| |
Daily DigestLike to Write?
 Passionate about local sports? Into the environment? Obsessive about local meetings?
Let your neighbors know what's going on in Berkshire County! iBerkshires accepts submissions about local events, news and opinion pieces. There are openings for freelance work, too, for qualified candidates. E-mail tdaniels@iberkshires.com to find out more. |
Got Flu?
Track its spread through Google! |
| Need to contact iBerkshires? Here's how. |
ObituariesWhat's Playing
A television-hero pup (John Travolta) thinks he's a real superdog in the Disney film "Bolt." |
Sales FliersColumnists | Independent Investor
|
Other StuffRelated Stories |
| |
Immigrants Day Celebrates Berkshires' Newer Arrivals - February 21, 2008
PITTSFIELD - The Berkshire Immigrant Center will host its 5th annual Immigrants' Day in the Berkshires on Friday, Feb. 29, from 4 to 8 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 88 South St.
The event aims to celebrate the cultural and social contributions of the immigrants of Berkshire County while offering attendees the chance to learn more about immigration, taxation, banking and finances, job opportunities and social services. The event is free and open to the public.
The evening will include pro bono consultations with an immigration attorney and tax specialist, food from local ethnic restaurants and dancing and musical entertainment. The program will be presented in both English and Spanish.
Six immigration attorneys and a tax specialist will be available for free private consultations on a first-come, first-served basis. Spanish-speaking interpreters will be available for the private consultations, and interpreters of other languages can be requested by calling 413-445-4881 several days in advance of the event.
A representative from Berkshire Bank will present a workshop in Spanish on banking and financial education. In addition, representatives of various social service agencies and employers will also be present to distribute information about services and job opportunities available in the county.
Musical entertainment will feature performances by Kusika (African dance), Ritmo Latino, Bangrha (Indian dance), Argentine Tango, Poetry Lab and others. The nationally recognized group Los Ciegos del Barrio will perform salsa, merengue and bachata from 6 to 8 p.m.; dancing is encouraged. The free dinner will include samplings from the Brazilian Pub & Grill, Hot Harry's, Lee's Garden, Spice Root, Tahiti Takeout, La Fogata, Cantihno DaGente, Panda Garden and the Richmond Bakery. Activities for children will also be available.
Event sponsors include Berkshire Economic Development Corp., Berkshire Bank, Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP, Berkshire Community College, Cultural Pittsfield, Western Mass Legal Services and Williams College. The event is underwritten by Berkshire Regional Employment Board, Berkshire Compact for Higher Education, Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, Volunteers in Medicine, Human Services Forum, Berkshire Works, Boston Medical Center HealthNet Plan and Bridge Inc.
"The Berkshires is now extremely reliant on new immigrants to counter a decline in population, fill an abundance of job openings, and help to stimulate our local economy," said Hilary Greene, director of the center. "This is in addition to enriching our community with their unique histories and cultures. The true goal of Immigrants' Day in the Berkshires is to recognize and celebrate these contributions while bringing together people who came to the Berkshires from all over the world."
The center provides citizenship assistance, immigration information, advocacy, referrals and counseling to the growing immigrant communities in Berkshire County. The program is funded in part by the Berkshire United Way, the City of Pittsfield, the Mass Bar Foundation, the Berkshire Bank Foundation, the New World Fund, and the state Citizenship for New Americans’ Program. The center is located in First Baptist Church at 88 South St.
For more information: 413-445-4881 or info@berkshireic.com. |
|
Enter your email address below to receive our FREE iBerkshires.com Newsletter
|
