A Canadian entrepreneur who transformed a remote island economy into a globally recognized model of community resilience is coming to Newport next month.
Zita Cobb, founder and CEO of Shorefast and a member of the Order of Canada, will deliver a free public presentation titled “A Framework for Community Economic Stewardship: Learnings from Fogo Island” on Thursday, April 8, at 5:30 p.m. in Bazarsky Lecture Hall at Salve Regina University, 36 Ochre Point Ave.
The event is hosted by RENEWport and funded in part by a grant from the Rhode Island Foundation.
Born and raised on Fogo Island, a remote outport community off the coast of Newfoundland, Cobb built a career in the tech industry before returning home in the early 2000s to help revitalize the struggling local economy. Through Shorefast, the community-led organization she co-founded, Cobb spearheaded initiatives including the internationally acclaimed Fogo Island Inn, artist residencies, craft enterprises and locally owned businesses that reinvest profits back into the community.
“Prevailing economic models are no longer sufficient,” Cobb said in a statement. “We need a bold approach that builds upon the unique strengths within the places we live to help transform local potential into prosperity.”
The talk is part of RENEWport’s “Newport Together” speaker series, which brought Harvard political scientist Robert Putnam to a sold-out Newport audience in April 2025.
“Our hope at RENEWport is that Cobb’s talk will inspire Newporters to reflect on opportunities for community-driven economic growth here at home,” said Sue Sipprelle, RENEWport co-founder.
Leading up to the April event, RENEWport will also present “Best Laid Plans: The Quest for Community Development Strategies that Make a Difference,” a talk by Jere Wells at The Young Building at Salve Regina University on March 27 at 1 p.m.
Registration for Cobb’s April 8 presentation is available at events.salve.edu.
