The George Wiley Center organizes with low-income community members to advocate for systematic changes to challenge economic injustices. For over 30 years, we have fought for justice in a variety of antipoverty struggles, including unemployment, summer jobs for youth, school breakfasts, SNAP, public bus service, housing, living wages, EITC (earned income tax credit), and other issues to preserve a
nd strengthen the social safety net in Rhode Island. We have a focus on utility justice, from informing utility consumers of their rights and convening community meetings to attending hearings and taking action, together we work to stop utility shut-offs and increase utility access. The George Wiley Center pushes to make policies that reflect the basic human dignity and respect we strive for in our communities. This is a grassroots effort, please send us a message if you would like to get involved! Named after Rhode Island native and national civil rights activist, George Alvin Wiley, the George Wiley Center was founded by longtime activist Henry Shelton in 1981. The organization coordinates the Rhode Island Campaign to Eliminate Childhood Poverty, whose volunteer members speak from personal experience and use a variety of grassroots lobbying and non-violent protest tactics to create changes in local government and private institutions that will help eliminate poverty in their lives and in the lives of others. The work of the George Wiley Center is based on the belief that each person in our community should have safe and fair housing, adequate clothing, nutritious food, water, heat and light, and access to basic needs. These goals are achieved through community education and awareness and community organization and development. We are committed to forming cooperative alliances with church, business, labor and community groups and to bringing those directly impacted by poverty into leadership roles as community change agents. The George Wiley Center holds open informational, know-your-rights, and strategy meetings in numerous locations around Rhode Island. If you are interested in scheduling a presentation, attending an upcoming meeting, volunteering, supporting our work with a donation, or taking part in group efforts, please send us a message!
