Crossroads Rhode Island Announces New Board Members

PROVIDENCE, RI — Crossroads Rhode Island, the state’s leading provider of housing and services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, announced the addition of nine new members to its board of directors. Five board members were elected to the board during last night’s annual meeting. The other four were voted onto the board earlier this year.

“I am always inspired by Crossroads’ ability to effectively help homeless and at-risk individuals, couples and families secure and maintain safe, respectable, stable homes. Crossroads’ vision and values, which prioritize safety, respect and effectiveness, demonstrate that the path to ending homelessness in Rhode Island starts by providing greater access to housing and supportive services to the state’s most vulnerable individuals and families,” said Julie Duffy, Board Chair of Crossroads Rhode Island. “It is a challenging time for our clients, and I am excited to welcome this dynamic and diverse collection of civic leaders to our board. Their voices and perspectives will help get us closer to our goal of ending homelessness across Rhode Island.”

“As Crossroads continues to work diligently to address the homelessness crisis, I am delighted to welcome our nine new board members,” said Karen Santilli, CEO of Crossroads Rhode Island. “Each of our new members understands that housing is the only solution to homelessness, and expanding housing requires our full focus as a state. These dynamic leaders have proven throughout their successful and impactful careers that they are ready to bring the focus necessary to make positive, long-lasting change for those experiencing homelessness in our state.”

Crossroads owns and manages nearly 400 permanent supportive apartments statewide and has taken proactive measures to develop approximately 375 additional apartments over the next several years, including a first-of-its-kind development on Pine Street in Providence that will provide housing and 24/7 case management services for 35 medically vulnerable individuals who have experienced homelessness. In addition, Crossroads will begin site remediation work later this year to allow for the construction of a new apartment complex on Summer Street. Once complete, the Summer Street Apartments will include 176 studio and one-bedroom apartments for individuals currently living in single-room occupancy apartments at 160 Broad Street.

Last year, Crossroads provided more than 4,000 men, women, and children with housing and related services. As a result of those efforts, nearly 1,200 adults and children secured a new place to call home and an additional 1,100 adults and children maintained their housing.

Crossroads’ Board of Directors is composed of 40+ civic, business, advocacy, and government leaders from across Rhode Island.

Newly Appointed Crossroads Board Members

• Greg Almieda has over 20 years of experience in the diversity and inclusion space and is the Founder & CEO of Global View Communications, an inclusion business strategy firm. GVC helps their partners align diversity and inclusion initiatives to improve culture and performance.
• Stacie B. Collier is Nixon Peabody’s first Chief Talent Officer. In this role, Stacie focuses on growing and enhancing the firm’s legal talent, driving diversity, equity, and inclusion, and developing and cultivating its people and distinctive culture. In her law practice, she is a co-chair of the firm’s cross- disciplinary Diversity Equity and Inclusion Strategies group, assisting clients in assessing their DEI strategies and navigating these and other labor challenges and priorities. She also exclusively represents management in the resolution of employment-related disputes before state and federal courts and administrative agencies.
• Jill DeShiro is the Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Financial Officer of Centreville Bank. She has been with Centreville Bank since 2011 and is a key member of the executive team overseeing strategic planning, growth objectives and financial positioning. Jill is also a recipient of the Providence Business News 40 Under Forty award.
• James A. Diossa was elected Rhode Island General Treasurer in November 2022. Treasurer Diossa is committed to serving as a responsible and active steward, protecting the livelihoods of our current and future pensioners, and promoting economic growth by expanding opportunities for all Rhode Islanders through thoughtful, transparent, and equity-focused leadership. Previously, Treasurer Diossa was the Mayor of Central Falls.
• Eugenio Fernandez Jr. is the founder of Asthenis, a public health hub with a built-in pharmacy. Asthenis is located in Wiggin Village, an affordable housing complex in the West End of Providence, RI. The purpose of the Asthenis model is to bridge gaps in health equity. Fernandez does so by leveraging the use of the built-in pharmacy to provide free public health guidance and health education. Asthenis was among the first pharmacies in the nation to administer COVID-19 vaccinations. Fernandez designed and led the safe and efficient administration of COVID-19 vaccines to tens of thousands of Rhode Islanders.
• Helena Buonanno Foulkes previously served as CEO of Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC), where she led a significant transformation of the business and created a path to successful privatization. Prior to HBC, Foulkes spent 25 years at CVS Health, most recently as President of CVS Pharmacy. At CVS Health, she led the strategic vision as well as the operations for all aspects of the company’s retail business and was the principal architect of the company’s move to becoming a globally recognized leader in healthcare.
• Brian J. Murphy is the Chairman and CEO of Home Loan Investment Bank, a family-owned federal savings bank headquartered in Warwick, RI, where he oversees the day-to-day operations as well as strategic and long-range planning.
• David Nastro joined Morgan Stanley in 1992 and has been Head of the Global Power, Utilities & Renewables Group since 2007. The Investment Banking Group works with the firm’s electric, gas, water and clean energy clients on mergers and acquisitions, strategic advisory assignments and public and private capital markets transactions.
• Keith Kelly currently serves as President of Citizens Bank in Rhode Island where he is responsible for the Bank’s Corporate Banking business and engagement with local civic, business, and community state leaders. Keith has worked in Rhode Island for 26 years and has led the R.I. Corporate Banking team for the last seven years.