Joshua Luis Pereira for East Providence City Council Seat Ward 2

The City of East Providence, Ward 2, publicizes its first announcement for City Council Ward 2 in this 2018 election season. Joshua Luis Pereira, born and raised in East Providence, will formally announce his bid to become the City Councilman for Ward 2 on March 1st at 6:30 pm at an event to be held at the Cape Verdean Social Club, 329 Grosvenor Avenue, East Providence, Rhode Island. Joshua is married to Nancy, his high school sweetheart. Together they are the proud parents of Hailey and Aiden. Joshua is the Executive Pastor at Saving Grace Worship Center; he is a local small business owner; an employee for the Pawtucket Police Department; and the PTA President of the Emma G. Whiteknact Elementary School.

Aside from being the Executive Pastor of Saving Grace Worship Center, where he also provides counseling services, Joshua is a Computer Operations Specialist for the Pawtucket Police Department. In his time working for the Police Department, he has cut many budget items by up to 50% by renegotiating existing contracts and negotiating the best possible prices on new products and services. He has been instrumental in implementing new innovative technology making the Pawtucket Police Department one of the most technologically advanced departments in the state. He is also a member of Local 3960 (Council 94) Professional & Technical Union and was part of the negotiating team for the last contract.

Joshua is a local business owner having started his first company, Joshua Luis Enterprises, LLC comprised of two divisions – Out of Eden Landscaping, in 2009, and The Carpenter’s Son Painting & Carpentry, in 2016. In 2014, he and a business partner opened the doors to Scarlet Realty & Property Management – all based in the City of East Providence. As the President of the Whiteknact PTA for the past two years, Joshua has reorganized the PTA and has driven it to meet new and important initiatives. He has led the PTA in providing more services for the Whiteknact Elementary students and, recently, made an appearance to the School Committee as an advocate for a playground, as Whiteknact is the only school in the district without one. This resulted in the School Committee earmarking $25K towards this initiative.

Joshua Luis Pereira is a product of East Providence and attributes many of his accomplishments to his Townie upbringing. He was a student of Whiteknact Elementary School, Martin Middle School and in 2006 graduated from East Providence High School. He graduated from Rhode Island College with a B.A. in Psychology and Justice Studies and is currently enrolled in Omega Bible Institute and Seminary to obtain his Masters of Divinity. Joshua and his family are excited to embark on this new journey together.

“I am excited for the potential opportunity to serve my fellow Townie’s and to fight to secure our future. I grew up in this city, went to the same elementary school my children attend, as well as the same middle and high school they will attend in the future. I believe we need to secure a future for the next generation in this city, which includes restructuring our spending in order to control the cost of living here, rebuild and repair our schools, and improve the city's business climate - making it more inviting for entrepreneurs and small businesses to thrive here in East Providence.”