CHP Names Director of Behavioral Health

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GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Sherri-Lee Ryanmann has been named as Community Health Programs' Director of Behavioral Health. 
 
A licensed independent clinical social worker, Ryanmann earned her master's in social work from the State University of New York/Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy. She completed undergraduate studies at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams. 
 
She has worked previously in several roles with Berkshire Health Systems and Berkshire Medical Center, collaborating with primary care providers in clinical assessment and treatment of patients' behavioral health needs. She has also worked in inpatient and outpatient settings, providing consultation to medical teams, as well as treatment and crisis intervention to patients and families with complex psychosocial, mental health and substance use problems. She is experienced in individual, group, and family psychotherapy. 
 
Ryanmann has completed trainings in suicide prevention, domestic violence, trauma treatment, mindfulness, and substance use, as well as multiple therapeutic modalities.  At Berkshire Medical Center, she was a member of the BMC Ethics Committee and the BMC Diversity Committee.
 
She was recognized by the Massachusetts Executive of Human Services with the Department of Developmental Services 15th Annual Human Rights Award in 1999.

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Simon's Rock Awarded Freedom to Read Grant

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Bard College at Simon's Rock was awarded a Freedom to Read Grant by the Newburger Schwartz Family Foundation. 
 
The grant was awarded to support the Alumni Library and Bard Queer Leadership Project in building a more robust collection of queer scholarship, starting a Queer Book Club, and hosting Drag Story Time events in partnership with Drag Story Hour of the Berkshires.
 
According to a press release:
 
In response to current educational threats with book bans affecting schools and libraries across the country and further proposed legislation against LGBTQ+ people's access to basic rights and education, Simon's Rock is actively seeking to create inclusive and equitable spaces for queer individuals. 
 
The Bard Queer Leadership Project and Alumni Library will utilize the grant funding to expand the library's current collection of queer books in order to fully enable the longevity of the Queer Book Club and the Bard Queer Leadership Project. The Queer Book Club will be an intergenerational space, open to local middle school students through rainbow seniors and will partner with local community organizations, to discuss queer books and learn about LGBTQ+ issues and experiences. Bard Queer Leadership Project students will eventually help lead this initiative as part of their leadership project training. 
 
The Queer Book Club will host their first meeting on April 6 at 3:00 p.m. at the Alumni Library, with following meetings on April 27 and May 11. This semester, the selected books are "Obie is Man Enough" and "He/She/They," both by Schuyler Bailar, inspirational speaker and first openly transgender NCAA Division swimmer, who was a guest speaker in the inaugural Queer Leaders Vision Forum in fall 2023 at Simon's Rock. Schuyler Bailar will return to campus for a book signing and pool party at the Kilpatrick Athletic Center on April 19 at 7:00 p.m. Participants in the Queer Book Club will receive a free copy of either book of their choice. 
 
The first Drag Story Time will be on Saturday, March 30 at 2:00 p.m. at the Simon's Rock Alumni Library and is open to all LGBTQ+ affirming individuals. The event is in partnership with Drag Story Hour of the Berkshires with local drag queens JV and Poppy DaBubbly. The second Drag Story Time will be Saturday, April 27 with drag queen Poppy DaBubbly and drag king Sativo Green.
 
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