Latino History of Rhode Island

Angel Taveras becomes the first Latino in Rhode Island to run for the 2nd Congressional District seat (March)

Appointed by Mayor Scott Avedisian, Marta V. Martínez, Chairwoman of the Governor's Commission on Hispanic Affairs, became the first Hispanic member of the Warwick Board of Canvassers. (May)

November 7, 2001, Ricardo Patiño makes history in Central Falls by becoming the first Latino to be elected to serve on the City Council.

January 7, 2003, Juán M. Pichardo is sworn in as a state senator representing Providence, Rhode Island’s Senate District 2. He is the first Dominican American and Latino elected to the Rhode Island Senate.

★ Roberto González becomes first Latino Judge in Providence; he is appointed to Providence Housing Court (January 11).

November 2004, Grace Díaz is elected to the Rhode Island House of Representatives to represent District 11 in Providence. She is the first Dominican-­American Latina elected to state office in the history of the United States.

The US Census Bureau opens a Partnership Office in Providence and hires Marta V. Martínez as Latino Partnership Specialist.

A Latino Complete Count Committee is formed with Anna Cano-Morales, Doris de Los Santos and Pablo Rodríguez as Co-Chairs of the LCCC, and together they launch a comprehensive campaign to count Latinos and the hard-to-count communities in Rhode Island.

On November 2, 2011, 40-year-old Angel Taveras is elected as the first Latino and 37th mayor of Providence.

Comite de Salvadoreños en Rhode Island (COSARI) is formed by José Ignacio and Hugo Figueroa, and it becomes a non-profit organization promoting Salvadoran culture. The group is made up of individuals from Central Falls and Pawtucket.

December 11, 2012, 27-year-old James A. Diossa is elected the first Latino mayor in Central Falls. In 2022, he is elected as the first Latino General Treasurer of Rhode Island.

Nellie M. Gorbea is elected as the first Latina Secretary of State of Rhode Island.

Frank Sánchez is appointed as the very first Latino President of Rhode Island College.

Angélica Infante Greene, who is of Dominican heritage, becomes the first Latina appointed as Commissioner of Higher Education at the Rhode Island Dept. of Education (April)

Lammis J. Vargas becomes the City of Cranston's first Latina councilwoman, as well as the only woman and person of color in Cranston City Council. In 2024, she is elected as the first Latina State Senator serving Cranston's District 28.