STOCKBRIDGE — The first time Laura Cabrera visited MASS MoCA in North Adams, she did not feel particularly welcome. It’s a feeling America Lopez could relate to when, after first arriving in the Berkshires from Mexico, she was eager to explore the outdoors but did not feel safe doing so alone. Rather than accept these obstacles, both Cabrera and Lopez ultimately endeavored to use their respective experiences to create community where, in their experience, it was lacking. Last month, Cabrera took to the stage in North Adams as a performer at MASS MoCa’s Free Day and Lopez helped organize a guided snowshoe hike for members of the Latin community, both projects of Latinas413, a nascent organization aimed at igniting the collective power of Latinas in all arenas.
“There was no intention of starting an organization; it was just a group of friends getting together,” Lopez told The Edge, citing a shared dream — “to create something big to help our community” — as uniting the group’s first members, who met online during the early days of COVID quarantine.
“The initial idea was to create a virtual space as a meeting point where Latinas could share information, ask for help or recommendations, or simply come together,” Liliana Atanacio, the group’s current co-president, told The Edge. The response via Facebook was overwhelming, and little by little a community began to take shape.
Opportunities to create meaningful connections, of the type that fall outside the usual purview of services offered to immigrants arriving in the area, quickly became the group’s focus. Today, at Latinas413, “‘unidas’ (together), we have created a whole network of ‘mujeres’ (women) supporting and lifting each other in every possible way,” said Atanacio.
The nonprofit has set forth a trio of goals for the coming year: to connect Latinas to valuable Berkshire County resources, including community initiatives, local resources, cultural institutions, and the rich outdoor spaces that abound; to connect Latinas with mentors to help them build their confidence, connect with career development opportunities, and increase their social capital; and to connect Latinas to financial planning education via access to tools that will not only increase their financial education but will also provide knowledge to manage money more effectively. In November, Latinas413 gained fiscal sponsorship from the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires (NPC), a designation that allows the organization to legally begin fundraising under the nonprofit 501c3 umbrella of NPC (click here to make a donation).
Members of Latinas413 work in committees (focused on art, community, and mentorship) to meet their mission: to ignite the collective power of Latinas to expand their social and economic capital, serving as a bridge to resources available in our county, thereby increasing the representation of the voices, talents, and interests of Latinas across Berkshire County. Last month’s presentation of “YoSoyArte,” an initiative by Latin artists and activists to promote cultural inclusion through art, is an excellent example of current efforts.
“The first time I went to MASS MoCA, I felt that I didn’t belong, [and] I don’t want my community to feel the same way,” said Cabrera, who was instrumental in bringing a small team of local artists to the space in January. The exhibit, featuring eight individuals working in media ranging from photography and video to performance, included Cabrera, Fernando Leon, Vladimir Soasti, Letty Munoz, and Constanza Bergs. Was it hard work? Yes. “But I think it’s worth it because what I want is not only for me,” Cabrera said. “I want more people — new generations, my kids — to come and feel like they are welcome to share their art, even if it is in a different language,” said Cabrera, who was honored to be the first Latin artist to perform at MASS MoCA.
When you see other people that not only look like you but speak the way you do, it makes a space feel safe and welcoming, said Lopez who, despite her first language being Spanish, wants to occupy spaces — from museums to schools and myriad others in between — that make her feel welcome. When native Spanish speakers hear their language spoken, even if in greeting from a non-Spanish-speaking person, it is welcoming; the same goes for signage, in Spanish, in public spaces intended for all to use. Over the past six months, Berkshire Natural Resources Council has been working to translate trail maps and signage, at their more than 30 properties, into Spanish — a small step that goes a long way in creating an inclusive experience for all.
Of the more than 350 members of the Latinas413 Facebook page, none of them was born in the United States, which means their lived experience of what it means to be an immigrant to the Berkshires is deep. Similarly deep is the collective knowledge of organizations like Volunteers in Medicine (VIM), BRIDGE, the Family Resource Center, BCAC, and Berkshire Immigrant Center (just to name a handful) aimed at meeting immigrant needs such as food, shelter, healthcare, and education. Still, Lopez felt there was more to cover.
“[As Latinos], we have more than needs — we have strengths, we have passions, we have culture, food, music, arts, and we are curious. We have so much to share,” she explained, citing the importance of Latinas413. “We want our kids to feel proud of their heritage, and we want to have the whole human experience.”
A fundraising campaign is currently underway; money raised will go towards scholarships for Latin students and buying books for a soon-to-be launched book club which, at its core, is evidence of the nonprofit’s desire to grow and learn together.
“When we came together, we wanted to be loud, we wanted to be bold, we wanted to say, ‘Yes, we are here,’ and together [Latinas413] empowered us to do that,” said Lopez. “It’s not that we have it all figured out, but we know the struggles and we know what doors to knock on — and if we don’t know, we use our power together to figure it out.”
