MCLA Celebrates STEM Week with Virtual Programming

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — MCLA and the Berkshire STEM Network will offer virtual programming for local public school students, K-12 educators, and the general community during Berkshire County STEM Week (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) from Oct. 18-22.  
 
A complement to the statewide STEM Week initiative, Berkshire County STEM Week's theme is "See Yourself in STEM." Free and open to the public, the week will feature a series of unique virtual panels, workshops, speakers, tours and information about opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math in the Berkshires and beyond.   
 
Pittsfield Community Television (PCTV) will be the platform host for the week's series of events. Community members can access programming on cable access or at www.pittsfieldtv.org. See a full program schedule at www.mcla.edu/stemweek.  
 
Each day of Berkshire STEM Week is theme-based and is robust in part due to the partners in the Berkshire County STEM network. 
 
Monday, Oct. 18: Food, Farming and Sustainability with contributing programming sessions from Berkshire Grown: "How to Keep Farmers Farming"; fall owling with Williams College; organic agriculture by Full Well Farm; and a LIVE Zoom session with the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. 
 
Tuesday, Oct. 19: Careers in STEM with programs in building trades, nursing, mental health and design technology. 
 
Wednesday, Oct. 20: STEM in Business, with sessions from Berkshire Innovation Center partners. 
 
Thursday, Oct. 21: STEM Education, with programs from Flying Cloud Institute, the Berkshire Museum, MCLA, BCC, and Williams, as well as the MassHire Berkshire Career Centers Virtual Job Fair from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.  Employment opportunities include STEM and manufacturing careers as well as internships and jobs for youth. The program also will have educational resources. An in-person STEM Café will be hosted in the Connector at BCC. 
 
The week will also include all three episodes of "Project Frontline" by Boyd Studios, an Internship and Job Information Session by General Dynamics for MCLA and BCC students, a STEM Education panel hosted by the Berkshire Innovation Center with educators and students, and in-person STEM family programs at the Berkshire Museum on Oct. 23. The Flying Cloud Institute will also offer STEM art kits for families participating in Berkshire STEM Week. 
 
  

Tags: MCLA,   STEM,   

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NAHA Board Accepts Director's Resignation, Unlocks Tenants Association Office

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The North Adams Housing Authority Board of Commissioners officially accepted the resignation of Executive Director Jennifer Hohn and restored access to the Tenants Association office.

The board held a special meeting Thursday to vote to accept Hohn's resignation and determined that there are currently no plans to replace her.

"We didn't make any final determinations in terms of the executive session so we will schedule another meeting at another time," Chairwoman Leigh Uqdah said after returning from more than an hour session. "Day-to-day operations will continue to be managed as normal by staff."

Per their bylaws, board member Marie Harpin will continue to handle finances, and Uqdah will manage contracts.

Hohn stepped down on Oct. 8 after 24 years leading the agency. Her resignation followed rising tension between her and the NAHA Tenants Association, culminating in the scheduling of a formal grievance hearing between both parties.

The boiling point was the locking of the association's office this summer. Tenants alleged the lockout was retaliation for posting a video on social media depicting improperly functioning door alarms. Hohn claimed the office was locked for tenant safety and to stop the spread of misinformation.

Tenants Association President Corey Fortin asked if Hohn's security access had been removed. Uqdah confirmed her credentials were revoked the day she resigned, meaning she can no longer monitor security cameras remotely.

Jennifer Barbeau, a former city councilor who was liaison to the Housing Authority, asked when the board met to discuss Hohn's severance package. Uqdah stated that Hohn did not have one.

The board also accepted the resignation of Commissioner Richard Lavigne, though they will vote officially on the matter at their next meeting.

The open portion of the meeting was brief, with nearly an hour and a half spent in executive session. Before entering executive session, the board opened the floor to tenants.

"The tenants requested an opportunity to talk to the board," said Uqdah. "It has been quite a while, but we have decided to honor that."

Fortin, who posted the original video to social media, was the first to speak. He was clear in his request: unlock the office door.

"Let's cut straight to the chase tonight. The former resigned Director Jennifer Hohn ordered the office locked," he alleged. "She is gone. The lockout is a direct violation, and the board has a duty to end that tonight."

He cited federal and state laws that mandate the tenants association be provided with office space, including computer and network access.

"We are here with a direct administrative demand. We demand that the board vote tonight to unlock the doors," he said. "Do not let a resigned director's illegal action remain the board's ongoing liability. Open our door tonight, and let us get back to work."

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