Kinte Howie, ’19
Human Development and Family Studies
The first thing that might surprise you about Kinte Howie, a sophomore human development and family studies major, is that he speaks Japanese, which he began studying in high school in Providence. You might also be surprised to learn that he has abandoned long-held political aspirations to one day become an Episcopal priest.
While taking Japanese and pursuing early childhood development studies keep him busy, Howie also is an RA at Fayerweather residence hall and a founding member of the new student group, URI Solidarity Collective. He said the group’s mission is to stand in solidarity with all students regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, religion or sexuality. “We want to make sure students here feel safe, despite what is going on in the outside world,” he explained.
At first, his interests might seem to have little in common, but Howie sees his passions as complimentary. His activism began in high school with the statewide organization Young Voices, which empowers teens to become civic leaders. He spoke out against standardized testing, addressed state leaders on ways to improve public education and joined a successful effort to keep a high school open in South Providence. He also was a camp counselor and teacher of children in kindergarten and first grade at a community organization in Providence providing services to low-income families.
“They had been through a lot,” he said of the children. “To work with kids that had real-life issues really opened my eyes.”
Howie also is a strong proponent of quality education and hopes to focus on religious teaching when he becomes a priest. “I didn’t grow up as an Episcopalian (he joined at age 12), so I have a different view on religious education. It is not presented in a way that resonates with kids,” he said. “I had private confirmation lessons. I want other kids to have that kind of deep experience.”
The ambitious young man attributes his well-roundedness to the influence of his family, particularly his mom and step-mom, both graduates of URI.