Carolyn Mark, a longtime policy advocate and current chair of the East Greenwich school committee, has been elected Chair of the Economic Progress Institute Board of Directors.

Mark takes over for Lisa Roth Blackman, Chief Development Officer of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank who has served as the chair for the last three years and who will continue to serve on the EPI board. 

“We are extremely thankful to Lisa for her commitment to the Institute over the years and are excited to have Carolyn take the helm. Lisa and Carolyn worked closely together this year to update our strategic plan which commits the organization to continuing our work to improve economic security and opportunity for Rhode Islanders, and to helping to grow and sustain the organization,” said Rachel Flum, executive director of the Institute.

The board has also welcomed Jill Beckwith and Paola Fernandez as members.

As Director of Grants, Research, and Evaluation, for the Martin Richard Institute for Social Justice at Bridgewater State University, Beckwith supports the implementation, evaluation, and funding of social justice initiatives for students, faculty, and staff at BSU. Previously, she worked at Rhode Island KIDS COUNT where, between 2003-2017, she served as Policy Analyst, Senior Policy Analyst, and Deputy Director. She provided leadership and management for child and family policy and advocacy programs and publications, with a special focus on health coverage and health care access. Beckwith has served as the Co-Chair of the Rhode Island Oral Health Commission, Co-Director of the Rhode Island Health Coverage Project and Project Director of the TeethFirst! initiative.

Fernandez is a new Vice President of Community Development for Centreville Bank. Her strength in relationship building in the community and cross cultural approach to advocacy and coalition-building is an asset to any organization. Previously, Fernandez worked as Assistant Vice President of Community Development at Pawtucket Credit Union and before that served 16 years as a program manager and later Director of Public Policy and Government Relations at the United Way of Rhode Island. She presently holds various positions as a board member at the Rhode Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the United Way of Rhode Island and the Association of Argentinians in Rhode Island. She has previously served on the board of the Latino Policy Institute, Housing Works Rhode Island and Community Schools Rhode Island.