We’re thrilled to introduce you to our new Director of Development, George “Gem” Marley. We hope you’ll read more about them and the work they’ve been doing in the community for many years and see why we’re so excited to have them on board!

We’re also going to terribly miss our Outgoing Director of Development, Ruth Harvey, who has dedicated her life for the past 6 years to work tirelessly on behalf of AS220 and the communities that we serve. Be on the lookout for more from Ruth coming soon, as well as more updates on new staff members that we’ll be introducing.

“I’m thrilled to be joining the AS220 team as Director of Development! I’ve worked in the field of youth development for the past 12 years, as well as working in non-profit development for just about a decade with agencies such as AIDS Care Ocean State, Youth Pride Inc., Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rhode Island and House of Hope CDC.  

I grew up in Rhode Island and, in addition to my passion for collecting local art and animation from the early 90s, I have been a voice in political spaces sharing my story of housing insecurities, mental health, and living with HIV. I have advocated for issues around housing and public health, specifically HIV & Sexual Transmitted Infection (STI) prevention. Along with my partner, Julio E. Berroa, we’ve developed an emerging nonprofit, Haus of Codec. Haus of Codec will serve as an emergency shelter and transitional housing for youth ages 18 to 24 in Providence. We plan to open our doors to our first residents in November of 2021.

One of my greatest accomplishments is taking on the decision to strip nearly $70,000 from the state’s only syringe exchange program, ENCORE. Leveraging relationships with large and small donors alike from across the state, I was able to help save ENCORE and am proud to say the program is still going strong today.

I continue to work in the field of public health through Rhode Island’s HIV and STI Prevention Coalition, hosting the World AIDS Day Candlelight Vigil, and organizing Haus of Codec’s Monthly Art Marketplace at Dexter Park in Providence.

I am excited to bring all of the work I do in the community and join the remarkable team at AS220.”