starting to see—particularly with the Port of Providence—it’s not by accident. It’s on purpose in my opinion.
O: Could you elaborate on that?
Photo taken by Olivia McClain near the Port of Providence
D: Well because of zoning and urban planning, when you’re thinking about these companies, this hazardous activity, it’s going somewhere. And for me, when I think of the Port and how it’s been, [pollution] always seems to come here with these very hazardous materials and air, like Sprague Energy. The Conservation Law Foundation has had lawsuits with other companies. Every time I turn around, why is there something so hazardous and dangerous being proposed over here? And not talking about East Greenwich, which come to find out they were. But not Narragansett, not any other places, or East Providence. It’s always here. Why? I’m looking at historical legacies of racism and zoning and even taking it a step further with the racial reckoning of 2020 and beyond: it’s by design that it’s coming here. We’re kind of the path of least resistance. Even if the residents get upset, what are they gonna do?
O: It’s abhorrent. The Port of Providence fascinates me. What is this industrial monster over here? When I first moved here, I thought I would swim in the Bay. I’m from Wisconsin and am very used to clean water bodies. I really appreciate the People’s Port Authority as well, I like that they’re trying to push for citizen oversight and kicking fossil fuels out of the Port. But when the pollution sources are these huge infrastructures that have been made so essential in our current economy, it’s interesting to consider: What would a radical change in the Port or on the highway do to dramatically improve the air quality?
D: Yeah.
O: It’s a sticky situation, but we have to keep orienting towards health and equity. On a similar note, what resources do you use to stay aware of air quality or is it more just like you can see it or smell it?
“We need to concentrate on the Port of Providence because this is becoming a center for harmful environmental activity for profit that ain’t even coming to us.”
D: So there will be nonprofit organizations—I would get RI KIDS COUNT or some report from the City of Providence or Rhode Island Department of Health or Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and I’m reading about issues that are coming up because of air quality, and then other organizations based in South Providence will share that information. So I read them like, “Oh yeah, not surprised.” So what are we gonna do about it? We know it’s an issue, it needs to get fixed. Something has to change! What’s changing? And that’s really where I would get this information. What would happen when the Neighborhood Association formed in 2015, we started to tackle a lot of topics, particularly housing. We’re tackling a lot of topics that people would steer away from. Because the element that we would bring to it was the aspect of racism. That’s a topic which for many folks, if brought up, you would have a freeze. You really wouldn’t be able to move forward with the discussion. So even before the 2020 racial reckoning it was coming up as a pattern that we saw. [This level of pollution] is only happening here. Why is it that it’s the area where we have the lowest amount of trees? You just ask all these questions. What was also motivating us was the Washington Park Association with Linda Perri. Linda herself is very passionate about the environment, and the residents have a lot more direct impact when it comes to the Port of Providence, because of their proximity to the Port. So you know, unlike me, they will talk about having dust and air particles in their windows, they will talk about how they can not have their windows open because that will come into their homes. So, Linda will come to our meetings and make appeals. Just before the onset of the pandemic, there were multiple issues being proposed about the Port of Providence. There was the waste transfer station and that forced us to say, “Okay, we need to concentrate on the Port of Providence because this is becoming a center for harmful environmental activity for profit that ain’t even coming to us. It’s money made here that’s not coming to us, and that’s even more insulting to the situation.” We’re taking into account, you have all those different elements coming to us, asking what we think, and then I’m saying, “Have you talked to the neighbors about it?” Don’t just assume that they know. It’s been through that channel when organizations ask us, “Can we sign onto something? Can we do something?” I’m like, “Have you told them what’s going on? Can you explain to them what’s happening? You need to ask them what they think. You don’t want to assume that all of them are thinking something is a bad idea. Some might think it’s good. And that open nature—we’ve been sharing materials to residents on our Listserv, our Facebook page—that’s how the word has gotten around with us now, being a place for discussing environmental issues when it comes to the community.
O: That sounds like a really good way of doing that. And great that as a chairperson, you’re redirecting things to the neighbors, because it’s easy to be a figurehead where people are looking to you for an answer, but your whole role is to be a representative.
D; I think that’s another reason why I’ve seen why what happens, happens. We have had some environmental champions in our neighborhood. But [organizations] only talk to them, and what I saw is that they only talk to those one or two people. Who else did you talk to? And I’d say to those folks, “Why don’t you tell the neighbors what’s happening?” So then you have the force to back it up. I think that’s something that’s different: I’m saying “Wait a minute, we’re gonna have an open honest discussion with everybody in here,” instead of having this behind-closed-doors one-on-one with me. I’m seeing that slowly changing with leaders and organizations.
O: Regarding our project…if we have more data, would that be helpful for us to share at a community meeting or something?
D: Yes, I’ve already sent an invitation saying once you get some information, come back for updates, explain what’s going on, and don’t be discouraged if you only have a few people that first time because as you continue to share, I’ve found that with time people find out what’s going on, they get interested, they ask for information. It is an encouraging way of informing but also talking about what action looks like.
O: I’d also recommend the AirNow app. When you notice the air quality is bad are there any actions you and your neighbors take to protect yourself?
D: I mean, the area where I live, I’m on the third floor so I rarely have encountered a situation where there’s a lot of pollution that I notice. Where I have had this conversation…air pollution is kind of invisible. You don’t really know that it’s here, but I think the issue is the air quality.… There are moments where it’s not as intense as it was before with the hospital community, but particularly when they’re leaving between 2:30 and 5:30—that whole congestion is where it’s really noticeable in this part of the South Side. I think for me, I don’t drive in the area during that time, I stay away. When I was at other jobs, by the time I came home, that traffic would be dispersed. But when I started this job and there are days I work from home, and that’s when I’d notice there’s a lot of congestion here, this could be dangerous. At Davey Lopes Recreation Center, Community Prep School, I put two and two together, it’s all congested here.
O: That makes sense that there’s a lot of congestion. And is Allens Avenue pretty loud with all the diesel trucks and it being a route out of Providence?
D: It all depends on the part of Allens Ave. As it becomes Narragansett Boulevard, the majority of the trucks aren’t coming there. What I will say is it is somewhat noticeable near Eddy Street when people get off on Thurbers Avenue. That exit can be extremely loud. That’s where I’d say there’s a lot of congestion.
O: What information do you want to have about air quality? Not saying we could totally procure it, but if it was in your wildest dreams what would you want to know?
D: I would love to see not only the results of [your study], but also comparing to other parts of the city because I would love to see how people live in what areas and compare it to the air quality to other areas with different demographics.
O: I’m curious to see even within Providence what the differences are, Mount Pleasant area vs. College Hill vs. South Providence vs. Downtown…
D: Honestly, I think if you were to put South Side, West End, Silver Lake, Hartford…and do a comparison with certain parts of the North End, you will see the distinction.
O: We’re really hoping and have good reason to believe that [the data] will show these disparities, but with data you just never really know because of the scientific process. But fingers crossed. I’m curious too, not that it’s within the scope of our project right now, but what’s the difference between Providence vs. Newport or drawing comparisons to another major city like Boston, because so many of the monitoring networks are a few monitors in very specific places and even for Providence it’s just four monitors. The data becomes the average instead of a really local look at air quality. What do you see as the main strengths and obstacles to air quality in Providence?
D: The main strengths I see are the advocacy of it, as we’re sharing information, the people want to take action to improve air quality. There’s a willingness, particularly by residents, to try to change that. The barrier is things have to change. That means if we’re coming up with recommendations, well, what does that mean for traffic? Because traffic’s a contributor to air pollution. What does that mean in terms of the Port of Providence because I’m seeing there’s many factors, there’s city and state interest in profit. So are we willing to not get that money? I think about that from a government standpoint, because that’s really where I find this driver of this particular scenario. If we provide you with this quality of life, that means we are going to turn down that monetary opportunity. And we’re willing to change and not do what we’ve done all these years, that’s really a barrier. I’m not saying it can’t be done, but it is going to be an uphill battle.
“Maybe the lack of pollution and available space for building community and relieving stress could alleviate a lot of problems like health care costs, emergency room visits, shortened lifespan, the other health impacts that cost a lot to individuals and a lot to the state if people aren’t able to be insured or have really high costs.”
O: Totally, I imagine the different operators at the terminals and Waterson Terminal Services would not be so excited about that. And it’s interesting too—I know some other folks have proposed a greening of the Port, making it a green energy hub or making it into more green spaces. I bet that would not turn as large a profit, but maybe it would be a major tourism destination. Maybe the lack of pollution and available space for building community and relieving stress could alleviate a lot of problems like health care costs, emergency room visits, shortened lifespan, the other health impacts that cost a lot to individuals and a lot to the state if people aren’t able to be insured or have really high costs. Well, I’m excited about these strengths; it’s cool to hear about how information has been shared in South Providence. Is there anything else that you’d like to talk about?
D: I have been focusing on—and this is when the conversations come up with neighbors about this issue of air pollutants and poor air quality—I am always saying to them, “Well also find out who benefits.” Because who benefits also determines why this is going on. We’ve had all these studies, all these things that say the air quality is bad, it’s not safe, and yet they still propose very harmful things. And part of me is sitting there like “Why?! What is going on? What is happening?” And I finally have to say, alright, somebody else is benefiting from this and that’s why this is continued and so that old adage, “follow the money,” that’s where I think we’re really going to get into this issue of why is this seeming so difficult to change? When we have all the data, this is not new. We have prior data that says air quality is harmful. And nothing is being done about it. This can’t be a simple “we don’t want to”—someone(s) is benefiting from this. We need to get to the bottom of that. I think of the City of Providence’s financial issues and state’s financial issues. I personally believe that’s what it is. They’re keeping that money to prop up the state and local budgets.
O: The last sentence…you mean they don’t want to spend the money because they’re trying to stay afloat?
D: No, the state and city are getting excise taxes, they get fees, property taxes, they get money from these companies being here and polluting. So part of me is sitting here like, they’re benefiting financially. It’s not a simple issue of “we don’t want the change”—if we say no to this, what’s the money replacement?
O: Follow the money.
D: There’s economic advantages being enjoyed by the companies which are then going to the state and city. That’s the loss they don’t want to take. In my opinion.
O: Like what you said in your speech, “Who even thought this was a good idea [to bring up the pyrolysis bill]?” Why would a state senator endorse that legislation and work for it? Who is benefiting?
D: Yeah, what are you thinking? I read who was supporting the bill and I’m like alright, how are y’all benefiting? Which friends of yours own these places?
O: Thank you for sharing so much of your perspective. I’m continually impressed by the work you and your neighbors do. I hope you get lots of rest and free time. Sounds like you’re really busy.
D: It definitely is. As I always say, if the City of Providence and the state of Rhode Island would just do their jobs and not allow this stuff to go on, I could get some rest.
