Legendary is what most people would call Mr. James (Jim) Vincent. From his youth, Mr. Vincent has sought to correct injustice. Yet, his style was never brazen, but diplomatically sophisticated. James grew up in Boston’s South End neighborhood, which was impacted by urban renewal efforts in the 1960s. This sparked his interest in government and urban planning, leading him to study government and city planning in college. He began his career at the Boston Redevelopment Authority, the same entity that had impacted his family, and went on to work in housing and community development roles in Boston and Rhode Island, including serving as president of the Urban League of Rhode Island and the NAACP Providence branch.
James discussed his transition from housing to working at the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA), first as a civil rights’ officer, and then as a community outreach officer. He explained that this move was due to changes and layoffs at Rhode Island Housing, during the foreclosure crisis, and that RIPTA was interested in his civil rights’ expertise.
When asked what advice he would give to someone interested in working in civil rights today, James recommended partnering with organizations like the Black Lives Matter PAC, the Economic Progress Institute, and Kids Count. He suggested volunteering, serving on boards or committees, and reaching out to experienced civil rights leaders like himself, to get advice and guidance.
