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The West End/Elmwood Community Opportunity Zone (COZ)

The COZ was established in 1996 at Dorcas Place to provide integrated access to educational, health, and social services to families with children enrolled at Gilbert Stuart Elementary and then Alfred Lima Middle School.

The COZ is a unique group of families, teachers, school, administrators, community organizations and businesses working together to strengthen our community. Through education, training, health and social services programs and activities, the COZ works to meet the needs of our community.
Currently funded through the RI Department of Education's Office of Integrated Services, the COZ provides ESL classes, basic and intermediate computer training, and links community residents to education, health, and social services.

COZ Web Link

The West End / Elmwood COZ is part of a network of neighborhood programs participating in the COZ Information Network (COZIN). This is a project funded through The Providence Plan in an effort to connect community residents and agencies online to information and resources in the areas of housing, childcare, neighborhood demographics and much more. Each participating agency has a COZIN computer terminal available for community residents to use and a staff person to help you. Just call our COZ office if you'd like to stop in.

If you have access to a computer, you can get to the COZIN database by logging on here.

COZ Volunteers Needed

Volunteers are needed to help with after school program serving elementary school-aged children. If you are interested in volunteering, email the Family Literacy Coordinator.

We invite you to be part of our goals:

  • Safe Streets
  • Summer Programs
  • Parent Involvement in the Schools
  • Community Education
  • Community Leadership Development
  • Community Mediation

COZ Calendar of Events

The COZ regularly offers community workshops on these topics:

  • Health Workshops
  • Lead Poison Prevention
  • Immunization
  • Cancer Screening
  • Rhode Island Small Business Development
  • Children's Fire Safety Education program

Scheduled workshops will be listed in this COZ calendar. You and also call or email the COZ office for more information.

If you would like more information, contact our COZ Coordinator.

Go back to list of Community Resources.