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JWU Bridge Center Celebrates Inclusion at RI PrideFest
The streets of Providence were brimming with excitement, live music and celebrations as RI PrideFest sounded off this June. Among the many organizations and charities that attended PrideFest this year was JWU’s very own Bridge Center, a campus hub for connection, resources, support services and programming that fosters a supportive culture.
JWU students, faculty and staff spent the day at PrideFest connecting with festival goers and sharing resources available to both students on campus and throughout the Providence community.
Celebrating Pride in Providence
Thousands gathered ahead of the evening’s illuminated night Pride parade, which kicked off at 8pm, to celebrate this year’s overarching theme: We ARE The People. This theme reflects RI Pride’s mission of bringing together the LGBTQ+ community to honor its diverse heritage and history, foster inclusion and celebrate progress towards equality. RI Pride was founded in 1976, as part of a grassroots effort to demand equal rights, and increase overall visibility for the LGBTQ+ community both in Providence and throughout the state.
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For Alex Scanlon ’29, one of the student representatives staffing the Bridge Center’s booth, PrideFest offered an opportunity to introduce more people to the Bridge and the role it plays at JWU. “Bridge is a drop-in space for students here at Johnson & Wales,” Scanlon explained. “We offer safe sex supplies and lot of resources regarding safety on campus.”
The Bridge also serves as a hub for clubs to use as a space for education, community building and support. “The Bridge is for everybody to come in,” Scanlon said. “We have resources for everyone, and I think one of the best things about Bridge is having all these different organizations and clubs come together.”
This view was shared by fellow volunteer Elizabeth Kwak ’28 OTD, a graduate student who is currently the co-chair of the Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity (COTAD), which partnered with Bridge during PrideFest. Though not directly involved, she has seen how Bridge has given to the community, through working alongside staff and student leaders on campus. “The Bridge Center is a resource and safe space regarding education on sexual and gender identity, sexual assault, and relationship violence,” Kwak said.
What Pride Means to the JWU Community
For both students, PrideFest represented an opportunity to extend that sense of support and community beyond campus, and into the Providence community. “One of the biggest reasons why I wanted to have a booth at PrideFest is for outreach,” Scanlon said. “I feel like The Bridge is one of our most underutilized resources on campus right now.” A similar sentiment was echoed by Kwak, endorsing a desire to create welcoming spaces for others. “Being involved in my community and dedicating my efforts to creating a safe and inclusive space for everyone is one of my responsibilities,” she said. “Promoting the presence and empowerment of queer people within Providence at PrideFest has given me more experience and confidence to work with others in supporting this cause.”
As PrideFest celebrated five decades of advocacy, visibility and community, the Bridge Center's presence highlighted how that work continues every day — both on campus and throughout Providence. Through conversations, outreach and a commitment to creating inclusive spaces, JWU students and staff demonstrated that support is most meaningful when it is visible, accessible and shared. For those representing Bridge, PrideFest was an opportunity not only to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, but also to strengthen the connections that make that community thrive. In doing so, they carried the festival's message beyond the parade route, reaffirming that belonging is built through action, engagement and a willingness to show up for one another.
