Angel Taveras for Mayor of Providence - About Angel

Providence attorney and former Housing Court Judge Angel Taveras grew up on the South Side of Providence, where he attended Head Start before entering the Providence Public Schools, and went on to graduate with honors from Harvard University.

Before pursuing his lifelong dream of attending law school, Angel leveraged a fellowship award to create an after-school program and summer day camp at the Elmwood Community Center.  After obtaining his law degree from Georgetown University, Angel  returned to Providence to practice at the prestigious firm of Brown Rudnick Berlack Israels LLP.

In 1999, Angel participated in a four-way congressional primary and garnered the support of nearly 6,000 voters in the state’s Second Congressional District.  Describing his rise from Head Start to Harvard as the fulfillment of the American Dream, the Providence Journal declared that Angel’s strong showing “was the election’s only surprise."

Angel then returned to private practice and later started his own small business, Taveras Law, a practice based in Providence where Angel has established himself as an esteemed litigator and a well-respected civic advocate - especially in the field of voter disenfranchisement

Angel has also demonstrated a profound commitment to public service.  In addition to the Echoing Green Fellowship at the Elmwood Community Center, Angel was a founding board member of New Urban Arts, served on the board of the Providence Plan, and on the International Institute’s Board of Advisors. He graduated from Leadership Rhode Island in 1999.  He has also served on the national advisory board of Genesis Stars with Congresswoman Maxine Waters and was a participant in the Congress for the New Urbanism.

In 2007, Angel was appointed by Mayor David N. Cicilline to serve as an Associate Judge on the Providence Housing Court and was twice confirmed by the Providence City Council. During his tenure on the court, Judge Taveras was instrumental in the development of systems to support homeowners dealing with foreclosure, to streamline the interaction between Inspectors and the Housing Court and to improve the code enforcement tracking system.

With the City of Providence at a crossroads, Angel understands the critical need to build upon the momentum already underway in Providence.  Together, his life story, his public service and his professional experience have prepared Angel to lead Providence towards a brighter future of increased opportunity and vitality.