Community Outreach Volunteer Training for Residents to Bolster Community

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Northern Berkshire Neighbors program of the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition (nbCC) is seeking community-minded individuals to take part in a free Community Outreach and Civic Engagement training program.

Ideal participants must be committed to strengthening the Northern Berkshires by exploring how they can make a positive impact and learning how to assist residents in accessing available services.

The training will take place over a five-month period and meet every Tuesday from 5:30 to 8 p.m. beginning Feb. 16, 2016. As part of the training, participants will learn about the many health and human service providers and community organizations in the northern Berkshire region. In many instances they will become the critical link between services and residents.

In addition, participants will engage in workshops and training on topics such as different styles of leadership, effective communication and marketing, professional writing, community organizing, conflict management, and other related topics.

Coupled with the training, participants will create and implement a community service project utilizing the skills and information received during the training that will either meet a community need or build upon an existing asset. Following graduation, Northern Berkshire Neighbors will support participants as they work towards making impactful contributions to their communities and neighborhoods, and in some cases, contributing directly to the work of nbCC.  



 “Strong communities require social connections and support. Community Outreach Volunteers provide both," nbCC Executive Director Adam Hinds said. "It is exciting that some graduates are directly involved in the work of the Coalition, providing the meaningful sense of stability and security to fellow residents that elevates our collective well-being.”

Annie Rodgers, coordinator of Northern Berkshire Neighbors, said the training is for anyone interested in becoming more involved with their neighborhood and community.

"Participants have the unique opportunity to learn essential skills and information all while making powerful connections with others in the training and discovering how their gifts can be used to make positive change in the lives of others,” she said.

A letter of interest is required to register for the training. The letter should briefly detail why you are interested in participating in the training and include your full contact information and be sent to 61 Main St., Suite 218, North Adams, MA 01247 or email arodgers@nbccoalition.org no later than Jan. 22, 2016. For more information, call Annie or Jess at 413-663-7588.

 


Tags: NBCC,   neighborhood,   

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North Adams Council Gives Initial OK to Zoning Change

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The City Council wrapped up business in about 30 minutes on Tuesday, moving several ordinance changes forward. 
 
A zoning change that would add a residential property to the commercial zone on State Road was adopted to a second reading but met with some pushback. The Planning Board recommended the change.
 
The vote was 5-2, with two other councilors abstaining, indicating there may be difficulty reaching a supermajority vote of six for final passage.
 
Centerville Sticks LLC (Tourists resort) had requested the extension of the Business 2 zone to cover 935 State Road. Centerville had purchased the large single-family home adjacent the resort in 2022. 
 
Ben Svenson, principal of Centerville, had told a joint meeting of the Planning Board and City Council earlier this month that it was a matter of space and safety. 
 
The resort had been growing and an office building across Route 2 was filled up. 
 
"We've had this wonderful opportunity to grow our development company. That's meant we have more office jobs and we filled that building up," he said. "This is really about safety. Getting people across Route 2 is somewhat perilous."
 
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