When it comes to sisterhood, Rahsaan M. Gomes is an expert on the matter. When she became a member [she is now president] of the Providence Chapter of Chums, Inc., she never imagined all of the long-lasting friends she would make along the way.

One of her favorite sisterhood memories is when she had the opportunity to meet one of her members through the Educators of Color group.

“Her name is Crystal. I was her mentor during this work with [the] Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE). She was new to the state of Rhode Island, and she didn’t have any friends. She didn’t really know who to socialize with. So we became her sisters, and that was such a pivotal point for me, because I realized just how deep the connections go within this membership,” she said.

“When other members get to see that you’re part of a bigger organization, but we’re still sisters, like right here, boots on the ground in Rhode Island, working with RIDE and you move forward, it’s just a great feeling. So, I think for me, knowing that I made a friend with somebody who was not from Rhode Island, and she’s still a chum to this day, you know. So that’s a good feeling. It’s a great feeling.”

For 65 years, the Providence Chapter of Chums, Inc. has been a small but long-standing service organization of Black women working to fulfill their mission of “help[ing] every child reach their fullest intellectual, moral, emotional, physical, and social potential.”

On Feb. 20, 1961, the Providence chapter was installed, through sponsorship of the New York Chapter of Chums. The founding president was Constance Edmonds of Providence.

Other founding members include Nellie Reed of Roxbury (vice president), Madeline Roberts of North Attleboro (recording secretary), Mary Jennings of Providence (corresponding secretary), Kathleen Edmonds of Providence (treasurer), Claire Bently of East Providence (financial secretary), Eunice Burgess of East Providence (parliamentarian), Louise Oliver of Roxbury (sergeant at arms), Winfred Alston of Roxbury, Arline Dunlup of Lincoln, Bennie V. Fleming of Providence, Cecile Glover of Dedham, Ernestyne Plummer of Waltham and Edith Reddick of Chelsea.

During the 2024–2025 program year, the chapter has delivered a powerful level of service with 1,050 individuals served, 672 volunteer service hours, 400 planning and committee hours and $19,914.27 donated in scholarships, resources, programs and gifts. Their 2024 scholarship winner was Neve James, who has a 4.0 GPA and is in her second year of college.

Some of their programs include “Healthy 4 ME,” a holistic wellness initiative in which they provided essential resources such as soap, toiletries, feminine hygiene products, haircare supplies and healthy snacks for children at local daycare centers. Through these efforts, the organization reached roughly 450 individuals across Newport County and the city of Providence.

Other chapter initiatives include a Thanksgiving food giveaway of donations and grocery support for families experiencing hardship; their Book Collection and Literacy Initiative in which members promote reading, language development, and home libraries; Project Prom Princess, a newer program where they support a local high school senior to attend prom with confidence and dignity; the Dental Care Drive, in which toothbrushes, toothpaste and oral health kits for children in grades K-5; and RIDE EDUCATORS OF COLOR, in which Black and BIPOC teachers focused on leadership and professional development with these teachers in Rhode Island with protocols and information to support their growth within teaching in the State.

One of the chapter’s proudest achievements is that it was awarded a National Project Award at this year’s National Chums, Inc. Annual Conclave in Virginia, during the second week of October.

The recognition “celebrates the chapter’s leadership, creativity, and measurable outcomes in promoting youth health, wellness, and nutrition — underscoring their capacity to mobilize resources, build partnerships, and meet the needs of Rhode Island’s children with excellence and intention.”

Gomes talked about what their chapter understands about the needs of Providence’s Black and BIPOC youth that larger institutions miss: funding college once the students arrive on campus.

“Our kids may get to college.

However, they don’t have money at college. …They get the funding. Maybe now, they might not be getting as much funding, but they do get funding, but we, in the beginning, wanted to focus on students of color socializing, because a key part of going to a college is taking part in the activities and being sociable as well. …As we’ve moved forward, it’s increased to really making sure these students have what they need through the year,” she said.

She spoke more about how they are addressing particular crises and gaps that the chapter steps into, which are based on the research coming out of the schools, churches and community leaders.

“We have a lot of active community leaders within our organization. …We just recently did something called the handshake initiative, which [involved us being] at school about 6:30 a.m. in the morning. We shook every kid’s hand that came into the front door. So, for me and for other students, you’re passing the torch on in a different way, but you’re also showing the community that we’re here to support you, and I don’t think our brown, Black or even tan students really feel that support,” she said.

“Doing something as simple as the handshake initiative made such a big difference at 6:30 a.m. in the morning,” she added.

Gomes also credits the local churches for helping them to be as active as they are in the community.

“The churches are really important now. I have found that without the church connections, we wouldn’t be able to do or be as active as we are, because a lot of the times, people are in the church, and they communicate to the leaders. Then the leaders will then communicate to somebody that they know within the organization, or somebody that attends the church,” she said.

Gomes said that as the chapter heads into its 65th scholarship anniversary in 2026, one of her primary goals is growth for the next generation of Chums.

“I’m hoping to grow the chapter. I’m hoping to possibly expand and maybe get some women from Massachusetts into the chapter. Maybe even think about opening a chapter if they already are part of another woman’s group and they can be cleared by National. I really want to grow the chapter within the Northeast region,” she said.

“One of the biggest factors is my granddaughter. I have two granddaughters, one is four and one is 13, and they come with me to the meeting. So, we call them Chums in training. I want to make sure my granddaughters can see that what I’m doing now is important, not just for me, but for all women and young ladies.”

She believes that the chapter is moving forward in the direction of working to bring in new members.

“A lot of people don’t realize what our shield represents,” she said. “There’s two hands that shake, and that means the friendship. Then you have the arrow, meaning where we’re going [as a chapter]. I do believe we’re moving forward with trying to bring new people in — people that want to get on the ground and start moving…the chapter forward. And the yellow rose is for friendship… to be able to have lasting relationships and friendships that [are] eternal.”