News from Bard College at Simon's Rock

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New Signature Program Brings Students to the University of Manchester’s Centre for New Writing

In its continuing efforts to encourage and broaden students’ academic and life experiences, Bard College at Simon’s Rock has developed a new signature program in creative writing in collaboration with the University of Manchester in the UK. Beginning this fall, Simon's Rock writing students will have an opportunity to spend up to a full year at the Centre for New Writing at the University of Manchester. [ more ]

What is so different about high school early college and an early college? Find out. A conversation with U Ba Win, Vice President of Early College Programs and Policies.

Bard High School Early College, founded in 2001 by Simon’s Rock’s Dean of the College U Ba Win and Dean of Academic Affairs Patricia Sharpe inspired the Gates Foundation to start several other high school early colleges across  the country. Several hundred programs now exist—serving diverse needs through a variety of program structures in an array of settings. [ more ]

Responding to the Economic Downturn: A Message from Mary Marcy

The global economic situation is having an effect on every institution in the country, and Bard College at Simon’s Rock is no exception. Today I am writing to update you on the college’s response to the economic climate. You may have read about reductions being made at some of the wealthiest colleges in the country, and in turn worried about the situation at Simon’s Rock. [ more ]

Faculty Member Peter Filkins First to Translate H.G. Adler Novel to English

Literature faculty member Peter Filkins’s translation of H.G. Adler’s novel The Journey  was recently published by Random House, and celebrated on November 19 at a book launch party in New York City. While Adler authored 26 books of fiction, stories, poems, history, philosophy, and religion in German, none of his novels have been translated into English until now.  [ more ]

Newsflash: Provost Appears on Public Radio; Matt Strassler ’82 cited in New York Times; Faculty Member Heard on Democracy Now!...  AND MORE!

Click in and check out who from the Simon’s Rock community is making news in the latest edition of Newsflash. [ more ]

Alumnus Mike Doughty Returns to Roots, Concert at Club Helsinki

Singer/songwriter and Simon’s Rock alumnus Mike Doughty returns to Great Barrington on Friday, December 5, 2008, to perform at Club Helsinki. Accompanied by multi-instrumentalist band mate Andrew “Scrap” Livingston, Doughty will host a "Question Jar Show," an interactive performance interlacing songs with frank, off-the-cuff answers to questions fans jot down and drop in a jar before the set begins. [ more ]

I Just Want to Dance!—Simon’s Rock Sets the Stage for the 24th Annual Dance Concert

For over two decades, the tradition of the dance concert has represented a spirit of entrepreneurial creativity at Simon’s Rock. Past concerts have run the gamut of style and aesthetic, featuring modern dance, ballet, hip hop, flamenco, belly dancing, folk dancing and swing, in addition to traditional Native American, Korean and Burmese dances.  [ more ]
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Pittsfield Housing Project Adds 37 Supportive Units and Collective Hope

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— A new chapter in local efforts to combat housing insecurity officially began as community leaders and residents gathered at The First on to celebrate a major expansion of supportive housing in the city.

The ribbon was cut on Thursday Dec. 19, on nearly 40 supportive permanent housing units; nine at The First, located within the Zion Lutheran Church, and 28 on West Housatonic Street.  The Housing Resource Center, funded by Pittsfield's American Rescue Plan Act dollars, hosted a celebration for a project that is named for its rarity: The First. 

"What got us here today is the power of community working in partnership and with a shared purpose," Hearthway CEO Eileen Peltier said. 

In addition to the 28 studio units at 111 West Housatonic Street and nine units in the rear of the church building, the Housing Resource Center will be open seven days a week with two lounges, a classroom, a laundry room, a bathroom, and lockers. 

Erin Forbush, ServiceNet's director of shelter and housing, challenged attendees to transform the space in the basement of Zion Lutheran Church into a community center.  It is planned to operate from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. year-round.

"I get calls from folks that want to help out, and our shelters just aren't the right spaces to be able to do that. The First will be that space that we can all come together and work for the betterment of our community," Forbush said. 

"…I am a true believer that things evolve, and things here will evolve with the people that are utilizing it." 

Earlier that day, Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus joined Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll and her team in Housatonic to announce $33.5 million in federal Community Development Block Grant funding, $5.45 million to Berkshire County. 

He said it was ambitious to take on these two projects at once, but it will move the needle.  The EOHLC contributed more than $7.8 million in subsidies and $3.4 million in low-income housing tax credit equity for the West Housatonic Street build, and $1.6 million in ARPA funds for the First Street apartments.

"We're trying to get people out of shelter and off the streets, but we know there are a lot of people who are couch surfing, who are living in their cars, who are one paycheck away from being homeless themselves," Augustus said. 

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