Casandra (Cas) Inez is excited to join the team as an Engagement Coordinator. She comes bearing a deep respect for the early caretakers of this land and water, which is known as Providence today, and a sincere interest in learning local history and legacies in order to contextualize the present.
Equipped with six years of public service as a schoolteacher, the experience of running for city council, the training received as a Green Justice Zone cohort member, and insight from growing up as an artist in Providence, Rhode Island, Cas has a unique understanding of her community. It is this understanding and dedication to community that drives her hopes of meeting the goals of this position.
She is the proud mother of two young children and enjoys the outdoors, being near moving water, curating intentional gatherings, and collaging.
Get to know Cas as she shares more about her background and interests:
What’s most exciting/interesting to you about RI Humanities’ work and the United We Stand initiative?
What’s most exciting is that RI Humanities supports our beloved public institutions like libraries and museums but also individuals like filmmakers, artists, and scholars, to tell stories, share history, and capture it in a meaningful way. The United We Stand initiative seeks to leverage our cultural connections to combat hate-based violence and I’m looking forward to exploring historic and contemporary examples of community resilience in Rhode Island.
Do you have a favorite cultural experience &/or place to visit in Rhode Island?
While growing up in Providence, I didn’t think of my neighborhood or state as a destination. Now as an adult I recognize its significance. I would say Broad Street is my favorite representation of the diverse cultures, most notably the Latinx cultures, that have made Providence home and the beaches in Southern RI also deserve a visit and swim.
What’s your favorite things to read/watch/listen to lately (books, shows, podcasts, articles — anything goes!)
I struggle in the Winter! The cold, the snow, the isolation. And I got curious about how people dealt with this weather before heated homes and cars existed. I found a National Geographic series on Hulu called “Life Below Zero” and it’s really helped me understand and appreciate what the earth can offer during the coldest time of year. Very educational and highly recommended.
