Fourth of July Celebration

Mr. Stokes is presently Director Business and Development for the City of Providence, Rhode Island.

Mr. Stokes has a long and distinguished career in business and community development, with degrees from Cornell University and the University of Chicago. His past professional positions have included Executive Director of the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation and Executive Director of the Newport County Chamber of Commerce.
 

He has also been an Advisor for Rhode Island with the National Trust for Historic
Preservation and served on numerous local, regional and national business and public boards, including Vice President and Trustee of the Preservation Society for Newport County, Quonset Development Corporation, Rhode Island Foundation and Governor’s Workforce Board. Mr. Stokes is a frequent national, state, and local lecturer in community & regional planning, historic preservation, and interpretation with anexpertise in early African and Jewish American history.
 

Mr. Stokes frequently appears on national historical programs, including C-SPAN, Fox News Legends & Lies, and Ted Talk. Recently, he was the lead researcher and author of “A Matter of Truth” report for the examination and documentation
of the role of the City of Providence and State of Rhode Island in supporting a “Separate and Unequal” existence for African heritage, Indigenous, and people
of color.
 

He has been the recipient of numerous local, state, and national awards, including the United State Small Business Administration - Rhode Island Small Business Advocate of the Year Award, American Sail Training Association Leadership Award, Rhode Island Black Heritage Society’s Fredrick Williamson Award Historic Preservation Award, State of Rhode Island Martin Luther King Keeper of the Dream Award and along with his wife, is the recipient of the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities Prize for Creative Achievement in
the Humanities.