Largely in response to the events of Sept. 11, a Bennington, Vt. group that advocates peace and respect among both neighbors and nations, has created a new web site and will be expanding its outreach activities. The Peace Resource Center (PRC) of Bennington was founded in 1983 at a time when peace meant nuclear disarmament between two superpowers. They were part of the Nuclear Freeze Movement, and in 1983-84 held a “Bridges for Peace†forum that invited Soviet residents to Bennington to discuss concerns and fears shared by the two nations. In today’s atmosphere, they believe promoting peace is even more crucial to improving the quality of life for everyone, regardless of where they may live.
The biggest ongoing activity of the PRC was the establishment in 1988 of Bennington’s sister city, Somotillo, Nicaragua. Somotillo faces severe living conditions, widespread poverty, and limited medical, educational and transportation resources.
The first delegation was sent from Bennington in 1988, in response to the U.S.-sponsored Contra War. Since then, the relationship between these two communities has created numerous community development projects in Somotillo. Water piping systems were built to improve sanitation. A children’s nutrition center was created, plus increased classrooms, and construction of the Sala Materna, a center for high-risk pregnancies. In 1991, the group helped Somotillo form its own Comision Social, the PRC’s partner that through regular communication, helps decide which projects deserve the most attention.
The town of Bennington officially recognized Somotillo as a sister city in 1992.
Over the years the group has also worked with Bennington financial institutions to provide Revolving Loan Funds to establish a pharmacy in the town, and funded a project to provide teachers with bicycles. The latter project is being extended to provide bicycles for health care workers in Somotillo, and to establish a tricycle taxi project.
Current projects include the ongoing support after Hurricane Mitch destroyed many buildings and facilities, a Rural Eyeglasses Project for children, and “school scholarships†to assist in the purchase of shoes, uniforms, school supplies and computer technology. Medical Aid shipments continue of sports gear, medical supplies and clothing. Donations from the community are always appreciated.
For many years, the Bennington-Somotillo project was part of a Sister City Consortium, but with the emergence of e-mail, they left the consortium last year and established a direct, consistent link through e-mails. An e-mail Pen Pal program has also been running between Bennington and Somotillo youth.
In recent months, the group has worked with Southwest Vermont Medical Center and the Social Commission in Somotillo to provide the Somotillo women’s clinic with an ultrasound machine. The machine was brought by Jim and Carolyn Walker and Maria Augustina Ponce, the nurse at the clinic, was trained at the Bennington hospital to use the machine.
PRC members are currently circulating petitions throughout Bennington County to get the Abolition 2000 article on town ballots throughout Bennington County. This project, done in concert with the American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker organization, is working toward a statewide resolution to abolish nuclear weapons. While members concede that the resolution will be more symbolic than anything, they see an importance in promoting thought and dialogue about the need for disarmament during a time when weapons are continuing to proliferate and the White House administration is considering a defense shield project.
The group is also encouraging participation in the Earth Charter Project, which is a treaty offering principles for decision-making that would be applied to multinational corporations throughout the U.S. and abroad. Much like a mission statement, the Earth Charter’s four basic premises are respect and care for community and life, ecological integrity, social and economic justice, and democracy, nonviolence and peace. The lengthy Earth Charter (visit www.earthcharter.org) contains 16 principles and 62 sub-principles, and is considered the only treaty ever written by average citizens.
With regard to the war in Afghanistan, the PRC was involved with a project that sent more than 500 blankets donated by Bennington, Middlebury and Montpelier, Vt., residents to refugee families in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The group is also selling a peace poster designed by teacher and artist Nina Karp, with proceeds going toward the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA), which sponsors Afghani women who are home-schooling their daughters.
The Peace Resource Center is a grass-roots, nonprofit partnership that meets each month at the Bennington Free Library. Its next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 19 at 7:30 p.m., preceded by a Somotillo Project meeting at 6:30 p.m. For more details, visit the web site www.peaceresourcecenter.com.
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North Adams UNO Art Club Extends Into Year-Round Community Program
Staff Reports
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Clark Art Institute is expanding the summer program UNO Drop-In Art Club into a weekly, 50-week program for local youth ages 8 to 19, thanks to a new two-year grant from the W.L.S. Spencer Foundation.
Starting Wednesday, Oct. 7, the club reopens its doors at the UNO Community Center (157 River St., North Adams) with extended hours every week from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The UNO Art Club first took root in 2022, founded by local volunteers and supported by the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition (nbCC) as a safe, welcoming space for kids to explore their creativity. In 2024, nbCC sought new partners to keep the program running and joined forces with the Clark and the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA).
Over the past two summers, staff from all three organizations have guided kids through hands-on projects—from clay sculpture and origami to collage and self-portraiture—often inspired by ongoing exhibitions at the museums.
Now, with leadership from the Clark, this grant will allow the program to grow, not only with expanded hours and a year-round schedule, but also to support a paid intern to lead the weekly activities.
Additional benefits of the grant: The Clark will provide rides directly from the UNO Community Center so participants can attend major community events, including First Sundays Free and the annual Community Day. Youth will also take field trips to the Clark, MASS MoCA, and neighboring arts venues across the region.
The 13th president of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts was formally installed on Saturday and challenged the college community to "love your students to success."
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The North Adams Housing Authority Board of Commissioners will hold a grievance hearing with the Tenants Association to discuss retaliatory actions allegedly committed by the executive director. click for more
The brisket contest actually started at about 10:30 p.m. on Thursday night, as some smokers — like the North Adams Fire Department — fired up their charcoal for the long cooking process.
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