Latinas413 Awarded Grant to Bolster Core Programs

08:00AM / Monday, July 15, 2024Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Latinas413, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering Latina women in Berkshire County, is announced the receipt of a grant of $75,000 from Barr Foundation that will significantly support core programming and mission for the next three years.

Latinas413 is a first and second generation immigrant organization.

Originally established in 2020, by Liliana Atanaco Garcia as the virtual group "Latinas in the Berkshires." Latinas413 quickly grew into a network of Latina women eager to collaborate. By June 2021, Latinas413 officially became a project under the fiscal sponsorship of the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires, solidifying its commitment to enhancing the social and economic capital of Latina women across the region.

"Our journey from a grassroots virtual group to an established nonprofit organization has been remarkable," said Liliana Atanacio Garcia, Co-Founder of Latinas413. "Throughout the pandemic, when isolation threatened our natural human connectedness, Latinas413 has been a beacon of hope and empowerment for Latina women in the Berkshires."

The grant received will bolster Latinas413's core programming including the Bilingual Mentorship program, Rest & Reading (book club/círculo de lectura), Earth & Fire (outdoor activities), webinars, workshops, and arts & cultural events designed to celebrate our heritage and provide essential resources to Latina women. These programs not only foster personal and professional growth but also serve as a vital platform for networking and community building.

"We are immensely grateful to the Barr Foundations for investing in the human, natural & creative potential. Aligned to the efforts to empower Latina women in all facets of their lives," added Chair of Latinas413. "This grant will enable us to expand our reach and impact, ensuring that Latina voices are heard and valued in Berkshire County."

This grant represents a milestone for Latinas413, which is growing its board and staff, and will soon be receiving official IRS 501(c)3 nonprofit designation. For almost four years a core group of women, including Laura Cabrera from Mexico, Catheryn Chacon from Colombia, Tannya Romero from Ecuador, Carmen Guevara from El Salvador, and America Lopez from Mexico, donated a combined 4,320 volunteer hours to Latinas413.

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Pittsfield's Christian Center Seeks Community Input on Services, Name

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:57PM / Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Worker Dionisio Kelly, left, board member Kenny Warren, Executive Director Jessica Jones, and Food and Services Director Karen Ryan.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — It's a new year, and The Christian Center is looking at how it can serve the area in 2026 and beyond.

This includes a possible new name fueled by community forums in late January and early February.

"We're hoping people will come in and talk about the name, talk about what programs, what services they would like to see from us. What would be most meaningful," Executive Director Jessica Jones said.

"Because the population in this area has changed quite a bit, and we no longer serve just the West Side. We serve people from other parts of Berkshire County. So the hope is just to make it more inclusive."

The Christian Center was a stop on Berkshire Community College and NAACP Berkshires' Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.

The nonprofit will hold three input sessions at 193 Robbins Ave. to inform future programs and branding, and ensure that West Side voices are heard.

The sessions will be held on:

Saturday, Jan. 31, from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Thursday, Feb. 5, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 10, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.

The center dates back to the early 1890s, when it was the Epworth Mission started by the Methodist Church to serve newly arrived immigrants and help them assimilate. The Christian Center was incorporated in 1974.

Over the decades, it has drifted away from a faith-based organization to a space for anyone who needs a meal, a warm jacket, a place to bring their child, or a meeting place. A space for everyone.

This is what center officials wanted reflected in the name.

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