ILC Project Proposals
Group #1 Berkshire Connect: Building our Diverse Community
Berkshire Connect project is designed to connect diverse communities across Berkshire County to one another through the collection of identified area needs and creation of a directory resource highlighting area networks, stakeholders for community engagement and businesses and resources. We recognize and honor the importance of our organizations developing more welcoming environments.
Stan Kordana, David Cheung (Gen Dynamics), Donna Hassler, James Rosenstein (Chesterwood), Erica Barreto, Lisa Donovan (MCLA), Danielle Gonzalez, Molly Magavern, Eden-Renee Hayes (Williams College), Carolyn Valli, Michelle Decepida (Central Berkshire Habitat), A.J. Pietrantone, Yuki Cohen (Jacobs Pillow)
Benefits/Partnerships in BIPOC Community: Berkshire Black Economic Council (with ABC-ILC)
Stan Kordana, David Cheung (Gen Dynamics), Donna Hassler, James Rosenstein (Chesterwood), Erica Barreto, Lisa Donovan (MCLA), Danielle Gonzalez, Molly Magavern, Eden-Renee Hayes (Williams College), Carolyn Valli, Michelle Decepida (Central Berkshire Habitat), A.J. Pietrantone, Yuki Cohen (Jacobs Pillow)
Benefits/Partnerships in BIPOC Community: Berkshire Black Economic Council (with ABC-ILC)
Group #2 Racial Equity Audits for Change
As per the results of the collective and individual benchmarking surveys and the evidence that self audits create equitable change, our working groups propose a project of internal audits. As employers and purchasers , this internal work is necessary in order to take action around racial equity in our internal work. These internal audits will result in actionable changes around equity in staffing spending and salaries. To do these internal audits as a working group and share our results and commitments to change as part of the Inclusive Leadership Cohort creates the opportunity for leading by example through community sharing from five cross sector employers and community leaders committed to change.
JamieEllen Moncecci, Jeff Gerard (Greylock), Wendy Healey, Kristen VanGinhoven (WAM), Christina Cruz (BHS), Jamie Birge, Christopher MacDonald-Dennis (Mass College of Liberal Arts), Karin Almquist, Linda Park (Hawthorne Valley), Ruth Adams, Katherine Kanga (Art Omi), Janis Martinson, Allison Wintner (Mahaiwe)
Benefits/Partnerships in BIPOC Community: tbd
JamieEllen Moncecci, Jeff Gerard (Greylock), Wendy Healey, Kristen VanGinhoven (WAM), Christina Cruz (BHS), Jamie Birge, Christopher MacDonald-Dennis (Mass College of Liberal Arts), Karin Almquist, Linda Park (Hawthorne Valley), Ruth Adams, Katherine Kanga (Art Omi), Janis Martinson, Allison Wintner (Mahaiwe)
Benefits/Partnerships in BIPOC Community: tbd
Group #3 Building Racial Equity in the Berkshires through Diverse and Inclusive Boards
All boards are autonomous, with distinct protocols around policy and governance, and Berkshire-based organizations may already be taking steps to create more inclusive diverse boards. We believe that identifying the layers of work that are required for this process to move forward in a meaningful, equitable, and sustainable way will facilitate these efforts. We are starting with focus on racial diversity recognizing that there are many marginalized groups that must be a part of this conversation going forward. We also acknowledge that an immediate connection between this project and the directive around critical need might not seem obvious when considering the myriad of compelling regional issues, but we contend that it has the capacity to catalyze systematic changes that can be addressed.
Lori Kiely, Lindsey Codwise (Berkshire Bank), Barbara Cooperman, Susan Wissler (The Mount), Veronica Fenton, Maya Richards, Allison Jarrett, Stephanie Wright, (BRIDGE), Margaret Keller, Heather Heim (CATA), Tracy Moore, Caroline Cummingham (Mass MoCA)
Benefits/Partnerships in BIPOC Community: R3s#t, BRIDGE, and NPC Berkshires. Also R.O.P.E. through ABC -ILC
Lori Kiely, Lindsey Codwise (Berkshire Bank), Barbara Cooperman, Susan Wissler (The Mount), Veronica Fenton, Maya Richards, Allison Jarrett, Stephanie Wright, (BRIDGE), Margaret Keller, Heather Heim (CATA), Tracy Moore, Caroline Cummingham (Mass MoCA)
Benefits/Partnerships in BIPOC Community: R3s#t, BRIDGE, and NPC Berkshires. Also R.O.P.E. through ABC -ILC
Group #4 Create more Inclusive & Sustainable Ticketing Prices
We recognize that to increase access to the arts and create a sense of belonging and inclusiveness pricing is only one variable. Many barriers and challenges exist in the larger ecosystem. For the purpose of this project we are looking at ticketing and in particular the “pay what you choose” programs at both Norman Rockwell Museum and Shakespeare & Company. By narrowing our focus, we do not want to minimize other factors, but hope a tighter focus will allow us to dig deeper and better identify blind spots, false assumptions and white-mindedness. Our goal is to generate learning and program improvements that will better serve a diverse local community within our member organizations and have potential cross sector relevance.
Peter Taylor, Peter Frank (BTCF), Mary Berle, Magdalen Livesey (Norman Rockwell Museum), Allyn Burrows, Beverly Hyman (Shakespeare & Company), Lucie Castaldo, Ann Gallo (IS 183), Linda Morris Kelly, Roberta McCullow-Dews (Berkshire Bridges), Mike Stoddard, Candace Winkler (Berkshire United Way)
Benefits/Partnerships in BIPOC Community: tbd
Peter Taylor, Peter Frank (BTCF), Mary Berle, Magdalen Livesey (Norman Rockwell Museum), Allyn Burrows, Beverly Hyman (Shakespeare & Company), Lucie Castaldo, Ann Gallo (IS 183), Linda Morris Kelly, Roberta McCullow-Dews (Berkshire Bridges), Mike Stoddard, Candace Winkler (Berkshire United Way)
Benefits/Partnerships in BIPOC Community: tbd