2017 -- H 6045

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

HONORING ALISHA A. (PINA) THOUNSAVATH ON THE OCCASION OF HER

DEPARTURE FROM THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL STAFF TO ACCEPT A POSITION AS

THE CHIEF PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER FOR THE RHODE ISLAND

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

     Introduced By: Representatives Hull, Keable, Williams, Winfield, and Ruggiero

     Date Introduced: March 30, 2017

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Alisha Pina grew up in the City of East Providence. As a young woman,

aspiring poet, and consummate storyteller, she was thrilled to join the staff as an intern and

shortly thereafter, as a staff reporter with the Providence Journal. She earned her Bachelor's

degree in Journalism from Boston University while working at the paper; and

     WHEREAS, Covering various state agencies, as well as the General Assembly and the

Office of the Governor, as a member of the paper's State House Bureau team, Alisha brought "the

essence" of life in Rhode Island into the homes of Journal readers; and

     WHEREAS, During her tenure with the paper, Alisha also developed and implemented

myriad special projects including a 4-day multi-media package commemorating the 1963 March

on Washington and Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I have a dream" speech, a year-long in-depth look

at Rhode Island's racial gaps, and a year-long weight loss column, to name but a few of her

inspiring pieces; and

     WHEREAS, In addition to her journalism career, Alisha has devoted countless hours to

the community, counseling nonprofits and student-led organizations with their various media

needs, appearing as a guest speaker motivating and mentoring young people at Providence

College, the University of Rhode Island and numerous middle and high schools, and serving on a

panoply of boards and committees including Vice President of the Providence Newspaper Guild

and a member of the National Association of Black Journalists; and

     WHEREAS, Respected by her colleagues and contemporaries, Alisha has been honored

with the National Association of Black Journalists Salute to Excellence Award, the Community

Service Award from Oasis International, the George S. Lima Award from NAACP Providence,

the Media Achievement Award of Excellence from the American & Cape Verdean Cultural

Exchange Commission of RI, the Metcalf Diversity in the Media Award from Rhode Island for

Community & Justice for Race in Rhode Island, and the Metcalf Diversity in the Media Award

from Rhode Island for Community & Justice for MLK: 50 Years Later; and

     WHEREAS, In her very rare spare-time, Alisha sings with the gospel choir Prism of

Praise, and her beautiful soprano voice has also been featured for many years at the Providence

Newspaper Guild's Follies show; and

     WHEREAS, An invaluable asset to the Providence Journal's staff, Alisha has proven to

be an intelligent and savvy reporter, so it is not at all surprising that the Department of Human

Services "scooped" her away to help and inspire our state's youth and most vulnerable families. It

is also entirely understandable that she will be missed by the many Rhode Islanders who have

followed her stories and reports over the years; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby congratulates Alisha Pina as she turns the page on a new chapter

of her life. We moreover thank her on behalf of all Rhode Islanders for her eloquent and

informative journalism and wish her the very best health and continued success in all her future

endeavors; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Alisha A. (Pina) Thounsavath.

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