“A Sunday Afternoon Poetry Reading" at Berkshire Community College

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The Berkshire Writers Room, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and Berkshire Community College present “A Sunday Afternoon Poetry Reading" at Berkshire Community College,Susan B. Anthony Building, Student Lounge, Sunday, May 18th, 2 to 4PM, featuring Sharon Mack, author and poet reading from her second collection The Other Side of Me “So many folks think they know us. They know us as colleagues and coworkers, as mothers, partners and friends. But who really knows us? Knows the inside of us? The side we live with every day in the silence of our minds and the frenzy of our souls."

The collection features the inspirational, family and friends, the serious and the humorous.

Mack's articles have appeared in The Berkshire Eagle, and most recently two poems were published in their supplemental magazine Berkshires Week (June 2007 and November 2007). She also wrote a column for the local newspaper, The South Advocate, (1995-1997); worked as Editor and Advisor for the Berkshire Community College (Pittsfield, MA), student newspaper, The Collage, and published an article on Welfare Reform, "Slow but Sure: Welfare Reform Act Programmed to Fail" in the American Association for Women in Community Colleges Journal.

Currently she is Vice President of the Board of Directors as well as Public Relations Chair for The Berkshire Writers Room, Inc. (BWR) of Pittsfield, MA. The Berkshire Writers Room is home to local writers both published and unpublished and partnered with Berkshire Community College offering free workshops and opportunities to come together and read our work in an open forum. She is also Editor of the BWR Newsletter and Co-editor of the BWR publication, Pathways: A Journal of Literature and Art.

She is the founder and coordinator of an inspirational group for writers, The Creative Experience, for which she received a grant from The Pittsfield Cultural Council in 2006-07 and which is now being groomed for a course for Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Berkshire Community College at which Mack will moderate. She also moderates for two Internet writing groups: Critical Writing and Creative Writing (2000-2007).

Joining Sharon will be Liz Recko-Morrison and Victoria Passier, poets and authors in their own right. Together they will explore the “other side” adding yet another dimension to the voice.

There will be a question and answer session at the end.



Berkshire Writers Room Accepting Submissions For Pathway Publication

The Berkshire Writers Room will accept Children's Writing submissions beginning May 19 through July 31 for the Second Edition of Pathways: A Journal of Literature and Art to be published in September 2008.

Calling all young writers (5-17), as well as adults (18 and over) who write for children and young adults.

The Berkshire Writers Room is now accepting submissions from young writers (5-17) as well as from adults who write for children and young adults for the second edition of Pathways: A Journal of Literature & Art. You may submit short or flash fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry, and plays/scripts, photos and art works

If you are under the age of 17, please include your age and grade level. Also permission from your parent/s or guardian/s is required. Parents will be contacted in the event your work is chosen for publication, so please supply contact information. Authors whose work is accepted will receive one free copy of Pathways.  Send us your submissions and you just may see your name in print.

Submissions via email (smack@berkshirecc.edu) or CD only (mail to: Berkshire Writers Room/Children’s Editor, 1350 West Street, Pittsfield, MA  01201.

Full submission guidelines available by calling (413) 236-2191 or emailing smack@berkshirecc.edu
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Kennedy Calls BCC Workforce Graduates Inspiring

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

The programs ranged from emergency medical technician to computers to commercial drivers. See more photos here. 
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College Workforce and Community Education graduates were encouraged to be all they can be on Wednesday.
 
Graduates, families, friends, and staff gathered in Boland Theatre to celebrate around 100 graduates who completed a variety of courses.
 
They included community health worker, emergency medical technician, phlebotomy technician, registered behavior technician, AI fundamentals, Commercial Drivers License Class A and B, CompTIA Tech-plus, para educator, and English for Speakers of Other Languages.
 
College President Ellen Kennedy said it was amazing that this might be her last public speaking event before her tenure comes to an end.
 
She acknowledged the diverse reasons for their studies including career advancement and personal growth, commending their vulnerability and dedication. 
 
"Some of you explored AI, some of you improved your English speaking in really important ways, and the reason that each of you is here is because you decided to put your heart and soul to get vulnerable to do something that might have felt a little bit uncomfortable," she said. "And you did it, and we are so incredibly proud of you, and so happy to be here tonight, celebrating you."
 
Keynote speaker Shirley Edgerton, founder of Rites of Passage and Empowerment (ROPE) encouraged the graduates to reflect on their accomplishments and look forward to the future.
 
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