Literacy, digital skills, and leadership development rooted in Olneyville, Providence for immigrant and low-income residents.
On Manton Avenue in one of Providence's most working-class neighborhoods, the Olneyville Neighborhood Association runs on a simple conviction: when people develop their own skills and voice, communities transform from the inside out. ONA is not a charity that delivers services to passive recipients. It is a membership-rooted organization where residents shape the direction, set the priorities, and lead the work.
Founded on principles of popular education and community defense, ONA focuses on the real barriers that keep low-income and immigrant families from full participation in civic life. That means sitting down with neighbors on a Tuesday evening to work through reading comprehension, troubleshoot a laptop, or prepare a community leader to speak at a city council meeting. It means maintaining a deportation defense hotline so that when a family faces the worst, there is a number to call and a network ready to respond.
The office at 122 Manton Ave is open Monday through Thursday evenings, hours designed around the schedules of people who work during the day. If you live or work in Olneyville and you want to grow your skills, defend your rights, or take a larger role in your community, ONA is where that journey starts.
Adult literacy classes give participants the reading and writing foundation needed for employment, education, and everyday independence. Instruction is hands-on, community-centered, and paced to fit adult learners who are balancing work and family.
Digital skills training covers the practical tools that modern life demands: email, job applications, government portals, and basic device use. Leadership development programs build the organizing capacity of residents who want to influence decisions in their neighborhood and city. These are not one-size-fits-all workshops but ongoing cohorts that develop real competencies over time.
For families facing immigration enforcement, ONA's deportation defense hotline connects callers to resources, legal referrals, and community support. All programs are grounded in popular education, meaning residents are treated as experts in their own lives, not as problems to be solved.
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ONA serves low-income and immigrant residents of the Olneyville neighborhood in Providence, RI. If you live or work in Olneyville and are looking for literacy, digital skills, or leadership support, you are welcome to reach out.
The office is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM. ONA is closed on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
ONA is located at 122 Manton Ave, Suite 611, Providence, RI 02909, in the Olneyville neighborhood.
ONA maintains a hotline to support immigrant community members facing deportation or enforcement actions. It connects callers to resources, referrals, and community networks. Visit ona-providence.org for current contact information and how to access this service.
No prior experience is required. Programs are designed for adult learners at a range of starting points, with instruction paced and structured to meet participants where they are.
Popular education is a teaching approach that treats participants as experts in their own lives and communities. At ONA it means programs are built around real community needs, with residents contributing to how learning is structured and applied.
Visit ona-providence.org for the most current information on programs, membership, and how to connect with ONA. You can also stop by the office during evening hours any Monday through Thursday.
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