Berkshire Immigrant Center Sets 3 'Dining Out' Events

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LEE, Mass. — The Berkshire Immigrant Center announced its next round of "Dining Out" events, which highlight local immigrant-owned businesses and to help support the center's programs. The first event will be held at Chez Nous at 150 Main St. on Sunday, Feb. 10, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Chez Nous will donate 40 percent of the evening's proceeds directly to the Berkshire Immigrant Center. Chez Nous specializes in French fare and will offer diners a bistro menu, morederately priced wines and French desserts.
 
Like other immigrant restaurant owners, Chez Nous' Franck Tessier and Rachel Portney – both extensively trained in France – have their own personal immigration experiences and welcome the chance to assist the center by kicking off this year's Dining Out series.
 
The series will continue on March 18 at Xicohtencatl in Great Barrington, where restaurant owners Toni Bergins and Angel Espinosa will share their Tlaxcalan Mexican recipes with BIC supporters.  Last year, the owners donated more than $1,700 to BIC, noting that they were glad to have the opportunity to share some of their profits with an organization that has brought such important services and supports to employees and friends.
 
The third event will take place on May 20 at Flavours Restaurant in Pittsfield. Husband and wife owners Sabrina and Chin Tam are grateful for the help Sabrina received from BIC last year as she became a United States citizen. Flavours will present a buffet sampling of Malyasian food with two seatings at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. and will also donate a significant portion of the evening's proceeds to the center.
 
For more information about any of the upcoming events or the Berkshire Immigrant Center, call 413-445-4881, email info@berkshireic.com or visit www.berkshireic.com.

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Simon's Rock Awarded Freedom to Read Grant

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Bard College at Simon's Rock was awarded a Freedom to Read Grant by the Newburger Schwartz Family Foundation. 
 
The grant was awarded to support the Alumni Library and Bard Queer Leadership Project in building a more robust collection of queer scholarship, starting a Queer Book Club, and hosting Drag Story Time events in partnership with Drag Story Hour of the Berkshires.
 
According to a press release:
 
In response to current educational threats with book bans affecting schools and libraries across the country and further proposed legislation against LGBTQ+ people's access to basic rights and education, Simon's Rock is actively seeking to create inclusive and equitable spaces for queer individuals. 
 
The Bard Queer Leadership Project and Alumni Library will utilize the grant funding to expand the library's current collection of queer books in order to fully enable the longevity of the Queer Book Club and the Bard Queer Leadership Project. The Queer Book Club will be an intergenerational space, open to local middle school students through rainbow seniors and will partner with local community organizations, to discuss queer books and learn about LGBTQ+ issues and experiences. Bard Queer Leadership Project students will eventually help lead this initiative as part of their leadership project training. 
 
The Queer Book Club will host their first meeting on April 6 at 3:00 p.m. at the Alumni Library, with following meetings on April 27 and May 11. This semester, the selected books are "Obie is Man Enough" and "He/She/They," both by Schuyler Bailar, inspirational speaker and first openly transgender NCAA Division swimmer, who was a guest speaker in the inaugural Queer Leaders Vision Forum in fall 2023 at Simon's Rock. Schuyler Bailar will return to campus for a book signing and pool party at the Kilpatrick Athletic Center on April 19 at 7:00 p.m. Participants in the Queer Book Club will receive a free copy of either book of their choice. 
 
The first Drag Story Time will be on Saturday, March 30 at 2:00 p.m. at the Simon's Rock Alumni Library and is open to all LGBTQ+ affirming individuals. The event is in partnership with Drag Story Hour of the Berkshires with local drag queens JV and Poppy DaBubbly. The second Drag Story Time will be Saturday, April 27 with drag queen Poppy DaBubbly and drag king Sativo Green.
 
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