Press & Media

The event is chaired by respected Rhode Island business leader Cheryl Merchant, a longtime supporter of The Empowerment Factory and its work with children and families across low-income communities. 

“The best investment of time and treasure is in our youth,” Merchant said. “That is why I support The Empowerment Factory. It works every day to ensure our young people are happy, healthy, and empowered. The organization’s focus on children’s mental and emotional wellbeing is making a tremendous impact on young lives.” 

Proceeds from the fundraiser will support The Empowerment Factory’s art and social-emotional learning programs for children and families in Rhode Island’s most severely underserved communities. These programs provide equitable access to enrichment opportunities that help young people develop the skills they need to succeed in school and in life. 

Guests attending the event can expect an evening of community celebration featuring local food, refreshments with a cash bar, raffles, and live music by The New Providence Big Band. In addition to the festivities, supporters can participate in an online auction opening March 31st that will feature many unique and exciting prizes such as weekend getaways, designer items from local businesses, theater tickets, and more. 

Since its founding in 2014, The Empowerment Factory has served more than 10,000 youth through in-school, after-school, and summer programs. The organization primarily serves children in Title I schools in Pawtucket, Central Falls, and Providence, where many families face economic barriers to enrichment opportunities. 

The organization’s unique approach blends social-emotional learning, art, literacy, and environmental education to engage children in meaningful, hands-on learning experiences that build creativity, self-esteem, and civic pride. 

“In these troubling times, we must pull together to do what we can to build a better world,” said founder and executive director Gail Ahlers. “I am deeply grateful to the many individuals and organizations who support our work and help us reach at-risk youth who need these opportunities the most.” 

Ahlers added that the organization’s mission centers on helping children recognize their own potential. “In today’s world, it’s easy to feel powerless,” she said. “But every one of us has the power to create change, one small act at a time. At The Empowerment Factory, we help children believe that they matter and that they can make a difference in the world around them.” 

Community members, business leaders, and supporters of youth development are encouraged to attend the event and help sustain programs that empower the next generation. 

For more information about The Empowerment Factory or to learn more about the “Meet Me at the MET” fundraiser, visit: https://empowermentfactory.org/fundraiser-2026/, email at [email protected], or call at 401-365-1010.

Guests can look forward to a purpose-filled evening supporting essential creativity and empathy building enrichment programs in low-income elementary schools and communities to prepare children with the skills they need to succeed in school and in life. It will open with networking, food from local restaurants on the Blackstone Valley’s International Food Trail, photo booth, an art activity, and a 50/50 raffle and other prizes, followed by a 6:30pm presentation with an award recognition ceremony honoring community partners and volunteers. 

“It’s easy to feel powerless in the world today, but every one of us has the power to create change, one small act at a time. We’re all working together toward a shared goal of an equitable future for our children. We’re looking forward to bringing everyone together at the Annual Meeting to celebrate this year’s successes and the people who are doing the work to achieve them- our partners, donors, and volunteers,” said Gail Ahlers, Founder and Executive Director of The Empowerment Factory. “Everyone is welcome to get involved, and attending the Annual Meeting is a great way to get to know us if you’re not already a part of our community.”  

Event Schedule: 

5:30pm-6:30pm: networking, food from local restaurants, and art activities 

6:30pm-7:30pm: Impact presentation and award recognitions 

Award Presentations: 

Young Artist of the Year – Jamal Samoorian  

Volunteer of the Year – Sarah Voykovic 

Community Partner – Rhode Island Youth Zone 

Community Champion – Blackstone Valley Tourism Council   

 Founded in 2014 by Gail Ahlers, Executive Director and ‘Ambassador of Joy,’ The Empowerment Factory, provides Rhode Island youth with a wide range of enrichment programs to encourage every child to feel they matter and can make a difference in the world. The Empowerment Factory has created solid partnerships with a range of school, youth, and government organizations to conduct in-school, after school, and summer learning for elementary students in Pawtucket and surrounding area, where two-thirds of children live below the poverty line. School programming combined with well-attended community events, The Empowerment Factory’s mission has had a positive impact on more than 9,500 youth, primarily from underserved communities. 

The two-day event will offer a wide array of activities for all ages, including hands-on arts and crafts, games, raffles, and a collaborative community mural project. Attendees can also enjoy giveaways and prizes from local restaurants featured on the Blackstone Valley International Food Trail.

“This event is about bringing the families we serve together to experience joy, connection, and healthy habits,” said Gail Ahlers, Founder and Executive Director of The Empowerment Factory.

The Empowerment Factory will be announcing partnerships with several local restaurants in the weeks leading up to the community event to host pop-up events where attendees will be eligible to win restaurant gift cards. 

Last year’s celebration welcomed over 500 guests, and this year’s event is expected to draw even more. The Empowerment Factory is partnering with the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, the Cities of Pawtucket and Central Falls, and the Pawtucket Arts Festival to present this meaningful and inclusive community experience.

The Empowerment Factory is a Rhode Island nonprofit dedicated to empowering children with the essential skills they need to lead happier, healthier lives since 2014. It provides social emotional learning community programs in Pawtucket, Providence, and Central Falls for elementary children and their families. Its vision is for every child to feel that they matter and can make a difference in the world around them.

To learn more about The Empowerment Factory and the 9th Annual Healthy Living Community Event, visit https://EmpowermentFactory.org/9th-HLCE, email [email protected], or call 401-365-1010. Sponsorships are still available to support this event and volunteers are welcome.

“In these troubling times, it is a comfort to know that we have the support of the community behind us to better the lives of our children. We must pull together to do what we can to build a better world,” Gail Ahlers, the organization’s founder, said. “The Empowerment Factory reaches children who experience gaps and hardships that families and school systems often cannot address alone. Every child should feel that they matter and can make a difference in the world.”

All fundraiser proceeds are dedicated to The Empowerment Factory’s social emotional learning programs giving local children the skills they need to succeed in school and in life. Since its inception eleven years ago, The Empowerment Factory has served more than 8,500 youth in under-resourced communities with a variety of in-school, after-school, and summer learning programs and events.

Both Hazen White and Merchant are long-time supporters of The Empowerment Factory and said that they were enthusiastic about participating and helping with this year’s fundraiser, noting the important role The Empowerment Factory plays in the community. “The best investment of time and treasure,” Merchant said, “is in our youth. That is why we support The Empowerment Factory. It works every day to ensure our young people are happy, healthy, and empowered. The work The Empowerment Factory does – combining art and literacy – is making a tremendous impact on young lives.”  

Attendees at the annual fundraiser enjoyed a celebratory evening at The Met in Pawtucket with local food, live music from The New Providence Big Band, and an online auction with items donated by local artists and businesses. 

 To donate or learn more about The Empowerment Factory, visit them at https://empowermentfactory.org/donate. 

Volunteers collected 27 bags, over 400 lbs of litter, in the Woodlawn neighborhood of Pawtucket along the Baldwin Loop Walking Path, picking up environmentally harmful items such as broken glass, plastic wrappers, and discarded bottles. The walking path is home to Baldwin Elementary School, Little Sisters of the Poor senior home, and many historic buildings including the Hope Artiste Village. 

Gail Ahlers, Founder and Executive Director of The Empowerment Factory says, “Be the person who shows up and make a difference in your community. If we each do a little something, that’s how we make our community a better place!” 

The Empowerment Factory is dedicated to empowering children with the essential skills they need to live happier, healthier lives. Through their many community programs, events, and initiatives, the small nonprofit has positively impacted over 8,500 youth who are primarily from low-income families. 

To get in touch with The Empowerment Factory about other volunteer opportunities and ways to get involved, community members are encouraged to visit their website at https://empowermentfactory.org, email [email protected], or call 401-365-1010.   

Both Hazen White and Merchant are long-time supporters of The Empowerment Factory and said that they were enthusiastic about participating and helping with this year’s fundraiser, noting the important role TEF plays in the community. “The best investment of time and treasure,” Merchant said, “is in our youth. That is why we support The Empowerment Factory. It works every day to ensure our young people are happy, healthy, and empowered. The work The Empowerment Factory does – combining art and literacy – is making a tremendous impact on young lives.”  

Attendees to the annual fundraiser can look forward to an evening filled with local food, fun, raffles, and live music by The New Providence Big Band. The community is invited to join the fun and support The Empowerment Factory’s mission to empower the youth in our community. In addition to a raffle at the event, an online auction will open April 2nd for participants to bid on weekend getaways, local designer items, theatre tickets, and more.

The fundraising goal for this event is $50,000, and proceeds will ensure that The Empowerment Factory is able to continue its high-quality programming for at-risk youth in Rhode Island. Contributions support the social emotional learning programs that give our them the skills they need to succeed in school and in life.

Since its inception eleven years ago, TEF has served more than 8,500 underserved youth with a variety of in-school, after-school, and summer learning programs and events that promote creativity, self-esteem, and civic pride.

“In these troubling times, we must pull together to do what we can to build a better world,” Gail Ahlers, the organization’s founder, said. “What better way to do that than to start with our children…our future? TEF reaches children who experience gaps and hardships that families and school systems often cannot address. Every child should feel that they matter and can make a difference in the world.” 

More than 90 percent of the children served by The Empowerment Factory are from underserved communities. It targets low income, under-resourced communities, focused on Title I schools, particularly in Pawtucket, Central Falls and Providence. The Empowerment Factory programs blend social emotional learning (SEL), art, literacy, and environmental education, providing children with essential skills to thrive.   

Guests can look forward to a purpose-filled evening supporting local at-risk youth, opening with socializing and refreshments, a special art activity, a 50-50 raffle and other prizes, followed by a 6:30pm award recognition ceremony honoring community partners and volunteers.  

“People can make a real difference in the lives of the children of Rhode Island by collaborating with us,” said Gail Ahlers, Founder and Executive Director of The Empowerment Factory (TEF). Ahlers often encourages community members to become more involved through volunteerism, advocacy, and general support.

“We are at a pivotal time in the evolution of our organization as we strive to help more children with quality programming,” she said. “We invite you to get involved by attending the annual meeting. It’s a great opportunity to discover more about how we change the trajectory of children’s lives in a positive direction.”

Natalie Benkovich, President of The Empowerment Factory Board of Directors, said, “In the next decade, TEF is poised to elevate the quality and scope of its programs providing children throughout Rhode Island with the skills they need to lead happier, healthier, more empowered lives. TEF promotes creativity, self-esteem, and civic pride, while helping children from low-income areas to feel seen and able to play an integral role in the world.”

Additional board members include: Judy Cepeda, Vice President, Melissa Hamlin, Treasurer; Karen King, Secretary, Alicia Fernandez; Julianne Brown; Lucia Bernice Delaroca; Lysa Teal; Stephen Larbi; Hope Ricciotti. 

This year’s honorees are:

Community Partner:
TEF is honoring Old Slater Mill, part of the Blackstone River Valley National Park, for their partnership to offer summertime field trips to 400 Pawtucket elementary students to this national historic landmark. Old Slater Mill is considered the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution. Check out the video about this field trip on YouTube.

Community Champion:
Sandra Cano, former Director of Commerce for the City of Pawtucket, has been a steady friend and supporter of The Empowerment Factory since the organization was established a decade ago. She served as a Rhode Island State Senator for District 8 and as Chair for the Education and International Women’s Day Committees. She is known as a strong proponent of Pawtucket education, particularly among multilingual learners.

Volunteer of the Year:
Allison Soriano is valued for her commitment and dedication to programming and outreach. She is an asset to the team in the office and at our popular Art in the Park events. 

Young Artists: 
Marium and Ibrahim Ansari, Pawtucket residents and elementary students, are being recognized for their participation and persistence in creative endeavors at Art in the Park and Nature Drawing programming. TEF staff and volunteers are enthusiastic about their continued creative journey.

Founded in 2014 by Gail Ahlers, Executive Director and ‘Ambassador of Joy,’ The Empowerment Factory (TEF), provides Rhode Island youth with a wide range of enrichment programs to encourage every child to feel they matter and can make a difference in the world. TEF has created solid partnerships with a range of school, youth and government organizations to conduct in-school, after school and summer learning for Rhode Island elementary students with a focus on Pawtucket, Central Falls and Providence, where two-thirds of children live below the poverty line. School programming combined with well-attended community events, TEF’s mission has had a positive impact on more than 8,000 youth, primarily from underserved communities.

Participate in the Scavenger Walk Sept. 1-7 along the Baldwin Loop Walking Path and scan QR codes along the way to complete activities, learn fun historic facts, and earn raffle tickets drawn at the end of the week. There are 16 stops along the 2-mile walk, each highlighting a different piece of historic Pawtucket and featuring a talented local artist.  

Learn more: https://empowermentfactory.org/event/scavenger-walk/  

For the last decade, The Empowerment Factory nonprofit has been known as a hub of positivity and creativity among RI families. The nonprofit is dedicated to giving children the skills they need to live happier, healthier, more empowered lives through hands-on art and literacy programming.  

TEF’s founder, Gail Ahlers, expressed her excitement about this year’s event, stating, “We are thrilled to celebrate eight years of promoting health and wellness in our community. The Healthy Living Community Event is a day where everyone can come together, learn, and have fun while making positive choices for their lives. We look forward to another successful event and to continuing our mission of youth empowerment.” 

Families are welcomed to join in the fun at their 8th Annual Healthy Living Community Event, part of the Pawtucket Arts Festival, for an accessible and engaging introduction into the exciting world of artmaking. The day is sure to be filled with opportunities to form lasting family memories as kids get to learn new ways to think and express themselves creatively with help from experienced local artists and RISD art students.  

Learn about local wildlife with a guided step-by-step animal drawing instruction from wildlife experts and artists.  

Join a special printmaking workshop using a real, antique printing press and positive affirmations supervised by The Empowerment Factory staff. 

Do yoga in the park with multiple intermittent sessions from Satsang Yoga instructors doing gentle movements, breathing, and meditation for kids and beginners. 

And many more activities are in store! 

All The Empowerment Factory activities are completely free and open to the public- building community, growing children’s confidence in themselves, and empowering youth with the skills to succeed in school and in life. 

The 10th Anniversary Celebration will be held at The MET on Main Street in Pawtucket on May 22, 2024, from 6pm to 9pm. This will be a fun night with live music from The New Providence Big Band refreshments, a silent auction, raffles, and refreshments.

The online silent auction will open April 22 with exciting items such as zoo memberships, personal fitness classes, spa packages and more. Items will continue to be added so be sure to check back. 

“As a small non-profit, we are nimble,” Ahlers said, “TEF is uniquely positioned to be nimble and responsive to the needs of our community. The Empowerment Factory has been extraordinarily successful in serving our constituents’ needs because of this ability. I look forward to celebrating 10 years of empowering our children to understand that they are capable of reaching for their dreams and living happy and successful lives,” said Gail Ahlers, founder and Executive Director of TEF. 

The Empowerment Factory is a non-profit providing programming and events for K-8 students focused in Pawtucket, Central Falls, and Providence. 

TEF’s unique approach to supporting at-risk students is achieved through enrichment programming that uses a blend of social emotional learning, art, literacy, and environmental education to engage children in learning. Over the 10 years TEF has been serving its community, it has provided more than 7,000 youth with an opportunity to explore and benefit from a positive learning trajectory.