State representative and mayor’s office talk advocacy with navigators 

How can community navigators advocate on behalf of the families and individuals they serve? A recent meeting hosted by Berkshire United Way (BUW) helped answer this question. 

Thirty-one navigators from across 10 agencies throughout Berkshire County learned from state Representative Tricia Farley-Bouvier, Pittsfield Mayor Peter Marchetti, and Catherine Van Bramer, director of administrative services and public information officer with the mayor’s office, tips on effective advocacy at the state and local level. 

“We represent those who can and can’t vote. We feel empowered by that,” said Representative Farley-Bouvier. She followed this up with a rapid-fire exercise, asking everyone in the room to write down their representatives at the state, local and even school levels. 

“You should know your state representative and your state representative should know you,” she said, adding that representatives need to have these partnerships in the community to know what’s going on. “Come to me with solutions not just complaints.” 

“How does the city advocate?” Mayor Marchetti asked rhetorically. Every ward and at-large councilor is an advocate for city residents – responding to and addressing their concerns. Some concerns are elevated to the mayor’s office or even Representative Farley-Bouvier.

“Systemic change often takes longer to make happen but when it does, the passage of an effective piece of
legislation can positively impact more people than just one program or organization can,” said Katherine von Haefen,
BUW’s Director of Community Impact. “Our convening work focuses on collective solutions, and advocating for legislation
to improve conditions for individuals and families has been a stated goal from community navigators.”

“We serve the community the best we can,” said Van Bramer, who shared that the city offers board training to help break down barriers of serving on boards. 

Representative Farley-Bouvier mentioned the importance of serving on state board commissions, but these boards meet in person in Boston, she said, adding that she’s advocating for remote participation to allow representation from the Berkshires. 

Mayor Marchetti emphasized that board service gives citizens the ability to have a voice. 

Some of the feedback from navigators was: “I didn’t know how much we could reach out to our government,” “I can be more effective knowing that I have a place to go exercise my opinion (advocate),” and “I will be inviting our reps to visit our facilities.” 

BUW will bring navigators together again in November for an extended conversation about housing.