It’s Bittersweet: CORI’s Farewell Celebration

Incorporated in September 2005, Cornucopia of Rhode Island: A Library Community of Color hosted their last event following a heavy rainfall on Thursday evening September 25, 2025, at the Rhode Island State Library.   The farewell celebration speakers included Rhode Island United States Senator and library champion, Jack Reed, a staunch supporter of CORI since it’s inception.  Senator Reed ‘s congratulatory and auspicious remarks will always remind librarians nationwide how fortunate we are to have his backing.

Rhode Island Congressman Gabe Amo could not attend in person but sent an enthralling short video congratulating and thanking CORI for their work and encouraging the Rhode Island librarians to continue the much-needed library endeavors in their local communities. 

Andrew Sekou Jackson retired executive director Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center, Queens, New York, and past president of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association was the evening featured speaker.  Sekou was also CORI’s very first speaker at the inaugural event in September 2005 and it was most fitting for him to return on Thursday evening, although it was via Zoom due to his teaching schedule. 

Many of the over forty-four guests in attendance were graduates or faculty members from the University of Rhode Island, Master of Library and Information Studies program.   CORI’s co-founder Dr. Michael Havener, a former dean of the GSLIS program, flew in from Florida to join in the farewell festivities and greeted each of them as they were all ecstatic to see him.

Keith W. Stokes, Rhode Island historian laureate and associate director, State of Rhode Island, Division of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion and Los Angles, California poet, Lynda V. E. Crawford completed the evening with their engrossing and stimulating remarks.  Lynda entranced the audience with reciting poetry from her recently published book, Washing Water (World Stage Press, 2024).

During the duration of the evening, a video thread showing various photos of CORI’s events throughout the last twenty years brought back memories.   Former librarian of Congress Dr. Carla Hayden, the first woman and first African American to be appointed Librarian of Congress, and current senior fellow at the Mellon Foundation contacted CORI to express her regrets in not being able to attend the farewell celebration.  Dr. Hayden, a former roommate and close friend of the late CORI co-founder Dr. Donna Gilton, requested that Rhode Island librarians continue to recruit librarians of color to the state.

Cornucopia of Rhode Island would like to thank the Rhode Island Library Association, the School Librarians of Rhode Island, the Office of Library & Information Services, and the Rhode Island library community for their assistance and support throughout the years.  We are grateful to have worked with such an amazing group of colleagues.  Thank you.

Submitted by,

Ida D. McGhee