Multicultural BRIDGE purchases location in Great Barrington

Originally published on the Berkshire EDGE | Written by Shaw Israel Izikson February 3, 2025

Great Barrington -- After nearly 18 years of operation, local organization Multicultural BRIDGE (Berkshire Resources for Integration of Diverse Groups and Education) has purchased a building for its programs at 965 Main Street.
According to the organization’s website, Multicultural BRIDGE “connects vulnerable community members with key resources and networks, while also providing education to local institutions and the community at large.” The nonprofit organization offers multiple programs and community services.
Organization founder and CEO Gwendolyn VanSant told The Berkshire Edge that the organization has operated from its administrative offices in Lee for many years. It has also rented the 965 Main Street location for its programs for the past two years. “For a long time, we did not ever have a central spot for all of our programs,” said VanSant. “We traveled throughout Berkshire County with our programs for many years. It was fun because we developed relationships and partnerships with churches, arts institutions, and other nonprofits.” However, VanSant added the organization wanted a central location to operate its programs.

The organization received a community block grant two years ago to expand its food sovereignty and sustainability program. VanSant explained that to expand the program, Multicultural BRIDGE needed to find a commercial-grade kitchen. “I called around, and I ended up calling Craig [Barnum, owner of CMB Properties LLC], and I told him what I needed,” VanSant said.

She said Barnum directed her to his 965 Main Street property, which previously housed a furniture warehouse. “I looked at the property, and we decided to use the block grant to install the commercial-grade kitchen that we needed,” VanSant said. “We also renovated the rest of the space to use it for our programs.”

VanSant said that Barnum was impressed enough with the renovations that he offered Multicultural BRIDGE to purchase the building. “We are a women-of-culture organization, but we are also considered a culturally specific public health organization,” VanSant said. “We needed to have a space that creates belonging for the people that we serve, including a space in the community where people of color can receive the services they need.”

Multicultural BRIDGE eventually closed on the property in late January. The organization purchased the property for $1.2 million through donations from multiple funders: Elizabeth Adams, Fitzpatrick Family Trust, Josie Greene, Nick VanSant, BTCF Equity Fund, Craig Barnum, Drs Jeff Leppo and Margie Safran, Dan Nielsen and Sara Mugridge, Lily Swartz Ellis and Tim Likarish Ellis, and Claudia Perles.

VanSant added that the organization has also obtained additional state and federal funding to obtain the building, which is approximately 10,000 square feet.

VanSant explained that Multicultural BRIDGE is using the location for multiple programs. “We’ve been able to open up this space for transitional supportive housing and beds for victims of violence,” VanSant said. “These are for people in the community who have experienced harm. We have a part of the building as a ‘swap shop,’ where people can find clothing and housing. Also, we are using this space as a community wellness center for communities of color.”

VanSant said that wellness practitioners from throughout the region who offer acupuncture therapy, counseling, and reiki are part of the center’s programs. “Being in ownership of a space and having that extra agency makes it feel like a home for us,” VanSant said. “This is a liberated and safe space for us. Having this permanent space is not where you’re going to a location and you have a limited amount of time to set up a program in someone else’s place.”

VanSant said the organization plans to continue its programming “as long as funding allows.” “We’re very much dependent on funding and resources to come from either private sources, the state, or the federal government,” VanSant said, “But the plan is to continue to expand our services. Over time, the goal of having our building and our land has been a north star to us.”

VanSant added she feels the importance of Berkshire nonprofit organizations has grown significantly given both national and global current events. “There are parts of our broader Berkshire community that are feeling extremely vulnerable, extremely scared, and extremely targeted by the federal government,” VanSant said. “It doesn’t feel like there is a safety net or a safeguard. For me, having this space is important. It’s been designed very carefully and intentionally to create belonging and to create the affirmation of safety. We have built a space where we can all trust one another and have the services that we need under one roof. I feel that, as a community, we are all stronger together. This space creates a space for communities that do not feel like they’re part of the story. We want them all to create their own stories and not to be victims of it.”
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For more information about Multicultural BRIDGE and its programs, visit its website.