Bashevkin Tapped Interim Director of Louison House

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ADAMS, Mass. — With the parting of Louison House Executive Director Lindsay Errichetto, the Board of Directors has appointed Al Bashevkin to serve as the interim executive director.

Bashevkin is most notably recognized as the founding executive director of the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition for 29  years. Exiting his post last summer, Bashevkin is ready to roll-up his sleeves and work for an organization that he is quite familiar with and passionate about during this transition.

Louison House is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization that runs a Transitional Housing Program (Louison House Shelter) in Adams, Massachusetts and a Permanent Supportive Housing Program (subsidized apartments) in North Adams, Massachusetts.  These programs provide housing to homeless individuals and families in Northern Berkshire County.

In its 25th year of operation, Louison House has supported more than 4,000 people seeking support and shelter in the Northern Berkshires. Proud of their history, the Board of Directors is now focusing on the future. Poised to engage in their annual Friends of Louison House fundraising campaign, the Board of Directors is fully confident that the communities’ generosity will allow the agency to continue delivering their core Mission “to reduce homelessness and its causes in Northern Berkshire County.”   


Mark Farrington, board chair, echoes Bashevkin’s commitment to the community.

“We’re fortunate to have someone with such knowledge of the work that is accomplished at Louison House to assist us in this transition,” he said. “Out of change always comes growth. The Directors are optimistic that our change will be a positive one.”

With a search committee and transition team in place, the Lousion House Board of Directors is continuing to review potential candidates.

Louison House is a member agency of the Northern Berkshire United Way & Williamstown Community Chest.


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Hoosac Valley High School is Moving and Shaking

There have been some major shifts within the Hoosac Valley Regional School District recently, all of which have focused on enhancing the student experience to make it a place where ALL students can find their path.
 
In 2023, Hoosac Valley High School was designated an Innovation Pathway School by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and has since restructured the Program of Studies, utilized creative scheduling, and expanded internship opportunities. Part of this transformation includes participating in a "Portrait of a Graduate" cohort alongside four other Berkshire County schools to determine a collective vision for student success, in partnership with the BARR Foundation.
 
The Innovation Pathways at HVHS are designed to give students coursework and experience in a specific high-demand industry, such as technology, engineering, healthcare, or life sciences. Currently, Biomedical Science & Healthcare and Environmental Studies have received official state IP designation. In addition to the IP designated pathways, HVHS offers programs in Engineering & Technology, Business & Entrepreneurship, Arts & Entertainment, Education, and Sports Medicine. The result is that students have an opportunity for a transformative experience – enabling them to build essential skills, gain awareness of future career opportunities, and make informed choices about post-secondary education in promising fields.
 
Principal Colleen Byrd notes, "What makes our program special is that entry into the Pathway of your choice allows a student to access Advanced Placement and dual enrollment college courses, as well as internships in the community to set them up for success after high school."
 
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