Multicultural BRIDGE
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Resilient Connections Reflections from the CEO

7/17/2018

 
​BRIDGE is closing out its tenth year of celebration and celebrating the fruition, as a co-founder, of a vision of what our community needed. In one way it was to close the gaps of services for new immigrants and very specifically value women and women of color’s labor, contribution and value to our community. But in a larger way it was to foster a sense of humanity, justice and interconnectedness.

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​Testimonial of Yeou-Cheng Ma

7/16/2018

 
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“To live anywhere in the world today and be against equality because of race or color is like living Alaska and being against snow.” William Faulkner
 
I was introduced to Multicultural Bridge by Natalie Shiras, my classmate from College who was the Pastor of Church on the Hill in Lenox MA. At first I was incredulous that there was racial discrimination in the Berkshires, but I was told otherwise. As an immigrant who has been bullied both in France and in the US, I feel it is important to protect the rights of all people, regardless of the color of their skin, or their origin. I am proud of the work of Gwendolyn and congratulate her and Multicultural Bridge on their 10th Anniversary. Yeou-Cheng Ma
 

Note from Peggy McIntosh

7/16/2018

 
To you,  Gwendolyn, and the committees, I send good wishes for a GREAT event which I think will be wonderful for all. I trust it will reward your good work in bringing Multicultural Bridge to is tenth year.  I lectured in Japan recently and spoke reverently of W.E.B. Du Bois and your community work.
Sincerely,
Peggy McIntosh
June 18, 2018
​
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TEstimonial De Gabriela Cruz

7/16/2018

 
Bridge Es una organización importante en los Berkshires, brinda apoyo a la comunidad independientemente de su nacionalidad. Nos permite integrarnos a este país por medio de diferentes programas y para todas las edades.
Con campamentos bilingües para nuestros niños lo cual les permite seguridad e interés por aprender otro idioma y culturas.
Programas para jóvenes y de esta forma mantenerlos ocupados.
Grupo de mujeres del cual he sido integrante por 10 años; durante este tiempo he aprendido mucho por medio de las pláticas informativas sobre salud, drogas, política, apoyo moral  y leyes de este país, clases de Inglés y más temas, los cuales me han ayudado a mejorar mi relación con mi familia e integrarme de una manera más eficiente a este país,
También nos conecta con otras organizaciones que existen en la comunidad.
Gracias a Bridge por todo su apoyo y entrega a nuestra comunidad.
 
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​BRIDGE  is an important organization in the Berkshires, supports the community regardless of their nationality. It allows us to integrate this country through various programs and for all ages.

Bilingual camps for our children which allows them security and interest to learn another language and culture.

Programs for Youth that keep them busy.

Group of women which have been a member for 10 years; During this time I learned a lot through informative talks about health, drugs, political, moral support and laws of this country, English classes and topics, which have helped me improve my relationship with my family and integrate a more efficient way to this country,

It also connects us with other organizations that exist in the community.

BRIDGE  thank you for your support and commitment to our community.  

Gabriela Cruz
 

Resilient Connections, Tracey Benson, keynote speaker at BRIDGE 10th anniversary gala

7/16/2018

 
Thank you, Gwendolyn and Multicultural BRIDGE for inviting my wife and I back to the Berkshires. We spent 5 great years in this great community where my wife served as a professor at Williams College and I had the honor of serving the Pittsfield community at Herberg Middle School and Pittsfield High School. We feel truly blessed and deeply honored to be here tonight. I first met Gwen in 2011, when I was the principal of Pittsfield High School. I didn't know much about Multicultural BRIDGE at the time, but our school adjustment counselor, Kate Dolan, raved about all of the good work Multicultural BRIDGE was doing in Berkshire County...and I knew we wanted to be a part of it. And Pittsfield High School, much like most racially heterogeneous schools was a great place yearning to be greater! 
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​Testimonial of Natalie Shiras

7/16/2018

 
I celebrate with you this day on the 10th Anniversary of Multicultural BRIDGE. Volunteering for BRIDGE for eight years was an exercise in learning, thinking, and speaking truth about race in this country. It was through BRIDGE and under the direction of Gwendolyn Hampton VanSant that I faced my family’s legacy of slaveholding in Haiti and Cuba and the legacy of the Supreme Court ruling of Plessy vs. Ferguson in 1896, favored by my great uncle, Supreme Court Justice George Shiras. It put in place the continuation of slavery through the policy of “separate but equal”.  I began the work of ancestral grief with BRIDGE and continue to do so.


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KAREN’S STORY

7/15/2018

 
Karen came to BRIDGE through Construct Inc., located in Great Barrington.

She needed to supplement her income due to a recent separation, which had left her with sole custody of her child, and a lot of debt. Construct Inc. informed Karen about Multicultural BRIDGE and how they could help her stabilize during her life uncertain times. Karen had no idea how expansive BRIDGE’s ability to help her would be.

Prior to Karen’s arrival in the US, she had secured an MBA in Finance and worked at a bank for eight years. In order for Karen to pursue her career in the states, BRIDGE helped Karen create a resume for the local market and apply to banks in the area. Karen has now been working at a local bank for two years.
BRIDGE also helped Karen throughout her divorce. Karen’s ex-husband was more familiar with the legal system and he used that against Karen. With the help of a lawyer that BRIDGE had provided, Karen was awarded full custody of her daughter. Karen and her lawyer also ended up becoming good friends and remain in regular contact to this day.
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Additionally, Karen was unsure as to her citizenship status and how it would be impacted by the divorce. Luckily, BRIDGE helped Karen get another lawyer, sent letters to vouch for her about getting the green card, and after a year fighting, USCIS gave her permanent residence in January 2016.  Karen now has hope for the future and is looking forward to the rest of her promising life.
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tribute from john bissell, president and ceo of greylock federal credit union

7/14/2018

 
​​In late 2015, Greylock Federal Credit Union began investigating options for a Diversity Training program to offer our managers. Multicultural BRIDGE’S Cultural Competency program was hands-down the best training option offered in the marketplace.

Greylock selected BRIDGE’s program because their training focuses on many of the topics and issues that Greylock employees assist our members with on a daily basis. We also selected the program based on the incredible knowledge and experience Gwendolyn Hampton VanSant brings to the classroom. She has many certifications and life experiences that truly make her a subject-matter-expert and community leader.

In 2016, Gwendolyn delivered BRIDGE’s Cultural Competency program to over 60 Greylock Federal Credit Union managers and supervisors. The full-day program was packed with activities to facilitate learning and insight. Managers were encouraged to use the information when selecting new products or services at Greylock, and determining which vendors to conduct business with.

In 2017, Greylock delivered a condensed version of the Cultural Competency program to approximately 200 staff-level employees. Participants engaged in many of the same learning activities as their managers did, with less focus on how to integrate these topics into the workplace.

In order to remain culturally competent, Greylock has also contracted with BRIDGE to lead roundtable discussions with our managers two times per year, focusing on topics that we face as an employer and as a financial services provider. This year, the topics are Immigration Considerations and Generational Considerations. Much of the discussion is driven by participant questions, with no advance notice. Gwendolyn has proven once again to be an effect resource who carries a wealth of knowledge on a variety of topics. She’s able to answer our questions with ease and share complex, detailed information that helps to ensure our employees are better equipped to serve the community at large.

Greylock Federal Credit Union is a proud partner and supporter of Multicultural BRIDGE and the programs they provide our communities.

    Impact

    Multicultural BRIDGE helps to improve the lives of community members throughout the Berkshires, and provides consultation and training to groups and businesses across the state and throughout the country. 

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  • Home
  • About Us
    • Staff And Volunteers
    • Board and Advisory Council
    • Partnerships and Coalitions
    • Organization Members
    • Impact
    • Support Us
  • Programs
    • Happiness Toolbox Summer Program >
      • HT2022 Photos
      • HT2021 Photos
      • Happiness Toolbox Sessions
      • HT Bios
    • Community Education >
      • Cultural Competence Community Training
      • Real Talk On Race
    • Youth >
      • Happiness Toolbox >
        • Happiness Toolbox Blog
        • Coloring Pages
        • Happiness Toolbox Photos
      • Real Talk
    • Towards Racial Justice And Equity In the Berkshires >
      • TRJ-South
      • Race Task Force
      • Great Barrington Trust Policy
      • Honoring Du Bois's Life & Legacy >
        • Du Bois Legacy Participants 2022
      • Not In Our County - Berkshires
    • Women To Women >
      • Immigrant Women's Group
      • Professional Support/Community Integration
      • Mindfulness and Movement
    • Berkshire Trans Group
    • New Pathways >
      • New Pathways Social Justice Conference 2020 >
        • New Pathways Conference Keynote
        • New Pathways Conference Videos
        • New Pathways 2020 Conference Bios
      • New Pathways Labs
      • New Pathways Talks
      • New Pathways Podcast
      • New Pathways Bios
    • Food Sovereignty & Sustainability >
      • Resource Kits
      • Distribution Sign Up
  • Services
    • Business >
      • Educational Support
      • Workplace Programming
      • State Vendor: Supplier Diversity Program
      • Recruitment
      • Language Access Services
    • Memberships
    • IDEA Institute Trainings
    • Online Training >
      • Virtual Training Hub >
        • Cultural Competence Foundations
      • Inclusive Leadership Cohort >
        • ILC Project Proposals
  • Ways To Give
  • News And Events
    • Mosaic Stories
    • Catalyst.Love.Impact GALA >
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    • Events >
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