GREENFIELD — For her work supporting the immigrant community housed at the Days Inn shelter before its February closure, Wendy Goodman has received the 2024 Human Rights Award.

A former Human Rights Commission member, Goodman assumed her former position as the city’s liaison to the Haitian immigrant community in February 2024. Her eight years of Peace Corps service, ability to speak Haitian Creole and determination to help those in need brought Goodman to the site of the Days Inn shelter on Colrain Road, which the human services agency ServiceNet took over in May 2023 to house predominantly Haitian immigrants and refugees.

ServiceNet operated the shelter under a contract with the state Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. It was closed on Feb. 28.

Shortly after the shelter opened, Goodman volunteered, providing translation, home-cooked meals and transportation, as well as assisting Haitian immigrants in obtaining driver’s licenses or signing up for English classes. She previously said the nonprofit did not have any staff members on site that could speak Haitian Creole.

“The gift that I got from these folks is to know people that have such courage and such determination to live their lives, to create their lives, to be what they want to be and show me the privilege that I live in,” Goodman said in an interview Friday. “To think that we have a right to stability in our lives [is a privilege] because these people have opted to forego stability in order to achieve their dreams.”

Goodman remained in the liaison role for the city for six months after ServiceNet banned her from the shelter last spring for reasons that remain unclear. ServiceNet Vice President of Community Programs Polly Normand, in an April 8, 2024, email addressed to Goodman, officialized the ban, accusing her of “crossing the line” and “interfering” with the staff’s security.

The email, which the Greenfield Recorder has reviewed, did not cite specifics, and was also sent to Mayor Ginny Desorgher, Police Chief Todd Dodge and ServiceNet staff.

Despite being unable to bring meals to immigrants at the Days Inn or enter the site to assist with translation, Goodman continued to help outside the shelter in an unofficial capacity, providing translation and assistance acquiring driver’s licenses.

“[Goodman’s] translating, connecting and advising for many interactions was critical to mutual understanding and successful outcomes,” Human Rights Commission Chair Mpress Bennu wrote in a statement. “[Goodman’s] frontline service to help those in need facing various human rights challenges makes her a worthy candidate for this year’s Human Rights Commission Award.”

The Human Rights Award was created in 2013 and went on hiatus in 2016, returning in 2023 with an award for Gloria Matlock, founder and director of the Twice As Smart children’s choir and coordinator of local racial justice events. The Human Rights Commission solicits nominations for the award from the public before selecting a recipient.

The Human Rights Commission presented Goodman with the award at a ceremony attended by Dodge, the Mayor’s Chief of Staff Erin Anhalt and Precinct 7 City Councilor William “Wid” Perry last week. Along with a trophy and certificate, her name will be added to a plaque of Human Rights Award winners that is on display at City Hall.

“The award [recognizes] someone who helps in kind of a grassroots way,” Mayor’s Office Communications Director Matthew Conway said. “It’s just about connecting with people and forging stronger bonds within our community. The award also is very reflective of someone who symbolizes the values of the Human Rights Commission.”

Reflecting on the award, Goodman said that while she was honored by the recognition for her work, she could not take full credit for the services she helped facilitate. She added that her work was simply aimed toward doing “what’s right.”

“I accepted the award for all of the people that had called me to ask for help, to do translations for these folks, because they really wanted to help them, and I was really the vehicle to help that happen,” Goodman said. “I had a language skill that only two other people in town had, and I’m retired, so I was much more available. … I think we all should take a look at ourselves and take a look at [the Haitian immigrants], and really understand that we’re all people. We all have rights, and just because we happen to have been born here doesn’t mean that we have any more right to a good life than anybody else.”

Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at acammalleri@recorder.com or 413-930-4429.