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April 20th, 2026 -"At the Heart of tHe LAnd: Celebrating Earth Day "

4/20/2026

BRIDGE Hosts Earth Day 2026 & Launches Next Phase of Solidarity Farm at April Hill

Advancing a Community-Based Environmental Justice Model for Food Sovereignty, Climate Resilience, and Public Health

Great Barrington , MA — Multicultural BRIDGE will host its Earth Day 2026 Celebration on April 22 at Solidarity House, marking both the opening of the growing season and the next phase of its Solidarity Farm & Garden at April Hill.
This year’s gathering brings together state leaders, regional partners, and community members to advance a shared vision for environmental justice, food sovereignty, and climate resilience in the Berkshires.

A New Phase at April HillAfter five years of growing at the Great Barrington Fairgrounds, BRIDGE’s Solidarity Farm has supported the development of a strong cohort of community growers. As part of this next phase, several Solidarity growers are now ready to expand beyond community plots into more independent, production-oriented farming.
The April Hill site represents the next evolution of this work, building on the World Farmers Flats Mentor Farm model and adapting it for the Berkshire context of BIPOC emerging farmers. Partnering with Greenagers in a values-aligned effort across constituencies, trainings and agricultural resources.
This expansion includes:

New grower plots supporting transition to independent farming
Expanded mutual aid and community distribution capacity
Culturally specific crop cultivation
Integration of climate-resilient agricultural practices
Youth engagement

April Hill serves as a partner hub in our first year with expanded plots to meet urgent food security needs, supporting growers as they evolve our community-based growing model toward long-term land access, increased food sovereignty and economic sustainability.

Earth Day 2026: Community Health, Climate Resilience & Collective ActionEarth Day at BRIDGE is a family-friendly, community-centered event that connects land, learning, and action.
Season Opening Activities

Willow & elderberry planting (flood mitigation & ecological restoration) with Salix Flora
Farm & garden clean-up
Guided farm tours
Seed sharing — plant on-site and take seeds home

As part of this work, BRIDGE is braiding together youth-led climate initiatives across sites, including:

The continued development of a youth-led willow garden at the Great Barrington Fairgrounds
The planting of a new willow garden at Solidarity Commons (BRIDGE Meeting House at 965 Main Street) & expanding elderberry garden

These efforts have been supported in partnership with the Berkshire Conservation District, Wards and the Town of Great Barrington Agricultural Commission, strengthening local climate mitigation and youth engagement.

Environmental Justice Panel
As a member of Environmental Justice Fund Steering Committee of the Attorney General Office, BRIDGE will feature a public panel on Environmental Justice & Community-Based Climate Solutions, connecting state leadership with local practice.

Moderator: Gwendolyn VanSant, BRIDGE, with Dr. Lina Maria Polo Caijao

Liz Hartsgrove, Town Manager, Town of Great Barrington (Welcoming Remarks)
Betsy Harper, Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office – Chief of Environmental Protection Division
Turner Smith, Deputy Chief of the Environmental and Energy Bureau
Elizabeth Cardona, Community Engagement Manager, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP)
Charles Redd, DEI Officer, Berkshire Health Systems

Panel focus areas include:

Climate mitigation and flood resilience
Food systems as public health infrastructure
Community-led environmental justice solutions
Youth leadership and workforce development
Institutional Partnerships

Community Participation
BRIDGE invites families, youth, educators, farmers, land stewards, and regional partners to participate in a day of hands-on learning, engagement, and collective action. The State is coming to be with the community and hear our challenges and solutions.

Rooted in Community & Climate Justice
BRIDGE’s work is grounded in a long arc of community-led environmental justice and public health work, beginning prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and shaped through collaboration with the BRIDGE community and the Town of Great Barrington Sustainability Committee as part of the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) climate resilience planning process.
This work led to the development of our shared C.A.R.E. framework, which remains a guiding model for BRIDGE work as it was rooted in our community voices, wisdom, experience and municipal partnership.
The framework centers:

Underrepresented voices in decision-making
Lived experience as expertise
Food justice as social justice
Repairing relationships between people and the land

A Regional Environmental Justice Model
Today, Solidarity Farm & Garden operates as a community-based environmental justice and public health initiative, serving over 200 families and supporting BIPOC growers across multiple sites.
Through alignment with values-aligned partners & organizations including:

World Farmers
Salix Flora Farm
Berkshire Natural Resources Council
Town of Great Barrington Agricultural Commission
Great Barrington Fairgrounds
April Hill / Greenagers
Sheffield Land Trust
Berkshire Conservation District
SHAWE Advisory- Solidarity Health and Wellness Ecosystem Initiative- the SHAWE (BRIDGE- led CHIP)

BRIDGE is advancing its replicable ecosystem — a model for rural community health, environmental justice, climate resilience, and food system inclusion & transformation.

A Model in Motion
“This work reflects a long-term commitment to building systems that connect land, health, and community,” said Gwendolyn VanSant, CEO & Founding Director of BRIDGE. “We are proud to support growers as they expand, and to continue developing solutions that are rooted in both culturally relevant community knowledge and regional partnership. We look forward to sharing our SHAWE initiative that works across agriculture, the arts, health and justice in our BIPOC and vulnerable communities fortifying health, self-determination, belonging and joy.”

Event Details
Earth Day Celebration – Solidarity Farm & Garden
April 22, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 7:30 PM
Solidarity House 965 Main St, Great Barrington, MA

Abbreviated Agenda

10:00 AM – Welcome & Earth Appreciation Reading
10:15–11:00 AM – Guided Farm & Garden Tour (Meeting House & River Walk)
11:00 AM–12:00 PM – Willow & Tree Planting (Youth-Led; Flood Mitigation)
12:30–2:00 PM – Environmental Justice Panel & Community Focus Group (over lunch)
2:00–5:00 PM Earth Day Family Activities

2:15–3:00 PM – African Dancing with Uprising Dance Theatre (Nkoula Badila, Angel Lau, Brandon Guillermo and Noel Staples-Freeman) to Honor Mother Earth and Cupcakes with Lourdes

3:00–5:00 PM – Community Activities: Farm Clean-Up, Garden Planting & Prep, Recycled Mini-Gardens Workshop, Seed Sharing
6:00–7:30 PM – Community Dinner & Conversation: “Cooking with Women to Women & BRIDGE Staff

Get Involved
Community members, partners, and supporters are encouraged to attend and engage.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 413-274-8142
Media contact: Gwendolyn VanSant Phone: 318-528-1011
“Our Earth Day celebration in the Berkshires is a hub for environmental justice—connecting climate resilience, food systems, and public health through inter generational cross-cultural community-led models.” - Gwendolyn

wEB DU BOIS FESTIVAL - BRIDGE AS PROUD CO-SPONSOR AND CO-HOST FOR THE 8TH ANNUAL

2/11/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb 9, 2026
Town of Great Barrington Announces the 9th Annual W.E.B. Du Bois Legacy Festival & Du Bois Legacy Day Observance Seeking Justice through Truth-telling: Du Bois, Art & Historical Memory Great Barrington, Mass. (Feb. 9, 2026)--The Town of Great Barrington W.E.B. Du Bois Legacy Committee announces the Ninth Annual W.E.B. Legacy Festival in honor of the birthday of native son Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois.

This year, the W.E.B. Du Bois Legacy Committee and community partners will be welcoming participants to a series of engaging talks and performances as we collectively reflect on the Festival theme, “Seeking Justice through Truth-telling: Du Bois, Art & Historical Memory.”
In the lead-up to Du Bois’s birthday weekend, cultural partners will be hosting several special events. The Du Bois Freedom Center will host a series of public programs in observance of Du Bois’s birthday, beginning with an open house and exhibit unveiling in collaboration with the Scottsboro Boys Museum, followed by a traveling exhibit showcase with UMass Amherst. The week will also include Reflections on Justice: W.E.B. Du Bois, the Scottsboro Boys, and Legacies of Injustice, a public conversation at the Mahaiwe Theater’s Indigo Room, and a screening of Alabama Solution at the Triplex Cinema. On Friday, February 13, Jacob’s Pillow will host a Community Shout in Pittsfield, an open participatory gathering rooted in African and African diasporic song, rhythm and storytelling led by artists Reggie Wilson and Michel Kouakou of Reggie Wilson/Fist and Heel Performance Group. Both events are free with registration, and open to all.

Festival weekend events include the theatrical presentation of Rev. Dr. Chad Lawson Cooper’s “W.E.B. Du Bois – An American Hero,” on Saturday, February 21, at the Monument Mountain Regional High School auditorium at 5:00pm. Great-grandson of W.E.B. Du Bois, Jeffrey Peck, returns to Great Barrington to star in the performance which brings Dr. Du Bois into conversation with his first wife, Nina Gomez and his good friend, Albert Einstein. The program will be followed by a community award ceremony recognizing local leaders whose work reflects Du Bois’ values. Tickets at Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/web-du-bois-an-american-hero-tickets-1981447450664

On Sunday, February 22nd, Macedonia Baptist Church will hold its annual service in celebration of the legacy of W.E.B. Du Bois with special guest Noel Staples-Freeman & Uprising Dance Theater bringing the gifts of African dance and drumming to congregants and Festival participants. All are welcome.

W.E.B. Du Bois Day, a town holiday, will be observed Monday, Feb. 23, with a full day of public programming. Events will include a guided Du Bois site tour, a community read of one of Du Bois’ centennial works, live performances by guest artists, and an afternoon keynote and musical program. Participants are invited to kick off the day with a Legacy Tour coordinated by BRIDGE at 10:00am (registration required at [email protected]) with Festival presenters. At noon, we will convene at the Mason Library for an open reading and discussion of Dr. Du Bois’s 1926 essay Criteria for Black Art, followed by an African dance and drumming experience led by Sister Noel Staples-Freeman & Uprising Dance Theater artists Jamemurrell Stanley, Brandon Guillermo and Harolyn Bowden. Reception to follow. Town Hall is open to view its year round Du Bois exhibit between Festival events.

At 3:00pm, the Legacy Festival continues at the Mahaiwe’s Indigo Room where vocalists Wanda Houston, a recent recipient of the Du Bois Award from the Berkshire County NAACP, and Dr. MaryNell Morgan-Brown, PhD. will share their musical interpretation of the “Sorrow Songs” of Dr. Du Bois’s Souls of Black Folk. After a brief intermission, Rev. Dr. Cheryl Townsend Gilkes will give the keynote address. Dr. Townsend Gilkes is the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Professor of Sociology and African American Studies Emerita at Colby College, and a Hutchins Fellow at the W.E.B. Du Bois Research Institute at Harvard University. Her scholarly interests include African American women, religion, social change, and the legacy of W. E. B. Du Bois in the fields of sociology, African American studies, and religious studies. Her research, teaching, and writing have specifically focused on the role of African American women in generating social change. After the keynote, there will be a moderated question-and-answer session with Legacy Committee member Dr. Alexandria Russell.
The Festival ends with a delicious dinner by Dre’s Global Kitchen in African Diasporic traditions at Solidarity House at 965 Main St. at 6-7pm.

This year’s Festival takes place immediately following school vacation week, and the Legacy Committee hopes to actively engage local and regional schools, educators, and students through daytime programming and educational opportunities connected to Du Bois’s legacy. The Town encourages residents, educators, students, and visitors to participate in this meaningful celebration of Great Barrington’s history and its continuing legacy.
The Great Barrington Du Bois Legacy Committee provides special thanks to the sponsors & hosts: Mass Cultural Council; BRIDGE and their partners; WEB Du Bois Legacy Foundation; Du Bois Freedom Center; and Jacob's Pillow.

For more information, please visit duboislegacy.com & the Festival Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/share/163EtMxoEv/

Detailed information and registration for cultural partner events can be found here: https://mahaiwe.org/event/du-bois-freedom-center-presents-reflections-on-justice-w-e-b-du-bois-the-scottsboro-boys-and-legacies-of-injustice/

https://www.jacobspillow.org/whats-on/events/ring-shout-with-reggie-wilsonfist-and-heel-performance-group/
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/web-du-bois-an-american-hero-tickets-1981447450664

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Randy Weinstein, [email protected],
Chair, Town Of Great Barrington W.E.B. Du Bois Legacy Committee mailto:[email protected]
Gwendolyn VanSant, [email protected],
Vice Chair, Town Of Great Barrington W.E.B. Du Bois Legacy Committee mailto: [email protected] Phone: 318-528-1011
https://www.facebook.com/share/163EtMxoEv/

#duboislegacy #greatbarrington #duboisfestival #webdubois #duboislegacygb

ABOUT THE GREAT BARRINGTON W.E.B. DU BOIS LEGACY COMMITTEE Since its convening by the Town of Great Barrington Selectboard in 2018, the W.E.B. Du Bois Legacy Committee has upheld the charge to preserve and promote Great Barrington native W.E.B. Du Bois's legacy as a scholar and activist for freedom, civil rights, progressive education, economic justice, and racial equality. The committee does this through town-sponsored events such as the annual W.E.B. Du Bois Festival; collaboration with partner organizations uplifting the Du Bois legacy; and community engagement via guest speakers, artists, and dialogue.
Presenting partners: Jacob’s Pillow, Du Bois Freedom Center, Du Bois Legacy Foundation Sponsors: Town of Great Barrington W.E.B. Du Bois Legacy Committee, Massachusetts Cultural Council, BRIDGE with Barr Foundation

MLK Weekend 2026: Mission Possible, Part II. BRIDGE and Community Partners Host Weekend of Mutual Aid, Worship, Service, and Dialogue

1/12/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
BRIDGE
📧 [email protected] | 413-274-8142

Great Barrington, MA — January 2026 — BRIDGE, in annual collaboration with Macedonia Baptist Church, Momma Lo’s, and with new community partner Barrington Hall, invites the community to participate in MLK Weekend 2026, a four-day observance from Friday through Monday, culminating in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service on Monday, January 19.

This year’s MLK Weekend aligns with the King Institute’s national call:
“Mission Possible, Part II: Building Community and Unification in a Nonviolent Way.”

The weekend is grounded in Dr. King’s vision of the Beloved Community and brings together worship, mutual aid, service, culture, creative expression, and civic dialogue.
A Weekend Rooted in Action and Care

Friday begins with mutual aid efforts, including packing, sorting, and delivering food and supplies, affirming Dr. King’s belief that meeting material needs is central to justice. (Traditional Lunch Provided - Hoppin' John or Black-eyed Peas and Rice) The evening concludes with a community concert at Barrington Hall, celebrating culture and connection.

Saturday features a family- and youth-centered concert at Barrington Hall, welcoming children and caregivers into the weekend through music and shared community experience.

Sunday centers on worship at Macedonia Baptist Church, honoring Dr. King as a faith leader and grounding the weekend spiritually through prayer, reflection, and fellowship.

Monday, MLK Day, focuses on service, memory, and civic engagement:

A public reading of Dr. King’s 1968 speech honoring Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois at the Du Bois Sculpture (Mason Library)
Hands-on service projects, including care and stewardship of shared community spaces
Creative and intergenerational activities, such as card-making, poster-making, children’s programming, and a community reading from Brad Meltzer’s book on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
A facilitated community conversation on Trust & Safety, bringing together residents, civic leaders, and public safety partners to reflect on both actual safety and the perception of safety in the community
BBQ Sliders Bag Lunch for Service Day participants by Momma Los. Pickup at Solidarity House 12-12:30.

Conversations That Matter

Throughout the weekend, participants will engage in facilitated conversations organized around five themes drawn from Dr. King’s work:

Moral courage and breaking silence
Justice, disruption, and the danger of waiting
Chaos or community
Truth, legacy, and radical analysis
Dream, vision, and democratic promise

These conversations emphasize listening, shared meaning, and nonviolent engagement.
Community Video ProjectThe weekend also includes a community video project, inviting participants of all ages to share reflections—in verse, poetry, song, or their own words—centered on the five themes and on Dr. King’s speech “Honoring Dr. Du Bois.”

Captured in part at the Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois Sculpture, the project will create a living archive of community memory, truth-telling, and hope.

How to Participate
All MLK Weekend activities are free and open to the public, with family-friendly programming and transportation available for those who need it. Plan ahead at 413-274-2024 for transportation.

Community members and organizations interested in proposing additional service projects are encouraged to contact [email protected].

👉 Register on Zeffy:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/reverend-dr-martin-luther-king-jr-weekend-and-day-of-service

MLK Weekend 2026 invites the community not only to remember Dr. King, but to practice his vision together—through service, dialogue, creativity, and nonviolent action.

Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for Multicultural BRIDGE’s New Solidarity Meeting House in Great Barrington

5/20/2025

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for Multicultural BRIDGE’s New Solidarity Meeting House in Great Barrington

WHO: Multicultural BRIDGE and community partners

WHAT: Opening of BRIDGE’s Solidarity Meeting House Celebrated with Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Led by Local Community and Justice, Political & Faith Leaders

WHEN: Thursday, May 22, 2025 | 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Short Farm & Garden Tour to follow 5:00 PM - 5:30 PM

WHERE: BRIDGE Solidarity Meeting House | 965 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230

RSVP: Media representatives please RSVP to [[email protected]] | Community members are invited to register for the event here

WHY: Multicultural BRIDGE invites the media and general public to a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the organization’s Solidarity Meeting House, a mixed-use building that will support the organization’s culturally specific, trauma-informed public health programming to promote healing, equity and justice featuring a culturally specific sanctuary space in the new Fawohodie Center.

The event will feature BRIDGE Co-Founder and CEO Gwendolyn VanSant with speakers including State Representative Leigh Davis; BRIDGE Board Members Michael Obasohan, Wesaline Gadson and Gabriela Cruz; BRIDGE funder Alycia Davis; community partner Jalal Sabur of Sweet Freedom Farm; and more. Rev. Mattie Conway and board member Ashni Sunder will lead the community in blessings for the new building and its intentional placemaking.

“It is an incredible honor to celebrate this milestone with Multicultural BRIDGE as they open the doors to their permanent home in the heart of Great Barrington. BRIDGE has long been a champion of equity and inclusion—offering transformative programs that address everything from racial justice and trauma-informed care to housing stability and food sovereignty. With this new headquarters, initiatives like the Solidarity Farm, Fawohodie Center and Solidarity Kitchen, a commercial grade community will have the space and support they need to grow. This is more than a building—it’s a testament to what’s possible when we invest in community, dignity, and shared prosperity for all.”
— Leigh Davis, State Representative, 3rd Berkshire District

Town of Great Barrington Announces the 8th Annual W.E.B. Du Bois Legacy Festival & Du Bois Legacy Day Observance

2/4/2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Feb 4, 2025

Town of Great Barrington Announces the 8th Annual W.E.B. Du Bois Legacy Festival & Du Bois Legacy Day Observance

In marking 90 years since the publication of Du Bois’s groundbreaking work Black Reconstruction, this year’s festival will invite participants to imagine the legacy of W.E.B. Du Bois - past, present, and future.

Great Barrington, Mass. (Feb. 4, 2025)--The Town of Great Barrington W.E.B. Du Bois Legacy Committee announces the Eighth Annual W.E.B. Legacy Festival in honor of the birthday of native son Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois.

This year, the W.E.B. Du Bois Legacy Committee and community partners invite participants to engage in a dynamic exploration of Black Reconstruction themes and the ongoing fight for civil rights and racial justice, which has been - and continues to be - critical to American democracy.

All events will be held in downtown Great Barrington, highlighting the importance of place, and the historically Black community that nurtured Du Bois’s development in his earliest years, and to which he returned to repeatedly in his memoirs.

On Saturday, February 22nd from 2:00-5:00pm, Jacob's Pillow will present a movement workshop titled “Freedom Moves: Embodying the Legacy of W.E.B. Du Bois” at the First Congregational Church in Great Barrington. Curated by Legacy Committee members Thasia Giles and Gwendolyn VanSant, the workshop will be led by dance artists Gesel Mason and Roxanne Young, and “scholartist” Dr. Amma Y. Ghartey Tagoe-Kootin. Invoking the power of movement and storytelling, this dynamic and playful workshop will invite participants to explore and express the core values championed by W.E.B. Du Bois: freedom, civil rights, progressive education, economic justice, and racial equality. Walk-ups are welcome, however, space is limited and registration in advance is recommended. More information can be found at: https://www.jacobspillow.org/events/freedom-moves/

As part of our annual Festival celebration tradition, on Dr. Du Bois’s birthday eve, join the W. E. B. Du Bois Center for Freedom and Democracy for the opening reception of their field office and to meet their interim Director, Dr. John Lloyd at 309 Main Street, Great Barrington, from 6:00-7:30 pm.

On Sunday, February 23 - Du Bois’s birthday and the official holiday observation of W.E.B. Du Bois Day in Great Barrington - Macedonia Baptist Church will have a special convocation honoring Dr. Du Bois’ birthday. Guest pastor Reverend Traci Jackson will deliver the convocation. Pastor Traci is the founder and lead pastor of Wellspring Global Fellowship Church and a long time leader at Urban League in Boston. Pastor Traci Jackson serves as an international leader & speaker at the intersection of faith-based communities and domestic violence and sexual assault in communities of color. She will lead us in celebrating Du Bois’ legacy across the State.

Participants will join a processional Legacy Walk after the convocation, arriving for the birthday celebration, “Imagining Du Bois through the Arts: Past, Present, and Future” at the Mason Library at 11:00 AM. Novelist Victoria Christopher Murray, New York Times and USA Today best selling author of more than 30 novels, will read a selection from her newest work of fiction, Harlem Rhapsody, which will be released at a tea & talk event at Ventfort Hall later in the day, at 3:00 PM. Gesel Mason of Freedom Moves: the Embodiment of a Legacy, and Dr. Amma Y. Ghartey-Tagoe Kootin and Dr. Khalil Sullivan of the Buffalo Team will join the Festival’s birthday celebration as we honor the 90th anniversary year of Black Reconstruction and Dr. W. E.B. Du Bois. Dr. Amma Y. Ghartey-Tagoe Kootin, a Ted Talk Fellow, will share her personal and professional ties to Dr. W. E. B. Du Bois.

Also joining the event on Sunday will be Legacy Committee member Ari Zorn with Julie Michaels as representatives of the W.E.B. Du Bois Sculpture Project of Great Barrington. Legacy Committee Vice Chair Gwendolyn VanSant will serve as emcee and moderator. Legacy Committee member Leah Reed will welcome with song, and we are pleased to be joined by State Representative Leigh Davis and members of the Great Barrington Selectboard.

An artifact copy of Black Reconstruction from Du Bois’s personal library will be on view, courtesy of collector and Du Bois Legacy Committee co-chair Randy Weinstein.

The full schedule of events, festival flyer and registration information can be found below.

These events are presented & hosted by the Town of Great Barrington Du Bois Legacy Committee, Jacob’s Pillow, BRIDGE, the Du Bois Freedom Center and Macedonia Baptist Church.

Luncheon reception provided by Bae’s Global Kitchen at 1 PM at Mason Library.

The Legacy Committee provides special thanks to the sponsors & hosts: Mass Cultural Council; BRIDGE and their partners : Barr Foundation Creative Vitality Program & DOJ Office of Health and Human Services- SCESA and Ujima; Ventfort Hall; and Jacob's Pillow.

For more information, please visit duboislegacy.com & the Festival Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/share/163EtMxoEv/

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Randy Weinstein, [email protected],
Chair, Town Of Great Barrington W.E.B. Du Bois Legacy Committee
mailto:[email protected]

Gwendolyn VanSant, [email protected],
Vice Chair, Town Of Great Barrington W.E.B. Du Bois Legacy Committee
mailto: [email protected]
Phone: 318-528-1011

https://www.facebook.com/share/163EtMxoEv/

#duboislegacy #greatbarrington #duboisfestival #webdubois #duboislegacygb

ABOUT THE GREAT BARRINGTON W.E.B. DU BOIS LEGACY COMMITTEE
Since its convening by the Town of Great Barrington Selectboard in 2018, the W.E.B. Du Bois Legacy Committee has upheld the charge to preserve and promote Great Barrington native W.E.B. Du Bois's legacy as a scholar and activist for freedom, civil rights, progressive education, economic justice, and racial equality. The committee does this through town-sponsored events such as the annual W.E.B. Du Bois Festival; collaboration with partner organizations uplifting the Du Bois legacy; and community engagement via guest speakers, artists, and dialogue.

Catalyst Story

9/3/2024

Hannah Van Sickle has joined forces with CEO Gwendolyn VanSant to launch The CATALYST series at BRIDGE – a place she cites as a catalyst for her own deep learning and transformative thinking. The catalyst idea was created in conjunction with the BRIDGE CEO and her stakeholders; it represents a continued conversation with Gwendolyn and her greater BRIDGE community since the founding.

BRIDGE's Statement On Palestine

7/3/2024

BRIDGE Celebrates 15 Years of Advancing Justice and Equity in Berkshire County and Beyond

10/4/2023

Quinquennial Gala Marks BRIDGE’s Journey of Catalyst, Love & Impact

GREAT BARRINGTON, MA – October 4, 2022 – BRIDGE (Berkshire Resources for Integration of Diverse Groups and Education), a grassroots non-profit organization dedicated to advancing equity and justice by promoting accountability and working toward positive social change, celebrates its 15th anniversary.

On October 8th, BRIDGE will mark this milestone with a celebratory gala from 2pm to 6pm ET, to be held at the historic Jacob’s Pillow in Becket, Massachusetts—site of the Underground Railroad. The gala will host a blend of local artists, activists and world-renowned presenters and performers to celebrate the essence of the organization’s vision and its reach in our local and broader communities.

The afternoon will include MacArthur Fellows Dr. Saidiya Hartman and Okwui Okpokwasili with vocalist performer Imani Uzuri for a unique presentation of Hartman’s powerful, timely and timeless “Litany for Grieving Sisters.”

“For grieving sisters, what other choice is there? For them, love is not yet exhausted... It is a story that blossoms in the black morning,” writes Dr. Hartman in “Litany for Grieving Sisters.”

Local filmmakers from OnPoint Design, TJ and Otis West, will share a short film showcasing a snapshot of BRIDGE’s many voices and personal reflections; local dancers United Latinos of the Berkshires and Women to Women presenters will present folkloric dances in the spirit of the traditional ritual of 15 year “quince anos” milestone; and Operation Unite NY will present a dance performance and offer interactive drumming and dance to close out the celebration. Ghanaian musician Star Nii will also perform.

As BRIDGE honors the legacy of our civil rights leaders, BRIDGE will be joined by descendants of Harriet Tubman and Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois. “Gwendolyn and BRIDGE have been instrumental in celebrating my great grandfather Dr. Du Bois’ legacy over the last 7 years (and before) so much so that my mother, Dr. Du Bois Williams, requested her burial plans shift to returning to the Great Barrington gravesite with our Du Bois family. In her last months, she was moved and finally convinced of the earnest effort of Great Barrington to honor her grandfathers’ legacy and repair the relationship. I could think of no one in the world but Gwendolyn and BRIDGE to welcome my mother home,” shares Jeff Peck, great grandson of Dr. W.E.B. DuBois.

The guests will be invited to celebrate in dance and to testify to the impact of the organization throughout the afternoon.

“BRIDGE serves as the culturally appropriate hub for accessing support, education, and equity for all. The needs of Berkshire County have been identified through lectures, training, and authentic conversations,” said Luci Leonard, Community Health Worker and Licensed Practical Nurse. “The takeaway each time demonstrates how much is needed to help the local community and how BRIDGE serves as a model for a community-based effort for others nationally.”

Finally, BRIDGE CEO and Founding Director Gwendolyn VanSant will share remarks on the theme, “Catalyst. Love. Impact: “What’s Your BRIDGE Story?” to inspire and engage support for BRIDGE’s unique Berkshire-based solidarity economy and culturally-specific wellness programs, envisioned by BRIDGE’s founder and team for the organization’s next 15 year chapter.

“BRIDGE is gathering for our third gala ever to inspire and express gratitude to our ever-expanding community of supporters, activists, and participants. Committed to safety, trust and equity, BRIDGE has focused on how building relationships and connections and disrupting systemic inequities can improve overall community health and transform lived experiences for vulnerable populations in communities and workplaces,” says VanSant. “Knowing a community can only be as strong and resilient as its weakest parts, our work has been deeply rooted in gender and racial justice focusing on anti-poverty and community health. Proceeds from this gala will support our wellness center, the Solidarity Meeting House and community farm and garden and transitional housing for diverse communities. BRIDGE’s vision is a culture and economy that values collective humanity as our primary currency. ”

Over the last 15 years, BRIDGE has been recognized as a best practice by law enforcement, public health, education and most recently in culturally specific victim services. The organization has consistently been acknowledged with awards and recognitions in business, anti-poverty, race equity, non-profit impact, women's leadership, public health, and peace work on local, national, and international levels.

Rooted in historical legacy as a primary source for its movement building, BRIDGE is, at its core, a grassroots organization, dedicated to advancing equity and justice by promoting activism, cultural awareness, positive psychology, and mutual understanding and acceptance. The quinquennial event on the theme of “Catalyst, Love and Impact” will highlight milestones in BRIDGE’s history, including the launch of its critical Berkshire-based such as Towards Racial Justice and Equity campaign, which was est. 2010 with Dept of Justice Community Relations Service Division; Race Task Force; Women to Women and finally Happiness Toolbox and Youth Corps program supporting the next generation of local leaders in resilience and social and climate justice efforts.

“When Greylock first started our IDEA journey a few years ago, BRIDGE was right there to guide us through this ongoing voyage of discovery and growth. Through Gwendolyn’s impeccable leadership, we charted a course that often took us out of our comfort zones so that we could better hear and learn from one another. Today, I’m proud to share that our credit union reflects this invaluable investment and remains deeply committed to continuing this work. On behalf of Greylock, and personally, I want to express my deepest thanks and appreciation to Gwendolyn and the entire team at BRIDGE for their unwavering dedication to making our communities better for us all,” said JamieEllen Moncecchi, SVP/CAO at Greylock Federal Credit Union.

Today, BRIDGE stands strong as a nationally recognized nonprofit that has transformed the Berkshires—working with area businesses on cultural competence and inclusive leadership guidance and training; catalyzing and spearheading initiatives and campaigns like the Pay Equity work of the Inclusive Leadership Cohort; and stewarding and buoying the W.E.B. Du Bois legacy work in the community alongside the Town of Great Barrington. BRIDGE has produced the 2014 Civil Rights Conference with former US Attorney Carmen Diaz; the educational forums at the MCLA conference with guest Nikki Giovanni and the People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond; and the Central Berkshire School District with Dr. Beverly Tatum. As a part of the groundbreaking “New Pathways'' talks in 2021, BRIDGE brought together hundreds of national and local leaders and participants, facilitating community conversation to chart new possibilities for health, justice and equity in a “post-COVID” world. The conference culminated with renowned keynote speaker and activist Dr. Angela Davis. Most recently in summer of 2022, BRIDGE held dialogues following author Isabel Wilkerson's presentation and with scholar Saidiya Hartman at Tanglewood.

The quinquennial gala will bring together BRIDGE donors, staff, volunteers, constituents, and partners in celebrating 15 years of expanding equity and justice in the Berkshires and beyond. The event will feature local food vendors Once Upon A Table, Roses, Firehouse Bar and Grill, Momma Los, Beloved Kitchen, traditional dishes from Women to Women food vendors from 5 Central and Latin American countries, Burmese Bowl, House of Seasoning and more for a tasting of the cultures and culinary arts represented throughout our Berkshire county.

Special thanks to sponsors Berkshire Bank Foundation and Greylock Federal Credit Union for their early bird sponsorship along with several co-sponsoring businesses and families, as well as Jacob's Pillow for hosting the event on these historic grounds of the Underground Railroad. Other sponsors include BRIDGE donors, Feigenbaum Foundation, Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, and many more. Honorary Board Members include Deval and Dianne Patrick, Mayor James Roberto and Michael Bobbitt.
Tickets are available at multiculturalbridge.org or call 413-394-4305.

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About BRIDGE
Founded in 2007, BRIDGE is an award winning, nationally recognized grassroots organization dedicated to community health and advancing equity and justice by promoting cultural competence, positive psychology, and mutual understanding and acceptance. The organization acts as a catalyst for change through collaboration, education, training, dialogue, fellowship and advocacy with a race and gender equity and justice focus. Since 2011, BRIDGE has been a minority- and women-run non-profit certified by the Office of Supplier Diversity of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (SDP) and since 2021 a Culturally Specific Program (CSP) engaged for building capacity to repair harm from victimizations and support thriving in historically minoritized and marginalized groups. Services include training, education, language access services, mutual aid, and multicultural celebrations for awareness building. For more information about BRIDGE, please visit https://www.multiculturalbridge.org/

BRIDGE Contact
Gwendolyn VanSant
CEO and Founding Director, BRIDGE
[email protected]

PR and Media Contact
Truc Nguyen
[email protected]
(646) 531-4848

Saidiya Hartman

12/21/2022

Saidiya Hartman is the author of Scenes of Subjection: Terror, Slavery, and Self-Making in Nineteenth-Century America (1997; Norton, 2022); Lose Your Mother: A Journey Along the Atlantic Slave Route (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2007) and Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments (Norton, 2019), which received the National Book Critics Circle Award for Criticism, and the PEN/John Kenneth Galbraith Award for Nonfiction, the Mary Nickliss Prize from the Organization of American Historians, the Judy Grahn Prize for Lesbian Nonfiction, and the John Hope Franklin Prize from the American Studies Association. She received a MacArthur Fellowship in 2019 and was elected a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2022. She is a member of the Royal Society of Literature and University Professor at Columbia University.

Elizabeth Freeman remarks from Jaziyah Forte

9/1/2022

Hi, my name is Jaziyah Forte and I am a student at the Du Bois Middle School and my mom, Joallen Forte, is a preacher at Macedonia Baptist Church in Great Barrington — the Town where Elizabeth Freeman made history in the Berkshire County courthouse. I have attended Macedonia since I was a little baby. I have known Ms. Gwendolyn for about 4 years now, but people in my family have known and worked with her for much more. This year was my fourth year participating and being a part of BRIDGE. This summer I went to our summer Happiness Toolbox/Real Talk program as an LIT which if you didn't know stands for a youth leader in training or leader in training, and I am working my way up and learning how to be a leader. While being a part of BRIDGE I've been able to learn about many leaders and groups of color in our Berkshire history through our Berkshire Legends program run by Stephanie Wright whose family is from right here in Sheffield. One of the leaders I had the opportunity to learn about over the years was Elizabeth Freeman which alot of you might also known as Mumbet.

I hope you know who Elizabeth Freeman is by now but, if you don't I'll tell you who she is and why it is important to see this statue today. She was the first enslaved African American to file and win a freedom suit in Massachusetts. It's important for me personally to see this statue built because it shows how long my culture has been leading and claiming our freedom and how far my culture has come. To be able to see such an important woman standing in the center of Sheffield is truly inspiring. It has inspired my bravery and perseverance as a young Black woman. To me it's so important for middle schoolers and young people in general to be able to have this statue represent such a big impact she had on our history from right here in the Berkshires where I live. I hope that everyone and every student especially appreciates this monument as much as I do.
Thank you.

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