2023 -- H 6532
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LC003235
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S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
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 P ASSING 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, 1
the loving mother of five, and Co-Founder of Direct Action for Rights and Equality (DARE), and 2
Chairperson of organizing group WAGE; and 3
WHEREAS, Mattie Smith was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, one of eleven 4
indigenous children in her family. In the early 1960s, she and her five children moved to the City 5
of Providence; and 6
WHEREAS, Ms. Smith was permanently disabled at her workplace which led to what 7
would become a life of activism helping others, predominantly low-income women, to join 8
together for direct action and real change; and 9
WHEREAS, In 1982, with a deep desire to give back to her community and an intimate 10
knowledge of the community's needs, Ms. Smith joined the Worker's Association For Guaranteed 11
Employment (WAGE), a welfare rights organization, where she quickly became a key leader, 12
spokesperson, and board member. One of her greatest successes at WAGE was her role in 13
organizing a 1,000 person protest at the State House that ultimately resulted in the first state-14
funded shelter for homeless residents; and 15
WHEREAS, Taking her abilities and knowledge to the next level, Ms. Smith Co-16
Founded Direct Action for Rights and Equality (DARE) in 1986, with no start-up funding, no 17
connection with established local groups, no big-name supporters on the Board, and a first-year 18
budget of $2,500; and 19
WHEREAS, DARE, under the leadership of Ms. Smith, has vastly benefitted the lives of 20
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many Rhode Islanders through improvements in the State's homeless shelters, playgrounds, and 1
provisions requiring dental care for working adults on Medicaid; and 2
WHEREAS, During Ms. Smith's tenure at DARE, she led a campaign to force the City to 3
clean up vacant lots and transform them into playgrounds, one of which was later named in her 4
honor, and got the first tennis court built in South Providence. She also led the campaign to make 5
Rhode Island the second state to adopt a PIPP–Percentage of Income Payment Plan, with 6
Arrearage Forgiveness, to name but a few of the group's many improvements for the community; 7
and 8
WHEREAS, Ms. Smith was a driving force for WAGE, a long-time Board member and 9
lifelong member of DARE, a Jefferson Award winner, and a loving mother, grandmother, great-10
grandmother, and great-great-grandmother, who will be dearly remembered as the powerful, 11
beloved force that helped her community is so many ways; now, therefore be it 12
RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby 13
extends deepest sympathy and condolences on the passing of Mattie L. Smith; and be it further 14
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 15
transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Sabrina Smith and Family. 16
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LC003235
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