Berkshire United Way opens RFPs to the community
PITTSFIELD — Berkshire United Way (BUW) recently announced the availability of funding for a one-year period, from July 1, 2021–June 30, 2022.
This request for proposal (RFP) is to support family well-being and address gaps in services in the community, and will require programs to generate a whole-family, integrated approach that focuses on educational advancement and economic mobility. Funding priority will be given to organizations serving communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
Organizations must deliver programs and outcomes that address the priority community issues of early childhood development, positive youth development, or economic prosperity. Prior to submitting a proposal, interested organizations must complete an eligibility form. The organization must be a not-for-profit, located in and primarily serving residents of central and southern Berkshire County, and governed by an active, locally based, volunteer board or elected body.
Organizations may register for an RFP Informational Meeting at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 10 or 9 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 12.
Proposals must be completed online by midnight on Sunday, March 21. Investment decisions will be based on the results of the competitive RFP process, which includes review by community volunteers and their recommendations for funding to the BUW Board of Directors.
Organizations can access the eligibility form and RFP application online.
—A.K.
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Berkshire Nonprofit Awards puts out call for nominations
GREAT BARRINGTON — The Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires, in partnership with The Berkshire Eagle, will host the 4th annual Berkshire Nonprofit Awards on Tuesday, May 18 at 8:30 a.m. The award recognizes the work being done by individuals in the nonprofit sector. Representative William “Smitty” Pignatelli will emcee the 45-minute Zoom event.
“During the pandemic, Berkshire nonprofits provided critical services in healthcare, food security, education, and more. If ever there was a time to honor the commitment of nonprofit workers, spring 2021 is it,” said NPC founder Liana Toscanini.
Nominations are being solicited from across the Berkshires in eight categories: Executive Leadership, Board Member, Super Staffer, Unsung Hero, Volunteer, Rising Star, Youth Leadership, and Lifetime Achievement. One honoree in each category will be chosen by a panel of judges and profiled in a special section of the newspaper.
As part of the 2021 awards event, the Nonprofit Center will pay tribute to the county’s healthcare workers. The NPC is currently seeking sponsors for this event.
—A.K.
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NAACP Freedom Fund Awards raises more than $60K for student stipends
PITTSFIELD — On Saturday, Jan. 23, the NAACP, Berkshire County Branch hosted its Freedom Fund Awards Celebration, virtually. The annual event raises funds to provide stipends to students of color in Berkshire County who are planning on attending college or trade school the following year, and honors individuals who are leaders in the work towards equity and justice.
The Branch announced that, thanks to community members and sponsors, the event raised more than $60,000, beating the organization’s ambitious goal of $25,000.
“I’m incredibly proud to live in the Berkshires, where community members, organizations, and businesses come together to support our students,” Branch President Dennis Powell said. “Each year, we’ve increased the amount of the stipends that we’ve given out, and we’re thinking critically about how we can use this new capacity to expand our stipends further and create more robust support systems for our students of color from the Berkshires.”
During the ceremony, two former recipients of the Freedom Fund stipend, Olivia Nda (Howard University) and Fleur Serenko (Berkshire Community College), shared their experiences of how the stipends have supported them on their academic journey.
Three awards were presented: Dr. Francres Jones Sneed presented Rachel Fletcher with the W. E. B. Du Bois Freedom Fund Award for her work in founding the Du Bois River Garden in Great Barrington; Jacob’s Pillow’s Executive Director Pam Tatge presented Williams College’s Sandra Burton with the Baba Chuck Davis Freedom Award for her use of the connecting power of dance to bring communities together in the Berkshires; and Shirley Edgerton presented Pittsfield High School’s Lori Murphy with the Margaret Hart Freedom Award for her work in creating educational spaces where students of all cultures can learn and thrive.
The keynote speaker of the evening was author Deesha Philyaw.
—A.K.
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Community Access to the Arts adds new staff members
GREAT BARRINGTON — Community Access to the Arts (CATA) has appointed two new full-time staff members. Dorothea Oakes joins CATA as the organization’s new administrative associate, and Norma Stobbe joins as program associate. The appointments come as CATA works to strategically expand its innovative arts programming for people with disabilities, many of whom have been deeply impacted by the pandemic.
“Now more than ever, CATA’s work is meeting a critical need in our community for people with disabilities,” said CATA’s Executive Director Margaret Keller.
Dorothea Oakes comes to CATA from New York City architecture and design firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, where she served as executive assistant. Oakes and her family have relocated to the Berkshires from Brooklyn for her position at CATA.
Norma Stobbe is a recent graduate of Brandeis University, where she coordinated the “Brandeis Buddies” program in collaboration with the local Arc, completed research for the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy, and directed theater performances centered around social justice, disability, and identity.
—A.K.
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Berkshire South welcomes Mark Gross to Board of Trustees
GREAT BARRINGTON — Berkshire South Regional Community Center recently announced Mark Gross as its newest Board of Trustees member. Gross has been a full-time Richmond resident since his retirement in 2015, and a weekender since 1986. He became a member of Berkshire South shortly after his retirement and has served on its Finance Committee.
Since 2017, Gross has served on the Town of Richmond’s Municipal Building Committee. He is a graduate of Bard College and New York Law School, and was employed in the law departments of the Cities of New York and Mount Vernon, N.Y. from 1972–1975. He then started his own firm and was engaged in private practice law, concentrating in municipal and administrative law and real estate related litigation. He was appointed and then elected to the Mount Vernon City Court bench, serving until his retirement in 2015.
Mark has also been active in the local Little League, Elk’s Lodge, Democratic City Committee, and in his current synagogue and B’nai B’rith. He and his wife Hannah have two sons and four grandchildren.
—A.K.
