In September, we celebrated the inaugural grantees of the Equity Fund—a bold, visionary effort to center BIPOC leadership and enact a community-driven, trust-based approach to philanthropy. The gathering, held at St. James Place in Great Barrington, brought together grantees, community leaders, donors, and allies to reflect on a transformative journey that is only just beginning.
Alÿcia Bacon, BTCF’s internal lead for the Equity Fund, opened the event with words that encapsulated the spirit of the initiative: “We gather here today in the spirit of Ubuntu: I am because we are. This philosophy is at the heart of everything we do, reminding us that our collective work is what drives this initiative forward.” Her remarks set the tone for an afternoon of reflection and vision. BTCF Board Chair Pam Green and Ny Whitaker, Executive Director of The Du Bois Freedom Center and co-host of the event, delivered opening remarks, followed by a keynote from Gwendolyn VanSant, the founder of Multicultural BRIDGE and the chief architect of the Equity Fund.
VanSant, a long-time advocate for racial justice, invoked the words of Edgar Villanueva from his seminal work “Decolonizing Wealth”: “When we reclaim our shared resources, when we recover our places at the table and the drawing board, we can design our own healing.” She continued, “I see this equity initiative as a platform for communities of color to heal, to lead, and to thrive.”
The Equity Fund’s origins date back to 2021, when BTCF joined BRIDGE’s Inclusive Leadership Cohort for Social Change. At the time, BTCF was at the beginning of its internal transformation to integrate principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Through the guidance of BRIDGE and collaboration with 30 other organizations, BTCF began to reexamine its philanthropic practices to better serve the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities in our region.
Central to this shift has been the work of VanSant and BRIDGE, who directed the creation of the Equity Fund by engaging leaders of color across the region in focus groups, steering committees, and community forums. This grassroots approach evolved into a comprehensive initiative designed to advance racial justice with clear, actionable goals to engage BIPOC leaders, develop sustainable funding for racial equity, and ensure that those most affected by systemic inequities are the ones leading the solutions. Since its inception, over $500,000 has been raised for the Equity Fund, establishing a new model for community-centered philanthropy. In 2023, VanSant became a member of the BTCF Board of Directors, helping the Foundation sustain its commitment to equity.
At the core of this initiative is the principle “Nothing about us without us,” empowering BIPOC-led organizations and amplifying voices from historically marginalized communities, including the region’s growing immigrant populations.
The Equity Fund itself, seeded with the largest discretionary Board gift in BTCF’s history, provides essential resources to support both emerging and established BIPOC leaders. Yet, it is only one facet of a broader, three-pronged approach that also includes a Leadership Advisory Committee, composed of BIPOC leaders who shape the grantmaking process, and a Learning and Giving Circle, which engages donors in deepening their understanding of systemic racism while transforming their approach to philanthropy.
The Equity Fund’s first cohort of grantees exemplifies the breadth and depth of leadership within BIPOC communities:
Blackshires Empowerment Foundation: A phased community development project designed to create a resident-led corporation that empowers community collaboration and leadership for revitalization efforts.
Who We Be! (Tanya Jackson), Juneteenth: The 5th anniversary of Hudson’s Juneteenth holiday showcasing Black life and history, offering compensation to community members, and engaging leaders, artists, and entrepreneurs.
Choices Mentoring Initiative: A program broadening horizons through social-emotional learning and alternative experiences like college visits and community outings, aimed at fostering curiosity and empowerment.
African American Archive of Columbia County, Van Burgen Overmantel: A historical reenactment at the Van Alen House to raise awareness about ethnic diversity in the Hudson Valley, with interpreters bringing characters from a 1730 painting to life.
Rock Steady Farm and Flowers, Fall Gathering for QTBIPOC Food & Farm Community: A community event uniting QTBIPOC farmers and food entrepreneurs for celebration, collaboration, and justice-focused efforts through vendor showcases and a special community workday.
Brianna Christie, National Communication Association Panelist: Support to present a paper at the NCA convention on the “communal gaze,” analyzing cultural standards within minority communities and addressing sexual violence against
Black women.
Greater Hudson Promise Neighborhood, Back-to-School Support to Mitigate Chronic Absenteeism: Reducing chronic absenteeism in the Hudson City School District by providing financial support for back-to-school shopping and family
services.
The celebration marked not just a culmination, but a pivotal beginning. The Equity Initiative is poised to expand, incorporating more voices, leaders, and resources to further the cause of racial justice. In closing, VanSant captured the essence of the moment: “This is about healing. This is about reclaiming our shared resources and ensuring that communities of color have the power to lead their own futures. Together, we will be able to build an enduring legacy.”
Get involved at berkshiretaconic.org/join-equity
