Upcoming Programs & Events
The Alcove Book Club - Wildfire Days by Kelly Ramsey
Join us for the Alcove Book Club, a bi-monthly book club where curiosity is welcome and conversation is encouraged!
Led by historian Amy Schneidhorst Ph.D, the Alcove Book Club meets every other month for an informal discussion of the selected book. Whether you’ve read every page or just a few, you’re warmly invited to join us in The Haven for thoughtful, community-rooted conversation. Leave with a new idea, a new connection, or maybe a new favorite book!
This April, we're reading Wildfire Days by Kelly Ramsey.
"In the exhilarating spirit of Wild and A Walk in the Park, an adventure-filled memoir of one woman’s struggle to succeed as a wildland firefighter on an elite, male-dominated crew as they battle some of the fiercest wildfires in the West.
When Kelly Ramsey drives over a California mountain pass to join an elite firefighting crew, she’s terrified that she won’t be able to keep up with the intense demands of the job. Not only will she be the only woman on this hotshot crew and their first in ten years, she’ll also be among the oldest. As she trains relentlessly to overcome the crew’s skepticism and gain their respect, megafires erupt across the West, posing an increasing danger both on the job and back home. In vivid prose that evokes the majesty of Northern California’s forests, Kelly takes us on the ground to see how major wildfires are fought and to lay bare the psychological toll, the bone-deep weariness, and the unbreakable camaraderie that emerge in the face of nature’s fury.
Despite the wear and tear of her rookie year in fire, Kelly gears up for a second season, determined to prove that not only can a woman survive this work, she can excel. But when her plans to marry her partner start to crumble and sparks fly with a fellow crew member, Kelly wrestles with whether she’s truly outgrown the self-destructive patterns she’s learned from her father, whose drinking and itinerant ways haunt her. And as the season wears on, she discovers how tenuous “belonging” can be amid ever-changing crew dynamics.
In this vivid, visceral, and intimate memoir, Kelly wrestles with the immense power of fire for both destruction and renewal, confronted with the questions: Which fires do you fight, and which do you let burn you clean?”
Can't make it to this meeting? No worries! You can join us for future book club sessions:
June 6th, 2026 - Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson by Tourmaline
August 8th, 2026 - Love Queenie by Marukh Seh
October 10th, 2026 - Mango and Peppercorns by Tung Nguyen
December 12th, 2026 - Joy Goddess by A'lelia Bundles
Questions? Email Khamry at khamry.varfley@alcoveri.org
Beyond the Bio - Speaker Series: Dr. Chanda Womack
Real People. Real Stories. Real Connections.
Gather with us for Beyond the Bio, a free speaker series featuring women and gender expansive people from Rhode Island and beyond. Each event offers space for deep listening and meaningful conversation. Expect powerful storytelling, audience Q+A, and a chance to meet speakers in an intimate, community-centered setting.
This month, we’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Chanda Womack—organizer, educator, mom of two, and Founding Executive Director of ARISE. Born in a refugee camp in Thailand and raised in Providence, Chanda’s story spans generations, geographies, and deep community-rooted work. She shows up with heart and unapologetic power, and her work on identity as a tool for liberation is as inspiring as it is urgent. Come listen, ask questions, and stick around afterwards to chat in a cozy, intimate setting.
This is a free, ticketed event. Suggested donations of $5-10 per ticket helps support free public programs for women and gender expansive people.
The Alcove is grateful to our community of members and supporters whose generosity makes free, public programs like this one possible. Together, we create space to thrive.
Founders and Inventors: Opening Reception
Join us for a special Artist’s Reception on January 15 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at The Alcove!
Join us for a special Artist Reception celebrating our inaugural Portrait Gallery exhibition, Founders and Inventors Who Shaped Our World. Meet the artists behind the work, hear directly about their creative process, and celebrate the visionaries featured in our inaugural exhibition.
Light refreshments will be served, and all are welcome.
AGONZA, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, 2024
The Alcove - Grand Opening
The Alcove (formerly Gather RI) opens its doors—Saturday, January 10, 2026!
Don't miss this historic moment as The Alcove officially opens its doors to our community—help us plan by registering your interest on Eventbrite today.
Event Highlights:
12 p.m. Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
2 p.m. Live Performance by the Raging Grannies of Rhode Island, who will share the history of their group and perform uplifting songs about community and the importance of gathering together
1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Guided tours of the Portrait Gallery exhibition Founders and Inventors Who Shaped Our World and the Biographical Library with our Inaugural Curator & Program Manager
Ongoing throughout The Alcove:
Bring gently used winter items (coats, scarves, gloves, hats) to support the lifesaving work of Sojourner House
Create a commemorative bookmark to take home in the Biographical Library
Share words of wisdom and inspiration for other women and gender expansive people
Enjoy cookies and a hot cocoa bar in our second-floor Haven
Parking
Free neighborhood and street parking is available near The Alcove but may be limited. Parking in the neighboring lot at 201 Broadway is prohibited and may result in towing.
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