Flying Cloud Welcomes New Board Members

Print Story | Email Story
GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Flying Cloud Institute (FCI) welcomes Liliana Atanacio Garcia and Sarah Reynolds North to the organization's Board of Directors.
 
Liliana Atanacio Garcia is the co-founder of Latinas413, a nonprofit organization that advocates for Latina representation in Berkshire County. In recognition of her efforts, she received the "29 Who Shine" Award from the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education in 2018. 
 
Garcia serves as the Grant and Program Administrator at Mill Town Foundation, where she supports grantmaking related to the foundation's activities, programmatic operations, and daily administrative functions. Prior to this role, she served as the Workforce Training Orientation and Youth Programming Manager at Berkshire Community College (BCC). While at BCC she organized BCC's first Hackathon and worked to establish the Eleanore Velez Scholarship.
 
Originally from Mexico, the Berkshires became Garcia's home in 2009. She is the mother of two teen girls. Garcia is passionate about traveling, gastronomy, and philanthropy. 
 
"Flying Cloud Institute fosters an open-minded approach to learning science and engineering. As an engineer, creator and educator, I look forward to contributing to the organization's success as a Board Member," said Garcia.
 
Sarah Reynolds North is the founder and baker at Found Bread. She has worked in bakeries around the northeast and in Europe, and trained at the San Francisco Baking Institute. North moved to New Marlborough in 2022 with her family, where she bakes mainly sourdough and fermented breads, and teaches baking classes. She's a firm believer in using locally-sourced, grown and milled ingredients.
 
Before becoming a full-time baker, North was a public radio reporter and producer for WNYC, NPR for several years. She also helped non-profits to develop and produce stories about their work. North worked with the Southern Poverty Law Center's Immigrant Justice Center and was a Peace Corps Volunteer and Instructor in Guatemala.
 
"I love the work Flying Cloud is doing in public schools – to merge art and science through innovative curriculum for all kids in our region. Our Board strives to make it one of the best educational organizations in Massachusetts," said North.
 
They join officers Cathy Ingram, Director of Development at Miss Hall's School, as Chair; Dana Vorisek, Economist for the World Bank Group, as Treasurer; and Barbara Viniar, retired former President of Berkshire Community College, as Clerk. Additional members of the Board of Directors are Alison Brigham, AVP of Marketing & Community Engagement at Lee Bank; Leigh Doherty, Executive Director of the Literacy Network; and América López, community health worker at Volunteers In Medicine.
 
"I am honored to welcome Liliana and Sarah to the board and to serve as Board Chair with the rest of our dedicated and talented board members and staff as we continue the impactful work bringing science and art to the Berkshires community," said Cathy Ingram.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Lee Elementary Students Channel their Ninja Spirit

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
 

The American Ninja Warrior was at the school to talk about confidence and plans for a NinjaFit playground in Lee. 
LEE, Mass. — Students at Lee Elementary School discovered how to channel their ninja spirit both inside and outside the classroom during a Neighborhood Ninjas presentation on Friday.
 
The motivational assembly explored how to not fear failure, overcome negative thoughts, be confident in your abilities, and not let other peoples thoughts defer you from your goals. 
 
We are so quick to doubt our ability; rather focus on the process. Ability will come from focusing on the process, Neighborhood Ninjas Executive Director Alex Katz said. 
 
Individuals have to decide that even if others do not believe in them or see their vision, they have to believe in themselves, she said. "It's not about never failing; it's about getting back up, trying again, and learning from each attempt."
 
Katz showed students her journey of overcoming her fear of heights, which inspired her to take up the ninja warrior sport, in which athletes run a timed course of physical challenges. The entertainment/reality competition originated in Japan and is probably best known here as "American Ninja Warrior."
 
On the big white screen, she projected her numerous attempts to lache — swinging from one bar to another — until she succeeded the 17th time and attributed her previous failures to fear. 
 
"I am a big fan of doing stuff that scares you safely. That means we practice it. A lot of people think ninjas don’t get scared. We hear things like 'ninjas are just fearless'... but we do get scared," Katz told the students. 
 
View Full Story

More South Berkshire Stories