Editor’s Note: We had so much news this week that we decided to break Business Briefs into two parts. This is the first part.
Simon’s Rock names Dr. Sarah Porter-Liddell the new Dean of Students and Equitable Community
Great Barrington— Simon’s Rock is excited to share Dr. Sarah Porter-Liddell has been named the new Dean of Students and Equitable Community. Formerly the Dean of Equity and Inclusion at Simon’s Rock, she has also been awarded the “Catalyst for Change” award as part of the first-ever DEI Impact Awards from Smart Energy. This news comes in conjunction with the publication of Porter-Liddell’s first book, ”A Black Girl with the Blues”, from Dorrance Publishing Co.
Dr Porter-Liddell has served as the Dean of Equity and Inclusion at Simon’s Rock for the past three years. Her work in higher education is continuously informed by her experiences not only as a black woman, but also as an academic. Dr. Porter-Liddell has demonstrated a strong commitment towards equity and inclusion through her research and work. She is an author, scholar, and advocate for change.
Dean of Students and Equitable Community is a new position on Simon’s Rock, crafted for and with Porter-Liddell. The aim for this position is to best serve all students by more intentionally including the work of diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of student life and the Office of Campus Life. In this role, Porter-Liddell will continue to oversee the Center for Equity, Inclusion, and Community and the Bias Response Team, and will also oversee the work of the Offices of Campus Life and Campus Safety.
Porter-Liddell wrote her new book, “A Black Girl with the Blues”, during a rough period of depression. In it, she wrote and expressed all she felt within this collection on survival; she writes real and raw emotions that we don’t often get to see from black women experiencing during depression. As her depression lifted, she became more reflective on her past and in her current work; she aims to provide a deeper look into the mind of one Black woman on a journey through pain, love, and anger. She wants to encourage other women to look inside of themselves and find the courage to address their pain and focus on healing. “A Black Girl with the Blues” is available online.
***
Investigative Journalist and Author Suki Kim named 2023-24 Keith Haring Fellow in Art and Activism at Bard College
Annandale-on-Hudson— The Center for Curatorial Studies (CCS Bard) and Bard College’s Human Rights Project has named author Suki Kim as the 2023-24 recipient of the Keith Haring Fellowship in Art and Activism. Established in 2014, the fellowship supports an annual faculty position that brings a prominent scholar, activist, or practicing artist to teach and conduct research within the CCS Bard graduate program and the undergraduate Human Rights Program.
Through her work as a journalist and author, Kim has provided unprecedented insights into one of the world’s most secretive and dangerous dictatorships. Born in South Korea, Kim has been traveling to North Korea since 2002, where she has contributed groundbreaking reporting on the country to publications including The New York Review of Books, Harper’s, The New Republic, and The New Yorker. In 2011, Kim published The New York Times bestseller, “Without You, There Is No Us: Undercover Among the Sons of North Korea’s Elite” (Crown, 2014), based on her experience living undercover in Pyongyang for six months with the country’s future leaders during the final year of Kim Jong-il’s reign. She is the recipient of numerous honors, including the PEN Open Book Award, a Guggenheim Fellowship, an Open Society Foundations fellowship, a Fulbright Senior Scholar grant, an American Academy Berlin Prize, and a Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study fellowship at Harvard University. Suki Kim is the only writer ever to have lived undercover in North Korea.
“Suki Kim is at once a courageous risk-taker and a brilliant writer,” said Thomas Keenan, Director of Bard’s Human Rights Project. “That rare combination of political commitment and artistic eloquence is exactly what the Haring Fellowship was created to honor.”
She is currently working on her next nonfiction book “The Prince and the Revolutionary: Children of War” (W.W. Norton), which was shortlisted for a 2022 Lukas Prize work-in-progress, given by Columbia University School of Journalism and Harvard’s Nieman Foundation for Journalism.
***
The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center has appointed Natalia Bernal education and community engagement manager
Great Barrington— The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center has appointed Natalia Bernal to the newly created staff position, Education & Community Engagement Manager.
“We could not be more delighted to be welcoming someone with so much multinational education and arts experience in this new position,” says Executive Director Janis Martinson. “The Mahaiwe has a well-established school field trip program supplemented with interactive fare, such as the recent intergenerational performance-making workshop, Mind the Gap. Community engagement efforts, similarly, have grown in recent years to include not only free programs and collaborations with social service partners, but also robust Spanish-language programming. I am confident Natalia will build on those foundations to help us better serve every segment of our community.”
“I am looking forward to bringing as many learning opportunities as possible to the children and families of our community, as well as culturally enriching experiences to all,” says Bernal.
Bernal has a degree in Music Business from Berklee College of Music, a degree in Contemporary Music from Escuela Moderna de Música in Santiago, Chile, and an extensive background in Education and Arts Administration. She is a vocalist and composer with 25 years of experience as a Latin Jazz and Andean Jazz performer. Originally from Chile, Bernal is a Spanish, Portuguese, and English speaker.
The Education & Community Engagement Manager builds relationships between the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center and the communities it serves; plays a visible role in the community; advises the programming team on education and community programs; enlists participation in programming by individuals, schools, and social service organizations; and leads and builds consensus among volunteers. Specifically, the Education & Community Engagement Manager makes all arrangements related to school field trips, in-school artist residencies, the Partnering with Latinx Communities Program, and other efforts and events that broaden audience inclusion.
***
Hillsdale resident Irwin Feld opens design gallery and workspace
Hillsdale— With more than 25 years of design and retail experience, Irwin Feld, Hillsdale resident and custom furniture designer, is bringing his home design business, Irwin Feld Design, to the Hamlet. Located in the historic Althouse-Higgins house, a restored 1845 home at 2666 State Route 23, Feld intends to expand his design and consulting business and offer items from his extensive vintage and custom home furnishings collections. In addition to vintage furniture and accessories, select pieces from Feld’s custom furniture line, CF MODERN, will also be available.
“This is a dream now realized. This space was created exactly to fit my needs” says Feld, who also maintains a presence in Manhattan’s New York Design Center. “I label myself more of a home design coach or consultant and really rely on the client to make decisions. The key to a successful relationship is a mutual exchange of thoughts and ideas. My goal is to assist in the creating an ideal home environment, blending my design expertise with the client’s vision, and tailor them in a thoughtful, practical way”, says Feld.
***
MCLA ranked number seven ‘Top Public Liberal Arts School’ in 2024 U.S. News and World Report
North Adams— Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts has earned the number seven spot on the list of “Top Public Liberal Arts Schools” in the nation for a third year in a row. The College’s continued commitment to affordable education and economic prosperity is reflected in the 2024 U.S. News and World Report with additional rankings: No. 1 for Top Performer on Social Mobility in the state, No. 2 in the country, and No. 22 for National Liberal Arts Colleges.
“Each year that MCLA appears in the Top Ten Public College rankings I am reminded how incredibly committed our faculty and staff are when it comes to the growth and success of our Trailblazers by demonstrating an unwavering dedication to excellence,” said President James F. Birge, Ph.D. “I am grateful to be part of an institution like MCLA that has made enormous improvements over the last year and its rankings for Top Performer on Social Mobility.”
“Enrolling at MCLA makes such a difference on student and faculty lives as well as on the community at large,” said Brenda Burdick, Chair of the MCLA Board of Trustees. “I’m truly amazed by the ongoing success of MCLA – an institution that consistently shines as a top-notch provider of high quality, accessible, and affordable education. Being recognized as a Top Ten Public College affirms this commitment.”
***
Bard College awarded $750,000 from National Park Service for Restoration of Montgomery Place Mansion
Annandale-On-Hudson— The National Parks Service (NPS) has announced that Bard College has been chosen as a recipient of a $750,000 Save America’s Treasures grant through the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF). This prestigious award will help support the restoration of the Montgomery Place Mansion, a National Historic Landmark owned by Bard College. The grant funding will support structural repairs to the exterior of the building in order to restore its integrity and resiliency for future preservation.
“As stewards of this historic property, we’re gratified that the National Park Service has recognized the importance of Montgomery Place and awarded us this generous grant to support its ongoing restoration and conservation,” said Bard College President Leon Botstein.
The work at Montgomery Place Mansion will include a comprehensive assessment of the structural conditions and will help secure the long-term preservation of the building, its finishes, and its collections. Following completion of the structural assessment and a comprehensive onsite evaluation of the building envelope, restoration work will begin focusing on the mansion roof, drainage, north- and east-facing porches, as well as exterior paint.
***
Great Barrington Receives $1.35 million for housing rehab for income-eligible homeowners
Great Barrington— The Healey-Driscoll administration has awarded $1.35 million to fund housing rehabilitation for income-eligible Great Barrington homeowners. The funds provide a zero-percent interest, deferred payment loan of up to $50,000, which is forgivable if the homeowner remains in the residence for at least 15 years. Funds cover building code repairs, weatherization, lead paint abatement, handicap accessibility, and emergency funds for leaking roofs, failed furnaces, and septic systems.
“We are extremely grateful to the Governor and her administration for this grant award,” said Town Manager Mark Pruhenski. “Great Barrington has been very proactive in creating new affordable homes and apartments in recent years, but it is equally important to provide funds for homeowners to ensure their homes are safe, healthy and energy efficient.”
The Regional Housing Rehab Program is a grant-funded program that provides eligible households with a zero-percent interest-deferred payment forgivable loan of up to $50,000. Residents are accepted on a first-come/first-served basis and must be income eligible. The maximum eligible income for a two-person household is $60,250; it is $75,300 for a four person household. Residents repay a portion of the loan only if they sell their home within 15 years. A professional Program Manager and Rehab Specialist work with the homeowners on their approved project.
The town will open the application process within a few months, and will prioritize grants for correcting health and safety violations. Applications will be considered on a first come, first served basis.
***
Berkshire Agricultural Ventures awarded $50,000 in USDA Rural Business Development Grants for Business Technical Assistance
Great Barrington— Berkshire Agriculture Ventures (BAV) is pleased to announce that it has been awarded two Rural Business Development Grants from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide the business planning technical assistance that farms and local-food businesses across the Berkshire-Taconic region need to thrive. A combined $50,000 has been awarded; $30,000 to be deployed for business planning technical assistance projects in Berkshire County, and $20,000 for Litchfield County.
The core objective of BAV’s technical assistance program is helping farms and food businesses identify and improve the precise issues constraining their growth. Through expert consultation and personalized coaching, participants will collaboratively develop a comprehensive action plan to tackle these obstacles head-on.
“I am extremely grateful to have been introduced to BAV,” said Ruby Metzener, owner of Raven & Boar farm. “I have had to balance being a farmer, partner, mother, and business owner. With BAV’s individualized, one-on-one experience and understanding of the complexities of farming and business, they supported and connected me with technical assistance programs that I would not have been able to access otherwise.”
Berkshire Agricultural Ventures extends its appreciation to the USDA for their confidence in the organization’s capacity to effect positive change in the local agricultural landscape. Thanks to these grants, and the contributions from individual community members who care deeply about our local farms, BAV is poised to catalyze transformative outcomes for farms and food businesses, setting the stage for a vibrant and thriving agricultural future across the Berkshire-Taconic region.
***
Berkshire Community College to host the first Berkshire County ‘Second Chances Job and Resource Fair’
Pittsfield— Berkshire Community College (BCC), in collaboration with the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, Berkshire County Jail and House of Correction, 2nd Street, and MassHire Berkshire Career Center, will hold a “Second Chances Job and Resource Fair” on Wednesday, November 8th from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at BCC’s Paterson Field House, located at 1350 West Street in Pittsfield.
The job fair is free and open to the public. Formerly incarcerated individuals, including those who may have been justice involved and/or who have a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) file, are particularly encouraged to attend. More information is available at www.berkshirecc.edu/job-fair.
Area employers who are interested in participating in the fair must register in advance at www.berkshirecc.edu/employer-register. The registration deadline is October 27th or until filled. Employers must have open positions they are seeking to fill immediately and must have a second chances/CORI-friendly hiring policy.
To prepare employers and prospective employees, a series of free workshops will be held in advance of the job fair.
In virtual employer readiness workshops, employers can learn how to increase job applicant pools with qualified candidates; how to hire applicants who have a CORI file or a criminal record; and how to leverage the Opportunity Tax Credit and the Federal Bonding Program. Virtual workshops will be held on Tuesday, September 26th at 9 a.m. and on Wednesday, October 18th at 1 p.m. To register, visit www.berkshirecc.edu/employer-readiness.
A series of four in-person client readiness workshops will help job fair attendees gain the skills they need to interact with employers and ultimately gain employment. Topics include tips for attending a job fair, talking about your CORI, writing an effective resume, and preparing for an interview. Each one-hour workshop will be held at 2nd Street on Wednesdays from October 11th through November 1st at 4 p.m. at 2nd Street located at 264 Second Street in Pittsfield. Walk-ins are welcome, and refreshments will be provided. To register, visit www.berkshirecc.edu/client-readiness.
“Justice involved individuals, especially the formerly incarcerated, face enormous barriers to employment,” said Maureen McLaughlin, BCC’s Interim Executive Director of Workforce Development and Community Education and Director of Strategic Initiatives. “This untapped pool of workers can bring great value to employers and communities when given the opportunity to thrive and succeed in the workplace. They are talented and eager to work.” For more information, contact Jen Hoffman at (413) 236-2122 or jhoffman@berkshirecc.edu.
***
Berkshire County Sheriff Thomas Bowler announces receipt of grant funded Naloxone holsters
Pittsfield— As part of nationwide and local efforts to reduce opioid overdoses, Berkshire County Sheriff Thomas Bowler announced that his office has received 100 Naloxone (Narcan) holsters from the Northampton Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS) Prevention program the Drug Addiction and Recovery Team (DART).
The DART program was able to provide the new equipment valued at approximately $3000 from a Bureau of Justice Assistance grant to purchase the holsters. These will make it easier for all staff, including transportation and civil process, to ensure they are prepared to immediately provide lifesaving care in the event of an overdose as part of their uniform and located on a belt.
The Berkshire County Sheriff’s Office is dedicated to facilitating the successful reentry of clients from incarceration at the Berkshire County House of Corrections, Western Massachusetts Regional Women’s Correctional Center and the Massachusetts Department of Correction. The Berkshire House of Corrections is one of the few in the state to offer Medication for Opioid Use Disorder, naloxone training to everyone upon release, continued substance use services navigation by experienced recovery coaches post-incarceration, and comprehensive wrap-around services. These are just a few of the reasons the DART program recognizes the work of Sheriff Bowler and Berkshire County.
Naloxone (Narcan) is a medication that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose and saves lives. The Berkshire region is seeing an increase of fentanyl in cocaine, methamphetamines and counterfeit pills, increasing the risk of overdose for more recreational users as well as people who intentionally use opioids. Naloxone is also available county-wide through agencies such as Berkshire Harm Reduction, County Ambulance, The Brien Center, Rural Recovery, and many others, as well as at pharmacies or at dozens of Naloxone Distribution Boxes.
***
Downtown Blooms partnership to implement nature-inspired gardens in downtown Pittsfield as part of a three-year project
Pittsfield— Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. (DPI), Pittsfield Beautiful, the City of Pittsfield, and the Downtown Pittsfield Cultural Association (DPCA) will implement nature-inspired gardens in downtown Pittsfield as part of a three-year project beginning in the fall of 2023. The new gardens are made possible by this new partnership entitled “Downtown Blooms” and will have a focus on native perennials, pollinators, and water resilience.
Jennifer O’Donnell, a naturalistic landscape designer, artist, and creative consultant, assisted with native plant selection and a planting scheme for downtown Pittsfield. Plants were selected for drought resistance, native and pollinator qualities, and ease of maintenance. The curated wildscape design of these plantings is created with repetitive, matrix designs that are not only beautiful, but will enhance the quality of life, local community, and ecosystem at large. The long-term goal is to have plantings that require less maintenance and less water and that will have colorful blooms from spring until fall.
Phase One of Downtown Blooms will include 30+ raised beds located along North Street from Park Square to Maplewood Avenue. Phase Two will identify 20+ additional beds in this area. Phase Three will concentrate on the medians and areas along South Street and from Maplewood Avenue to Wahconah Street. In addition, as part of Downtown Blooms, Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. will be hiring a contractor/landscaper for streetscapes immediately, to provide ongoing maintenance of all planting beds from 700 North Street to 163 South Street.
For more information on Downtown Blooms, call Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. at 413-443-6501.
