About Us

The Berkshire Sanity Posse is a truly grass roots organization and was born out of a  group of friends with a simple mission: to foster a supportive community of like minded folks  who want to use their time and energy to help, protect, support, and embrace those that are being persecuted by the current administration.  We hope to encourage and motivate our  fellow Berkshire residents to become involved in political activism and non-profit volunteering  when many feel that our well-being and democracy are under attack. We passionately believe in  Empathy, Diversity, Truth, Inclusion, Equity, and the Freedom to love whomever we want and to  be whoever we want to be.

Jackie Ling Wong (The Advocate): connected to her activist spirit when she moved to the  Berkshires and joined the Rape Crisis Center Board and the activist group, Women Against  Violence.  She was president of the local chapter of NOW where members took to the streets to champion choice and women’s rights.  Additionally Berkshire NOW fought violence against women by continuing the tradition of Take Back the Night and organized the Women’s Symposium at BCC for several years.  She hung up her cape thinking it was time to step aside for new blood never thinking that all that work could so easily be dismantled. Now seeing the attacks on women, LGBTQ+, immigrants, and POC, she has donned her cape again!  Jackie  feels she is fighting for the world and hopes all will join her.   

Laurie Gallagher (The Rock) : An attorney, Laurie is a decades-long advocate for equity and community.  She has volunteered extensively --  from literacy improvement  in New Orleans in the 80’s, to work in a Chicago Federal Tax Clinic for low-income clients and writing wills at GMHC (formerly Gay Men’s Health Crisis) in NYC in the 90’s.  Since 1994, she has been an active advocate, volunteer, and leader for the Berkshire United Way, where she currently serves as the Chairman of the Board.  She is committed to advancing the mission of the United Way mission of fostering the collective power of individuals and organizations to build a stronger community.   Additionally, she is a  dedicated volunteer for the Parasol Patrol, an organization that shields marginalized  populations from hate at community events, and she has joined the Board of the Elizabeth  Freeman Center.

Jurian Hughes (The Heart): Until recently, Jurian has been more of an observer than an  active participant in social justice causes, but the 2024 election changed  that. Fighting to save democracy is now where her heart and soul feel called to serve. In  addition to Berkshire Sanity Posse, Hughes is a member of Berkshire Brigades and Stand Up Berkshires. She finds that taking action and surrounding herself with like-minded community is  the best antidote for anxiety.  Jurian moved to the Berkshires in 2006 to join Kripalu, where she has trained over 1000 yoga  teachers and continues to serve as senior faculty. She also runs her own business, teaching  yoga, dance, voice and life coaching, as well as leading international yoga retreats. Prior to her  years in health and wellness, Hughes was an actress, with a resume spanning Broadway, Off Broadway, film, television and voice-over.  With the Berkshire Sanity Posse, Jurian is happy to have found community and work that make life feel meaningful.