August Engagements!

Read all about it! 

We are back after an enriching restorative pause! Thank you all for your grace and patience so our team can reboot in service to our mission! 
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We have an abundant amount of good news to share! For today, we want to share with you that our CEO and Founding Director, Gwendolyn VanSant, has been published in a book compiled by Dr. Emily Williams on IDEA work. Get your copy here! 

Also our partners at BCAC nominated our fearless leader for our community action award to have made the pivot to impactfully and intentionally activate in support of communities facing poverty issues. We will be honored alongside our client and partner Greylock Federal Credit Union who also was one of these National Community Action Awardees. Be in touch if you want to join in the Boston celebration in September! Keeping the Berkshires on the map with our collective Equity and Inclusion efforts!

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Our summer program Happiness Toolbox is relaunching for its 12th consecutive year! We have several enriching programs in person and online. We are thrilled to have Drive Forward back with us online—clowns that focus on empowerment and joy. Don’t forget to visit our online video library from last year! We will have Spanish, French, Coding, Foraging, Yoga, HANDLE, Bookmaking, photography, Berkshire legends, Character strengths Sports, dance and activities with youth leaders. We will be celebrating Mother Earth! Join us. Financial aid available! Register here!! ​

Special thanks to Canna Provisions for our Pride month SJIA raising $1415. Also deep gratitude to our partners at Three Sisters Farm and Sweet Freedom navigating our stormy weather and supplying our mutual aid goods for our families. Big thanks to First Congregational Church for supporting our second year of mutual aid. We want to also congratulate Colleen Goewey on our team on her promotion as mutual aid coordinator. Growing our team step by step!

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2021 August Engagements:

• IDEA Institute@BRIDGE Systems of Oppression training and Train the Trainer 
  • Please email RSVP for part 2 following Cultural Competence Foundations starting July 30
  • Register for Fall Cultural Competence Foundations, Systems of Oppression and Train the Trainer - held at Berkshire Community College - starts September 10th.
• Happiness Toolbox Hybrid program for children ages 5-12
  • Aug 9-13 and Aug 16-20
  • Aug 7 one day only youth training in positive education and diversity leadership! 
  • Click here to register 
• Stay tuned for farming and gardening education class this month! Questions, please contact [email protected].
• Race Task Force for Racial Justice Meeting (RTF): Monday, August 2nd 12:30 - 2:00PM
  • Click this link to register 
  • Guest: ACLU Tanekwah Hinds WADADAM and coming up DA Harrington listening forum
  • Planning for follow up with PPS education forum 
• Women2Women (W2W): 
  • Thursday, August 5th 6:00 - 8:00PM
    Guest: Laura Manosalva 
    Topic: BailoTerapia o Zumba
  • Thursday, August 12th 6:00 - 8:00PM
    Guest: Carmen Baker 
    Topic: Chapter 10 “Super Powered”
  • Thursday, August 19th 6:00 - 8:00PM
    Guest: Greylock Federal Credit Union
    Topic: Oportunidades, beneficios, etc . Videos and interactive dialogue 
  • Thursday, August 26th 6:00 - 8:00PM
    Guest: Nubia Toloza
    Topic: Manos artesanas: Creativity with Art Crafts
• Towards Racial Justice South County Meeting (TRJ): Thursday, August 5th 6:30 - 8:30PM
  • Click this link to register
  • We will cover several local community actions and planning with local public safety and legal outlets
• Northern Berkshire SPIRIT Convening at Mass MoCA in North Adams, MA: *Please note that these events are dedicated to North County community residents & commuters as the conversations will be centered around Northern Berkshire County residents.
  

• Facilitator Training: Monday, August 9th 4:00 - 7:00PM at Terra Nova Church, 85 Main St., North Adams MA
• Northern Berkshire SPIRIT Community Conversations: Wednesday, August 11th 4:00 - 8:00PM, Mass MoCA
• Northern Berkshire SPIRIT Community Conversations: Thursday, August 12th 4:00 - 8:00PM, Mass MoCA
  
  
• Men’s Caucus for Racial Justice: Thursday, August 28th 7:00 - 9:00PM

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​Please [email protected] to attend any of the above events!

With love,
JV and the BRIDGE team! 
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🤎 We appreciate your support, sustaining pledges and engagement! Thank you! Donate here! This month we are collecting for Happiness Toolbox and Mutual Aid Food Sovereignty program! 💕