Recurring (Non-Fixed Schedule)

Alhambra Consulting Group

Student Leaders: Celeste Murillo Dagdug (cm40) & Timmy Kelly (tjk6)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Paula Consolini

Alhambra Consulting Group (ACG) is Williams College’s pro bono consulting group. Alhambra aims to foster regional economic development in Berkshire County and the surrounding region by providing advisory to local businesses, non-profits, and public sector groups operating in geographic proximity to the County.

Alhambra’s primary services include conducting academic and business research, collecting and analyzing data, and developing strategies and proposals based on research insights to support our clients’ objectives.

Alhambra’s paramount mission is to leverage the resources of Williams College to engage with the regional issues of Berkshire County and foster long-term growth and change for our clients and our community.

Asian American Students in Action (AASiA)

Student Leaders: Ashley Shan (as65) & Serah Park (sp29)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Aly Corey

Asian American Students in Action (AASiA) is a political student organization independent of existing Asian cultural organizations at Williams College and was created to foster and execute political action among Asian and Asian American students. This organization implements a structure in which Asian and Asian American students form project-based committees (PBC) for community building and political change. AASiA seeks to build a politicized pan-Asian community to organize around community and institutional change.

Berkshire Educational Resources K12 (BERK12)

The mission of the Berkshire County Education Task Force (BCETF) has evolved in response to ongoing changes in education. In doing so, the BCETF has renamed itself to better reflect its new mission. We are now Berkshire Educational Resources K12 (BERK12). Our mission is to support Berkshire County school districts and educators by collaboratively offering solutions to short and long-term issues, in order to promote high quality public education, which all children deserve, regardless of background or circumstance.

Berkshire Regional Planning Commission
1 Fenn Street Suite 201
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Phone: 413-442-1521
[email protected]
www.berk12.org

Berkshire Family and Individual Resources

Berkshire Family and Individual Resources (BFAIR) is a national and state accredited human service agency responsive to the unique needs of people with disabilities and their families through:

  • A Dedication to Excellence
  • Diverse Service Options
  • Safe and Healthy Environments
  • Fiscal Responsibility
  • Community Partnerships
  • Career Opportunities and Advancement
  • Inspiring Abilities, Creating Limitless Possibilities

Additional Information & Current Opportunities:

learning-in-action.williams.edu/opportunities/bfair

Berkshire Food Project

The Berkshire Food Project (BFP) was started by Williams College students in 1987. They recognized that there had been a shift in the region from a industrial to a service economy, resulting in unemployment and under-employment. Many young people left the North Adams area in search of jobs, leaving older family members in the community who lacked the job skills which emerging technological firms would require.

The Berkshire Food Project seeks to alleviate hunger, food insecurity, and social isolation by serving healthy, no cost meals and connecting people to other resources, all in a dignified and respectful manner. We seek to alleviate need that has grown even in periods of economic expansion nationally. We seek to provide a forum to facilitate unselfconscious interaction among disparate segments of the population. And we seek to provide information helpful to our customers. We invite relevant social service agencies and experts to address lunch gatherings on such varied issues as tenants’ rights, voting registration, programs for the elderly, public assistance, child and health care, Social Security, and nutrition. We also seek to share information about food insecurity with our community to foster a greater understanding of the issues in our community and the barriers that can prevent people from accessing resources.

Volunteers join the staff of the BFP and help prepare, serve and enjoy lunch with members of the community. Help is appreciated between 8:30am-2:00pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. There are also opportunities for groups to volunteer in the evening or on weekends for special projects. Students can either fill out the online application or contact BFP directly.

First Congregational Church
134 Main Street
PO Box 651
North Adams, MA 01247
413-664-7378
berkshirefoodproject.org
[email protected]

Berkshire Harm Reduction

Supported by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the Berkshire Harm Reduction Program at Berkshire Medical Center provides several vital services to the community. Our services are provided at three convenient locations in the Berkshires and through our Harm Reduction Mobile Unit, which travels to locations throughout the region.

Pittsfield Location:
510 North Street, Suite 6-B2
Pittsfield, MA 01201
413-447-2654

North Adams Location:
6 West Main Street
North Adams, MA 01247
413-398-5603

Great Barrington Location:
401 Stockbridge Road
Great Barrington, MA 01230
413-854-9937

www.berkshirehealthsystems.org/programs-and-services/berkshire-harm-reduction

Berkshire Health Systems

Berkshire Health Systems (BHS) is the region’s leading provider of comprehensive healthcare services. With award-winning programs, nationally-recognized physicians, world-class technology and a sincere commitment to the community, BHS is delivering the kind of advanced healthcare most commonly found in large metropolitan centers. A private, not-for-profit organization, BHS serves the region through a network of affiliates which include Berkshire Medical Center, the BMC Hillcrest Campus, Fairview Hospital, Berkshire Visiting Nurse Association, BHS physician practices, and long-term care associate Berkshire Healthcare Systems. Each of these facilities is distinguished by the high quality of their programs and services, and by the credentials, skill and compassion of their physicians, nurses and caregivers. The mission of Berkshire Health Systems is to improve the health of all people in the Berkshires and surrounding communities, regardless of their ability to pay.

725 North Street
Pittsfield, MA 01201
413-447-2000
www.berkshirehealthsystems.org

Berkshire Immigrant Center

The mission of the Berkshire Immigrant Center is to advocate for the rights of all immigrants by helping them navigate the complex U.S. immigration system with affordable legal services, local resources, and education.

Berkshire Immigrant Center provides its clients with tools to help them overcome financial and cultural barriers, with the goals of strengthening civic engagement and creating equal opportunity for all. Berkshire Immigrant Center supports changes to systems which are unjust to immigrants, and supports state and national immigration advocacy efforts.

The Center assists more than 700 individuals annually from more than 60 countries in several languages. Our Case Workers are accredited by the Department of Justice to represent clients with the US Citizen and Immigration Services and give legal advice to those seeking immigration benefits in the US and education on civil rights.

67 East Street
Pittsfield, MA 01201
413-445-4881
www.berkshireic.org
[email protected]

Berkshire Overdose Addiction Prevention Collaborative

The mission of the Berkshire Overdose Addiction Prevention Collaborative (BOAPC) is to implement local policy, practice, systems, and/or environmental changes to prevent the misuse of opioids and to prevent and reduce deaths and poisonings associated with opioids. BOAPC implements local policy, practice, systems, and/or environmental changes to prevent the misuse and abuse of opioids and to prevent and reduce unintentional deaths and non-fatal hospital events associated with opioid poisonings throughout the 32 municipalities in Berkshire County. This program emphasizes the integration of SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) model into overall prevention systems, to ensure a consistent data-driven planning process focused on implementing effective and sustainable strategies and interventions.

413-442-1521 x37
boapc.org
[email protected]

Berkshire Translation Project

This group is inactive as of the 2023-24 academic year.

Student Leader: Chen Chen Huang (ch15) & Catherine Chen (cc22)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Luana Maroja

The Berkshire Translation Project seeks to provide a free translation service of simple documents (mostly of legal nature) for the immigrant community, in order to lower the financial barriers to immigration. However, with translation also comes community, connection, and responsibility. Therefore, the translation project will also provide opportunity for students of various cultural and linguistic backgrounds to use their abilities to help the immigrant community, while practicing and improving their language skills, and learning about the immigration system of the United States.

BFAIR Buddies

Student Leaders: Tima Guettabi (fg6) & Katherine Bai (kyb1)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Ash Bell (ab35)

We will hold regular trips to Berkshire Family and Individual Resources (BFAIR) homes in different locations, where we do themed crafts, have dance parties, enjoy spa days, and plant flowers. Part of BFAIR Buddies’ mission is to provide an easily accessible way for students to make new friends who live outside of the Purple Bubble. Additionally, students are often not exposed to the reality of the diverse and complex needs in our own community outside of our textbook readings, so BFAIR Buddies attempts to bridge this gap by applying classroom learning to direct, tangible action.

Black Student Union

Student Leaders: Tyler Smith (tcs3) & Sam Samuels (ss45)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Bilal Ansari

The BSU is an organization that serves the Black-identifying and allied students at Williams through the consistent hosting of cultural, social, political, academic, and other events throughout the year. The goal of hosting all these events is to create and maintain community, networks of support, pass on our institutional history, and ultimately serve the needs of Black students during their time here.

Chinese American Students Organization

Student Leaders:Katherine Bai (kyb1) & Edward Li (el13)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Aly Corey

The Chinese American Student Organization (CASO) organizes social gatherings that interact with Chinese culture in various ways. Dedicated to boosting the local Chinese community at Williams and building a deeper appreciation of our culture in the larger Williams community, we engage with Asian American issues, connect with global movements, and work with other MinCo groups to build cross-cultural dialogues through events and workshops.

Converging Worlds

Student Leaders: Ethan Jeon (ej5) & Daerin Hwang (dh12)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Paula Consolini

We work toward prison abolition by teaching and spreading awareness on the injustices of our incarceration system. Activities include inviting speakers, publishing newsletters, hosting penpal workshops between students and incarcerated individuals, etc.

Disabled Student Union

Student Leaders: Rayne Hovey (jkh3) & Skyla Lumbard (sel7)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Ash Bell

The purpose of Disabled Student Union is to support disabled people, especially disabled Williams students. It provides a place for the disabled community, accessible outreach, and self-advocacy.

Education Outreach

For 20+ years, Williams has partnered with our local educators to create hands-on programming that serve the needs of the children and their families in a host of Berkshire County schools in the areas of science, writing, mentoring, homework help and more. Currently, more than 350 students participate and serve in K-12 schools in paid and volunteer positions in Williamstown, Lanesborough, North Adams and Pittsfield. We welcome your involvement and ideas, and look forward to hearing from you! Please visit the Education Outreach section of our website for more information.

Eph Buddies

This group is currently inactive.

Student Leaders: Julianna Veira ([email protected]), Helena Barber ([email protected])
Faculty/Staff Adviser: Colin Ovitsky ([email protected])
Meeting Time/Place: Wednesdays

Eph Buddies was created to facilitate friendships between the students at Williams College and members of our community who have mental and physical disabilities. We strive to support these individuals, provide them with additional resources and activities, and create for them a greater sense of social belongingness in our community. Most of our work is with the United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) center and Berkshire Family & Individual Resources (BFAIR).

 

 

EphVotes

Student Leaders: Jesse Schumann (jhs2) & Emily Du (ewd2)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Paula Consolini

EphVotes is Williams College’s first-ever voter outreach organization. Our mission is to promote voter registration, turnout, and civic engagement on campus. By bringing together students, faculty, and staff in a nonpartisan manner, EphVotes hopes to increase campus registration and voting rates and make it as easy as possible for every Eph to vote. Whether someone is an experienced community organizer or new to the concept, we welcome everyone into our big tent.

Feminist Collective

Student Leaders: Arielle Nathan (adn1) & Brianna Nelson (bmn1)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Molly Magavern

FemCo focuses on providing a safe space for folx with marginalized genders/identities to foster community and facilitate activism. This involves hosting activities, speakers, and workshops that are created with the intention to empower individuals and destabilize current structures of power.

Future Optometrists and Dentists of Williams

This group is inactive as of the 2022-23 academic year.

Student Leaders: Hanbin Koo (hk7) & Chuhan Geng (cg7)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Rebecca Counter

Are you interested in exploring careers in healthcare, volunteering remotely, or applying to optometry or dental school? Join our organization! Through programs that involve us in the North Adams School District, we engage with educational programs that teach youth about the importance of proper eye care and oral hygiene, as well as run as a toothbrushing program (we are looking to relaunch this program when it is safe to do so). We are currently working on a collaboration with a non-profit that’s helping Nepalese-Bhutanese refugee youth earn a GED diploma to launch a 15-minute phone call initiative to help students improve their communication skills. We also attend virtual optometry and dental school visits, can connect you to former students, share OAT/DAT study resources, support you through the process of applying to pre-health and research summer programs, and forward pre-med/pre-health resources. Many of our activities are useful for pre-health students in general. We’d love to welcome you!

Gargoyle Society

Student Leaders: Emmanuelle Copeland (ejc2) & Stephanie Teng (st15)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Jessika Drmacich

We, the members of the Gargoyles established to stand guard of what is worth protecting and to eradicate by most expeditious methods any existing evils, do ordain and establish this constitution and subscribe to the regulations and policies of Williams College.

Give It Up!

Students collect clothing, books, & other items from fellow students at year’s end. Donations of appliances, household goods and clothing are sold in the annual Giant Tag Sale at First Congregational Church and the ABC (A Better Community) Clothing Sale in September. Proceeds from these sales typically exceed $50,000 and benefit local charitable organizations and initiatives such as the Barrington Stage Company Playwright Mentoring Program, Berkshire Immigrant Center, Community Legal Aid, Elizabeth Freeman Center, Friendship Center Food Pantry, Louison House, Northern Berkshire Habitat for Humanity, Northern Berkshire YMCA and ROOTS Teen Center. Donated food, personal care products and cleaning supplies are brought to the Williamstown Food Pantry.

Donated books are collected and organized at St. John’s Episcopal Church, then bought back by the Williams Bookstore or shipped to Better World Books. Proceeds from the sale of donated books benefit Nyanam Widows Rising, a project founded by Williams students to support widows in Kenya in reaching their goals through a focus on personal development, social change, and justice. Books that cannot be sold are recycled or repurposed by Better World Books, and as of the end of the 2021 campaign, have resulted in the following environmental impact metrics:

  • Over 23,000 books (~32,000 lbs)
  • Nearly 400 trees
  • Over 50,000 lbs of methane and greenhouse gas
  • Over 235,000 gallons of water
  • 51 cubic yards of landfill space
  • Over 75,000 kWh of electricity

Additional Information & Opportunities:

learning-in-action.williams.edu/opportunities/give-it-up

Great Ideas Committee

This group is currently inactive.

Student Leaders: Luke Baumann ([email protected])
Meeting Time/Place: College Council Suite, time according to members’ schedule

The Great Ideas Committee solicits ideas from the community to improve student life at Williams. These ideas can be conveniences (such as installing water fountains or buying chargers for the library), policy changes, improved communication systems, or anything else, though the scope of the projects is generally smaller than the larger policy questions debated by College Council or faculty committees. We draw from the CC Projects fund.

Website

InterFaith

Student Leaders: Giovanni DiRusso
Faculty/Staff Adviser: Seth Wax
Meeting Time/Place: Once a week 5:30-6:30 PM, Mission Dining Hall

InterFaith serves as a discussion group and mediating body for individuals and groups of various faith backgrounds and life philosophies on campus. We aim to provide a safe and intellectually engaging space for people of different worldviews to come together to discuss themes they may encounter form their different backgrounds. We also offer resources on and access to various forms of faith-based and faith-related community service and activism. Finally, we plan to collaborate with the Chaplain’s Office to facilitate discussion between various other groups of faith on campus.

Jazz at Williams

This group is inactive as of the 2023-24 academic year.

Student Leaders: Matt Wisotsky (mjw7) & Gwyn Chilcoat (gac4)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Kris Allen

J@W provides opportunities for student jazz musicians at Williams to meet and play with other musicians and to stay informed of informal performances around campus. It also organizes events and invites guest artists independently of the music department, with an emphasis on engaging students with one another and with the broader jazz community.

Lehman Community Engagement

Student Leader: Eli Silverman (efs1)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Ash Bell (ab35)

Lehman serves to promote, foster, and maintain a spirit of service on campus by organizing and supporting many different community-oriented service projects. Our biggest projects are our Fall and Spring Great Days of Service which engage the wider campus in many projects. We also host other smaller ongoing and pop-up projects including Winter Study Service Week, meal and clothing donations drives, and volunteering at local schools, senior homes, homeless shelters, hospitals, and farms.

Masculinity, Accountability, Sexual Assault, and Consent

Student Leaders: Max Mallett (mmm17) & Sam Bishop (sjb4)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Allison Jasso

MASC (Masculinity, Accountability, Sexual Assault, and Consent) is dedicated to working against, and ultimately ending, rape and sexual assault on campus through promoting enthusiastic consent. To work towards this goal we hold frequent discussion meetings and social events to educate ourselves and others about masculinity, accountability, sexual assault, and consent. We also lead workshops geared towards ending cultures of toxic masculinity in men’s spaces.

Math Riddles

Many students find math dry in high school and junior high school. The purpose of the webpage is to help students and teachers see that math can be fun, interesting and applicable.

In addition to the riddles, there is a student/teacher corner where detailed explanations are given, not just of how to solve the problem, but how to try to attack it. In particular, often promising approaches that don’t pan out are discussed. The purpose is to help students and teachers learn how to approach new problems.

Additional Information & Current Opportunities:

learning-in-action.williams.edu/opportunities/math-riddles

Matriculate

Student Leaders: Sarah Hartman (sah4) & Jaeeun Lee (jl35)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Courtney Oben

College students are paired with low-income, high-achieving high school students to mentor them through the college process. We train talented Williams College students to connect virtually with high-achieving, low-income high school students, providing the information, guidance, and support that these high school students need to navigate the college process.

 

Moo-Mami

This group is currently inactive.

Student Leaders: Carson Kurtz ([email protected])
Faculty/Staff Adviser: Caroline Bruno
Meeting Time/Place: Friday evening, Zilkha Center kitchen

The two overarching goals of the organization are to teach members of the community useful cooking techniques and immerse them in the process of raising money for charity. We hope that through our organization participants will learn and become comfortable with a variety of cooking techniques, thereby acquiring a valuable life skill that students ordinarily are not exposed to in the academic classroom. Through the culinary lessons and time allotted to practice, we hope to build and foster a sense of community around food. Another element of the club consists of familiarizing and raising awareness about various social and medical issues around the world.

Facebook Page

Muslim Student Union

Student Leaders: Maymouna Bah (mb33) & Palvasha Khan (pwk2)
Faculty/Staff Adviser: Bilal Ansari

Muslim Students Union seeks not only to help campus Muslims with their spiritual needs, but also to promote an open community where both Muslims and non-Muslims can come together to engage with Islam. Muslim Students Union hopes to serve its members by providing opportunities for intellectual exploration, Islamic learning, and spiritual growth as well as social programming. Whenever possible and prudent, we plan to extend our services to the surrounding communities in the Berkshires and Albany area, whether it be to invite Muslim and non-Muslim community members to our events or through community service. Lastly, Muslim Students Union strives to promote understanding between Muslims and other faith groups at Williams College, in order to create a more educated and aware student body.

OURSTEM+

Student Leaders: Curtis Liu (csl1) & Amy Martinez (agm4)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Pamela Harris

Goals:

  • To further the work of, to improve the effectiveness of, and to enhance the public understanding of and appreciation for underrepresented minorities in STEM+
  • To promote student recruitment and retention of underrepresented minorities in STEM+ at Williams College
  • To provide a forum for students from different majors in STEM+ to come together for academic, community service, and social activities at Williams College\
  • To create an inclusive environment for underrepresented minorities in STEM+

Peer Health

Student Leaders: Jack Mouch (jem13) & Sama Kreidi (stk2)
Faculty/Staff Adviser: Laini Sporbert

Peer Health provides students at Williams with health supplies and hosts health-related events on campus. Peer Health provides education and resources that promote Williams students’ everyday health, with a vision to work toward a Williams student body of well-balanced individuals.

Purple Bike Coalition

Student Leader: Hannah Jackson (hhj1)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Sarah Gardner

We are a free bike repair and rental service serving Williams College students, faculty, and staff. Our goal is to make finding sustainable transportation and experiencing the joys of biking friendly, easy, and accessible.

QuestBridge Scholars Network

This group is currently inactive. For information for QuestBridge-affiliated students, please visit the Williams Admissions website.

Student Leaders: Onyeka Obi
Faculty/Staff Adviser: April Ruiz
Meeting Time/Place: Hollander 101

The primary purpose of the Williams QuestBridge Scholars Network is to provide a coherent support system for entering and continuing QuestBridge-affiliated Scholars at Williams College. However, while the Williams QSN functions as a place of support for low-income and first-generation students, many of its services benefit students from all backgrounds; all students are welcome to participate in the QSN’s events. Through the Williams QSN, students have an opportunity to meet others with similar life experiences through frequent social events and gatherings. With an emphasis on service, community building, and student mentorship, the QSN strives to continue our greater organization’s goal of seeing disadvantaged students thrive and give back.

Racial Justice K-12 Curriculum Development Initiative

This community engagement program, initially run online due to the COVID pandemic during 2020-2021 and in a hybrid format during Summer 2021 and beyond, is designed to serve Williams students’ civic aspirations by providing the opportunity to engage in racial justice work in partnership with local K-12 schools and Berkshire County-based advocacy organizations.  

Additional Information & Resources:

https://learning-in-action.williams.edu/opportunities/racial-justice-community-outreach/

RASAN (Rape and Sexual Assault Network)

Student Leaders: Kaiz Esmail (kpe2) & Meghan Keenan (mlk3)
Faculty/Staff Advisur: Allison Jasso

Williams College’s Rape and Sexual Assault Network (RASAN) is dedicated to the education of the College community about sexual violence. We advocate for policies that support sexual health and wellness and provide support to survivors of sexual violence. RASAN’s flagship services are our Appointment System and Training Program. RASAN also collaborates with various organizations throughout the year to sponsor events and workshops.

 

Ritmo Latino

Student Leaders: Leilani Fuentes (lf5) & Karla Mercedes (kmm9)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Maria Cepeda

Ritmo is a student-led performance dance group. All of our dances pay homage to Latinx and Afro-Latinx dance styles. A few styles you might recognize are Salsa, Merengue, and Bachata. Join us if you’d love to dance and make new friends!

Rules Change Project

The Rules Change Project is an initiative to support action ideas for capitalism and the common good.  America is not working for all of us. The Rules Change Project is an open coalition to spotlight, amplify and educate the public about existing efforts to foster economic “rules change.” It is an informal, non-partisan collaboration of individuals and independent groups seeking to help launch a national conversation about how we govern, regulate, manage and interact with corporations, about their relationship with government, and with their stakeholders — employees, customers, communities, the environment — in addition to stockholders.

Additional Information & Current Opportunities:

learning-in-action.williams.edu/opportunities/rules-change-project

Sankofa

Student Leaders: Nathan Hu (nsh1) & Obi Nwako (ofn1)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Sandra Burton

Sankofa is William College’s only step dancing team. This art form finds its roots in gumboot dance, military drilling, and HBCU culture. Throughout the year we practice three to four times every week, and have multiple performances.

Sisterhood

Student Leaders: Shiara Pyrrhus (sp23) & Cheyenne Willis (ccw5)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Toya Camacho

The purpose of Sisterhood is to empower its members by instilling a sense of camaraderie amongst Black women and by supporting Black women as they navigate the world as a double minority. A primary goal of the organization is to instill a sense of unity and community amongst Black women and to equip Black women with professional development tools. Sisterhood aims to provide Black women with a solid platform to discuss and address issues that are often both undetected and overlooked. Sisterhood embodies leading with love.

Storytime

Student Leaders: Greta Gruber (geg2) & Sofia Stefani (sas9)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Bilal Ansari

Storytime hosts weekly storytelling events on campus meant to bring students, faculty, and staff together to share experiences, enriching our community.

Student Veterans Association

This group is inactive as of the 2022-23 academic year.

Student Leaders: Brandon Hashemi (bah4) & Joseph Grillo (jag20)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Tamanika Steward

The purposes of the Student Veterans Association (SVA) are thus:

  • Provide academic and professional outreach for prospective and current student veterans.
  • Connect members with on-campus resources, generate awareness of veterans on campus, develop a supportive community, and serve as a voice for veterans on campus.
  • Serve as a resource for non-veteran students and the community at large for those who are interested in pursuing military service.
  • It is also the purpose of this organization to abide by the Code of Student Conduct and to uphold the educational mission of Williams College.

Students for Israeli-Palestinian Dialogue

Student Leaders: Sydney Pope (sgp2) & Gaby Ivanova (ggi1)
Faculty/Staff Advisors: Seth Wax & Bilal Ansari

SIPD aims to bring students together — no matter their background, ideological leanings, or perspectives — and provide opportunities and forums to share and learn more about the Israeli Palestinian conflict and occupation. We feel that there is a gap in campus conversations, so our goal is to create more open dialogue, education, and compassion within the community about the reality in Palestine and Israel. We hope to achieve this by inviting speakers from the ground and around the world, ranging from activists, artists, filmmakers, scholars, to individuals with powerful stories to share. Part of our mission is to increase education and awareness and to create spaces to practice critical skills, so a big part of our programming is hosting workshops around Palestinian and Israeli history as well as dialogue and active listening skills.

SIPD aims to combine compassion with knowledge and learning about a topic that is often simplified due to its historical and emotional complexities. We aim to extend interdisciplinary learning beyond the classroom and apply it to a global setting, emphasizing the diversity in background, education, and opinion of those on campus and in the world.

Students for Justice in Palestine

This group is inactive as of the 2022-23 academic year.

Student Leaders: Gina Al-Karablieh (gza1) & Lour Yasin (liy1)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Aseel Abulhab

This is an organization that activates for Palestinian rights and strives to spread awareness about the history of Palestine with regards to the Israeli occupation.

The Aristocows

Student Leaders: Rayne Hovey (jkh3) & Maddie Nowbar (mgn2)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Catherine Kealhofer

This is a non-audition a cappella group that exclusively sings arrangements of songs from Disney-owned franchises. We hold rehearsals a couple times a week and have social events.

The Springstreeters

Student Leaders: Aaron Schroen (ads7) & Ken Morotomi (km19)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Sam Boyden

We are an all lower-voiced a cappella group that gathers to have fun, learn music, and perform for the community.

United Cerebral Palsy

United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) of Western Massachusetts — an affiliate of United Cerebral Palsy Association — was established in 1961. UCP of Western Massachusetts offers service navigation, direct programming, assistive technology and advocacy for any individual, regardless of disability, to pursue a fulfilling, self-determined, high-quality community life — a life without limits. UCP’s mission is to advance the independence, productivity and full community participation of children and adults with all physical and developmental disabilities.

Additional Information & Current Opportunities:

learning-in-action.williams.edu/opportunities/united-cerebral-palsy

Volunteers in Medicine

Volunteers in Medicine Berkshires provides access to free, comprehensive health care for those in the Berkshire region who are income-qualified and uninsured or under-insured. “We envision a society in which everyone has an equal opportunity to achieve good health.”

777 Main Street, Suite 4
Great Barrington, MA 01230
413-528-4014
vimberkshires.org

Western Massachusetts Medical Reserve Corps

The Medical Reserve Corps is a community-based, civilian volunteer program that helps build the public health infrastructure of communities nationwide. Berkshire and Franklin units were among the very first to be founded following the events of September 11, 2001. Each MRC unit is organized and trained to address a wide range of challenges from public health education to disaster response. Please consider this a resource for keeping yourself, your families (including your pets), your businesses and your communities safe. Volunteers are always needed and there are service opportunities for everyone.

Berkshire MRC (BerkshireDART)
c/o Fairview Hospital
29 Lewis Avenue
Great Barrington, MA 02130
www.wmmrc.org
www.wmdart.org

Contacts:
Christy Lemoine ([email protected], 413-539-0129), Volunteer Coordinator
Corinne Mckeown ([email protected], 413-539-4115), Director

Williams Appreciates Staff

This group is inactive as of the 2022-23 academic year.

Student Leaders: Henry Brody (hjb3) & Nate Orluk (npo1)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Matt Meczywor

Our goal is to better appreciate the things that staff at Williams do to make students’ lives easier and better — acts that so often go unacknowledged and unappreciated. A secondary goal is for students to start to get to know more staff members on a personal level, so that students learn more about who the staff are as people. Williams is a place where community matters, and we pride ourselves on our sense of community. This club would better support an under-appreciated part of the community (the staff) and foster stronger relationships between staff and students, making the community stronger. It also would put the privilege of being a Williams College student in perspective and help students acknowledge the support that we receive so that our focus can remain on our studies and academic pursuits.

Williams College Democrats

Student Leader: Carlos Hernandez Tavares (ceh9) & Ollie Saleh (oas1)
Faculty/Staff Adviser: James Mahon

Our primary goal in College Dems is to mobilize Williams students to help elect Democrats and liberals at the local, state, and national level. We will also partner with local organizations to help further liberal goals through community volunteering, and will work with other college groups and the college itself to better the Williams community through advocacy. Finally, we hope to provide Williams students with the connections and experience needed to pursue a fulfilling future in public service, community organizing, non-profit work, and other enterprises revolving around government, community, and advocacy.

Williams College Gospel Choir

Student Leaders: Jacob Chen (jmc8) & Eunice Kim (ek10)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Bilal Ansari

The Williams College Gospel Choir is a Christian-based, student-led group that worships God through song and prayer. The goal of Gospel Choir is to foster love and compassion among the members of the choir through worship. We invite people of all faiths to come and worship with us as we sing and pray to God. In addition to other performances and a biennial community service trip during spring break, we hold one main concert each semester hoping that through our worship, the students on this campus may know about the love of God and build community.

Williams College Jewish Association

Student Leaders: Molly Fraser (mrf2) & Emily Cohen (emc4)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Seth Wax

The mission of the Williams College Jewish Association is to provide support for the religious and cultural Jewish community on campus; to provide the resources essential for each Jewish student to practice their religion in the way they desire; to maintain a physical space on campus where Jewish students feel at home; to provide a diverse and vibrant social scene for Jewish students and their friends; to practice Tzedakah, the Jewish obligation to advocate for and support charitable and righteous causes; to provide an opportunity for students of all faith traditions to be a part of Jewish culture on campus; and to be guided by the principles and values of Judaism.

Williams Empower Through Health

Student Leaders: Nina van der Velde (ncv1) & Rebecca Kim (rdk3)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Kiaran Honderich

Williams ETH seeks to pioneer the fight against the global mental health crisis by supporting the organization who provides psychiatric medical care and reforming social norms regarding mental illness in the Busoga region of Uganda. Through partnerships with the community, we hope to create long-term, sustainable improvements regarding treatment for those suffering from psychosis, among other mental illnesses. In addition to empowering and expanding health education locally, we aim to involve the Williams community through creating interdisciplinary dialogue surrounding global health inequities with a primary focus on mental health. Ultimately, our work to provide scientifically-based education and treatment is rooted in the necessity to not only dispel misconceptions surrounding mental illness, but to facilitate the incorporation of mental health as an essential aspect of universal health.

Williams Environmental Council

Student Leaders: JohnCarl McGrady (jsm5) & Lauren Ryan (ljr3)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Sarah Gardner

We, the members of the Williams Environmental Council, commit to inspiring Williams students and members of the surrounding community to take local, state, and national action against the threat of climate change and other forms of environmental destruction. We will work to promote leadership on issues of sustainability and environmental justice in the Williams community and beyond, as well as engage students and community members in non-violent activism.

Williams Law Society

Student Leaders: Tim Kelly (tjk6) & Aishvarya Bedi (ab33)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Anthony Pernell-McGee

The Law Society brings together Williams students who have a common interest in law along with alumni, faculty, and professionals in fields relating to law through programs and activities dealing with or related to the field of law. It also promotes understanding of the legal profession, the rule of law, and the legal process while also identifying and discussing the bias and contemporary problems in our legal and justice system.

Williams Outing Club

Student Leaders: Isabel Albores (isa2) & Mila Nazarali (msn2)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Scott Lewis

Williams Outing Club (WOC), through the efforts of its volunteer student leadership and Faculty Director stimulates participation in and appreciation for outdoor activities. In so doing, WOC will further an ideal of college education, develop personal initiative and leadership, promote skills in outdoor recreation, educate itself and the college communities about environmental conservation, seek new opportunities for outreach, and encourage the meeting of people of common interests.

Williams Pre-Health Society

Student Leaders: Hannah Stillman (his1) & Nina Van der Velde (ncv1)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Shivon Robinson

We provide support and opportunities for pre-health students to learn more about different fields.

Williams Refugee Advancement Coalition

This group is inactive as of the 2022-23 academic year.

Student Leaders: Kazi Raleh (kfr1) & Jonathan Breibart (jsb8)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Colin Ovitsky (cmo2)

The Williams Refugee Advancement Coalition seeks to assist in the advancement of refugees and evacuees coming into Berkshire County. Currently, we are collaborating with the Center for Learning in Action, Jewish Family Service, and other local organizations to mobilize structural assistance and create a welcoming environment for 60 Afghan evacuees who are in the process of being relocated to Pittsfield, MA. As the resettlement process further develops, we expect to be providing a diverse array of services that could make a tangible difference in their new lives and we would love your help!

Williams Relay For Life

This group is inactive as of the 2022-23 academic year.

Student Leaders: Abby Matheny (acm5) & Kerryann Reynolds (kmr4)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Allie Clark

Relay for Life is the American Cancer Society’s primary fundraiser. We plan and execute multiple fundraisers throughout the year to raise money and fight cancer.

Williams Ski Patrol

Student Leaders: Joanie Cha (jsc6) & Jake Malarkey (jem14)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Thomas Feist

Our goal is to train, support, and improve a student group of ski patrollers to serve at Jiminy Peak and other nearby mountains and provide the necessary knowledge, experience, and resources to work as a patroller after college, do ordain and establish this constitution and subscribe to the regulations and policies of Williams College. This means we lead a PE class that instructs students in Outdoor Emergency Care under our advisor, as well as a winter study class that completes the National Ski Patrol certification. We organize as part of the volunteer patrol at Jiminy Peak.

Williams Student Union

Student Leaders: Emmanuelle Copeland (ejc2) & Gwyn Chilcoat (gac4)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Ky Gerbush

We are the Williams Student Union, the advocacy branch of the Three Pillars Student Government. We seek to advocate for holistic student wellness.

Williams Sustainable Growers

Student Leader: Lydia Von Schwanenfluegel (lv5) & Darren Wang (ddw1)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Sarah Gardner

The Williams Sustainable Growers (WSG) promote awareness of and access to sustainable food and agriculture. The group plans and manages two organic gardens on campus: the Parsons Garden on Dodd Circle, and the Class of 1966 Environmental Center annual garden beds.

Willy Good Wood

Student Leaders: Geff Fisher ([email protected]), Jensen Pak ([email protected]u), Robert Hefferon ([email protected]), Evelyn Mahon ([email protected])
Faculty/Staff Adviser
: Ben Lamb ([email protected])
Meeting Time/Place: Monthly, First Congregational Church

Our organization aims to provide an opportunity for Williams College students to learn and practice woodworking and related handicrafts in a safe and educational environment. We also aim to engage with the community through woodworking-related service projects with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity. The club offers a place for students to create and work with their hands in a way that may not be included in their normal academic schedule, and a chance to engage in community service projects using the skills they have acquired through club activities.

WRAPS

Student Leaders: Bekah Lindsay (ral2) & Charlotte Luke (cel3)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Colin Ovitsky

WRAPS works at the intersection of food insecurity and food waste, employing a two-part model that connects the Williams College campus with the North Adams community. WRAPS packages excess dining hall food into meals that are then distributed to local organizations in North Adams while working to expand our impact through collaboration with on-campus and community partners.

¡Vive!

Student Leaders: Lirianna Valerio (lv4) & Atlas Kaan Yilmaz (ay6)
Faculty/Staff Advisor: Corinna Campbell

We are a music group that performs songs from Hispanic and Latin countries. We collaborate both vocalists and instrumentalists to create a cover of songs we choose that encompass a large variety of music genres.