MONTHLY NEWS / OCTOBER 2021 |
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The First Harvest Food Pantry at Lyall Memorial Federated Church in Millbrook distributes fresh produce grown by Stonewood Community Project with support from the Northeast Dutchess Fund. Photo: John Dolan |
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Program, Philanthropy & Leadership Highlights
Board Leadership Seminar: Only five spots remain for our free Inclusive Leadership for Nonprofit Boards workshop, which will be held this Monday, Nov. 1, from 10 a.m. to noon. Experts from BRIDGE will lead a virtual session for board members and executive directors to examine approaches to equity and belonging. This meeting will not be recorded. Register today.
Education Enrichment: The advisory committees of our 30-plus education enrichment funds are focused on flexibility and social-emotional learning as they support engaging activities in our region's schools. This month in Columbia County, the Ichabod Crane Arts and Humanities Fund awarded nearly $10,000 for projects including the purchase of guitars for a safe, socially distanced music class, and the Taconic Hills Arts and Humanities and Education Enrichment Funds awarded close to $16,000 to 15 programs that will enrich the lives of students through dance, culinary arts, journalism, literature, art, theater and agriculture.
Laptops for Students: A grant from the Cooper Meadow Fund, a BTCF donor advised fund, provided laptops for three students in Berkshire Community College's Adult Learning Program to use for both education and career goals. Thanks to the generosity of the donors, one such student who did not have access to a computer is now fully participating in classes and using various programs and social media to run a food service company—all while studying English and raising a family.
Community Engagement: Our Arts Build Community initiative continues to partner with arts and cultural nonprofits to increase community engagement through the arts in Berkshire County. We awarded three $12,000 grants to the Center for Peace through Culture, the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center and Mass MoCA for projects that promote inclusion and develop deep relationships with community members. We are also supporting 10 local arts and culture organizations that are participating in a yearlong Inclusive Leadership as a Force for Change cohort led by BRIDGE. This inaugural group is learning best practices in justice and equity, as well as cultural competence.
Youth Film Challenge Deadline Extended: The deadline for our Bridging Divides, Healing Communities Youth Film Challenge has been extended to Nov. 14 to give budding filmmakers more time to shoot and edit their films in current conditions. Participants will compete for $3,500 in cash prizes and the chance to have their film screened at a local theater. Learn more and view virtual classes with professional filmmakers at YouthFilmChallenge.com.
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Board, Staff & Committee News
Board Member in the News: BTCF board member and treasurer Jodi Rathbun-Briggs, who is senior vice president and chief lending officer at Greylock Federal Credit Union, was quoted in an Entrepreneur magazine article that outlines government funding options for small businesses.
New Committee Member: David Offensend has joined our Northeast Dutchess Fund advisory committee, which has awarded nearly $4 million in grants over 20 years to support innovative projects and services that have touched the lives of countless residents in northeast Dutchess County. David, a BTCF board member, lives part-time in Wassaic and is president and CEO of Education Development Center.
New Staff Member: Jessica Smith of Salisbury has joined our team as administrative coordinator to support the operations of our office. Email Jessica or say hello when you call our office at 413.229.0370.
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Grants in the News
Access to Healthy Food: Rolling Grocer 19, a Hudson grocery store that uses a tiered pricing system to make fresh food affordable, is featured in Chronogram. The store launched with support from our Fresh and Healthy Food for All initiative, which aims to create a more equitable food system in Columbia County.
Spanish-Language Film: The Berkshire Edge takes an in-depth look at how a free Spanish-language film screening hosted by the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center addressed barriers to engagement in the arts. The event was supported by our Arts Build Community initiative.
Affordable Housing: Beginning this week, the Tri-Town Coalition is hosting a three-part affordable housing community training program in Amenia, Millerton and Pine Plains. The series, which is funded by a Northeast Dutchess Fund grant through Hudson River Housing, is outlined in The Millerton News.
Youth Film Challenge: Diane Pearlman, executive director of the Berkshire Film & Media Collaborative, spoke with Mass Appeal and Connecting Point about the Bridging Divides, Healing Communities Youth Film Challenge.
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Coming Up
Tool Library: Thanks to support from the Fund for Columbia County, the Toolshed Exchange lending library at Basilica Hudson gives residents access to tools and training. It is hosting a weatherization workshop on Oct. 30 at 4 p.m.
Hosting Interns: MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board, which received a grant from our South Berkshire County Fund to support career readiness programs for local students, is leading a workshop on hosting high school interns for businesses and organizations on Nov. 2 at Tanglewood.
Economic Opportunity: EforAll Berkshire County will hold an in-person pitch contest on Nov. 10 at Crissey Farm in Great Barrington to give local entrepreneurs the opportunity to share their business ideas and compete for seed funding in front of a panel of area judges. EforAll is supported by a group of committed funders, including Berkshire Taconic.
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