Mayor Richard Alcombright, left, speaks of Mark Rondeau and Al Nelson of the Interfaith Action Initiative prior to giving them the Northern Berkshire Hero Award.

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Northern Berkshire Community Coalition celebrated its accomplishments and work over the past year with officials, residents and community leaders — including three of Berkshire County's college presidents — at its 27th annual meeting Tuesday afternoon.

 

The meeting at the packed Williams Inn featured a panel comprised of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts President Mary Grant, Berkshire Community College President Ellen Kennedy and Williams College President Adam Falk and the delivery of the Northern Berkshire Hero Award to Al Nelson and Mark Rondeau on behalf of the Northern Berkshire Interfaith Action Initiative. 

 

"Our northern community has many assets, the colleges being one, but beyond that each one of you in this room are an asset," said Al Bashevkin, director of the coalition. "We must begin to focus on our assets and create not just a livable Northern Berkshire community, but as we heard from Al and Mark, a lovable Northern Berkshire community."

 

North Adams Mayor Richard Alcombright credited the Northern Berkshire Interfaith Action Initiative for their "highly dependable" group of volunteers for serving about 1,300 at the Friendship Center, the food pantry on Eagle Street in North Adams.

 

"The organization survives solely on the dedication and love of community of those who play a role in its success," Alcombright said.

 

Rondeau said the Interfaith Action Initiative strives to remove the divide between those who help and those who need help by referring to them as friends, striving to "treat all those we serve cheerfully, with friendship, patience and respect." 

 

The panel was moderated by Jake Eberwein, left, and consisted of Mary Grant, Ellen Kennedy and Adam Falk, presidents of three of the county's colleges.

Falk said students are very willing to help out.

 

"So we see community engagement by our students as not something we have to push them to do," Falk said. "We find ourselves responding to their desire to get out there and be effective citizens in the world and we're just trying to catch up to them"

 

Kennedy said many of the students throughout the three schools are alike and that in situations, like a previous year's Relay for Life at MCLA that BCC students attended, taught them that they share similar goals in service.

 

"Exposing all of our students to one another may also then broaden their view of the good work that is happening in this community, and all the issues and challenges we face," Kennedy said. "But also how fortunate we are to live in Berkshire County and to be part of a community."

 

The coalition also highlighted some of the programs and accomplishments, including the Outreach Volunteer Training Program and Mass In Motion. Mass in Motion Coordinator Amanda Chilson shared the story of Clarksburg Elementary students organizing a fifth- through eighth-grade bike ride to school and the coalition's Kate Merrigan told of how outreach volunteer Ivelisse Rodriguez found the coalition when she first moved from Springfield and learned more through the coalition's resources.

 

Bashevkin also thanked outgoing coalition board President Suzy Helme and Vice President Deb Rosselli for their service. Steve Green will become president and Courtney Shapiro will be vice president on July 1.