From the president
Johandalys Montas is a junior at Providence College studying Global Studies and Business Economics who has a commitment to youth development, urban planning, and social justice. She is the youth engagement director with the WATCH Coalition, an organizing group she has participated in since high school. She is also a student dialogue fellow with the Dialogue, Inclusion, and Democracy (DID) Lab, where she helps facilitate campus-community conversations and helps to bridge dives and create a beloved community at Providence College. Johandalys is also a secretary of the African American club, a member of Horizons (a leadership and network group for multicultural students at PC), and a Resident Assistant; she has also been a summer teacher at Neighborhood Works and did an internship with the YMCA Health Equity Zone, where she mentored youth and helped to launch a Participatory Budgeting project.
Personal Statement
Growing up in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, a town fraught with racial tensions, I recognized the lack of safe spaces and opportunities for youth of color. Instead of succumbing to the challenges, I embraced a unifying approach. Witnessing the beauty in my community, I joined the Woonsocket Alliance to Champion Hope (WATCH) Coalition, engaging in grassroots efforts for racial equity, violence prevention, and community development. Participating in community forums and leadership retreats equipped me with the skills to organize events, such as youth sports tournaments and voter registration campaigns. Serving on the Leadership Board and as the youth committee's Director, I co-organized impactful initiatives like a Black Lives Matter rally and Juneteenth Art Show. My dedication earned me the Youth Activism award from a local agency. My mission was to create a safe space for dialogues about community issues, identify root causes, and strategically plan actionable solutions. This required an open mind to foster respectful conversations, assuming good intentions even in conflicting situations. Through the WATCH Coalition, I honed skills that allowed me to amplify the representation of youth of color in Woonsocket. I am committed to sustainable change, demonstrating resilience and innovation in addressing the challenges faced by my community.