Berkshire United Way, Miraval Berkshires seek frontline worker for wellness retreat
Pittsfield — Berkshire United Way and Miraval Berkshires have teamed up to honor an essential worker or first responder on the front lines of relief efforts in Berkshire County during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Throughout this pandemic, we have recognized the challenges and triumphs our essential workers have experienced. Today is the perfect day to launch this exciting endeavor to find a well-deserving recipient with this generous offering from Miraval Berkshires,” said Candace Winkler, president and CEO of Berkshire United Way, on Sept. 21, the launch day of the program as well as World Gratitude Day.
Berkshire United Way has created an online nomination form. Self-nominations are also being accepted and individuals may request fillable nomination forms by contacting info@berkshireunitedway.org. The deadline for nomination submissions is Friday, Oct. 2, at 5 p.m. One recipient will be selected at random from among all nominations to receive a four-day, three-night, all-expenses-paid wellness getaway for two guests, including food and experiences, at Miraval Berkshires’ newly opened resort in Lenox. The recipient and their guest must be 18 years or older and the offer is valid for 12 months (black-out dates apply).
–E.E.
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NPC Berkshires to host BRIDGE workshop on ‘Navigating Bias in the Workplace’
Great Barrington — On Tuesday, Oct. 6, from 10 a.m. to noon, the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires will host Gwendolyn VanSant of BRIDGE for a two-hour webinar titled “Navigating Bias in the Workplace.”
BRIDGE’s focus in this workshop is on supporting nonprofit managers and leaders in navigating biases. Of the workshop, VanSant stated: “Understanding that biases are active in all human interactions is essential. In this workshop, we will explore assessing organizational and sector bias as well as implicit bias we carry as individuals in a workplace. We’ll examine bias in hiring and also in assigning work and leadership roles.”
Founded in 2007, BRIDGE is a grassroots organization dedicated to advancing equity and justice by promoting cultural competence, positive psychology, and mutual understanding and acceptance. The organization acts as a catalyst for change through collaboration, education, training, dialogue, fellowship and advocacy.
The cost of the workshop is $60. For more information or to register, contact (413) 645-3151 or elizabeth@npcberkshires.org. Scholarships, courtesy of Lee Bank, are available for nonprofits with budget challenges.
–E.E.
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Willey joins CHP Lee Family Practice
Lee — Family nurse practitioner Rita M. Willey, DNP, has joined the clinical care team at Community Health Programs Lee Family Practice.
Willey has practiced since 2012 at Fairview Medical in Great Barrington. She previously worked at Northern Berkshire Family Medicine; and earlier, as a registered nurse, she worked at both Fairview Hospital and Berkshire Medical Center in supervisory positions. She was appointed as a faculty member with the Yale School of Nursing in 2018 and continues to precept master’s degree nursing students there.
Willey earned her doctorate of nursing and her master’s degree as a family nurse practitioner from UMass Amherst. She holds a master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in health care management from Western New England College. She earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from UMass and completed her associate degree in nursing at Berkshire Community College.
Willey is a member of the American Nurses Credentialing Center and has served as a member of the Massachusetts Organization for Nurse Executives as well as Sigma Theta Tau International, the honor society for nursing. She has also published two papers regarding management of heart failure in the Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing and in ScholarWorks, a UMass publication.
A resident of Lenox, she volunteered with the Berkshire County Military Family Support Group, a program of the American Red Cross, during the Iraq War from 2003-10. For 26 years she has been an active volunteer member with the National Ski Patrol and holds certification in outdoor emergency care.
–E.E.
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BCC to host eight-part Non-profit Institute workshop series starting Oct. 1
Pittsfield — Berkshire Community College will host the Non-profit Institute 2020 workshop sessions via Zoom, running Thursdays from 5:30 to 7 p.m. for eight consecutive weeks beginning Thursday, Oct. 1.
Open to nonprofit staff, board members and community volunteers, the program offers an overview of resource development functions. Discussion will focus on real-world needs and daily challenges. The series includes the courses Basics of Development; Governance (Non-Profit Boards); Finances for Non-Profits; Volunteers; Annual Fund/Annual Appeals; Major Gifts (from individuals); Corporations; and Foundations.
Instructor Abbie von Schlegell, CFRE, FAFP, has over 40 years of nonprofit experience; is a certified governance trainer with BoardSource; and is a strategic partner with prospect research company DonorSearch.
The cost of the eight-part series for $250; the fee for each separate session is $40. For more information, call (413) 236-2115 or email workshops@berkshirecc.edu.
–E.E.
