Warwick's Gertrude Jones named a Lifespan VP

Today we congratulate Warwick resident Gertrude F. Jones for her promotion to the newly created position of vice president of community relations for Lifespan. Jones has served for the past six years as the health care systems director of diversity. In her new role, Jones will have responsibility for assessing the needs of the neighborhoods surrounding Rhode Island Hospital, Hasbro Childrens Hospital, The Miriam Hospital, Bradley Hospital and Newport Hospital, as well as other communities served by Lifespan. She will focus on creating strategic relationships to support Lifespans goal of being both the health care provider and employer of choice. She will also provide leadership and oversight to diversity and inclusion initiatives. Jones will work closely with the community relations committee of the Lifespan Board of Directors. Armeather Gibbs, executive vice president and chief operating officer of United Way of Rhode Island, chairs the committee. I have known Gertrude on a personal and professional level for many years and Lifespan made a very good choice in selecting her for this new position, said Gibbs. Gertrude has done a tremendous job bringing diversity awareness to a new level at Lifespan and I am especially excited about working with Gertrude in her new role. With Gertrude leading the effort, I am confident that we will have a strong base from which to develop a clear, coordinated, focused and effective community relations approach for Lifespan. Brandon Melton, Lifespan senior vice president for human resources said, Gertrude is recognized as a community leader in the state and region as well as on a national level in the health care industry. Lifespan is fortunate to be able to promote someone as widely respected and well-prepared as Gertrude Jones for this important new executive management position at Lifespan, he said. Prior to joining Lifespan, Jones was the deputy director of the Urban League of Rhode Island, the community-based organization. She served on the Providence School Board for six years, including three years as its president. Jones is a member of the American Hospital Associations Institute for Diversity and the prestigious American Leadership Council She serves on the boards of numerous other community organizations.

Into Mozart?

Warwick lovers of live music will want to know the Providence Singers will present Mozart's final masterpiece, the Requiem, on Saturday March 6, at 8 p.m. at VMA Arts and Cultural Center in Providence. The program includes Benjamin Britten's Cantata Misericordium (Mercy Cantata), and Dan Locklair's Stirring the Silence, a remembrance of September 11 and music by Estonian composer Arvo Part and Thomas Tallis. The Singers will be joined by soprano Bonnie Pomfret; mezzo-soprano Emily Marvosh; tenor Charles Blandy; baritone David Kravitz; and the Rhode Island Children's Chorus, led by founder and artistic director Christine Noel. Guests are encouraged to attend a 7 p.m. pre-concert discussion with composer Dan Locklair, hosted by Clark. Requiem tickets are $22-$62 for adults, $12 students and children, and can be purchased at http://www.vmari.com or by phone at 401.421.ARTS. For groups of six or more, call the box office or contact marketing@providencesingers.org.