Professor Asma Abbas talks about her life and experience in many ways, in philosophy and theory and listening silence.
Read articleThe bowl is warm and savory, 12-bean soup made with bacalao, salted cod. It’s called la Fenesca. in the week before Easter, in South and Central America, families take time off and gather — and this is the taste of the holiday.
Maria Soria from Ambato in Ecuador, Lucia Quizhpi from Deleg in Ecuador, and Gabriela Cruz from Oaxaca in Mexico, have come to talk with me about their faith and celebrations, and they’ve given me something as close to them as memories of their grandmothers in the kitchen. They’ve given me stories of home.
When I was editor of Berkshires Week, Gwendolyn VanSant, chief executive officer and co-founding director of Multicultural Bridge, worked with me to create a series of columns, storytelling to lift the voices of people who live here. We talked with a family of ranchers in Becket, leaders of the NAACP, a union negotiator at the Rising Paper Mill, tattoo artists in Dalton …
We shared their stories for three years before Bridge gathered them into a book as Berkshire Mosaics. Now, with permission from them and from the Eagle, I am bringing those stories here — and looking to the future.
Local people share their stories ...
Will Amado Syldor-Severino holds his three-week-old son, Abi. Skip Meade sits at a wooden desk in the sunlight surrounded by books and photographs. Satyana Ananda stands in the winter fields beside a stone cairn at Starseed, her sanctuary in Savoy, and Mike Zabian tries on a tie and an orange vest at Zabian’s, his family business in Lee — press photos by Siobhan Connelly. For stories, scroll on down …
Photo by Siobhan Connally
Patricia Cambi, seated, Maria Soria, standing at left, and Rocio Chavez share memories from their childhood homes, and at the top of the page, Steve (in the hat) and his father Bill Robinson pose for a portrait at Sunny Banks Ranch in Becket — press photos by Caroline Bonnivier Snyder, courtesy of the Berkshire Eagle. And Rabbi Josh Breindel of Temple Anshe Amunim sits in his study with his chin in his hand. Press photo by Ben Garver, photo also courtesy of the Berkshire Eagle.
Photo by Caroline Bonnivier Snyder
Bridge stories
Sunny Banks Ranch keeps visions alive
Bill Robinson and his son, Steve, work a 200-acre ranch in Becket. Clad in thick rubber boots, jeans and a plaid shirt, Steve was outside working near the stables and looked every bit the part of a cowboy.
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La Navidadeña honors Mary’s travels
For nine days before Christmas, throughout Latin America, families are celebrating la novena navidadeña — the travels of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem.
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Starseed sanctuary in Savoy sows light
Satyana Ananda knows that sometimes after destruction, light returns. Sometimes a terrible thing can end in a miracle. Transformation is part of her mission as director of the Starseed Sanctuary.
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Theatre and art leaders commit to change
As the theatre season is reopening in the Berkshires, more than 30 arts and theatre organizations gathered with MCLA (in a virtual event) to talk with two nationally renowned theatre makers.
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Passover brings renewal and a call to action
He remembers the smell of lemon-scented furniture polish. It was the day in spring when his family would open all the windows and rub down the wood. Family was coming for the holiday.
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Will Amado Syldor-Severino speaks to silence
Will Amado Syldor-Severino, a senior fellow with Americorps Massachusetts Promise, is holding his three-week-old son, Abi, on a winter day, as he talks about diversity, his work with local teens and painful issues too often left unsaid.
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Zabian family builds businesses and trust on Main Street
Mike Zabian cuts a striking figure as he strolls in front of the Main Street building that bears his name, wearing dark gray slacks and an orange wool sweater-vest, smiling at people passing by.
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Only in My Dreams gives the Berkshires in a package
Imagine fresh coffee, or tea and honey, coming to you as a gentle surprise. Oskar Hallig and his husband, Michael Zippel, have evolved Only in My Dreams in the pandemic to offer locally sourced gift boxes and care packages.
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Peace and passion: Holy Week in a Latina community
Maria Soria from Ambato in Ecuador, Lucia Quizhpi from Deleg in Ecuador, and Gabriela Cruz from Oaxaca in Mexico, came to Multicultural Bridge in Housatonic to talk about La Semana Santa, Holy Week, in the places where they were born.
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