About Us

“We are All About Creating a Sense of Togetherness for Our Community”

Our Story

Our journey began in 2004, sparked by a simple yet powerful desire: to bridge the gaps in culturally relevant health and food access.

Over the years, AARI has successfully launched community gardens, health and wellness programs, a 6-acre farm in Johnston, and cultural events that celebrate and preserve African traditions.

We invite you to be a part of our journey. No matter who you are, there is always a place for you in the AARI village.

See Our Programs

Driven by Results

We believe in creating tangible value for our community and its members. As we push ourselves further in pursuit of growth, we are inspired by the impact we provide to the place and people around us.

Our annual "Report Card" showcases the tangible difference we make each year in the lives of our community members, alongside the impact of our work, program outcomes, and our vision for the future.

See Our Impact

Our Mission

AARI is all about creating a sense of belonging and togetherness through our core pillars of food, culture, art, and health.

Our Vision

A Rhode Island that has everything a self-sustaining African community needs to thrive while staying connected to its roots, and forging new paths forward.

Our Values

Our organization is guided by values of cultural pride, community, health equity, and belonging—principles that shape every program we run, market we host, and relationship we build.

“AARI was created in the sense of when an African arrives in this state [there] is still an aspiration to make one phone call and be able to know where to find plantain and know where to find bananas and yuca … and yam, and things like that. Because an immigrant misses mostly two things, the food and the family.”

—Julius Kolawole,

Executive Director, AARI