Norman Rockwell Museum announces Burman Internship Program
STOCKBRIDGE — Norman Rockwell Museum recently announced that the inaugural Bonnie and Terry Burman Internship Program will be held this summer at the site. Board of Trustees member Terry Burman and his wife Bonnie are sponsoring the academic growth of college students and recent graduates through a meaningful paid internship in the competitive museum field. The 6–8 week internship at Norman Rockwell Museum provides hands-on training and real-world practice across many disciplines in the museum field.
“It is important to support future generations of cultural leaders with a strong foundation, more than ever,” noted the Burmans. “We are pleased to support the opportunity for students to gain valuable experience working in the arts through this Internship Program.”
The inaugural class of interns will be working with several departments: Curatorial/Collections, Marketing/Communications, and Digital Engagement. Students in this paid internship program are working remotely and on-site two to four days per week over the summer. They will be researching the collection, cataloguing prints and ephemera, creating digital content, helping to run on-site and virtual programs behind the scenes, drafting press releases, and creating social media campaigns.
—A.K.
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Greylock Federal Credit Union donates to Berkshire Community Diaper Project
PITTSFIELD — Greylock Federal Credit Union has donated $5,000 to the Berkshire Community Diaper Project (BCDP) to help them supply an anticipated need of 275,000 diapers in 2021. Diapers are distributed free of charge to families in need, local shelters, childcare centers, food banks, and through BCDP’s large network of local non-profit partners.
“Under normal circumstances, we are the beneficiary of local diaper drives, but we haven’t been able to hold one since February of 2020,” said BCDP Founder Dr. Marie Rudden. “COVID has put a full stop to those efforts. We need a lot of cash to purchase the large amounts of diapers that are required to get wholesale prices. Greylock’s gift was used immediately to purchase 10,000 diapers.”
According to the BCDP, one out of three low-income families struggle to buy diapers. In the Berkshires, 2,000 children from birth to age five are receiving nutritional help from the federal Women, Infants, and Children program and likely have diaper needs. BCDP is completely volunteer run and 100% of all donations go directly to purchasing diapers.
- Diapers are not covered by WIC or by food stamps, which classifies them with cigarettes, alcohol, and pet food as disallowed items.
- Families without washers/dryers must rely on store-bought diapers. If they lack gas money or a car, they must rely on expensive convenience stores.
- Children without a supply of diapers are not allowed at day care centers, so parents miss work when they can’t supply them, thus losing money needed for their families.
- Diaper need is an even stronger predictor of stress and mental health difficulties in parents than food insecurity. (Smith, et al, Pediatrics, 2013)
- Children who wear soiled diapers are at risk of rashes and infections; their irritable crying may put them at risk for abuse or neglect from frustrated, depressed parents.
—A.K.
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18 Degrees Announces New President and CEO
PITTSFIELD — Sarah E. Cook has been named the new President and CEO by the Board of Directors of 18 Degrees and will begin her tenure on July 6, 2021.
Originally from Boston, Cook is a graduate of Princeton University and The London School of Economics. Her career has focused on providing opportunity to underserved populations in Boston and, most recently, in Austin, Texas, where her leadership concentrated on creating access to health care. Cook brings with her extensive experience in strategic planning and operations oversight. Additionally, her dedication and proven ability to address socioeconomic inequalities make her an excellent choice to continue the positive momentum of 18 Degrees.
18 Degrees provides education, parenting skills and support, prevention and intervention, advocacy, and life skills across a spectrum of programs serving young people, adults, and families in four areas: early education and care; foster care and adoption; child and family well-being; youth and community development.
—A.K.
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Salisbury Bank promotes Kimberly Downey to VP, Senior Fiduciary Officer
LAKEVILLE — Salisbury Bank recently announced that Kimberly Downey has been promoted to Vice President, Senior Fiduciary Officer.
Downey joined Salisbury Bank in 2005 and is based in the Bank’s Lakeville office at 5 Bissell Street. She has served as the chairperson of the bank’s internal Trust Administration Committee since 2014, and earned her Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (CTFA) designation in 2013. Downey earned a business economics degree from SUNY-Cortland and Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Syracuse University.
—A.K.
