Rick Rodriguez is an active member of Young Voices, a leadership program that provides public speaking training to urban youth on issues most relevant to them.  Since joining Young Voices, a partner of Start Strong Providence, Rick has testified on legislation at the State House on a myriad of youth issues from drop-out prevention to lowering the voting age in Rhode Island. He has also been highlighted as the keynote speaker at a variety of community events.

Rick became involved with Young Voices because he wanted to become a part of the solution rather than the problem. Before he joined the program, Rick was considering dropping out of high school. Today Rick is a role model for younger teens in his community.

Rick was selected to be a part teen leader for Start Strong Providence because he genuinely cares about preventing relationship violence. Growing up in one of Providence’s most violent neighborhoods, and witnessing intimate partner violence within his home, Rick is committed to becoming a valuable part of Start Strong.