2023 -- H 6532

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LC003235

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXTENDING DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF MATTIE L. SMITH

     Introduced By: Representatives Batista, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale,
Costantino, Vella-Wilkinson, Kennedy, and Felix

     Date Introduced: June 15, 2023

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, It is with sadness that this House has learned of the passing of Mattie Smith,

the loving mother of five, and Co-Founder of Direct Action for Rights and Equality (DARE), and

Chairperson of organizing group WAGE; and

     WHEREAS, Mattie Smith was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, one of eleven

indigenous children in her family. In the early 1960s, she and her five children moved to the City

of Providence; and

     WHEREAS, Ms. Smith was permanently disabled at her workplace which led to what

would become a life of activism helping others, predominantly low-income women, to join

together for direct action and real change; and

     WHEREAS, In 1982, with a deep desire to give back to her community and an intimate

knowledge of the community's needs, Ms. Smith joined the Worker's Association For Guaranteed

Employment (WAGE), a welfare rights organization, where she quickly became a key leader,

spokesperson, and board member. One of her greatest successes at WAGE was her role in

organizing a 1,000 person protest at the State House that ultimately resulted in the first state-

funded shelter for homeless residents; and

     WHEREAS, Taking her abilities and knowledge to the next level, Ms. Smith Co-

Founded Direct Action for Rights and Equality (DARE) in 1986, with no start-up funding, no

connection with established local groups, no big-name supporters on the Board, and a first-year

budget of $2,500; and

     WHEREAS, DARE, under the leadership of Ms. Smith, has vastly benefitted the lives of

many Rhode Islanders through improvements in the State's homeless shelters, playgrounds, and

provisions requiring dental care for working adults on Medicaid; and

     WHEREAS, During Ms. Smith's tenure at DARE, she led a campaign to force the City to

clean up vacant lots and transform them into playgrounds, one of which was later named in her

honor, and got the first tennis court built in South Providence. She also led the campaign to make

Rhode Island the second state to adopt a PIPP–Percentage of Income Payment Plan, with

Arrearage Forgiveness, to name but a few of the group's many improvements for the community;

and

     WHEREAS, Ms. Smith was a driving force for WAGE, a long-time Board member and

lifelong member of DARE, a Jefferson Award winner, and a loving mother, grandmother, great-

grandmother, and great-great-grandmother, who will be dearly remembered as the powerful,

beloved force that helped her community is so many ways; now, therefore be it

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

extends deepest sympathy and condolences on the passing of Mattie L. Smith; 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 Sabrina Smith and Family.

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