MCLA Green Living Seminar Series Begins Jan. 26

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — MCLA's annual Green Living Seminar Series begins on Wednesday, Jan. 26 and continues through April, presenting a series of lectures on the theme of "Greening the City." 
 
Every semester, the Green Living Seminar Series centers around a different topic, timely and relevant in current sustainability issues. The series is free and open to the public, with seminars taking place on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. from Jan. 26 to April 20. Community members can find up-to-date information about the schedule at mcla.edu/greenliving. 
 
Presentations will also be broadcast on Northern Berkshire Community Television Channel (NBCTC) 1302 at the following times: 
 
Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. 
Fridays at 4 p.m. 
Saturdays at 3:30 p.m. 
Sundays at 11:30 a.m. 
Mondays at 5:30 p.m. 
 
Mark Rabinsky, Green Communities Western Regional Coordinator for the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, will kick off the series on Jan. 26 with a talk titled "Clean Energy Solutions For Cities And Towns: Massachusetts Green Communities Program.  
 
Future Green Living presentations include: 
 
February 2: "Sustainable Zoning and Municipal Building Decarbonization Strategies" with Kai Palmer-Dunning, Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, Buildings and Communities Associate 
 
February 9: "Pittsfield Grey to Green: Inclusive Planning for Environmental and Climate Justice" with Allison Egan, Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, Senior Planner 
                                                                                                         
February 16: "Reducing GHGs from Transportation in Massachusetts," with Katherine S. Fichter, Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Assistant Secretary and Chief of Climate And Decarbonization 
 
February 23: "How and Why to Increase Plant-Based Lunch Options in Schools" with Amie Hamlin, The Coalition for Healthy School Food, Executive Director 
                      
March 2: "Community Strategies for Addressing the Plastic Pollution Crisis," with David Sayer, Beyond Plastics and Sustainable Saratoga                                                                                        
 
March 9: "Residential Landscaping to Support Pollinators" with Dr. Susannah Lerman, U.S. Forest Service Research Ecologist 
 
March 23: "Public Health and Community Based Participatory Research in Urban Environmental Justice Communities" with Dr. Madeleine L. Scammell, Boston University School of Public Health, Associate Professor of Environmental Health 
 
March 30: "Mohawk Trail Woodlands Partnership: Sustainable Forest Management and Natural Resource-Based Economic Development in Northwestern Massachusetts" with Dr. Hank Art, Williams College Rosenburg Professor of Environmental Studies and Biology, Emeritus, Mohawk Trail Woodlands Partnership, board chair  
 
April 6: "Carbon Farming in Urban and Suburban Areas" with Dr. Nathan Phillips, Boston University Department of Earth and Environment, Professor 
                                                                                                                          
April 13: "Williamstown Composts!: Lessons from a Community Composting Pilot Program" with Nancy Nylen and Ann McCallum of Williamstown, Mass. 
 
April 20: "Bicycling in Berkshire County: History and Future" with Nicholas Russo, Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, Senior Transportation Planner 
 
The 2022 Green Living Seminar Series is a presentation of the MCLA Environmental Studies Department and MCLA's Berkshire Environmental Resource Center. 
 
For more information, go to www.mcla.edu/greenliving or contact Professor of Environmental Studies Elena Traister at (413) 662-5303.

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North Adams UNO Art Club Extends Into Year-Round Community Program

Staff Reports

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Clark Art Institute is expanding the summer program UNO Drop-In Art Club into a weekly, 50-week program for local youth ages 8 to 19, thanks to a new two-year grant from the W.L.S. Spencer Foundation.

Starting Wednesday, Oct. 7, the club reopens its doors at the UNO Community Center (157 River St., North Adams) with extended hours every week from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The UNO Art Club first took root in 2022, founded by local volunteers and supported by the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition (nbCC) as a safe, welcoming space for kids to explore their creativity. In 2024, nbCC sought new partners to keep the program running and joined forces with the Clark and the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA).

Over the past two summers, staff from all three organizations have guided kids through hands-on projects—from clay sculpture and origami to collage and self-portraiture—often inspired by ongoing exhibitions at the museums. 

Now, with leadership from the Clark, this grant will allow the program to grow, not only with expanded hours and a year-round schedule, but also to support a paid intern to lead the weekly activities.

Additional benefits of the grant: The Clark will provide rides directly from the UNO Community Center so participants can attend major community events, including First Sundays Free and the annual Community Day. Youth will also take field trips to the Clark, MASS MoCA, and neighboring arts venues across the region.

To learn more about the program or get involved: https://nbccoalition.org/uno-drop-in-art-club/ or contact nbCC at (413) 663-7588, Gabby Glasier - gglasier@nbccoalition.org, or Olivia Brandwein - obrandwein@clarkart.edu.

 

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