Service-Learning Student Leaders, Michael VanDeusen and Devon Roller, no task is too big or too small for these outstanding volunteers!

Thank You Letter from the Co-Director of Berkshire Immigrants’ Center, Brooke Mead:

On behalf of Berkshire Immigrant Center (BIC) and Cross-Cultural Action Network (CCAN) I want to thank you all so much for all you did for Immigrants’ Day in the Berkshires 2011. This event– attended by between 500-600 people– was our best yet and we could NOT have done it without you.

All evening our communities immigrants approached us with huge hugs and smiles and thanked us for putting on this great event. Legislators once again took notice of the importance of this population, children from all backgrounds made arts and crafts together and those familiar and unfamiliar with the sweet sounds of salsa boogied unashamed on a joyous dance floor; diversity reined as it should.

I think it was best said by an attendee from Pakistan who was interviewed for the Berkshire Eagle Article I have included below. “Around the world the U.S. is seen as trying to be [made up] of only white people,” Alam continued. “But here I find that all the world is already here in the United States. This country may be the most diverse. If you were to project this image to the world, everyone will love, love, love the U.S.”

This is what you have all helped to create. We hope you are as proud of this as we are of you. Thank you so much again.

Best,

BIC & CCAN

(From left to right) BCC student Laura Bentz and community volunteer Angela Jimenez with her children in the childcare room at Immigrants' Day

PS- Childcare was THE BEST YET and Eleanore Velez will surely leave us soon for her own talk show or to become the new national community organizer for some leading human rights group! 

WAY TO GO BCC, Miss Halls and the extraordinaria Angela!