To the Editor:
It was a pleasure to participate in last Wednesday’s Brown University mayoral debate (“Elorza, Harrop target Cianci’s record,” Oct. 16). As an institution that competes to attract the best and brightest students and faculty members in the world to Providence, Brown has a big stake in our city’s future. Like all residents, students want to live in a safe community that provides opportunities to experience great local art, music and food. At the same time, our city benefits when talented and civically engaged students live in our neighborhoods and choose to make Providence their home after graduation.
As mayor, I’ll work to strengthen the relationship between Brown and the city of Providence and to provide more opportunities for students to become active members of our community. My plan to create full-service community schools will actively seek the participation of Brown students who want to work directly with children in the Providence schools. Because students are more likely to live in the city where they have worked, I will promote broadly accessible internship programs to retain graduates and reverse the “brain drain.” I’ve also introduced a citywide broadband plan to provide the infrastructure for an innovative knowledge economy that will support young entrepreneurs.
There are no shortage of ways for us to work together, and as mayor, I’m committed to doing exactly that.
Jorge Elorza
Democratic candidate for mayor
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