PITTSFIELD, Mass. - As the new executive director, Melissa Canavan said part of the primary mission of the Berkshire Immigrant Center is to build connections and amplify the voices of the area’s immigrants.

“I am a child of immigrants, so my connection is more than just within the Berkshire County," Canavan said. "But on the other hand, getting to know this place, the longer I've lived here, you get to get to learn who lives here, what motivates them, what drives them.”

What You Need To Know

  • Melissa Canavan started as the Berkshire Immigrant Center's executive director on May 16

  • Canavan was recently the advancement manager and manager of the Spanish-language Community Advisory Network at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington and volunteers with Latinas413

  • Canavan replaces Michelle Lopez, who left the BIC in 2022

Canavan’s parents are from Mexico and although she grew up in California, she’s lived and worked in Massachusetts since 2015. She said the BIC joins the region’s many agencies working to advocate for newcomers.

“Immigrants are not to be thought of as a burden," Canavan said. "They're contributing in such amazing ways. People deserve to just look around within our own community to see how they're contributing in different areas, in business, in arts, and just being a good person, you know, and I think what I've come to realize with advocacy is that's how we help amplify those voices.”

Canavan permanently began her new role just days after the federal government lifted the Title 42 restrictions - a pandemic era policy limiting reasons to cross the border. She said her team is dedicated to having conversations with clients in order to support anyone who needs it.

“There's just so many unknowns, right?" Canavan said. "Yes, there is something replacing Title 42, but you know how it impacts even each state, each county is going to be very different. And I think, you know, I just started a week into this role, so it's going to be very much listening to what our current clients need and what they're coming with, where they're coming from to then better serve, you know, particularly Berkshire County and the immediate region around it.

"There are all types of people coming from different places. That's the thing we need to remember is that we're not just catering to one specific type of immigrant. We're really trying to understand who is coming to us, who is coming to this region that needs to be helped and supported appropriately.”

Canavan said the Berkshire Immigrant Center wants to continue to be a resource for the whole community and asks anyone who is curious about the work they do to reach out. Contact information can be found here.