The Black Block
Community Foundation
2026 Capital Campaign BACK THE BLOCK.
Two Campaigns:
One Mission.
One Window.
Nine Years
in the
Making
Seven years of being in the black
Seven consecutive years of positive revenue while expanding opportunity for those who had historically been left out — and the district remained resilient through the COVID-19 pandemic. This is not a struggling district. It is a proven model.
Nine
buildings
One hundred entrepreneurs
Seven consecutive years of revenue. Nine years of community building.
This isn't a struggling organization. It's a proven one — and a targeted one. Two years of deliberate external pressure has created a current crisis.
The Black Block isn't failing. It is being pushed.
One district. The only Black-owned, Black-led, and Black-built mixed-use cultural district in New England. Artist studios, retail, gathering space, housing — all of it community-anchored, all of it in the center of downtown Pawtucket.
Two years of "policing"
Unbelievable costs
A two year uptick in "policing" of Black Block businesses slowed permits, caused business turnover, led to revocation of $300K in grant funds and resulted in a landslide of costs. A receivership process was triggered which necessitates abrupt payment in full of all mortgages, loans & long-term debt of Black Block properties. All the properties must be sold to clear the debt.
One Summer
To Change it all
The 2026 FIFA World Cup and America's 250th Anniversary are both coming to New England this summer. The Block should be ready for that moment —with properties owned & debts paid in full.
Two Fronts. One Fight.
The Black Block Cultural District is here. building. fighting.
Tired of unjust policing, gentrified downtowns,
Black-led efforts systematically undermined?
Two campaigns are running simultaneously — one to get The Block ready for its biggest moment, one to secure the property before it's sold
You don't have to choose which fight matters more.
Both do. Pick your lane.
BACK THE BLOCK
BACK THE BLOCK.
A District Built Through Vision, Ownership, and Community Leadership
The Black Block Cultural District stands as a powerful example of what becomes possible when communities move from participation to ownership.
The Black Block was created by Black Rhode Islanders in response to a stark reality: Rhode Island had been ranked among the worst states in the nation for Black residents to live and thrive. In response, community members came together under the visionary leadership of Urban Missionary Leslie Moore to reimagine what was possible. Through collective vision and determination, and by securing ownership of key properties, empty and underutilized buildings in downtown Pawtucket were transformed into spaces of opportunity, creating room for more than 100 Black, BIPOC, and other local entrepreneurs to pursue business ownership and creative enterprise.
In 2023, sustained community organizing and advocacy led to the establishment of The Black Block Community Foundation, which now serves as the community’s official 501(c)(3) representing organization and steward of The Black Block Cultural District. Today, district leaders are raising funds to prepare for the monumental summer of 2026 while also working to secure long-term community ownership and stability for the buildings that anchor this growing cultural and economic corridor.
Together, we are preparing The Black Block Cultural District to welcome the world while securing its future for generations to come.
Together, we can.
It’s time.