Lenox — On Thursday, October 24, the Blackshires Community Empowerment Foundation welcomed partners and leadership cohort graduates to an evening celebration at the historic Ventfort Hall in Lenox, Mass. Graduates of the Blackshires Leadership Accelerator program each received grants of $2,000 to support their ongoing work developing their projects and businesses. This is the third such graduation by the program. These grants increase the total investment by Blackshires in the cohort of leaders to nearly $90,000.
The Foundation, led by people of color, works to empower and enrich the Black community in the Berkshires and surrounding areas. The goal of the Leadership Program is to develop a BIPOC community-based talent pipeline. Over the course of a 15-week accelerator, the Leadership Program provides guidance and support for emerging BIPOC community leaders in the Berkshires. For more information about the program, click here.
Since its launch in 2023, the program has been recognized for its success and impact. It has received the 1Berkshire Trendsetter: Breaking the Mold award. Blackshire leaders also served as featured speakers at the 1Berkshire 5th year Blueprint presentations. And, at the June 14th, 2024, graduation ceremony, the City of Pittsfield proclaimed June 14th to be Blackshires Leadership Accelerator Day, saying:
“The Blackshires Leadership Academy Accelerator Program has partnered with the city for the past two years, the value of this program was evident. The city was able to engage directly with the cohorts of black leaders through sharing resources, networking and ensuring that our tables accurately reflect the city’s population. The partnerships that Blackshires has created with this program are unique and progressive. The program demonstrates the need and the importance of this work. It is the City’s hope and desire to see the success of this program be replicated and expanded, and we fully support the continued success of this impactful work in the City of Pittsfield.” Mayor Pete Marquetti
Here is a list of the recent program graduates and information abut the projects they will pursue with their grant monies:
In the course of the evening, the Blackshires leadership shared lessons learned from this project to date. They also announced a renewal, for the 3rd year in a row, of a $100,000 Urban Agenda Grant from the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development. Blackshires announced plans to use this funding to improve the Leadership Accelerator program and to provide increased support for program participants and organizational partners alike.
Click here to learn more about the program on the occasion of its second graduation event on June 14, 2024.
