PFLAG Greater Providence Honors Rodney P. Davis
with the 2025 Myra B. Shays Making a Difference Award
October 20, 2025 PFLAG Greater Providence Annual Meeting
Arctic Playhouse, West Warwick, RI
L-R: Ron Richard, PFLAG Greater Providence Chapter President, Rodney P. Davis, and Barbara Shays, daughter of Myra Shays.
At our Annual Meeting on October 20, 2025 PFLAG Greater Providence had the great honor to present the 2025 Myra B. Shays Making a Difference Award to Rodney P. Davis, President of RI Pride.
The Myra B. Shays Making a Difference Award was established in 2018 to honor and recognize the work of PFLAG Greater Providence’s founder, Myra B. Shays our first recipient of this award. It is awarded to a person in the LGBTQ+ community who exemplifies the qualities Myra B. Shays represented daily during her tenure at Greater Providence PFLAG; integrity, credibility, and a passion for improving the lives of our members and individuals in the LGBTQ+ community.
She was a graduate of Tufts University Class of 1953 and later became a paralegal working in New York City and then in Providence until her retirement in 2001. Myra was deeply committed to the Jewish organizations where she lived on Long Island, in New York City, and in the Providence area.
Myra was never one to stand on the sidelines. In 1982 she joined the NYC chapter of PFLAG, helping to provide a welcoming and enlightening space for families and friends of LGBTQ+ individuals. After moving to Rhode Island, Myra founded the Providence PFLAG chapter in 1998. She established its Board of Directors, led monthly meetings to support parents and families, and grew the chapter’s presence in the area for the following 15 years.
Myra’s tireless efforts extended far beyond the walls of our organization. Myra believed in showing up for what matters. She was a writer and editor with OPTIONS Magazine, a public educator with Living Wills and Health Care Proxies, a responder on the GLBT Helpline, and a judge for the Annual Academic Decathlon. She was a formidable advocate, educating the public on LGBTQ+ issues and relentlessly championing the rights of the LGBTQ+ community at the State legislature. Her persistence and tenacity were legendary; she was a force to be reckoned with and someone to whom "No" was simply not an option.
Through her leadership, countless families found solace and guidance during challenging times. Her passion for advocacy created a ripple effect, influencing societal attitudes and fostering a more inclusive and accepting environment. Her vision and perseverance have left an indelible mark on our community, and her spirit will continue to inspire us in our ongoing mission to support and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community.
Candidates for this award should:
PFLAG Greater Providence is honored to present the 2025 Myra B. Shays Making a Difference Award to Rodney P. Davis.
Rodney Davis is a communications and marketing strategist, event producer, and passionate activist of LGBTQIA+ rights, social justice, and civil rights. Born and raised in Newport, Rodney began his journey in activism in Providence in the early 1990s after leaving the Jehovah’s Witnesses organization—an experience that marked the beginning of his lifelong commitment to community and equity.
Rodney plays a pivotal role in the Rhode Island Alliance, serving as both president and vice president, where he championed LGBTQIA+ civil rights. However, he is perhaps best know for more than two decades of leadership with Rhode Island Pride—first as co-chair and president, and later as strategic advisor. After stepping down in 2013, Rodney returned to the organization in 2021, where he and the all-volunteer team successfully produced the largest RI PrideFest and Illuminated Night Parade in history in June 2024.
Beyond Pride, Rodney has been a consistent force for change in Rhode Island. He served on the African American Ambassadors Group with the City of Providence and was co-facilitator and contributing artist for the All Black Lives Matter mural at Kennedy Plaza. His deep dedication to racial and social equity continues through his role as chair of the Providence Municipal Reparations Commission, where he helps shape one of the most historic equity-focused initiatives in the city’s history.
Rodney is a proud graduate of Rogers High School in Newport and an alumnus of the Leadership Rhode Island Alpha II Class. He earned his degree from College Unbound as a Diversity Leadership Scholar, where he now serves as a mentor to fellow adult learners and community leaders.
Professionally, Rodney has led marketing and communications for several mission-driven organizations, including his work as Director of Communications at Big Picture Learning and, most recently, as Senior Content and Production Manager at United Way of Rhode Island. In fall 2025, he will be launching a bold new venture—RPD Creative Foundry, a communications and creative strategy studio where strategy and impact are forged, rooted in equity, culture, and community.
Rodney lives in Western Coventry with his partner of over 20 years, Brian Mills, along with their rescue Pit Bull Terriers Beau and Bronx, their cat Jackson, and a brook of happy hens.
The Myra B. Shays Making a Difference Award was established in 2018 to honor and recognize the work of PFLAG Greater Providence’s founder, Myra B. Shays our first recipient of this award. It is awarded to a person in the LGBTQ+ community who exemplifies the qualities Myra B. Shays represented daily during her tenure at Greater Providence PFLAG; integrity, credibility, and a passion for improving the lives of our members and individuals in the LGBTQ+ community.
She was a graduate of Tufts University Class of 1953 and later became a paralegal working in New York City and then in Providence until her retirement in 2001. Myra was deeply committed to the Jewish organizations where she lived on Long Island, in New York City, and in the Providence area.
Myra was never one to stand on the sidelines. In 1982 she joined the NYC chapter of PFLAG, helping to provide a welcoming and enlightening space for families and friends of LGBTQ+ individuals. After moving to Rhode Island, Myra founded the Providence PFLAG chapter in 1998. She established its Board of Directors, led monthly meetings to support parents and families, and grew the chapter’s presence in the area for the following 15 years.
Myra’s tireless efforts extended far beyond the walls of our organization. Myra believed in showing up for what matters. She was a writer and editor with OPTIONS Magazine, a public educator with Living Wills and Health Care Proxies, a responder on the GLBT Helpline, and a judge for the Annual Academic Decathlon. She was a formidable advocate, educating the public on LGBTQ+ issues and relentlessly championing the rights of the LGBTQ+ community at the State legislature. Her persistence and tenacity were legendary; she was a force to be reckoned with and someone to whom "No" was simply not an option.
Through her leadership, countless families found solace and guidance during challenging times. Her passion for advocacy created a ripple effect, influencing societal attitudes and fostering a more inclusive and accepting environment. Her vision and perseverance have left an indelible mark on our community, and her spirit will continue to inspire us in our ongoing mission to support and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community.
Candidates for this award should:
- Demonstrate an unwavering commitment to, and understanding of, the LGBTQ+ community.
- Be dedicated to education and advocacy for members of the LGBTQ+ community.
- Display diplomatic skills and a natural affinity for cultivating relationships among diverse individuals throughout the LGBTQ+ community.
- Impact the experience of the Greater Providence LGBTQ+ community on a personal, local, state, and/or national level.
- Change the visibility of Greater Providence LGBTQ+ communities on a local, state, and/or national level.
- Positively impact the Greater Providence LGBTQ+ community overall.
PFLAG Greater Providence is honored to present the 2025 Myra B. Shays Making a Difference Award to Rodney P. Davis.
Rodney Davis is a communications and marketing strategist, event producer, and passionate activist of LGBTQIA+ rights, social justice, and civil rights. Born and raised in Newport, Rodney began his journey in activism in Providence in the early 1990s after leaving the Jehovah’s Witnesses organization—an experience that marked the beginning of his lifelong commitment to community and equity.
Rodney plays a pivotal role in the Rhode Island Alliance, serving as both president and vice president, where he championed LGBTQIA+ civil rights. However, he is perhaps best know for more than two decades of leadership with Rhode Island Pride—first as co-chair and president, and later as strategic advisor. After stepping down in 2013, Rodney returned to the organization in 2021, where he and the all-volunteer team successfully produced the largest RI PrideFest and Illuminated Night Parade in history in June 2024.
Beyond Pride, Rodney has been a consistent force for change in Rhode Island. He served on the African American Ambassadors Group with the City of Providence and was co-facilitator and contributing artist for the All Black Lives Matter mural at Kennedy Plaza. His deep dedication to racial and social equity continues through his role as chair of the Providence Municipal Reparations Commission, where he helps shape one of the most historic equity-focused initiatives in the city’s history.
Rodney is a proud graduate of Rogers High School in Newport and an alumnus of the Leadership Rhode Island Alpha II Class. He earned his degree from College Unbound as a Diversity Leadership Scholar, where he now serves as a mentor to fellow adult learners and community leaders.
Professionally, Rodney has led marketing and communications for several mission-driven organizations, including his work as Director of Communications at Big Picture Learning and, most recently, as Senior Content and Production Manager at United Way of Rhode Island. In fall 2025, he will be launching a bold new venture—RPD Creative Foundry, a communications and creative strategy studio where strategy and impact are forged, rooted in equity, culture, and community.
Rodney lives in Western Coventry with his partner of over 20 years, Brian Mills, along with their rescue Pit Bull Terriers Beau and Bronx, their cat Jackson, and a brook of happy hens.