John Hope Settlement House is pleased to announce three new additions to our Board of Directors. 

Kyle Bennett

Kyle has called the City of Providence home since before the age of one.  He has lived in many of the City's neighborhoods including; Wiggins Village, Elmwood, Washington Park, Mount Pleasant and Fox Point.  Except for a few years at Noth Carolina A & T State University, he has been educated in Rhode Island attending the Henry Barnard School, Wheeler School and Rhode Island College.

Kyle describes his strong ties and committment to his community, "In my youth, I attended John Hope Settlement House After-School and Summer Programs.  It was here that I developed some of life's most valuable qualities; strong character and community involvement.  I was also actively engaged in my neighborhood church, Ebenezer Baptist Church.  I can proudly say that I am a product of the State of Rhode Island.  I have a large family here, including a fifteen year old daughter who attends high school in Providence.  I grow more attached to Rhode Island every year and have worked continuously to improve the quality of life throughout the State."

Kyle works as the Community Impact, Development Officer for the United Way of Rhode Island.

  Kyle Bennett

Jorge Cardenas

For many years, Jorge Cardenas has been bringing together business, community and elected officials to work toward improving the lives and well-being of children and families throughout the State of Rhode Island.  As co-founder of the Annual Back to School Celebration, he has succesfully worked to build this event from serving 400 Providence school children and their families in 1999, to now serving over 16,000 students and families throughout the State.  The Back to School Celebration provides free backpacks, school supplies and educational information to these school-age households.

As a champion for education and youth development advocacy his community outreach efforts have brought together successful partnerships for youth development workforce training and career readiness initiatives.  Working with parents, after-school coordinators, teachers, local business, student participants and funders, his leadership has fostered effective youth tutoring and mentoring training initiatives.

Jorge has received numerous awards and recognition for his service including; Cesar E. Chavez Community Award, RILPAC Bill Richardson Award, Sodexho Champion of Diversity Award and the Hispanic Art and Culture of Rhode Island Excellence Award.

Jorge works as Community Relations Manager for Sodexho School Services.

Jorge Cardenas

Dick Silverman

Dick Silverman brings a long legacy of service to his community to John Hope Settlement House.  This service includes Board memberships with The Poverty Institute of Rhode Island, A New Leaf and as Advisory Board member with Common Cause of Rhode Island.  He is a volunteer consultant with the Executive Service Corps of New England and serves on the Executive Committee for University of Pennsylvania Class of 1961.

Dick is retired from a thity-six year career in the retail industry.