Alisha A. Pina
In her first major show back since defeating breast cancer, Alisha A. Pina will bring soul to your souls, groove to your sway, and a joyful experience for your memories! She and her friends will serenade the masses with neosoul, jazz and R&B favorites and maybe an original or two. It will be – as it was in PVDFest 2025 – a highlight not to be missed in PVDFest 2026!
East Providence’s own Alisha A. Pina calls herself a blessed curator of words – spoken, written and sung. The national award-winning journalist, community leader and communications strategist is the director of the Rhode Island Interfaith Coalition to Reduce Poverty. As she started that job, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She kept working and healing, and the Coalition had its best year yet with six of its eight priorities accomplished. She uses her numerous talents to spark connection, healing and reflection. She is a former Providence Journal reporter who covered many issues and communities for more than 22 years and is also a past communications director for the state Department of Human Services. She is board president of the Rosa Parks Community Resource Center, in Providence, and founder of Inner Wingspan LLC and IW Entertainment, which aim to help elevate nonprofits, campaigns, artists and others with their communications and marketing needs. Clients include or have included the Rhode Island Foundation, the Racial and Environmental Justice Committee, RI Coalition of Black Women, the Economic Progress Institute, the James Diossa for Treasurer campaign and the Revenue for Rhode Islanders campaign. Alisha is also a singer and spoken word artist known for blending soulful vocals with powerful storytelling, and has performed at major New England events including PVDFest, Juneteenth RI, FundaFest, Afroverse, Verbalization and the Good Trouble rally. This will be her first major show post cancer, and she is excited and ready. Alisha continues to build a body of work of more than 30 years that is rooted in authenticity, equity, faith, resilience and purpose.
