Looking Back On A Decade Of Multicultural BRIDGE

Jul 8, 2018 | By: Amy Krzanik

<p><strong>Gwendolyn VanSant </strong>and gala co-chair, <strong>John Bissell</strong>, president and CEO of <a href="https://www.greylock.org/">Greylock Federal Credit Union</a></p>

<p><a href="http://fbcpittsfield.org/"><strong>Rev. Sheila Sholes-Ross</strong></a>, <strong>Kathleen McCallum</strong> and musician <strong>Rodney Mashia</strong></p>

<p>Former Pittsfield High School Principal <strong>Tracey Benson</strong>, who spoke at the event, with <strong>Devyn Benson</strong></p>

<p><strong>Aleta Moncecchi, Bryan House</strong> and <strong>Deb Leonczyk</strong>, all from <a href="https://bcacinc.org/">Berkshire Community Action Council (BCAC)</a></p>

<p><strong><a href="https://growthriver.com/">Bob Voss</a>, <a href="http://www.naacpberkshires.org/">Al Blake</a></strong> and <a href="http://www.naacpberkshires.org/"><strong>Cheryl Rose</strong></a></p>

<p>BRIDGE co-founders <strong>Gwendolyn VanSant</strong> and <strong>Marthe Bourdon</strong> with staff member <strong>Stephanie Wright</strong></p>

<p><strong><a href="http://www.centerforneweconomics.org/">Susan Witt</a> </strong>with <strong>Dan Neilson, Sara Mugridge</strong> and <strong>Eden-Renee Hayes</strong> of <a href="https://simons-rock.edu/">Bard College at Simon's Rock</a></p>

<p><strong>Tessa Climo, Maya Hampton VanSant, Julien Melendez</strong> and <strong>Briggin Scharf</strong></p>

<p>Mass. State Senator <strong>Adam Hinds, <a href="http://www.bigheadbooks.com/">Ty Allan Jackson</a>, <a href="https://www.greylock.org/">John Bissell</a></strong> and Mass. State Representative <strong>Smitty Pignatelli</strong></p>

<p><a href="http://blacktheatretroupeupstateny.org/"><strong>Jean-Remy Monnay</strong></a> and <a href="http://www.wamtheatre.com/"><strong>Kristen van Ginhoven</strong></a></p>

<p><strong>Courtney Kimball </strong>and <strong>Michael D. Andelman </strong>of <a href="https://constructinc.org/">Construct</a>, with<strong> Eugenie Sills</strong> and <a href="https://www.npcberkshires.org/"><strong>Liana Toscanini</strong></a></p>

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Gwendolyn VanSant and gala co-chair, John Bissell, president and CEO of Greylock Federal Credit Union

Rev. Sheila Sholes-Ross, Kathleen McCallum and musician Rodney Mashia

Former Pittsfield High School Principal Tracey Benson, who spoke at the event, with Devyn Benson

Aleta Moncecchi, Bryan House and Deb Leonczyk, all from Berkshire Community Action Council (BCAC)

Bob Voss, Al Blake and Cheryl Rose

BRIDGE co-founders Gwendolyn VanSant and Marthe Bourdon with staff member Stephanie Wright

Susan Witt with Dan Neilson, Sara Mugridge and Eden-Renee Hayes of Bard College at Simon's Rock

Tessa Climo, Maya Hampton VanSant, Julien Melendez and Briggin Scharf

Mass. State Senator Adam Hinds, Ty Allan Jackson, John Bissell and Mass. State Representative Smitty Pignatelli

Jean-Remy Monnay and Kristen van Ginhoven

Courtney Kimball and Michael D. Andelman of Construct, with Eugenie Sills and Liana Toscanini

In a nation that seems more divided than ever, there are those who don’t just talk about the need for social justice, inclusion and community connections, but walk the walk. Gwendolyn VanSant and the Berkshire County nonprofit organization she co-founded, Multicultural BRIDGE, do the hard work every day, and have been for doing it for a decade. The group celebrated its 10th anniversary on Friday, July 6 on the grounds of Naumkeag in Stockbridge, Mass. BRIDGE, which stands for Berkshire Resources for Integration of Diverse Groups through Education, leads cultural competence programming in schools and institutions to promote equity and to educate on systemic racism and cultural barriers.

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Looking Back On A Decade Of Multicultural BRIDGE

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