was an exceptional community leader, especially committed to improving the lives of African Americans through fighting against voter discrimination and suppression, teaching African-American history, founding the landmark Occupational Industrialization Center (OIC) of Providence, and pushing for a larger enrollment of African-Americans in higher education.
His impact is commemorated with the 2020 renaming of The Providence River Pedestrian Bridge to The Michael S. Van Leesten Memorial Bridge which spans the Providence River and connects the Fox Point neighborhood in the east with the Innovation and Design District to the west. Opened in 2019, the gently arcing 450-foot pedestrian walkway is lined with Brazilian Ipe wood planks, filled with park benches and offers wide open views of the Downtown Providence skyline. A dedication plaque at a community gathering space along the bridge's south side details his contributions:
Michael S. Van Leesten
July 29, 1939
August 23, 2019
Civil rights advocate, community leader, veteran, entrepreneur, father, friend, athlete, and mentor.
Michael "Mike" S. Van Leesten was a civil rights activist, US Air Force veteran, business leader, and economic change agent, who spent his life in service to the public, and in pursuit of justice for all. A lifelong resident of Providence, and devoted father of six children, Mike was a founding member and CEO of the Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC) of Rhode Island, paving the way for the education and job training of countless African-Americans and other economic and racial minorities. Through his leadership, OIC constructed an Education and Job Training facility in South Providence which transformed into CCRI's Liston Campus. At OIC Mike created other organizations including Omni Development, providing affordable housing, and Opportunities Development Corporation, a business development organization.
A basketball phenom at Rhode Island College, Mike holds the record for all-time rebounder with 1,494 rebounds, and was inducted into the RIC Athletics Hall of Fame in 1989, and The New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009. In 1963 and 1965, Mike joined Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr's Southern Christian Leadership Conference efforts to promote voter registration in the South, and the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
A Formational Commissioner on the 1-195 Redevelopment District Commission, Mike served as Director of Planning and Development for The City of Providence, and the first black Director at Industrial National Bank which later became Fleet Bank of RI. Additionally, Mike worked closely with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation for years and was instrumental in the development of Foxwoods Resort Casino. Recognized for his life's exemplary work, Mike received honorary doctoral degrees from URI, RIC, and Roger Williams University.
This bridge serves as a symbol of Mike's life work of bringing people together to build community, institutions, opportunity, and shared cultural experiences, and his ability to always see the vast imaginative potential where there is a blank canvas.
Among myriad accomplishments, he was the first black Director at Industrial National Bank which later became Fleet Bank of RI.