Julia Nemy completed her fellowship in Providence, RI with Julius Kolawole at the African Alliance of Rhode Island (AARI). Her project focused on planning the organization’s grand opening of their pop-up farmers’ market series. Launched on August 3, 2018, AARI’s market brought a variety of fresh produce to South Providence, an area categorized as a food desert. As the neighborhood has a large Latino community, the market focused on bringing Latino culture and popular Latino foods to Roger Williams Park. Plantains, papaya, and yucca were sold, and the market also hosted a local Dominican youth dance academy and a plantain peeling contest. SNAP and WIC benefits were accepted to increase market access. Julia worked to create publicity materials, coordinate permits, and perform market outreach. After her fellowship, she hopes to continue to work with immigrant and refugee communities and pursue a career in sustainable international development. Julia participated in the Fellows program after graduating from Bates College with a double major in Environmental Studies and French Francophone Studies, and followed her Fellowship with a Fulbright in Rwanda.
