Hard work, commitment fuels Jones' rise as student, budding media personality
Hard work, commitment fuels Jones' rise as student, budding media personality
Sept. 30, 2019
Remi Jones had no idea what she was about to get herself into.
With no television experience whatsoever, the 32-year-old Providence native and Community
College of Rhode Island student, stepped into the studio of Video City TV in New York
last year to record a drop – an industry term for a short clip or soundbite – at the
behest of her close friend, a host at the network who thought Jones’ personality would
translate well on camera.
“I was scared,” Jones admitted. “I didn’t even know what a drop was.”
Fate outweighed fear that night, and Jones promptly nailed her line on the first try,
turning the entire room on its ear.
“They told me no one ever does it in one take or does it perfectly,” she said, “but
I did.”
Until then, Jones had no desire to become a media personality. She wasn’t entirely
sure what she wanted to do with her life. After trying her hand at fashion merchandising
nearly a decade ago, Jones worked a series of minimum-wage jobs for the next 10 years
until her uncle persuaded her to go back to college. In 2017, she enrolled at CCRI
and took an interest in the legal field after completing an online questionnaire that
matched her personality traits to that specific profession.
Jones went all in and will earn her associate degree in Paralegal Studies this fall
as a first-generation graduate, but that impromptu rehearsal in New York changed everything.
Within the past year, Jones has emerged as the face of Remi TV, an online media platform
in which she conducts interviews with celebrities in addition to up-and-coming actors,
musicians and entrepreneurs, giving them the opportunity to express their ideas and
promote upcoming projects.
After discovering her hidden talent as a broadcaster, Jones began dipping her toes
in the water as a part-time correspondent for Video City, landing her first assignment
in 2018 interviewing Grammy award-winning R&B singer Mýa, who, coincidentally, had
become a friend of hers over the past decade through a mutual connection. Jones didn’t
even have her own camera crew – just a friend recording with an iPhone. She went on
to cover a series of red-carpet events for the network before deciding to start her
own company.
“I eventually said to myself, ‘Why don’t you do your own show and make your own brand?’”
Jones said. And with a strong belief in herself and a passion for entertainment, Remi
TV was born.
Even with her experience at Video City under her belt, the launch of Remi TV was –
and remains – an extensive grassroots project for Jones, who moonlights as her own
booking agent, host, social media coordinator and public relations specialist. She
started by soliciting local professionals in the industry willing to help with the
project, enlisting Providence’s Stanley Bois – co-creator and CEO of popular nightlife
website HotInRI.com – as her cameraman and video editor. Committed to earning her
degree, Jones spent her days in the classroom and most of her nights reaching out
to celebrities for interview requests.
A lot of them declined at first, and some didn’t reply at all, but Jones’ small body
of work and growing popularity on social media had legitimized her to the point where
she landed a few major players to help get the network off the ground. In December
of 2018, she officially debuted Remi TV with an exclusive interview with Sirius XM
host and hip-hop legend DJ Kay Slay.
“He said to me, ‘I gave you a chance because I personally feel like you could be the
next Oprah and I don’t want to miss out on the opportunity of me being interviewed
by you,’” Jones said. “He knew how tough it can be for people of color to run their
own business and do what they want to do, so he gave me a shot.”
The segment went viral, helping Jones land additional interviews with well-known artists,
including Wyclef Jean, rapper and producer Havoc of Mobb Deep, and a second interview
with Mýa. She also launched her own website and now has close to 6,000 followers on
Instagram as her popularity expands. People notice her in public, whether at the gym
or while networking at nightclubs.
Despite her newfound success, school remains a priority; in addition to finishing
her associate degree, she is also taking courses in communications and public speaking
while working as a secretary at the Liston Campus.
“I love school and I love the Providence campus,” she said. “Everybody is friendly.
Everybody cares about you, especially the professors. It’s like a family here.”
Balancing Remi TV with school is a non-stop hustle for Jones, summed up perfectly
by the slogan, “The Grind Has No Curfew,” proudly displayed on the sweatshirt worn
in several of her interviews – a reminder of the work it’s taken to get this far in
a short amount of time.
“It’s pretty cool that I’m accomplishing goals,” Jones said. “Ten years ago, I was
just working a regular job, not thinking about my future. Now, this is an everyday
thing for me. I’m always thinking about my show and I’m always thinking about school.”
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On Thursday, May 15, 2025, the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) celebrated a milestone achievement: its 60th Commencement Ceremony. Held at the Amica Mutual Pavilion, the event marked the culmination of CCRI’s year-long diamond anniversary celebration and was a stirring tribute to six decades of transformation, opportunity, and achievement for Rhode Islanders.
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Brendan Murphy, former Smithfield, RI, resident and one of the most prolific scorers in the history of the Community College of Rhode Island’s men’s basketball program, was honored recently as the college’s Athletic Alumni Award recipient at the state’s 2024–25 Scholar-Athlete Awards ceremony hosted by House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi.
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Ten student-athletes from the Community College of Rhode Island were honored last week for their athletic and academic achievements as part of the annual Scholar-Athlete Awards held in House Chamber of the Rhode Island State House. The Legislative Awards are designed to provide public recognition for student-athletes from CCRI, Rhode Island College, and the University of Rhode Island for significant achievements in their academic and athletic pursuits. The honorees have also demonstrated exemplary citizenship and community service.
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The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) has partnered with United Way of Rhode Island to establish a 211 satellite office on CCRI’s Warwick campus, expanding access to essential community resources for students. This collaboration underscores CCRI’s ongoing commitment to removing barriers to student success and ensuring students have the support they need to thrive both in and out of the classroom.
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Warwick, R.I. – The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) is proud to announce the launch of a new Ophthalmic Technician training program through its Division of Workforce Partnerships. This 120-hour program, beginning in May 2025, is free of charge and designed to prepare participants for immediate employment in a fast-growing healthcare field.
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April 17, 2025
The Community College of Rhode Island and Rhode Island Energy are teaming up to offer a free exploratory program designed to give participants a window into the growing utilities industry.
Introduction to Utilities – free to anyone who meets eligibility requirements through funding from Rhode Island Energy – is a seven-hour introductory course that provides participants with foundational skills and knowledge to explore career pathways within the utilities sector, specifically with Rhode Island Energy.
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Warwick, RI – The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) proudly announces that four distinguished faculty members have been recognized with the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence Awards. The recipients, honored for their exceptional dedication to student success and academic excellence
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Warwick, RI – The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) is proud to announce that it has been designated a Military Friendly® School for the fourth consecutive year, achieving Gold status for the first time during the 2025–2026 academic year. This prestigious recognition underscores CCRI's unwavering commitment to supporting military service members, veterans, and their families.
Sept. 30, 2019
