“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.”
Coretta Scott King
We all have challenges in our lives and depending on the size of those challenges it dictates how we interact in the world. I have had some struggles that I have shared in my posts and these struggles have driven how I have looked at my life over the last few months. It is difficult sometimes to get out of your own way. We can get caught up in that dark circle that we miss the opportunity to see the light. I feel blessed that I had the opportunity on Wednesday to see the light. I want to talk about an amazing group of people who despite the challenges they face in their own lives they live their higher purpose and that is to help our most vulnerable.
Manos Unidas is one of the first community partners I had the great opportunity to meet when I started my role as DEI Officer of Berkshire Health. This team of community members volunteer to help uplift our “under-heard” communities through education and entrepreneurialism. They support their work through partnerships, grants, and even out of their own pockets. I want you to understand that they have the same struggles as many of the people they help but they uplift the idea of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in creating a “Beloved Community” in which we work together to grow our community from within. We want to give everyone the opportunity to find success in their lives. As I have written Manos have a true connection to their dignity higher power.
When I sat in that room on Wednesday, they told me about the challenges many in our immigrant communities are facing such as homelessness, housing, and just affording the basic things like food and clothing. Have you ever had to decide between paying your rent or feeding your family? I have and it is a difficult place to be in. Manos is on the frontlines of what will be the biggest challenge we will face this winter as many try to find shelter from the harsh winter weather of Berkshire County. Many of the people they are helping are living in the neighborhoods that I lived in when I first came to Pittsfield. I know and understand the struggle and it hurts me deeply to know that many in our community are still struggling and doing whatever they can to survive.
We are blessed to have community leaders like the team who are a part of Manos Unitas Manos Unidas Multicultural Educational Cooperative (manos-unidas.wixsite.com) I want to thank them for reminding me what is truly important and that is to give back to the community. I am honored to know such great people and you have given me the strength to move forward and to continue to do my part to help create that “Beloved Community”. Manos Unidas thank you for all you do.
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
— Mahatma Gandhi
You are the true heroes.
Charles Redd RN
Dignity Freedom Fighter
Dignity Freedom Fighter 