Celebrating A Champion of Conservation and Community
January 28, 2026
We are pleased to announce that Darrèll Brown, the Conservation Law Foundation’s (CLF) vice president for Rhode Island, will be the latest recipient of the Wheeler Community Spirit Award (CSA).
Each year, the CSA honors a member of the Providence community who advocates for those with fewer opportunities. Recipients are selected for their work in four key areas: a passion for equity and social justice, locally and globally; a deep appreciation for and promotion of the power of education; a commitment to creating opportunities for those who might otherwise lack a voice or an advocate; and resilience in the face of challenge and adversity.
“We are very honored to recognize Darrèll Brown, whose career reminds us that protecting our environment is a collective responsibility,” shares Director of Equity, Community, and Belonging Princess Bomba P’16, P’18. “Mr. Brown embodies the belief that a healthy environment is a human right and has dedicated his life to advancing and protecting that right.”
Before joining CLF in 2021, Mr. Brown served as director of the Charles County Economic Development Department in Maryland, where he represented the county to new and expanding businesses and built partnerships with state and regional agencies.
Here in Rhode Island, he has served as counsel to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee; director of state and local relations for Brown University; director of economic development for the City of Cranston; policy advisor for business and economic development for the governor; chief of staff for the Office of the Attorney General; and director of urban policy and development for the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation.
He began his legal career as a legislative aide in Washington, D.C., and later served as an assistant attorney general in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Mr. Brown joins a distinguished group of Community Spirit Award recipients whom Wheeler has recognized over more than two decades for their meaningful and lasting impact on behalf of others.
“I am honored to receive The Wheeler School’s 2026 Community Spirit Award for CLF’s environmental justice work,” Mr. Brown says. “In the spirit of belonging and community engagement, this award reflects the importance of leaders working together to build stronger, more just communities.”
Darrèll Brown will receive the Wheeler Community Spirit award in a Feb. 20 ceremony on our Providence campus. The event will begin at 6pm in Isenberg Auditorium. The special ceremony will be followed by the annual SICA Potluck in Madden Gym. Those who would like to attend should fill out this RSVP form. The event is sponsored by SICA (Students Involved in Cultural Awareness); the Office of Equity, Community, and Belonging; and the Wheeler School Family Association.
