Welcome to new Board members!

On behalf of the C3 board and staff, I'm very pleased and proud to announce that Gina Nortonsmith and Norma Akamatsu have joined the C3 Board of Directors. Their expertise and passion, and their commitment to our community will be invaluable assets to C3 as we work together to create a home and resource center that benefits nonprofits, artists and the Northampton community.

Gina Nortonsmith is an advocate who works for community and social change. She and her spouse, Heidi Nortonsmith, were one of the plaintiff couples in the Massachusetts landmark court case which resulted in equal marriage rights for same-sex couples. Gina, an attorney by training, has worked in the areas of housing, racial justice, children and families, sexual orientation, media, and cycling. She has brought her compassion and sense of justice for those considered institutional outsiders to her work in educational institutions as professor, assistant dean, and ombudsperson. Gina lives in Northampton with Heidi and their two sons, Avery and Quinn.

Norma Akamatsu, MSW, is a psychotherapist, practicing in Northampton, MA. She has facilitated discussion on a variety of topics with many local community, religious and educational organizations through her work with Community Dialogue Associates. She is a founding member of the Pioneer Valley Coalition Against Secrecy and Torture (PVCAST) working to raise awareness and educate about the problem of US sanctioned torture. She has been a member of the Northampton Civil Rights Committee, dealing with issues of equity in the public schools and has taught at the Smith College School for Social Work. She is also on the Community Advisory Board of Project 2050, UMass, Amherst.

The addition of Gina and Norma makes our board an even stronger, more dynamic team, and we are so excited they have decided to join us!

Welcome Gina and Norma!