Massachusetts Solidarity Economy Network and Coalition for Worker Ownership and Power co-host a statewide Solidarity Economy Festival with Roots & Dreams and Mustard Seeds
Pittsfield— On June 10th and 11th in Pittsfield, Massachusetts Solidarity Economy Network (MASEN), Coalition for Worker Ownership and Power (COWOP), and Roots & Dreams and Mustard Seeds co-host a statewide Solidarity Economy Festival to celebrate, learn, strategize and build together. All are welcome!
Calling all solidarity economy and co-op organizers, activators and allies across Massachusetts! There will be a festival of wares and knowledge, with tabling and cultural events offering an immersive Solidarity Economy and Co-op 101 teach-in on June 10th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Common Park in Pittsfield.
There will be a state of the movement and collective strategizing event on June 11th at Berkshire Community College for existing or interested members of MASEN (Massachusetts Solidarity Economy Network) to connect, build relationships, set priorities, and design strategy for revolutionizing our economy.
Registration is free and encouraged. Are you people or planet focused? If you want to table or offer an activity or performance, fill out this online form. This is a zero-waste event. A stipend pay option is available for members of worker co-ops and those organizing Sunday’s workshops. Spanish translation is provided. Transportation, camping, and childcare may be available. More information and event registration is available online.
A note from the organizers: “This is a moment of opportunity. Transition is inevitable. Justice is not. The question is: transition to what? Cooperative farms, community land trusts, worker-owned enterprises, community controlled renewable energy, cooperative housing, mutual aid networks, worker own health clinic, etc… This is not the time to return to normal. We are calling on everyone who knows this to commit to the work of building regenerative solidarity economies. These efforts need more people to make them real, to get them supported and resourced, and to shift our collective creativity towards cooperation and caring over individualism.”
***
As part of Hudson Pride Weekend, Hudson Hall presents “Vowel Movements” with Pretty Lamé and David Sytkowski
Hudson— On Saturday, June 3rd at 7 p.m., as part of Hudson Pride Weekend, Hudson Hall presents “Vowel Movements” with Pretty Lamé and David Sytkowski.
Cabaret meets opera in this subversive evening of song. Join tenor Joshua Sanders as Pretty Lamé and David Sytkowski on piano as they explore the boundaries of genre and good taste for an evening of music encompassing grand arias all the way to Ariana Grande.
The cabaret is on Saturday, June 3rd at 7 p.m. at the Upstairs Performance Hall at Hudson Hall on Warren Street in Hudson. Tickets are $25 for general admission and $45 for a reserved table. Reserved table seating is limited. Tickets and more information can be found by visiting Hudson Hall online.
***
American Mural Project free open house
Winsted— On June 10th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the American Mural Project (AMP) exhibit is offering free admission for an all day open house.
Founded in 2001, AMP is a nonprofit organization focused on honoring work by giving dignity to the American worker and initiative to kids. At its center is the creation of the largest indoor collaborative artwork in the world—a three-dimensional mural 120 feet long and five stories high. Nothing like it exists in the world.
To date, more than 15,000 people from 17 states have participated in creating pieces of the mural. A tribute to American workers, the mural is a visual history of the country over the past century through its workers—from heart surgeons to steel workers, athletes to farmers, and assembly workers to the fabricators of a 747.
The free admission open house is on Saturday June 10th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Regular hours are Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. Guided tours are offered at 1pm and the art station (for kids and adults) is open all day. American Mural Project is located on Whiting Street in Winsted. More information can be found by visiting American Mural Project online.
***
To kick off the Pride Month in the Berkshires, the Adams Theatre presents ‘The Majesty of The Berkshires Drag Pageant’
Adams— On June 2nd at 7:30 p.m., to kick off the Pride Month in the Berkshires, the Adams Theatre presents “The Majesty of The Berkshires Drag Pageant”. The Pride Pageant aims to bring together the queer community and its supporters, family, and friends to celebrate the art form of drag and personal self-expression.
The winner of the pageant shall hold the official title of “Majesty of the Berkshires” with a one-year reign as the leader of the Berkshire County LGBTQIA+ community. The evening is hosted by local drag queen, Bella Santarella.
Berkshire Cider Project will be providing beverage catering for the evening and Dotties Coffee Lounge will bring delicious food. Please arrive early to secure your food, drinks, and preferred seats – and dress fabulously!
The pageant is on June 2nd at 7:30 p.m. at the Adams Theatre on Park Street in Adams. The show is open to audiences of all ages. Regular tickets are $12, while priority seating tickets are $25 and include a seat in the first four rows and one free drink. Food, drink, and community gathering starts at 6:30 p.m. and the performance starts at 8 p.m. Tickets and more information can be found by visiting the Adams Theatre online.
***
Housatonic Village Party in the Park
Housatonic— On June 10th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., live music, dance, face painting, food and more will fill Housatonic Village Common for “Party in the Park”.
The free event is coordinated by the Housatonic Improvement Committee and all are welcome.
Food and snacks are provided by North Plain Farm, SoCo Creamery, Truck Dining Haul, and Extra Special Teas. The Great Barrington Fire Department will bring a display fire truck and the Great Barrington Police Department will bring Archer, its comfort dog.
Live musicians include Soul Prophet, Johnny Blond, The Faithless Few and Jackson Whalan. Berkshire Pulse will present classes in African dance, drumming and swing dance, and BerkCirque will present circus trick demonstrations. Bowey the Magic Clown will entertain, and the Great Barrington Libraries will host activities. There will also be a contest to create a Housatonic Village poster.
The party is on June 10th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Housatonic Village Common at the corner of Front and Pleasant Streets in Housatonic. In the event of rain, the event will be held in the Housatonic Community Center. More information can be found by visiting Housatonic Village Party in the Park online.
***
The Rooted Voyageurs presents free Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ at parks, farmers markets and wineries this summer
Spencertown— The Rooted Voyageurs will kick off their second season of presenting free live theater at beautiful outdoor spaces this summer at venues throughout Columbia County and Dutchess County.
This season’s performance will be “Romeo & Juliet” directed by The Rooted Voyageurs Artistic Director and Co-founder, Devante Owens.
The performances are June 16th and 23rd at 4:30 p.m. at Chatham Farmers Market in Chatham, June 25th at 3 p.m. at Millbrook Vineyards & Winery in Millbrook, June 29th at 7 p.m. at Ruins at Sassafras in New Lebanon, June 30th at 7 p.m. at Spencertown Park in Spencertown, July 1st at 11:30 a.m. at Copake Hillsdale Farmers Market in Hillsdale, July 1st at 7 p.m. at Ruins at Sassafras in New Lebanon, and July 7th at 6 p.m. at Sabba Winery in Old Chatham.
Filled with laughter and joy, tragedy and heartbreak, “Romeo & Juliet” is one of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies. The Rooted Voyageurs bare-bones production is abridged and will run 90 minutes. Bring your own seating and a picnic, or pick up food from the farmers markets or food trucks at select venues and enjoy!
The Rooted Voyageurs is a theater company founded in 2022.Their mission is to celebrate community through live performance accessible to everyone. Their company members are primarily from Columbia County and Berkshire County. All performances are donation based, you can pay as much as you want or nothing at all. For more information, visit the Rooted Voyageurs online.
***
The Bookstore in Lenox will host Daisy Rockwell for her International Booker Prize winning translation of “Tomb of Sand”, written by Geetanjali Shree
Lenox— On June 3rd at 3 p.m., the Bookstore in Lenox will host Daisy Rockwell for her International Booker Prize winning translation of “Tomb of Sand”, written by Geetanjali Shree and published in the U.S. by HarperCollins.
Shree is the author of four previous novels, including “The Roof Beneath Their Feet” and “That Empty Space”. Rockwell, a Stockbridge native, is an acclaimed artist and scholar, as well as a translator of works in Hindi and Urdu.
“Tomb of Sand” is a sprawling, rollicking 400-plus page novel about family in Northern India centering on an octogenarian matriarch who refuses to get out of bed following the death of her husband, until the day her youngest grandson, who is incapable of laughter, brings her a sparkling golden cane covered with butterflies, and thus begins her adventures.
The free reading is on June 3rd at 3 p.m. at the Bookstore in Lenox on Housatonic Street in Lenox. A Q & A will follow the reading. For more information please call 413-637-3390 or email matt@bookstoreinlenox.com
***
Great Barrington Democrats to meet and elect convention delegates
Great Barrington— On Saturday, June 3rd at 9:30 a.m., Democrats will convene in person at the Claire Teague Senior Center, 917 South Main Street, to elect 6 delegates and 4 alternates to represent Great Barrington at the 2023 State Democratic Convention.
Registered and pre-registered Democrats in Great Barrington and Housatonic who are 16 years old by May 23, 2023 may vote and be elected as delegates or alternates during this caucus. Youth (age 16 to 35), people with disabilities, people of color, and members of the LGBTQ+ community not elected as delegates or alternates are encouraged to apply to be add-on delegates at the caucus or by visiting massdems.org/massdems-convention.
The 2023 Convention will be in person at the Tsongas Arena in Lowell on September 23rd.
The regular meeting of the town Democratic Committee will follow the caucus at 10 a.m. On the agenda will be a discussion about improving ballot access and strengthening local Democratic committees with Harvard political scientist (and recent candidate for governor) Danielle Allen.
Those interested in getting involved with the Great Barrington Democratic Committee should contact Michael Wise at michaelowise@mac.com or 413-854-1323.
