RIAMCO

Rhode Island Archival and Manuscript Collections Online

For Participating Institutions

Mariposa records (MSS-0025)

Special Collections

Rhode Island College
600 Mount Pleasant Ave
Providence, RI, 02908
Tel: 401-456-8380
email:digitalcommons@ric.edu

Biographical/Historical Note

Inspired by the Sophia Project in Oakland, California and the writings of Rudolf Steiner, Linda Atamian, Paula Sager, and Patti Smith founded Mariposa in 2005 to create “a place that would nurture and protect the child’s emerging sense of self.” Mariposa initially offered weekend and after-school programs for eighth and third grade students at Highlander Charter School. In partnership with the Rhode Island Department of Education, Mariposa expanded to offer a preschool program for three- and four-year-olds. Mariposa dissolved at the end of the 2018 school year and donated all of its furniture and materials to the Dorcas International Institute, which will offer its own early childhood programming modeled on Mariposa.