Over seventy people gathered in the Newman Congregational Church in Rumford, Rhode Island, on March 19, 2026 for the fifth and final Community Conversation to provide input on the feasibility study for the proposed Sowams Heritage Area. Board Chair Andrea Rounds gave a 27-minute summary of the study, and then she and other board members fielded questions and comments from the audience. Click here for a 52-minute video of the event.

(Above) Ms. Rounds welcomed the audience and then introduced Reverend Sam Lovett who gave a brief history of the Church that dates back to 1643 and then read the Land Acknowledgement that the members adopted in 2023 recognizing that they are on the ancestral homeland of the Pokanoket Tribe.

(Above) Board treasurer Paul Cogley, Roger Desrosiers (Gray Fox) and his wife, Donna Desrosiers (Spirit Fox) listen to Andrea Rounds’ PowerPoint presentation.

(Above) Board member and retired East Providence Planning Director Jim Moran and Seekonk Town Planner John Aubin respond to questions and comments from the audience.

(Above) Audience member Russ Cohan comments, Director of Events and Community Engagement for the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council Laura McNamara talks about the project consultants, and East Providence Mayor Bob DaSilva closed out the session by stating that the City of East Providence is 100% behind the effort.