Gwendolyn VanSant, the executive director and co-founder of Multicultural BRIDGE sponsored Haynes as a candidate to the Youth Council last spring. The nomination was based on Haynes' work with BRIDGE/Task Force North, the BRIDGE Youth Corps, and the Mount Greylock Multicultural Action Team.

  

Haynes, an ABC student and New York City native, has also been the recipient of a BRIDGE cultural competency award and has earned citations from Gov. Deval Patrick, Sen. Benjamin B. Downing and Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli for her work on social justice. She spoke last summer in Springfield at the Haymarket People's Fund, a philanthropic organization that has been promoting social justice and anti-racism work for 35 years.

 

"I look forward to my third year of working with Crystal and am very sure she will fulfill the role as youth advisor representing Berkshire County youth's experience," VanSant said. "We are so proud that she has achieved this honor in what was a highly competitive pool of applicants."

 

The Governor's Youth Council serves as a critical resource in advising the Governor in making decisions and setting policy to improve the lives of young people throughout the Commonwealth.  Youth Council members are responsible for attending monthly meetings and conference calls, advocating for youth issues, and incorporating the ideas of other youth and young adults into the creation of effective policy.