Berkshire Art Center announces expansion to second location in Pittsfield
Stockbridge—Berkshire Art Center (formerly IS183 Art School) has announced it will be expanding to a second location in Pittsfield, the Brothership Building at 141 North Street, this month. The opening will be held on Friday, September 30, from 5 – 7 p.m., and is open to the public.
Through this expansion, Berkshire Art Center (BAC) will offer a variety of new classes and workshops in Pittsfield for adults and young artists of all ages. Classes will explore mediums including watercolor painting, photography, jewelry, printmaking, and more.
“The launch of this new location is such an exciting opportunity for BAC!” said Program Director, Brielle Rizzotti. “Though we’ve offered off-site classes and workshops throughout Berkshire County for many years, I am excited for the Brothership to become a central hub where we can root ourselves and grow as an integral part of the Pittsfield community, right from our new home base on North Street.”
At the new Pittsfield location, Berkshire Art Center will hold a series of Arts Night Out events, in which couples, friends, or solo creatives can join an evening of fun and creativity while experiencing different art-making activities such as bead-making, cyanotypes, printmaking and ceramics. BAC has also partnered with new neighbors at Methuselah Bar & Lounge who will be offering 15% off food to anyone heading over to dine after an Arts Night Out event.
In addition to Arts Night Out, starting in October at 141 North Street, Berkshire Art Center will offer monthly Free Family Drop-Ins. These drop-ins are a series of events which will feature a rotating set of projects for families to participate in at their own pace, using a wide array of art materials to spark inspiration and imagination. These projects will allow opportunities for freeform creative exploration and a chance to experiment, paired with the guidance and support of a Faculty Artist. Free Family Drop-Ins will be held on the First Friday from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. and Third Saturday from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. of every month, excluding any dates that BAC is closed.
Berkshire Art Center will also be expanding their support of local artists by showcasing and selling work from local makers. In addition to work by artists, BAC will be selling used and discounted art supplies & creative ephemera for local makers of all levels to use in their work. A variety of locally made items including necklaces, mugs, pouches, and notecards, will be available for purchase in the shop.
To learn more about Berkshire Art Center’s new Pittsfield location and see a list of upcoming classes happening at the Brothership Building this Fall, visit berkshireartcenter.org.
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Berkshire County Head Start seeks to empower families with new REACH program
Pittsfield— On August 31, Berkshire County Head Start (BCHS) launched Resources to Empower & Advocate for Children and Households (REACH), a community program that is the first-of-its-kind in Berkshire County. REACH was developed to assist and empower Pittsfield preschool children, families and caregivers who have been historically unable to access needed services due to long-standing and entrenched economic disparities, racial inequity and generational poverty.
Made possible by a $700,000 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant from the city of Pittsfield, REACH arose from a BCHS annual community needs assessment that identified needs for (1) affordable childcare, (2) support for removing barriers to educational, economic and health/wellness goals, and (3) better access to community resources for families in Pittsfield. In addition, data showed the pandemic drastically amplified these needs, making REACH a vital vehicle to support families’ resilience.
“I’m really excited to see dedicated funding for underserved populations, particularly communities of color, in Pittsfield,” remarked BCHS Executive Director Brett Westbrook. “This is a big step for us as a community – we recognize these disparities exist and we’ve committed real funding to address the problem.”
REACH provides temporary assistance with the goal of creating longer-term resilience and independence. Pittsfield families who need full-day childcare but do not meet state and federal eligibility requirements or do not have the needed documentation to access that funding can benefit from this program. REACH seeks to remove service gaps and barriers by providing:
- Full-day childcare/early education
- A dedicated family advocate who develops family partnership agreements (FPAs) that outline family needs, goals and steps for accomplishing goals
- Access to community resources and partners on-site at the BCHS Meadow Lane location in Pittsfield, including funds to support families with free transportation and other minor financial needs such as fees for obtaining IDs or other needed documentation
Qualified families in the Morningside, downtown, and Westside communities will be given priority for enrollment in the REACH program, according to the city of Pittsfield’s ARPA grant. Complete REACH program and eligibility details can be found online at berkhs.org/reach or by contacting program manager Carrie Dupuis at (413) 499-0137 ext. 242 or by email at cdupuis@berkhs.org.
REACH intends to serve 140 Pittsfield children and their families utilizing a rolling enrollment over the next three years. Vetted and established screening tools, measurements and tracking databases are in place to measure the program’s progress and success.
Berkshire County Head Start’s partnerships and collaborations with other local community agencies are an important part of the REACH program’s success. Local agencies are encouraged to share information about REACH and take advantage of the BCHS community room at 1 Meadow Lane to connect with families who need support. BCHS also has translation services for Spanish-speaking families who would like to connect with resource providers.
Berkshire County Head Start hopes to identify additional and enduring funding sources to expand the REACH program to serve more families across all of Berkshire County.
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CDCSB welcomes Executive Director Carol Bosco Baumann
Great Barrington— Community Development Corporation of South Berkshire (CDCSB) has welcomed Carol Bosco Baumann as its Executive Director.
In March, Baumann joined CDCSB as its Interim Executive Director following the retirement of previous Executive Director, Allison Marchese. Now, having formally come on staff as Executive Director, Carol brings with her a diverse skill set of high-level strategic marketing, branding, and communications as well as community development.
She was first introduced to community development work while living in the west Fenway neighborhood in Boston, creating a summer camp in partnership with the MFA, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, BSO, Harvard Medical School, and others for children in under-resourced Boston neighborhoods. She has volunteered for many initiatives and organizations in the Berkshire community, including Housatonic village and school redevelopment efforts and as Chair of the Chesterwood Advisory Council. Her chief interests include nature and wildlife, oceans, growing food, and empowering people and communities. She has lived in Housatonic with her husband, cats, and dogs since 1996.
Baumann says, “I am honored and excited to have joined CDCSB as its Executive Director. The work that we do is, at turns, both challenging and fulfilling, but the impact on the community is positive and long-lasting. I’m inspired by our dual mission to create affordable housing and economic development opportunities, as the pandemic has shown that it’s more important than ever to strengthen the fragile connection between the two. I look forward to continued collaboration with our talented staff and board, development partners, town officials, and with our community, as we expand our work together to help the region thrive.”
CDCSB Board President Jim Harwood spoke highly of Carol’s leadership: “Carol Bosco Baumann is the perfect person to lead the CDCSB at this exciting time for our organization. She is a 25+ year resident of Housatonic with an intimate understanding of our community’s economic and housing needs. She has a deep professional resume, both working for large organizations and running her own small business. Her background in marketing and community development allows her to connect with community members and stakeholders and execute our mission throughout the Berkshires. When Carol became our interim ED in March, she jumped in feet-first and demonstrated her innate leadership skills. CDCSB is fortunate to have her at the helm.”
Current CDCSB projects include Windrush Commons, a 49-unit affordable housing complex under construction at 910 Main St. in Great Barrington, as well as the Small Business Technical Assistance program, which to date has mentored and assisted nearly 50 small business owners and entrepreneurs in Berkshire County. In 2021, Bentley Apartments was completed, providing 45 new affordable housing units for low-moderate income individuals and families in the Berkshires. CDCSB is planning the next two phases of development for this property: a public park sited along the Housatonic River and another housing development on the remainder of the Bridge Street property.
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Northern Berkshire United Way appoints new Executive Director
North Adams— The Board of Directors of the Northern Berkshire United Way (NBUW) has announced the appointment of Duffy Judge as their new Executive Director. Judge has filled the role of Interim Executive Director since March of this year, following the vacancy created by Christa Collier when she departed for a position with the Massachusetts Children’s Alliance.
Judge has taken the lead on a number of community initiatives and is committed to following the mission, vision, and values of the agency. Judge comes to NBUW from Berkshire United Way in Pittsfield where he served as Development Manager since July 2017.
“It has been a wonderful experience at Berkshire United Way, but I yearn to serve the community in which I have raised a family, Northern Berkshire. This opportunity would allow me to have a direct impact on people I interact with every day and that would be the absolute ideal for me,” says Judge.
Since 1936, the Northern Berkshire United Way has provided funding to member agencies in North Berkshires that provide health, education, financial stability, and safety net programs. To learn more, visit nbunitedway.org
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BFAIR welcomes new Clinical Director Kaitlyn Moresi
North Adams– Berkshire Family And Individual Resources (BFAIR) has welcomed a new Clinical Director, Kaitlyn Moresi, to the organization.
Kaitlyn attended The College of Saint Rose where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in Communication and Science Disorders. She furthered her education by attending Endicott College where she obtained her master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis with a minor in Autism. She then went on to become a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She also holds her state licensure in Massachusetts as a Behavior Analyst.
While in graduate school, Kaitlyn worked for BFAIR as an In-Home Behavior Specialist. Once certified as a BCBA, she spent time working at Hoosac Valley Regional School district as well as providing In-Home Applied Behavior Analysis services with Positive Behavior Supports Corporation. She has now returned as a member to the BFAIR team.
Since 1994, BFAIR has been providing AFC (Adult Family Care), Residential, Clinical Services, Employment and Day services for adults and children with developmental disabilities, acquired brain injury, and autism. BFAIR is a proud member agency of the Northern Berkshire United Way and the Williamstown Community Chest. To learn more, visit www.bfair.org.
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Nathan McLaughlin named interim Executive Director at CREATE
Catskill, N.Y.– CREATE Council for Resources to Enrich the Arts, Technology & Education has named Nathan McLaughlin as Interim Executive Director. After nearly fifteen years within the Camphill movement, including roles as a Board Member, National Outreach Coordinator and Executive Director, McLaughlin is bringing his extensive non-profit leadership experience to a new phase for CREATE as the organization looks towards its future. His skills in Finance, Operations, Strategic Planning, Branding, Outreach and Program Development and Management promise to be an exciting contribution to the arts council’s history and growth.
“I am excited to step into this new role at the CREATE Council on the Arts,” McLaughlin says. “As a musician and performing artist, I understand the importance of the work done by CREATE and am inspired by the mission. Helping to grow and develop the local arts community and support the many creative programs found in our area helps to inspire my own creative work as well. I look forward to helping artists and organizations bring their work into the public eye.”
CREATE Council for Resources to Enrich the Arts, Technology & Education is a tax exempt, non-profit organization whose purpose is to provide community support by expanding access to creative, cultural resources and economic opportunities in the region. CREATE serves as the Statewide Community Re-grant arts organization for Greene, Columbia, and Schoharie Counties. Since 1975, CREATE has provided information and essential services to artists, arts organizations, cultural and educational institutions, civic groups, community agencies, and the general public and continues to grow its outreach as a regional arts council. To learn more about CREATE, visit: www.createcouncil.org.
