$300,000 innovation grant goes to multicultural tourism plan

By The Associated Press

news@abc6.com 

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) _ A Providence man with a plan to expand multicultural tourism in Rhode Island is the recipient of a $300,000 innovation fellowship awarded by the Rhode Island Foundation.

Raymond Two Hawks Watson is the 2016 winner of the three-year grant, funded by philanthropists Letitia and John Carter.

Watson is the executive director of the Mount Hope Neighborhood Association.

He also created the Providence Cultural Equity Initiative, which recently held the International Indigenous Peoples Cultural Conference at Roger Williams Park.

Watson says Rhode Island’s cultural heritage, history and diversity are untapped resources for drawing more tourists to the state. Along with Providence’s artistic reputation, he says they can help drive economic development.

This is the fifth year of the fellowship program.

(C) The Associated Press 2016