The City of Providence, RI was quiet while programming and events hit a standstill in 2020. The team at The Providence Rink took it upon themselves to breathe life back into the city during the pandemic despite the many challenges they faced during the 2020-2021 winter season. Ice skaters and ice bumper car enthusiasts alike flocked outside to enjoy the recreation and atmosphere at the ice rink. Management adapted to the new-normal of pandemic life by adjusting operating hours, eliminating touch points, and staggering ticket times to manage crowds. As the winter season wound down, the Providence Parks Department faced the challenge of creating continued opportunities for outdoor entertainment. One staff member in particular, Sami Heller Leigh (Assistant Manager) was determined to provide engaging year-round programming for Providence locals and visitors. With the support of Wendy Nilsson (Parks Department Superintendent), Brant Gawrys (City Center Manager), The Providence Rink staff and the Providence Parks Department, Sami Heller Leigh has had the opportunity to directly impact Providence’s post-pandemic rebound.
Sami Heller Leigh interviewed by Robert Reiss The CEO Forum Group
Robert Reiss: How does a 26-year-old view a whole city and the possibilities it presents? What ideas did you come up with?
Sami Heller Leigh: The parks within the City of Providence never fail to inspire me with a myriad of ideas for meaningful opportunities for public engagement. I strive to find creative ways to entice people into Providence parks. One program I implemented is a monthly movie series, Movies @ The Providence Rink. An inflatable movie screen is set up within the 14,000-sq. ft. facility ensuring a safe, accessible, and socially-distant screening experience. I was inspired to provide a space for children and adults to enjoy films in a unique atmosphere. Movies @ The Providence Rink garnered substantial positive feedback. Another success was our summer Roller Disco programming featuring a roller rink in the center of the city with local live music every week, a spinning disco ball, and a beer garden next-door. We had 4,000+ patrons come out from May-October and many can’t wait for next year! I had the pleasure of developing and executing this experience weekly, and it was truly a gift to watch as it gained traction and became a Providence summer staple.
Reiss: So the winter and summer seasons were a great success, what was next?
Leigh: I developed a project at the Michael S. Van Leesten Memorial Bridge with my co-worker and collaborator Abby Lee. The program, Make Your Mark: A Clean Parks Project, aims to improve Providence through mindfulness and action by targeting reduction of littering and vandalism and strategically rerouting affiliated clean-up costs to local artists’ collaborations. In September, we hosted a clean-up event aided by the Rotary Club of Metro Providence. The clean-up was followed by a family-friendly educational event including a StoryWalk™ across the bridge, relevant crafts, and a local artist installation.
Another event I created and executed at the bridge was the Wicked Walk: A Trick-Or-Treat Experience. The event was a free, safe, accessible, and immersive environment for Providence youth to celebrate Halloween. The event featured themed decorated doors lined up across the bridge where participants could approach each door, knock, and authentically trick or treat their way across the bridge. I wanted to elevate the idea of “Trunk-Or-Treat” and bring it to the next level. The event also featured another StoryWalk™, various crafts, and had plenty of treats available. The event was a hit with over 250 costumed attendees and appreciative parents in attendance. I’m excited to watch this event grow year to year!
Reiss: How did you get your job?
Leigh: I was working at a concert venue in Boston when the country shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I spent much of 2020 anxiously waiting and wondering when, or if I would be able to return to the profession I love. After nearly a year of staying home a professor from my alma mater Johnson & Wales University, Kathy Drohan, reached out to me regarding an opportunity at The Providence Rink. I connected with the Rink Manager, Brant Gawrys, and the rest is history!
MORE FOR YOU
Reiss: If we were to meet again in 15 years, what would you like to say you’ve accomplished?
Leigh: In 15 years, I’d like to say that I’ve made a lasting impression through what I have created. The events/programs will have continuously grown and engaged people with every passing year. I will have continued to create and develop quality, meaningful experiences. I’d also like to say that I’ve met my goal of owning a concert venue because everyone deserves to feel the magic that’s created when music, community and a curated experience all come together in harmony. To me, making a positive impact and connecting people is the definition of true success.
