C oalition January 2017, Volume XXXI, Number 5 An update from Inside the January Issue 2017 Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service ............... 2 Congrats to Amber, our new Executive Director! ........ 3 UNITY/nBn News .................................................. 4 The Family Place/Mass in Motion ............................ 5 nbCC Prevention Work - Upcoming Events .............. 6 Coalition Calendar .................................................. 7 Northern Berkshire Community Coalition news December’s Coalition forum saw a return to tradition, as 74 attendees gathered at the First Baptist Church on December 9th at 10:00, to define and discuss Community Pride. Interim Executive Director Amber Besaw welcomed attendees, and reassured ev- eryone by returning to the familiar introduc- tion and announcement time. The forum began with a conversation around defining community pride, identifying the benefits, brainstorming barriers to feeling proud being a member of your community and finished with how we can as a community increase and share community pride. The forum shifted to representatives from Northern Berkshire towns who presented why they love their towns, what exciting events, programs or projects are currently happening in their town, and how to get in- volved. We had representatives from Adams Tony Mazzucco, Town Administrator; Clarks- burg’s Town Administrators Carl McKinney; Williamstown Selectman Andy Hogeland; from Williams College,Tracy Finnegan and Defining Community Pride: • understanding local history • to know the people • sense of ownership • being involved • having hope and optimism about your community • recognizing strengths and build solutions for needs • rediscovering the things that you took for granted • singing our unsung heroes • being a tourist in your neighborhood and community • the excitement and joy of coming back to town • showing that you love the community and sharing that with others December Forum: DIY Community Pride Sharif Rosen; North Adams Councilman President Ben Lamb; Suzy Helme from the North Adams Office of Tourism, and lastly High School Senior Hannah Koczela from Cheshire. So many attendees shared their passion, perspective and insight into the power of pride in a community. See below what they shared. Also see page 6 for a poem shared by Carl McKinney about the power within us to change what we don’t like. -Bret Beattie Benefits to Community Pride: • being proud of your pride • allows you to see areas of needs and deficits, and want to improve them • makes a community welcoming • positivity is contagious, is spreads to others • families come out to meet other families, neighbors get to know neighbors Barriers to Community Pride: • stepping out of comfort zone • being judged for what you like • no control of life circumstances, hard to recognize assets around you • economic divide, difficult to have community pride • safe avenue to challenge big ideas, risk a brand new thought • population decline • memory being an asset and challenge wishing to go back in time, not forward • perception that there is nothing to do here • information silos, or information overload Increasing and Sharing Community Pride: • volunteer, get involved, put yourself out there • participate in local government • find things you are passionate about and share them with others • supporting each other
Transcript
CoalitionJanuary 2017, Volume XXXI, Number 5
An update from
Inside the January Issue
2017 Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service ...............2
Congrats to Amber, our new Executive Director! ........3
December’s Coalition forum saw a return to tradition, as 74 attendees gathered at the First Baptist Church on December 9th at 10:00, to define and discuss Community Pride. Interim Executive Director Amber Besaw welcomed attendees, and reassured ev-eryone by returning to the familiar introduc-tion and announcement time. The forum began with a conversation around defining community pride, identifying the benefits, brainstorming barriers to feeling proud being a member of your community and
finished with how we can as a community increase and share community pride.
The forum shifted to representatives from Northern Berkshire towns who presented why they love their towns, what exciting events, programs or projects are currently happening in their town, and how to get in-volved. We had representatives from Adams Tony Mazzucco, Town Administrator; Clarks-burg’s Town Administrators Carl McKinney; Williamstown Selectman Andy Hogeland; from Williams College,Tracy Finnegan and
Defining Community Pride:• understandinglocalhistory• toknowthepeople• senseofownership• beinginvolved• havinghopeandoptimismaboutyourcommunity• recognizingstrengthsandbuildsolutionsforneeds
Sharif Rosen; North Adams Councilman President Ben Lamb; Suzy Helme from the North Adams Office of Tourism, and lastly High School Senior Hannah Koczela from Cheshire.
So many attendees shared their passion, perspective and insight into the power of pride in a community. See below what they shared. Also see page 6 for a poem shared by Carl McKinney about the power within us to change what we don’t like.
-Bret Beattie
Benefits to Community Pride:• beingproudofyourpride• allowsyoutoseeareasofneedsanddeficits,andwanttoimprovethem
Increasing and Sharing Community Pride:• volunteer,getinvolved,putyourselfoutthere• participateinlocalgovernment• findthingsyouarepassionateaboutandsharethemwithothers
January 2017Coalition NewsImproving the quality of life for people in Northern Berkshire by organizing, supporting, and empowering the community.
To submit announcements to the Coalition E-zine:
The Coalition E-zine is a weekly e-blast published every Thursday and contains announcements from Northern Berkshire agencies and organizations. Submissions must be received by 9:00 a.m. Tuesday morning to be considered for inclusion in that week’s issue. All submissions are subject to editing and should be 50 words or less. All events related to Northern Berkshire community public health will be considered for publication. Banner ads are available for your fundraising events. For more information, please call 663-7588, or to submit an announcement, please email [email protected].
Our Mission“Dedicated to improving the
quality of life for people in Northern Berkshire by organizing, supporting, and empowering the community.”In pursuit of this mission, we place particular emphasis on the following:• Strengthening neighborhoods and com-
munity life• Preventing alcohol/substance abuse• Fostering economic development•Mitigating poverty• Supporting positive youth development•Building bridges between residents and
service agencies
Coalition SupportersPublic Sources•MA Dept. of Children & Families/EOHHS•MA Cultural Council•MA Department of Public Health •MA Department of Public Health,
Bureau of Substance Abuse Services•Mass Service Alliance
Foundation Supporters •Fund for North Adams
Local Support •Contributions from our many
individual supporters
The Coalition is a member agency of the Northern Berkshire United Way and the Williamstown Community Chest.
Northern Berkshire Community Coalition
NBYC- Social Media and Teens
nbCC to Sponsor MLK "Day of Service"Monday, January 16
(no nbCC monthly forum in January)The Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service Committee in-vites everyone to join them on Monday, January 16th for a day of service at various locations that will benefit the Northern Berkshire community. We will begin the day at 8:30 at the MCLA Church Street Center to enjoy break-fast and sign up for service placements and transportation to locations around the area to do various hands-on tasks: painting, cleaning, weatherization of homes, organizing,
building, sorting, fixing, and more hands-on tasks at various area agencies.For those who prefer to stay on site, projects include sewing mittens for individuals in
need for the cold winter, assembling care packages for military serving overseas, assembling recipe and meal kits for local food pantries, and decorating holiday placemats for holiday celebrations at the Spitzer Center. All of these projects will be done on location at MCLA’s Church Street Center.
MLK, Jr. Day of Service Schedule 8:30: Kick off, service placements at MCLA’s Church St. Center and breakfast
9:30-12:30: Community service at various community sites
12:30-1:00: Enjoy lunch and celebrate the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during our annual tribute and Peacemaker Award Presentation. This year’s recipient will be given posthumously to the late Berkshire County activist, Dr. Don Quinn Kelley who strove for greater tolerance, understanding, caring, and a better quality of life for those in Berkshire County. Inspired by Martin Luther King, Jr., Kelley was passionate about social justice as well as empowering local youth to pursue higher education. He co-chaired Lift Ev’ry Voice, a summer festival celebrat-ing the rich traditions of the African-American community, arts and culture, history and heritage found within Berkshire County.
For more information, call Liz Boland at (413) 663-7588.
The Northern Berkshire Youth Collabora-tive is continuing its efforts to learn the ways in which youth are utilizing social media and technology. Throughout the year, the group has been working to create a comprehensive assessment of social media use in teens. After choosing social media as the focus of the group for this year, the NBYC team planned to create an inclusive curriculum to address the issues of cyber bullying, sexting, media literacy, safety and security, and representing oneself on the internet. The group also aims to highlight the positive uses of social media: its ability to bring together distant groups or people, to network with ease, to share
personal accomplishments and sources of pride with the world. In the next few months, the group will shift gears from creating the assesment survey, to administering it to local youths, and finally, to tracking trends in social media use, and creating comprehensive training materials for educators, youth work-ers, and parents.
Our next meeting will be Wednesday, January 18th at noon at the nbCC Confer-ence Room. Lunch will be served. If you are interested in being involved, contact Tim Shiebler or Carrisa Sacherski at 413-663-7588, or email [email protected].
January 2017Improving the quality of life for people in Northern Berkshire by organizing, supporting, and empowering the community.
Coalition News
Northern Berkshire Community Coalition
Board of Directors2016-2017
KRIS MALONEY, PresidentHuman Resources, Williams College
COURTNEY SHAPIRO-VAN DUSEN, Vice President
Adams Community Bank
DEb KUSHNET, TreasurerGreylock Federal Credit Union
SUZY HELME, ClerkBusiness Owner, Shima
North Adams Chamber of Commerce
CRAIG bARD, Executive CommitteeCommunity Resident
STEVE GREEN, Executive CommitteeCommunity Resident
AL NELSON, Executive CommitteeCommunity Resident
SARA LaLUMIA, Finance CommitteeProfessor of Economics, Williams College
JEN CIVELLOMarketing Director, BFAIR
LYNDA FIELDCommunity Resident
ERICA GIRGENTIAdams Council on Aging
bEN LAMbAsst. Director for Student Organizations
and Involvement, Williams College
CHRISTINE NAUGHTONDirector of Alumni Relations and
Development, MCLA
GAIL ObERSTSocial Worker, BFAIR
DAN RANDALLPastor, New Hope United Methodist Church
RICH TASKINAttorney at Law
Congratulations and Welcome Amber, Our New Executive Director!nbCC is proud to announce that Amber Be-saw is our new Executive Director replacing Adam Hinds, our new State Senator!
Amber has been with nbCC for the past 5 years, holding positions of deputy director and program director for The Family Place. She brings her diverse background in medical social work, community mental health, clini-cal social work with children and families, program development, and community organizing to nbCC’s mission of community support and action in Northern Berkshire.
Her initial focus at the Coalition was building a family resource center program focused on providing a sustainable support system for families where they can begin to feel empowered to move toward their goals.
“I am thrilled to accept this opportunity. I look forward to working with the Coalition staff and Board to continue the traditions that make the Coalition a cornerstone of the northern Berkshire region, as well as find new and innovative ways for us to grow,” says Besaw. “As Executive Director, my initial priorities will be to build and maintain the relationships of the Coalition within our community, make myself available to listen and create opportunities for constructive
community dialogue, as well as work with the staff and Board to begin a strategic planning process for our future.”
Mayor Richard Alcombright commented, “I am so pleased to hear that Amber has been named the executive director of our Community Coalition. Having first met Am-ber through her work at the Coalition with the Family Place, three wonderful qualities were evident; commitment, compassion and the ability to collaborate. As interim direc-tor over the past several months, Amber has displayed strong leadership skills and I am certain she will continue to fulfill the Coali-tion’s mission traditionally and in new and exciting ways.”
Please stop by to congratulate and wel-come Amber into her new position at nbCC!
Interfaith Group/Food Pantry Going Strong in 2017The Northern Berkshire Interfaith Action Initiative continues going strong in 2017.
The Friendship Center Food Pantry picked up a load of 7,500 lbs. of food on Tuesday, January 3 for our friends and neighbors in North Adams, Clarksburg and Florida. As we do every first Tuesday of the month, we drove a truck directly to the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, 50 miles away in Hatfield.
To see a photo essay of how we pick up and get the food onto our shelves, visit http://northernberkshireinterfaith.blogspot.com/.
In other business, our post election discus-sion, “Reading the Signs of the Times,” on Friday, December 16, drew 20 people on a morning when the temperature was in the single digits. We discussed our fears, hopes and shared some literature about how to ad-just to this new political era. We will not have a public Interfaith meeting in January but will resume in February.
The Northern Berkshire Interfaith Action Initiative is a group of people of different faiths and denominations working with others of goodwill to serve our community. Our main project is the Friendship Center Food Pantry at 45 Eagle St. in North Adams. For more information about the NBIAI, call Mark at 413-664-0130. For more information about the food pantry, call the Friendship Center at 413-664-0123.
The Teen Writing Workshop is Seeking More Members!Every week, a group of teens gathers in the conference room here at nbCC to write poetry and fiction, and to share their writing with their peers. The result is an abundance of creativity, passion, and inspiration. This is an opportunity to be involved with a group of empowered, skilled young writers, and to share in the creative abun-dance that they create.
We have been extremely lucky to have the group of participants that we’ve had thus far this year. But we are always looking for more teens! The group will be working on pieces to include in this years “Somewhere Between” collection, a Journal of Youth Writing that has been released every year for over a decade. The workshop teens are also honing their performance skills in preparation for the mid year performance, which will take place on January 31st.
If you are a person between the ages of 14-19 who wants to be involved in this unique group, please join us on Tuesday nights from 5-7 pm at 61 Main Street in North Adams. Refreshments are available every week, along with transportation to and from North-ern Berkshire residences. If you have any questions, please call Tim Shiebler at 413-663-7588, or email at [email protected].
UPDATE from the UNO Community CenterThe UNO Community Center ended the year on a wacky and creative note. We hosted a ceramics course facilitated by Renee Wlodyka owner of Devine Designs. Participants had the option to choose from a variety of ceramic pieces to glaze, or getting their hands dirty working the clay to form a piece of their own. We are looking forward to hosting Renee again soon! It was a great experi-ence learning about the process and seeing the result of combining minerals with high heat.
UNO also sponsored a couple of Wacky Science classes. UNO Neighborhood residents Dave and Donna Motta facilitated a couple of fun and wacky experiments to a group of excited and curious kids alongside their parents. From mentos and diet coke rockets, making batches of “oobleck” (a putty like substance made from cornstarch and water) to take home, to disappearing styrofoam heads with acetone and many more.
During the remainder of the school year, the Mottas will con-tinue their fun and vicarious teachings by facilitating a 4H STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) class at UNO starting this month. The mission of 4H is to provide experiences where young people learn by doing with hands on projects in a positive environment where they receive guidance from adult mentors and are encouraged to take on proactive leadership roles. 4H is delivered by Cooperative Extension—a community of more than 100 public universities across the nation.
The UNO Steering Committee is working on adding more programming to the weekly schedule. In addition to the 4H STEM class, UNO will be offering after school tutoring and a Crafternoon group. Like the UNO Community Center on Facebook or check out the nbCC weekly E-zine for updates and more information re-garding future UNO programming and events. Much more to come this year, stay tuned!
Teen Writing Workshop Mid-Year Showcase Each week, local teens create powerful, inspiring works of fiction and poetry.
Please join us for a showcase of their work so far this year. The event is free of charge, and all are encouraged to attend. Refreshments will be available. Come and
experience the incredible, original works that these teens have created.
Tuesday, January 31st 5:00 PM
Gallery 51 (51 Main St. North Adams)
For more info, call (413)-663-7588
Lorem Ipsum Dolor.
Join us for our. . .
p Fun at Wacky Science Days! Stay tuned for more fun learning events at the UNO Community Center!
Happy New Year from The Family PlaceAs the holiday season is wrapping up and we begin to ring in the New Year, The Family Place would like to wish everyone a safe and happy new year!
Starting in the month of January, The Family Place will be send-ing out, via email, a monthly calendar with all of the programs and events that we will be offering for the following month along with the information. If you would like to receive this email please con-tact Jazmyne Joy at The Family Place, 413-663-7588 ext 26.
Upcoming events:• Grandparents Raising Grandchildren – This group gives grand-
parents who are actively parenting or in the process of receiving guardianship, a safe and supportive environment to share their experiences, share resources and advice while gaining friendships with other grandparents. Childcare and dinner provided. Please call Donna Senecal at The Family Place, 413-663-7588 ext 18.
• Missing Pieces – Providing a safe and comfortable space for parents and children who have lost a loved one while learning healthy coping methods while going through the grieving pro-cess. Please call The Family Place for more information.
• The Family Connection – If you are actively parenting or work-ing on reunification and would like a place where you can share your experiences and meet other parents who are going through similar situations The Family Place is the place for you. Please call The Family Place for more information.
Along with the many support groups that we at The Family Place offer, our Family Support Workers work very hard to help support families to get connected to the resources throughout our commu-nity and offer one-on-one parent education classes and support. Call Donna or Chris to help you get connected!
The Family Place Favorite...Here is a recipe that many families have requested from The Fam-
ily Place. If you love homemade mac n’ cheese but have a very busy schedule or on a budget, then this recipe is perfect for you!
Add all ingredients together, stir and set crockpot on high for about 2 hours. Stir every 15 minutes after 45 minutes. Voilà!!!! Dinner is done!!!! Enjoy!
*This meal feeds 6-8 people
Getting HIP in MAProgram will match SNAP purchases of local and fresh fruit and veggiesThe Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) was awarded a grant through USDA’s National Institute for Food and Agriculture, the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grant Program (FINI). In Massachusetts the FINI project will be known as the Healthy Incentives Pilot or HIP.
There is data that demonstrates the primary barrier to accessing fresh fruits and vegetables for low-income families is affordability. Beginning in April of 2017, HIP will match SNAP recipients’ pur-chases of local fruits and vegetables purchased at farmers markets, farm stands, mobile markets and CSAs, with customers receiving an instant, dollar for dollar match credited to their EBT card at the point of sale. This provides an opportunity for more fresh, healthy local foods to be in the households of SNAP customers across the state. This will also be a benefit to our local farmers from this direct investment in local agriculture.
The success of this project will be dependent on the involvement and support of a diverse coalition of statewide community partners. To help bring partners together in Berkshire County, Mass in Mo-tion Coordinators Morgan Kulchinsky and Amanda Chilson have worked with the Food Bank of Western MA in scheduling a HIP 101 Training/Workshop in Pittsfield on Thursday, January 26th at 10:00am. This training will help inform and educate our organiza-tions and people that work or partner with SNAP customers. This will also be an opportunity to brainstorm how to move forward, promote and spread the word to our SNAP customers in Berkshire County. There are many logistics and kinks that will have to be worked out here in north Berkshire as HIP gets off the ground in April, this training will allow partners to convene and play a crucial role in the HIP program process. For more information please con-tact Amanda Chilson- [email protected] or 413-663-7588.
Upcoming Mass in Motion Events
Berkshire Bike Path Council Meeting- Wednesday, January 11th,6:00pm,1FennSt.Pittsfield.SpecialguestsFranHemingDistrict1RegionalDirectorofMassDOTandRichFriesDirectorofMassBikewillbeattending.FranwillgiveanoverviewofMassDOT’seffortstosupportsafecyclingandRichwillbeagreatresourceinplanningsomespecialeventsfor2017.TherewillbeconversationontheextensionoftheAshuwillticookTrailnorthtowardsLymeStaswellastheWilliamstownandNorthAdamssectionsofthebikepath.
Bike North Berkshire Meeting- Tuesday, January 17th,6:30pmatFreightYardPub
Complete Street North Adams Focus Group, Wednesday January 25th,7:00pm,AmericanLegion,NorthAdams.LookatmapsofthestreetsandroadsinNorthAdamstoshareinformationaboutwhatworksandwhatdoesn’taccord-ingtoourstreetinfrastructure.
HIP 101 Training/Workshop, Thursday, January 26th,10:00am,Pittsfield(exactlocationTBD).SNAPrecipients,retailersandorganizationsareinvitedtolearnmoreabouttheHealthyIncentiveProgramgrantthatDTAreceived,increasingthepurchasingoflocal,healthyandfreshfruitsandvegetables.
January 2017Coalition NewsImproving the quality of life for people in Northern Berkshire by organizing, supporting, and empowering the community.
Out My WindowAs part of our December Community
Pride Forum, Carl McKinney, from the Town of Clarksburg shared a poem he wrote shortly after the 9/11 tragedy.
Out My WindowOut my window. . . I look and see. . . the world has changed, for you and for me. My windows on the world are many and few. Let me show you what they show me. . . from me to you! My window on cable, computer and waves, shows me that man destroys. . . and man also saves. The flying hulks, taken far astray, held life’s dreams. . . the promise of a new day. Evil and envy, hatred and mistrust, gave birth to horrors. . . live with we must!
Out my window. . . I look and I cry. . . so many flags. . . all asking WHY?!? From Reads-boro the man placed the flags on pole. . . try-ing to strengthen America’s soul. In Stamford I saw with wonder and amaze. . . flags lining the street. . . did proudly they wave. On thru Clarksburg I sat in awe, flags once broken now fixed. . . flying and raw. In the Queen City. . . North Adams you know. . . flags were half staffed. . . most flying low.
Out my window. . . both many and few. . . I think of Washington and Jefferson. . . Lincoln too! The triumphs we made. . . the trials we’ve paid, given to the world. . . peace and justice laid. From great power, this na-tion presides. . . sharing it and giving it. . . to nations both sides! Must there be no talk, no room in the middle. . . condemned to war. . . is that man’s riddle?!?
Outside my window. . . I pause and I wonder, what is ahead. . . what’s left to ponder? Can mankind cleanse itself, or be put asunder. . . those are the questions I sit and still wonder.Inside my window, I look around too, at my wife and two sons. . . what will we do? Inside my window, My Berkshires adore. . . will peace no longer dwell here. . . peace be here anymore? So friend the question I do pose to you. . . can we fix my window. . . can we straighten the view?
Outside my window. . . .
-Carl W. McKinney
nbCC: Working to Prevent Underage Drinking/Substance Use and Address the Opioid Epidemic Locally
Guiding Good Choices Workshop Series:In working to prevent underage drinking, the nb21 program in partnership with the Family Place is offering an evidenced based parent education program shown to reduce youth substance use.
•Parentsofyouthgrades4-8willlearnhowtostrengthentheirbondswithchil-dren and reduce the risk their children will use drugs.
FACES: 5 Stories from 1 Community:Faces is a short film about addiction and recovery in our community, commissioned by nbCC. It features 5 stories that provide different perspectives. In case you missed the screening of Faces at the North Adams Movie-
plex, there’s another chance to see this powerful and informing film on Saturday, January 14 at 2pm at Images Cinema in Williamstown. It will be followed by a discussion that includes Mayor Alcombright, filmmaker Joe Aidonidis, Amalio Jusino from North Adams Ambulance, and representatives from the treatment community. The screening is free and open to the public. A future screening will be held in Adams.
Naloxone and CPR Training:January 23, First Congregational Church Wil-liamstown 6-9PMDo you know someone at risk of a heroin/opioid overdose? Naloxone (Narcan) reverses
overdoses. Learn How To: identify the signs of an overdose, assess if an overdose victim needs rescue breathing or CPR, perform rescue breathing and CPR (earn CPR certification), administer Naloxone (Narcan), and obtain low cost or no costNaloxone. Space is limited. To register please call 663-7588 x14 or email [email protected].
And related. . .Starting Wednesday January 4th, Josh Bressette Commit to Save a Life will be holding the Voices For Recovery Support Group. This is a peer-to-peer support meeting for people in recovery from heroin and opioid addiction. The group will meet most Wednesdays from 12-2pm. Coffee and a light lunch will be provided. For more information contact Kenna Waterman at 413-749-5007
Tapestry in North Adams currently is looking to fill two full-time positions: Syringe Access Program Manager and Harm Reduction Counselor. Get more information at http://www.tapestryhealth.org/work-with-us/.
Community Film Screening
and Panel Discussion
Faces: Five Stories From One Community
nb Northern Berkshire Community Coalition
Preview a short film by local videographer Joe Aidonidis featuring five local stories related to addiction and recovery.
Get a deeper understanding of the challenges related to addiction and recovery in our community.
Following the film, there will be Q&A panel discussion focusing on resources available in Northern Berkshire, what resources are needed, and how to build our capacity as a community to support recovery.
We welcome community members from all walks of life to attend.For more information about this film screening, contact Wendy Penner at nbCC, (413) 663-7588.
Presented by:
Saturday, January 14 - 2:00pmImages Cinema, Williamstown MA
January 2017Improving the quality of life for people in Northern Berkshire by organizing, supporting, and empowering the community.
Coalition Calendar
Tues., Jan. 31, 5 - 7 p.m.Gallery 51
TWW Mid-Year Reading
Hear local teens read powerful po-etry and fiction that they craft dur-ing workshop sessions. This event is free and refreshments will be served. For more info, contact Tim Sheibler at [email protected].
Monday, Jan. 16, 8:30 a.m. MCLA Church St. Center
MLK Jr. Day of ServiceMLK Jr. asked “What are you doing for others?” Join us for a Day of Service to honor MLK Jr.’s life and philosophies. See page 2 for more details.
Weds., Jan. 18, 12:00 p.m.
N. berkshire Youth Collaborative
We strongly encourage any North County based youth serving agen-cies or programs to join us monthly to discuss solutions to issues and problems facing our youth. To get on the group’s e-mail list, contact Tim Shiebler at [email protected].
Wednesdays, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.nbCC Conference Room
Youth Leadership Program
UNITY staff engage the group in a wide variety of exercises related to leadership skills such as communica-tion, problem-solving, team work, identifying community needs, and project/event planning. Contact Tim Shiebler at [email protected].
Tuesdays, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.nbCC Conference Room
Teen Writing Workshop
A creative writing workshop for teens 14-19, taught by two teaching artists who specialize in helping young people find, strengthen, and share their unique voice. For more info, contact Tim Shiebler at [email protected].
Tuesday Jan. 9 10:00 am - 11:30 am
nbCC Conference Room
Rx/Heroin Work GroupThis diverse group includes com-munity leaders, medical and mental health professionals, first respond-ers, people in active recovery, and family members who have suffered from the substance abuse disorders of loved ones. To learn more about this issue or to become part of the work group, contact Wendy Penner at [email protected].
Thurs, Jan. 12, 5:30 p.m.
Guiding Good Choices
A workshop that gives parents with children ages 9-14 the strategies and skills to support healthy family com-munication and functioning, See page 6 for more information.
Starting January 12Harper Center, Williamstown
1pm -3pm
Matter of BalanceThere are older adult falls preven-tion classes. Participation is FREE. Runs every Thursday through March 2nd.If you are interested or would like more info , contact Bret at 413-663-7588.
Sat., Jan. 79:00am-1:00pm
American Legion
North Adams Winter Farmers Market
Debit/Credit Card/EBT accepted. SNAP Dollars will be doubled! Contact 413-664-6180 or [email protected] for more info. Tuesday, Jan. 17, 6:30pm
Freight Yard Pub (2nd flr)
Bike No. BerkshireAn opportunity for all bike and pe-destrian advocates to come together and learn of all bike and pedestrian efforts that are happening in north Berkshire, how you can join in on the efforts and continue to advocate as the efforts move forward. Contact Amanda Chilson for more informa-tion (413)663-7588.
Weds., Jan. 25 7:00 p.m.American Legion
Complete Streets North Adams Focus Group
Look at maps of the streets and roads in North Adams to share information about what works and what doesn’t according to our street infrastructure. Call Amanda at (413) 663-7588 for more info.
More photos from our December forum. . .
Visithttp://www.
nbccoalition.org/calendar.html
for our complete calendar listings.
Wed., Jan. 18,1:30-3:30pmNA Housing Authority
Ashland St.
Wellness ScreeningsFree blood pressure screening, Lung Age Screening and Hepatitis C and HIV testing. Contact Bret Beattie at [email protected] or 413-663-7588.
U.S. Postage PaidNon-Profit Org.
Permit #35North Adams, MA
01247
Coalition Staff
nbCC is supported by:
Northern Berkshire Community Coalition61 Main Street, Suite 218, North Adams, MA 01247
A Note from the Director. . .
Find this newsletter online atwww.nbccoalition.org
I am extremely honored and excited to be writing this entry in our monthly newsletter as the newly appointed Executive Director of the Coalition. The past 18 months has been a journey with many twists and unexpected turns, however the team here has been successful in finding our way without losing direction or falling off course. I can attribute our success to the dedication of our staff, our Board, the support of community partners, as well as the strong foundation of our mission.
I think the question, ‘What’s next for the Coalition?’, is on the minds of many in our region. The Coalition has a long-standing history in the northern Berkshire region and our established traditions bring purpose and meaning to the work we do. Part of my new role will be to find a way to blend our history and traditions with new and innovative ways of doing our work to be a voice for the community, listen to and recognizing the needs in our community, as well as bring our community together to address our needs with local resources. Our region is changing and there is so much work and dedication to making this an even better place to live. It is my goal for the Coalition to be an active partner in these efforts, as well as a leader in ensuring that the members of our communities consistently have the opportunity to be a voice at the table. I and the staff of the Coalition know we cannot make change happen on our own, we are only one part of the mechanism needed for change and growth.
Here’s to this coming year, the work ahead, and the successes we will see as we work together and continue to make the northern Berkshire region a great place to live, work, and play.
