Career exploration opportunity for local teens

“We put a strong emphasis on lifelong learning and curiosity – don’t be afraid to ask questions,” said Stephen Boyd, president and CEO of Boyd Technologies in Lee as he spoke to a room of 12 Monument Mountain High School students interested in pursuing a career in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). The students visited Boyd in February to learn more about the company and potential career pathways in the sciences. Boyd, a graduate of Monument Mountain himself, answered questions from students and encouraged his staff to share how they came to work at Boyd Technologies.

Brianna Sporbert completed an internship at Boyd as a Pittsfield High School student; she is now the vice president of engineering overseeing commercialization of new products, material sourcing and product development platforms, and enacting the company’s strategic growth plan. In her spare time, she enjoys mentoring young women in STEM through Berkshire United Way’s community partner, Flying Cloud Institute. Lindsey Berkowitz, Young Women In Science Programs Director, helped recruit the young women who attended that day. Sean Flynn, Career and Vocational Technical Education (CVTE) and Internship Coordinator at Monument, recruited the other students for this career exploration opportunity.

Donned with hair nets (and beard nets for some), students enjoyed an informative tour of the facilities at Boyd Technologies. Development Engineer, Stephen Fitzgerald, advised the students, “School is important, and give it your all, but you’ll only learn about 10% in school of what we do in business. There’s going to be opportunities outside of school such as internships, projects, co-ops, research opportunities - and those kinds of experiences are hugely valuable. Make sure to jump at those opportunities. If you want to come to Boyd, I can’t recommend it enough!”

Berkshire United Way is committed to providing career exploration opportunities for young people here in the Berkshires. By partnering with local agencies such as Flying Cloud Institute, businesses, and community members, Berkshire United Way helps local youth develop a college or career plan that places them on the path to success.

To learn more about career readiness opportunities and initiatives, or if you’re a local business looking to host the next generation of employees for a similar field trip, please reach out to me at ktoomey@berkshireunitedway.org or 413-442-6948 x15.

I hope to hear from you!

Kat Toomey
Coordinator of Positive Youth Development
berkshireunitedway.org

3 Things the Director of Development worries about

I'm Ilene Marcus and I am the new Director of Development at Berkshire United Way. I am honored to be chosen to work with you in strengthening our community and bringing together resources, people and ideas to build the future of Berkshire County. 

As Development Director, my primary responsibility is to help each person and organization find the best way they can engage with Berkshire United Way and be part of the fabric of helping our neighbors succeed, so we all grow stronger together.

Here are the things I worry about in my new position: 

1. You Don't Know Our Mission

To fully engage, first you must fully understand.

Berkshire United Way ignites the collective power of individuals and organizations to build a stronger community together.

What does it mean? We are a human service agency focused on helping Berkshire County residents thrive by promoting early childhood literacy, giving young people the support they need to develop a college or career plan, and helping working families increase their income and assets.

2. You Aren't Sure How Your Contribution Matters

Everyone has a stake in making Berkshire County thrive. Community members from all walks of life with a variety of skills give what they can to Berkshire United Way:

• Business leaders and local employees donate to our annual fundraising goals through workplace campaigns
• Community leaders support our work by getting involved; serving on committees and donating financially to our efforts
• Funded partners, who work with us to improve the lives of our friends and neighbors here in the Berkshires, provide feedback, stories and support for Berkshire United Way
• Volunteers who are retired and give specialized skills; others give back to the community by volunteering their time

The cumulative contributions of each person make up our community efforts. We need each of you, regardless of the size of your contribution, to achieve our mission.

3. You Want to Get More Involved and Don't Know How

Reach out to our team and schedule a time to talk or meet. We love to meet community members and work with you to craft a plan that will engage your soul, your mind and your charitable dollars. Remember, when you give more, you get more. We can help you find the best way to give to Berkshire United Way and make a real difference in our community.

What’s Next? Come Visit. Call me at 413.442.6948 x18 and I’ll come visit you. Join us on our mission to promote pathways for individuals and families to thrive. Together, we build a stronger community in a “United Way.”

I look forward to hearing from you!

Ilene

FREE tax prep is available!

Here at Berkshire United Way, we are entering our second year of coordinating the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program in Great Barrington and Lee. VITA is a free tax preparation program for individuals and families making $55,000 or less. Together with our funded VITA partners at Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity and the Hilltown Community Development Corporation, we returned $1 million out of the total $2.2 million VITA dollars returned to Berkshire County residents last year.

VITA volunteers Alan Thiel and Jennifer Moriarty help a client with her tax return.

Our VITA sites opened on Monday, February 4^th at the Berkshire Community College South County Center in Great Barrington. We’re currently scheduling appointments for free tax prep at the following five locations: Berkshire South Regional Community Center, Construct, Berkshire Community College South County Center, Community Health Programs in Great Barrington and October Mountain Financial Advisors in Lee - simply call 413.442.6948.

We could not do this work without our funded partners who are available to help residents in other parts of the county. If a central county or hill town location is more convenient for you, we encourage you to contact Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity at 413.442.0002 or the Hilltown Community Development Center at 413.296.4536 x100.

In addition, MCLA has partnered with Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity and Berkshire United Way to offer free tax prep on campus for students and members of the community.

Regardless of where you are in Berkshire County - free tax prep for qualifying individuals and families is just a call away.

James Swinchoski
VISTA Volunteer and VITA site coordinator

Engaging in advocacy - local youth visit Beacon Hill!

January was National Mentoring Month, and young people from the Berkshires had a chance to make their voices heard in support of mentoring far outside the county - on Beacon Hill! Berkshire United Way supported a field trip for youth and adults involved in two of our funded programs, Railroad Street Youth Project’s RSYP Mentoring Program and Berkshire Children and Families’ Pittsfield Community Connection (PCC), to tell their stories about the positive impact of mentoring at the Massachusetts State House. 

Mentoring plays an important role in our work with young people – increasing high school graduation rates, reducing teenage pregnancy, and ensuring young people have the support they need to graduate high school with a college or career plan. We currently invest in four local mentoring programs; last year, those programs connected 281 young people with a caring adult.

Youth Mentoring Day is an annual advocacy day at the State House, sponsored by Mass Mentoring Partnership. A total of 15 mentees met with their respective Representatives, Tricia Farley-Bouvier of Pittsfield and Smitty Pignetelli of south county as well as Adam Hinds’ team to advocate for the mentoring line item in the state budget. This funding helps support mentoring programs across the state.  

Deonte, a mentee in the PCC program, told Tricia Farley-Bouvier, “I’ve been with the program for a few years. It really helped me because in the beginning, I was not on the best path, I wasn’t hanging out with the best crowd. But PCC and my mentors helped me with school and applying to college. I just found out I got accepted – I’m not sure where I’m going yet. But I’m really happy to be on that path now.”

So why mentor? Research confirms that quality mentoring relationships have powerful positive effects on young people. Ultimately, mentoring connects a young person to personal growth and development, and social and economic opportunity. Yet one in three young people will grow up without this critical asset (source: mentoring.org).

To view a list of mentor opportunities in the Berkshires, visit this link and simply type in your zip code to view programs in your area.  You may also reach out to me to learn more about mentoring opportunities at ktoomey@berkshireunitedway.org ; 413-442-6948 x 15. I hope to hear from you!

Kat Toomey

Coordinator of Positive Youth Development

Helping Our Children Succeed

Do you know that the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care has a team of five early childhood experts helping to “build brains” in libraries and museums throughout Berkshire County? These experts are known as family engagement specialists, and they provide a wide range of learning opportunities for families and children - from the time they are born until they enter school.

The programs they offer range from preschool gym time to story times to STEAM activities for little scientists and everything in between. For example, in partnership with South Berkshire Kids, the Berkshire Museum takes some of their most popular programs on the road to south county locations, introducing young minds to reptiles and small animals. Miss Jess invites the children in attendance to touch them, as she cautions, “This reptile is small, so you need to pet him with just one finger, very gently. He likes to be stroked from his head down to his tail.”  As each child patiently waits his or her turn, with a pointed finger and an inquiring mind, they make observations and ask questions - “He is soft, and really cold,” and “Why does he have spots?” 

Learning happens everywhere, and we all want our children to succeed. To learn more about these and other early learning programs, please visit our website. By supporting families and promoting early literacy, we can all help our kids arrive at school ready to learn!

Karen Vogel
Director of Community Impact