De La Comunidad Bilingual Public Charter School to House First-of-Its-Kind Community School Hub
The Laura Rodriguez Full-Service Community School Hub Will Provide Comprehensive Wraparound Services to Support Families and Whole-Child Success
PROVIDENCE, RI – Community members, families, partners, and elected officials gathered on Friday to officially launch the Laura Rodriguez Full-Service Community Hub, a bold new initiative designed to support the whole child and family in Rhode Island.
The Hub is named in honor of Community Angels founder Laura Rodriguez, whose lifelong commitment to serving children and families continues to inspire this work.
Connected to De La Comunidad Bilingual School, the Laura Rodriguez Full-Service Community Hub will provide critical programs and services that extend beyond the classroom, creating a true center of opportunity for families. Integrated within DLC-B, Rhode Island’s first K–12 dual-language, full-service community school, the Hub will support students and families with resources that address the whole child.
De La Comunidad Bilingual received preliminary approval from the Rhode Island Council on Elementary and Secondary Education in January 2026 and is set to open in Fall 2027, serving students from Providence, Pawtucket, and Cranston. Like all charter public schools in Rhode Island, it will be tuition-free and open to all students in the communities it serves.
“This hub is a dream come true and a way to honor my mother, Laura, whose life was dedicated to lifting up families and children in our community. Seeing her vision come to life through this space, where kids can learn, grow, and have the support they need, is deeply personal for me and a tribute to her lifelong commitment to love, service, and community,” said Carol Aguasvivas, board chair of De La Comunidad Bilingual and president of Community Angels.
The Hub is made possible in part thanks to a $25,000 grant from Centreville Bank, reflecting the bank’s ongoing commitment to the communities it serves.
“Investing in the resources that strengthen families and students’ helps build the economic foundation our community’s future depends on,” said Paola Fernandez, Senior Vice President of Community Development at Centreville Bank. “Centreville Bank is proud to support the official launch and planning of the Laura Rodriguez Hub.”
The full-service community school hub will provide resources and programming aligned with De La Comunidad Bilingual’s mission, including after-school enrichment, health and mental health services, adult education, financial literacy, and housing assistance.
Together these resources are designed to strengthen family engagement, support the whole child, and serve as a vibrant center for the surrounding community.
“This is our vision coming to life, shaped by what our community has long been asking for, and we are honored to see De La Comunidad Bilingual School take shape alongside a full-service community hub that carries Laura Rodriguez’s legacy forward,” said Victor Capellan, founder and CEO of Rhode Island Education Collective, which developed the proposal for De La Comunidad Bilingual and is managing the planning work. “Together, the school and the hub will provide rigorous academics, wraparound supports, and opportunities for students and families to thrive.”
The planning and development of De La Comunidad Bilingual and the Laura Rodriguez Community School Hub is being led by a coalition of parents, educators, and community leaders to ensure both the school and hub reflect the needs and strengths of the families they serve.
Families interested in enrolling their children at De La Comunidad Bilingual will be able to apply beginning in November 2026, with students selected through a lottery in spring 2027. The Laura Rodriguez Full-Service Community School Hub is scheduled to open in April 2027, followed by the school’s opening in August 2027.
For more information about De La Comunidad Bilingual School and the Laura Rodriguez Full-Service Community School Hub, visit dlcbilingual.org and follow DLC-B on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
About Rhode Island Education CollectiveLaunched in 2024, Rhode Island Education Collective is a nonprofit working to ensure every child in the state—regardless of race, economic situation, or location—can access a great public school. The Collective empowers families, educators, and community members, particularly those historically marginalized by the public education system, to create meaningful change for students. Learn more at rieducationcollective.org.
Contact:
Danielle Barron
401-323-6068
danielle@rieducationcollective.org
