This summer, Riley will explore how the history of environmental justice issues in Providence shapes community relationships to place and space. Her work will center on time spent with community organizations and actors, as well as a deep dive into existing literature on the subject. This will guide the curation and creation of educational resources on environmental issues for community use to connect residents with existing knowledge on their spaces.

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Scott Frickel
Community Partner: Southside Community Land Trust 

Riley Schornak (she/her) ’24 hails from Petoskey, Michigan. She is concentrating in Sociology and pursuing an Engaged Scholar Certificate on the intersections between health and the environment from a social sciences perspective. She works with environmentally-focused youth employment programs through Groundwork RI and Southside Community Land Trust and facilitates sex education at a local high school. In her free time, you’ll find Riley cooking, crocheting, or reading.