Rhode Island Voices: A Podcast for the RI Life Index

Neighborhoods shape so much more than our commute—they influence our safety, our stress, and our ability to access the everyday places that keep us healthy. In this episode of Rhode Island Voices, we dig into Neighborhood Life and what Rhode Islanders are telling us about the built environment, transportation, and public amenities and where the biggest gaps show up across the state. Host Melissa Clark, Scientific Lead for the RI Life Index, is joined by Scott Wolf, Executive Director of Grow Smart Rhode Island, to connect the data to lived experience and spotlight practical, solutions-focused ideas. Together, they unpack key findings, how concerns differ sharply between core cities and non-core areas, and steps we can take to work towards healthier, more accessible communities. Whether you’re a resident, municipal leader, employer, or advocate, this conversation offers ways to support safer streets, more walkable communities, and better access to essentials so every Rhode Island neighborhood can be a healthier place to live. 

Finding a safe, stable, and affordable place to live is becoming harder for communities across the country—and Rhode Island is no exception. In this episode of RI Voices, we explore the unique housing challenges facing our state and how they’re affecting the health and well-being of Rhode Islanders.Host Dr. Melissa Clark, Scientific Lead for the RI Life Index at the Brown University School of Public Health, sits down with Brenda Clement, Executive Director of HousingWorks RI, to unpack the complex factors driving housing insecurity and discuss what meaningful solutions could look like. From rising costs to limited availability, Rhode Island presents a particularly challenging environment—but also opportunities for collaboration, policy change, and community action.Whether you’re a resident, business leader, policymaker, or advocate, this conversation offers insights and concrete ways to get involved in building a more secure housing future for everyone in our state.Learn more at rilifeindex.org and housingworksri.org.

This inaugural episode tackles the challenge of food security, examining why so many Rhode Islanders struggle to put food on the table and what can be done about it. Recent data illustrate the urgency – hunger is widely perceived as a serious problem statewide, and nearly half of Rhode Island households experienced some level of food insecurity in the last year. Melissa Cherney, the newly appointed CEO of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, joins host Dr. Melissa Clark to share insights from the front lines of this issue. Cherney brings nearly two decades of hunger relief experience (having led North Dakota’s largest food bank) and a passion for advocacy in policy and partnerships. Together, they will explore how Rhode Island can address food insecurity with urgency, compassion, and innovation.