The District Attorney's Office announced Thursday that that the Internet Safety Presentation will be postponed until March because of the recent spike in COVID-19 cases.

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Originally Published on Jan. 3, 2022, at 4:00 pm 

 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Berkshire District Attorney's Office, U.S. Attorney's Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Massachusetts State Police, Northern Berkshire Community Coalition, and North Adams Public Schools are teaming up to provide parents, caregivers, and educators a presentation on how to best protect children from online exploitation.

 

The law enforcement agencies will give a presentation at Drury High School on Wednesday, Jan. 12. The Berkshire Food Project is providing dinner prior to the event starting at 5:45 p.m. The Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and Williams College will provide free child care to those who request it.

 

The organizations request that those interested in attending RSVP to Stephanie Puc at the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition at 413-663-7588 or spuc@nbccoalition.org by Friday, Jan. 7. Participants can indicate if they would like child care.

 

"Our children now spend an enormous amount of time online where they can be vulnerable to exploitation. This presentation gives parents and educators the tools they need to ensure that our youth are safe and secure," District Attorney Andrea Harrington said. "I thank all of our partners for their expertise and effort to put this presentation together. The Northern Berkshire community truly embodies the concept of taking a village to raise a healthy and safe child."

 

The topics include internet safety, social media 101, digital footprints, online gaming, cyberbullying, sexting, sextortion, and protection against online predators.

 

The speakers are Chief of the Berkshire District Attorney's Office's Child Abuse Unit Stephanie Ilberg, Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Grant, FBI Child Exploitation Task Force Officer Danielle Rex, State Police Troopers Deshawn Brown and Andy Canata, and U.S. Attorney's Office Victim Witness Specialist Lauryn Myers.

 

District Attorney Andrea Harrington and North Adams Public Schools Superintendent Barbara Malkas will provide opening remarks.