Multicultural BRIDGE Awarded $400,000 for Victim Services
LEE, Mass. — Lee-based Multicultural BRIDGE has been awarded $400,000 by the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance (MOVA), one of five victim service agencies in Western Massachusetts to be given an award.
MOVA awarded a total of $2,389,303 to the five agencies, all of which are led by and support communities of color in Western Massachusetts. The community-based programs are all located in either Hampden or Berkshire Counties and provide violence-related services.
The initial contracts, supported through the federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), each began on Aug. 1, 2022, and will last through June 30, 2024, spanning state fiscal years 2023 and 2024.
The services range in focus from gun violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and bullying/harassment. All services provided are culturally specific to subsets of local Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities, with the most served groups amongst the grantees being the local Hispanic and Black communities.
"MOVA envisions a Commonwealth in which all victims and survivors of crime can access rights and high-quality services that are reflective of our diverse communities; culturally responsive and trauma-informed; and in which their voices and experiences are heard, valued, and amplified," said Liam Lowney, MOVA Executive Director. "We are thrilled to support and partner with these programs who work day in and out helping survivors overcome the barriers they face accessing help in the wake of violence."
The dedication of funds to support culturally reflective, high-quality services in Western Massachusetts aligns with MOVA’s 2021-2024 strategic plan. This targeted grant program seeks to provide equity and accessibility, informed by an assessment and analysis of the needs and demographics of victim services in Massachusetts.
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