Estervina Davis
Estervina Davis is beautiful, and
it’s not just that her features
each come together into a lovely
visage; there’s a light in her that
shines out, a goodness. And with
that goodness is a strength, a
power, that she, in her humility,
is not so aware as those who
know her.
It wasn’t a good marriage, but still she left the Dominican
Republic, her good job, her supportive family so
she could keep her children together, give them a life
that she was determined would be a good life.
Soon after arriving, Estervina began to take ESL
(English as a Second Language) classes at Lee High
School. At one of those classes, she learned where to
go for a medical checkup. At the doctor, she met her
interpreter. The interpreter’s name was Gwendolyn.
When the doctor asked if she was abused, Estervina
was hard put to answer; what would happen
to her and her children if she said ‘yes’ or if she lied
and said ‘no?’ She looked to Gwendolyn. In that moment,
they knew each other. Gwendolyn gently said,
“Just tell the truth.” Estervina did.
Two years later, Estervina learned that her 11-yearold
son needed to have heart surgery or he would
die. Heart surgery? Without insurance? Where
would that money come from? How could she lose
her son? Someone told her to go to CHP, and when
she went to the building in Great Barrington, the first
person she saw was Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn took all
her information to give to CHP. Ultimately, Children’s
Hospital in Boston did the surgery, free of
charge. Estervina was beginning to believe Gwendolyn
was surely an angel. When Estervina was divorced,
she learned their rent hadn’t been paid for
months and the landlord demanded she
leave. Gwendolyn filed for a grant and found money
for the rent.
Gwendolyn also advocated for Estervina when she
went for her residency papers with her children. She
found a therapist for Estervina’s son when he was
aching, and she helped Estervina make sure he graduated
from high school by advocating and interpreting
at IEP meetings.
Yet Gwendolyn feels Estervina is her angel; she’s been
enormously moved and inspired by Estervina, watching
her reinvent her life, studying to become a Certified
Nursing Assistant, shepherding her three children
safely to adulthood, remarrying in a ceremony at
which Gwendolyn was honored to bear witness.
Interwoven throughout the tapestry of BRIDGE is Estervina.
Gwendolyn founded the Women-to-Women
Empowerment Program with Estervina in mind, and
through Gwendolyn, Estervina found the strength to
participate. Now Estervina takes the lead with the
group, organizing and recruiting.
When Gwendolyn was ready to hire an assistant, she
realized with a thrill Estervina’s vast experience as
Administrative Assistant to the President of a large
corporation in the Dominican Republic as well as her
strength and integrity and work ethic would make her
a valuable asset. Estervina is Gwendolyn’s right hand
at BRIDGE, and has been known to intimidate school
superintendents.
Estervina voices what many of us have found, that
Gwendolyn understands who we are and how to raise
us up. Gwendolyn avows that Estervina is crucial to
BRIDGE, that she knows the essence of Gwendolyns’
heart, ministry, and mission.
Estervina’s eldest daughter taught at BRIDGE’s summer
camp for two years and found it extremely rewarding,
and the kids thrived with her. Estervina’s
second daughter became a community mentor this
year at a local school through BRIDGE and loves
it. Working with a tough mentee, she would not walk
away from her, and she eventually found that this
mentee returned more to her than she gave.
It was the serendipity of goodness that brought together
Gwendolyn’s clear and compassionate vision
with Estervina’s courageous fortitude, and together
they continue to create more goodness, expanding it
exponentially.
(DV)