Pittsfield Man To Receive Black Excellence award

01:02PM / Monday, February 28, 2022Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Kamaar Taliaferro of Pittsfield will recognized with the 2022 Black Excellence award as part of the Black Excellence on the Hill event.

This awards event, held annually by the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus (MBLLC), commemorates Black community leaders. The MBLLC seeks to highlight the heritage and work of those belonging to the Black diaspora through a virtual Black Excellence on the Hill celebration. L

Taliaferro was nominated by state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier.

"Kamaar Taliaferro is a young man who is quietly working to support and enhance his community in a variety of ways. Often in the background, but very much a leader and team player, Kamaar is a member of the local chapter of NAACP serving as Housing Committee Chair and is a member of West Side Legends (WSL). WSL is group of People of Color (POC) that grew up on the west side of Pittsfield that are invested in helping the community," she wrote.

One of Taliaferro's friends and fellow members of NAACP, Shirley Edgerton, described Taliaferro as a "genius — no exaggeration, working tirelessly conducting research and advocating for change and equity where it's needed. He is passionate about promoting fair and affordable housing, particularly for POC. A community activist from a very young age, Kamaar helps people with housing evictions and assists with overcoming obstacles that prevent them from staying housed and getting housing. He is solution oriented."

Taliaferro has been working with a local financial institution on the history of redlining, a project to help address wealth gaps and inequities for POC to purchase homes.

Taliaferro has helped many Pittsfield residents understand the process of ARPA funding and other opportunities. Taliaferro has also been instrumental in working with the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission on the Healthy and Efficient Homes Pilot Project to address indoor environmental hazards and energy efficiency issues in homes in particular areas of Pittsfield with older homes.

Taliaferro has been teaching community members about the importance of farm to table eating and the value in supporting local agriculture. In addition, he is passionate about Biodynamic farming, using a broad fork vs machinery such as a rototiller.  The process he utilizes enhances soil fertility, protects crops and enhances overall plant health. He also contributes his home-grown vegetables to organizations that serve some of our most vulnerable communities.

Taliaferro will be recognized at a virtual celebration on Monday, Feb. 28, at 6 p.m. Jaykyri Simpson, executive director of Young Man with a Plan, will be the keynote speaker and the public is invited to register for the celebration at

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMkcO2orjwrGtGTCX_VlkgWIA0R6RnoatQN

Tags: people in the news, recognition event,

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State Wins $130M to Advance West-East Rail

03:03PM / Saturday, October 17, 2026

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Some $130 million in federal monies is being invested into passenger rail along the so-called Knowledge Corridor and for laying the groundwork to establish West-East Rail from Albany, N.Y., to Boston.

The funding for the Springfield Hub Modernization Project was announced on Friday by Gov. Maura Healey, U.S. Sen. Ed Markey and U.S. Reps. Richard Neal and James McGovern.

The project is part of the state's Compass Rail vision, centered on Springfield Union Station and building on existing Amtrak Vermonter, Hartford Line and Valley Flyer service.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation was awarded the funding through the Federal Railroad Administration's Fiscal Years 2025-2026 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements grant program to support modernization of the rail infrastructure around Springfield Union Station.

"This is a major win for Western Massachusetts and a big step forward for West-East Rail," said Healey in a statement. "This $130 million investment in Springfield will help us improve transportation, reduce congestion and connect more communities to jobs, housing and economic opportunity. I'm grateful to Senators Markey and Warren, Congressmen Neal and McGovern, and all of our partners for helping us secure this critical funding and move us closer to expanded passenger rail service across Massachusetts."

The project will upgrade tracks, signals and other infrastructure to address a major rail bottleneck, reduce conflicts between freight and passenger trains, and allow more efficient operations and expanded rail service. This work is expected to improve on-time performance, reduce delays and provide more schedule flexibility for Amtrak Vermonter and Valley Flyer passengers. The project will also create capacity for future passenger rail service while reducing unnecessary train idling, emissions and operating costs.

"Building West-East rail is a once-in a-lifetime investment to connect Massachusetts' communities and our regional economies like never before. It will mean lower costs, less congestion, and access to opportunity for families across the state," said Markey. "I'm proud to have secured this $130 million in federal funding alongside Governor Healey, Senator Warren, Congressman Neal and Congressman McGovern, bringing our total federal investment to more than $280 million to date, which will build the track to this more affordable, cleaner, better connected future."

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