Ocean State Stories: Six Remarkable Rhode Islanders

Every Rhode Islander has a story, and some of the state’s most inspiring people have shared theirs through Ocean State Stories. Join journalist G. Wayne Miller for a fascinating look at six influential Rhode Islanders he has interviewed, whose lives and work have made a lasting impact on our communities. Meet healthcare leaders, a musician, advocates, and changemakers as you hear the compelling stories they shared about overcoming challenges, serving others, preserving culture, advancing medicine, and enriching life in the Ocean State. Through these personal encounters, you'll gain a deeper appreciation for the people shaping Rhode Island today and the remarkable stories that often go untold.

The six influential Rhode Islanders:

• Alison Croke, head of Wood River Health, headquartered in Hopkinton, with centers in Westerly and on Block Island
• Linda Hurley, President and CEO, CODAC Behavioral Healthcare
• Mark Cutler, musician, opened on Sunday, Newport Folk Festival
• Jo Detz, publisher of ecoRI News
• Omar Bah, executive director, Refugee Dream Center in Providence
• Lorén M. Spears, enrolled Narragansett Tribal Nation citizen and Executive Director of the Tomaquag Museum

G. Wayne Miller is the author of 22 published books. He is also an award-winning journalist, filmmaker, screenwriter and director of OceanStateStories.org, a non-profit, non-partisan news publication based at Salve’s Pell Center for International Relations and Public Policy. Miller co-produces and occasionally co-hosts the national Telly-winning PBS TV and SiriusXM show “Story in the Public Square.” A full-time journalist since 1978, Miller has been honored for his work more than 50 times and was a member of The Providence Journal team that was a finalist for the 2004 Pulitzer Prize in Public Service. Visit him at gwaynemiller.com.