CityState : Q & A
get trained a little for what you ’ re doing . On the other hand , it ’ s best to get a broad education . It makes you better .
Who ’ s your biggest inspiration in your work ? My inspiration comes from how unfair the world is . When I see stuff , I get angry . But then I don ’ t stay ; I say , ‘ How do I change it ?’ That ’ s really been my inspiration . When I see stuff not working , I go , ‘ Come on , we can do better than that . It ’ s ridiculous . Let ’ s just build a program here and do it .’ And I also get inspired when I see kids doing amazing stuff .
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What gives you hope for the future ? My hope is when I see new generations of kids , you know , the fourteen-year-olds standing up for what they want , that inspires me . People aren ’ t keeping their mouth shut . And when I see our students , the high schoolers , graduate — when you see them and the college students , you get inspired that it can be done for everybody . And when you hear their stories . So that ’ s what keeps me going .
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95 watch hill road • westerly , ri 860.961.4678 • www . omojewels . com
Where is your favorite place in Rhode Island ? It ’ s right here [ at the Met ]. Or at the college . This is where I ’ m most comfortable . And this is what I do in Rhode Island . I don ’ t hang much . I ’ m not a beach person . This is my life right now . The other little funny place is Louis [ Family Restaurant ]. Louis is a little joint restaurant . I ’ m there twice a week .
With all your projects , I find it hard to believe you ’ re going quietly into retirement . Any plans in Costa Rica ? I travel a lot . I travel every summer . I don ’ t stay at fancy hotels , and I travel to places like Nicaragua and Colombia that aren ’ t as easy . Because it shakes you up a little . So this is just an adventure . I don ’ t know what city I ’ ll live in . I don ’ t know if I ’ m living in a condo on the beach or some little place . When you talk about lives , I think about , hey , will the first person I meet say , ‘ Let me get you surfing ,’ or one of the teachers here has a friend that started two immersion schools . I ’ m not looking to do anything . I ’ m looking to be part of a new community . And not to be with expats . I ’ m an adventurist a bit , and as long as I ’ m still healthy and my brain is good , I ’ ll be good . 🆁
34 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l SEPTEMBER 2024