In wake of tragedy, Brown community comes together to celebrate and thank Providence

A visible show of love was also central to the effort, said Matthew Guterl, Brown's vice president for diversity and inclusion. with posters displayed in campus windows, a digital billboard and a projection of "Brown Loves Providence" illuminating the Lindemann Performing Arts Center along Angell Street.

"For months, we were surrounded by signs of Providence's love for Brown," Guterl said. "Seeing that reflected back - in handwritten notes, on billboards and projected onto the Lindemann - was incredibly powerful. But what mattered most was watching members of our community out in neighborhoods across the city, showing up in person and returning that love."

Many expressed gratitude through everyday choices, supporting Providence businesses and nonprofits through local spending and donations. Most did so independently, while 116 participants submitted receipts through a "donate and shop locally" giveaway, generating $5,542 in spending at area businesses. Others purchased special campaign apparel with 100% of net proceeds going back to the Providence community.

For Stefanie Graff, associate professor of medicine at Brown's Warren Alpert Medical School, that meant being intentional about where she shopped.

"After Dec. 13, I loaded up the kids and went to Trader Joe's for our weekly groceries," Graff said. "It's not my usual neighborhood store, but after learning that they opened their break room to Brown students - offering them a place to gather, have a snack and stay warm - that's community. Part of Brown Loves Providence is showing up for the businesses that showed up for us."

Ongoing connections between Brown and Providence

Messages of gratitude for the Providence community were shared widely across Brown social media channels, including posts from leaders at Brown's Pembroke Center for Teaching and Research on Women, who wrote:

"We are lucky to be located in Providence and are grateful for strong relationships with so many community partners - from Allegra, the local print shop that produces our materials, to Sydney Café, where ideas are exchanged and work takes shape, to the Providence Public Library, a trusted and valued collaborator. These partnerships enrich our work, strengthen our connection to the city, and remind us that what we do is deeply rooted in community. Thank you, Providence."

That same spirit of appreciation and connection shaped volunteer efforts across the city. During "Reading Week" at Providence's Alfred Lima Elementary School, the Brown University Library recruited more than a dozen volunteers from across campus to read in classrooms and spend time with students. In total, Brown staff and students contributed time and support to 19 classrooms that week - roughly one-quarter of the school's 80 total visits, according to Tasha White, library media specialist for the school.

"Reading Week is about more than books," White said. "It's about sharing joy and stories across our community. When guests from places like Brown step into our classrooms, our students feel seen, valued and inspired."

For Brown junior Danny Thompson, spending time reading with local kids was a joyful way to say 'thank you' to a city that supported the University through a difficult time.

"On the morning of Dec. 14, I walked to the Ratty unsure of what the state of our university would be," Thompson said. "Then I looked to my right and saw the words 'Ever True' carved into the snow. Though a small gesture, it embodied the strength and unity of our community. In the following days and weeks, Providence has been there for us at every step, offering unwavering love and support. Brown Loves Providence is a way to thank those who have done so much for us - and to show that same spirit back to the city."