The Village Common of Rhode Island

In the fall of 2014, a small group of people living on the East Side of Providence were inspired by the national Village Movement and what had been accomplished in other communities around the country to enhance the experience of growing older and support older adults. In 2015, they launched Providence Village. After four years of successful operations, the Board of Providence Village realized that the long-term sustainability of Providence Village – or any village in RI – would be strengthened by a network of many villages, all supported by a single Village Common. In December of 2019, The Village Common of RI was established to directly support the creation and long term sustainability of villages in RI.

The Village Common of Rhode Island (TVCRI) is a non-profit, volunteer-driven membership organization that aims to support older adults who wish to age in their home via a network of local villages - communities of mutual support - in Rhode Island. We currently have villages in Aquidneck Island, Barrington, Bristol-Warren, Burrillville, Cumberland, Edgewood, Glocester, Jamestown, Providence, Warwick and Westerly. Our volunteers assist members in a myriad of ways, from driving to medical appointments and running errands, to doing household chores and minor repairs, to providing technology support for TVs, phones and computers, to making friendly calls and visits. TVCRI and its local villages host an array of social and educational events for our members and volunteers (live and via zoom). At The Village Common of RI, we believe that a better experience of aging is possible when we support and rely on one another. Every day our members and volunteers come together to provide mutual support and create purposeful and powerful opportunities for what’s next as we grow older.