“I am running, not only for my three children, but for your children too. I am committed to being the voice for parents and families who are suffering in silence and feel unrepresented.”

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Aniece Germain has announced her candidacy for Cranston City Council to represent Ward 2.

Aniece, of Dale Avenue, has long been an engaged parent advocate for Cranston schools, an active member of her church parish, and has served as a volunteer board member for numerous community organizations. Aniece has lived in Cranston with her husband Dr Norly Germain and their three children since 2009. As an immigrant and community leader, she knows the challenges faced by the residents of Cranston.

When she escaped her home country of Haiti over a decade ago fleeing violence, Aniece chose to rebuild her life in Cranston. “I have lived on both sides of Cranston – West and East. My three children attend Cranston public schools. I have witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of educational inequities in our schools, especially for students with disabilities. I care deeply about improving quality and access to healthcare, gun safety, reproductive justice, affordable housing, income inequality, and mitigating climate change. Above all, my campaign is focused on improving our school culture and raising the bar for all of our students across the city.”

“I am committed to ensuring every child has the same access to a quality, safe, and rigorous education that prepares them for success in life after school, regardless of where they live in the city. I want to bring my perspective as a mother, immigrant, and someone who cares deeply about our community to the Cranston City Council and work collaboratively to end the systemic inequalities in our schools. I am running, not only for my three children, but for your children too. I am committed to being the voice for parents and families who are suffering in silence and feel unrepresented.”

“Too many Cranston residents are strangers in their own city because of their economic status, religion, gender, and race. We live in a wonderfully diverse community and unfortunately, many people are being left out of the decision-making process. I am running to give them a voice in our government. We should welcome a diversity of perspectives and opinions as an asset, and leverage these differences to make our city one that brings everyone together, and supports people to prosper.”

Cranston City Councilor Lammis Vargas said, “I can’t think of a better candidate to represent the residents of Ward 2 than Aniece Germain, who is not only a mother of three children in our Cranston School system, but also has been a local and state-wide advocate for our children, gun safety in our schools, women’s rights, the immigrant community, and the protection of our environment. She is a hard working woman who is always ensuring we all have a seat at the table, and will be an asset to the Cranston City Council where diversity is much needed, now more than ever.”

Suzanne Arena, Ward 2 resident and Founder at Decoding Dyslexia RI shared, “I believe in the work that Aniece Germain has done to bring together our community. She has been involved, available, and understands the issues that are important to the people of Cranston. We need competent representation in City Hall, and Aniece has demonstrated in many ways that she would make an excellent representative for the people of Ward 2 in Cranston. That is why I support Aniece for City Council.

Ward 2 resident and local community organizer with the Cranston Action Network, Elizabeth Morlani shared her experience with Aniece, “Aniece and I have been neighbors for many years. During this time, I have witnessed her dedication to making Cranston a positive place to live. She is invested in the next generation of Cranston by volunteering for the schools, by advocating for equity in the school system, and by raising three amazing sons. Though she has been an effective community leader for many years, a seat on City Council will further allow her to uplift the voices of underrepresented residents of Cranston. I feel fortunate to have Aniece Germain as my neighbor. It would be an honor to have her as my City Councilor.”

Aniece is the Co-Founder and Assistant Executive Director of Hope and Change for Haiti, a nonprofit that improves the lives of others through community development and advocacy. She has served on the board of various community organizations including the NAACP Providence Branch, the RI National Organization for Women (RI NOW), the African Alliance of Rhode Island (AARI), and Cranston Action Network (CAN). She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Policy from Boston College. Aniece holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Communication and Journalism and has an Associate’s degree in Paralegal. Further, Aniece completed a Level II Certified Nonviolent Trainer from the Center for Nonviolence and Peace Studies at the University of Rhode Island.

“It is the highest priority of a city councilor to ensure that everyone in the community is represented in the decision-making process,” said Aniece. “It is the job of a City Councilor to encourage participation by the public, relying on their experience and expertise to guide public policy. In this unprecedented time of a simultaneous public health crisis and inequity, we need people with new perspectives who will lead system change. These challenges are complex, but when we include everyone in the process and have a diversity of thoughts and experiences, we get better and sustainable solutions. I want to put those ideas to work – improving our schools and creating a more inclusive and equitable city government. We need to work together to make the change we want. I promise to always listen and ensure that your voice is heard.”

[From a press release]