BCC Gets Over $1 Million Grant for Health and Human Services Students

02:34PM / Sunday, October 09, 2022Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College has been awarded a $1,080,231 grant from a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services program called Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training.

The four-year grant will provide stipends, partial reimbursement of tuition and fees, and supplies for up to 15 students per year enrolled in BCC's Mental Health, Addiction Recovery, and Human Services certificate programs. Grant funds will also support hiring a project coordinator and a mentor/coach for students.

"We’re ecstatic to receive this grant, which will allow us to provide Berkshire County with a steady stream of human service professionals," said Gina Stec, BCC director of grants development and management. "This diverse group of students will be ready to enter the workforce to assist high-risk and medically underserved communities, which are in critical need of qualified employees."

In addition to overseeing project activities, the project coordinator funded by the grant will help recruit diverse students and expand relationships with field placement sites in the community. The mentor/coach will provide academic and personal support to students to help them progress and complete the program.

Technology will be integrated into the curriculum to support distance learning and to prepare students for the state-of-the-art components within the human services field.

Tags: BCC, grants,

iBerkshires.com Text Ads

Save & Earn with Greylock

3.30% APY 6-month certificate. Click to learn more! Insured by NCUA.

www.greylock.org

rk MILES Blding Materials

Are You Ready to Update Your Home? Start With rk MILES. 4 Locations (800)670-7433

www.rkmiles.com

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Pittsfield Council Revisiting DEI Office Rename

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
04:11PM / Tuesday, October 13, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The conversation about the DEI office renaming that was halted by a charter objection will resume on Tuesday.

The City Council will discuss a request from Mayor Peter Marchetti to rename the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

It proposes to rename the DEI office to the Office of Equity, Access, and Opportunity and merge the Human Rights Commission and Affirmative Action Committee into an Equity, Access and Opportunity Commission.

The Ordinance and Rules Subcommittee supported the changes in August, and in September, Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham delayed the vote with a charter objection.

Pittsfield's City Code prohibits charter states that "if a single member present objects to the taking of the vote, the vote shall be postponed until the next meeting of the city council." It also stipulates that at least four members must object if it is an emergency measure.

Cunningham also submitted a petition, which was referred to O&R under Rule 27, to replace the DEI Office and the Human Rights Commission with an equity, access, and opportunity coordinator in the Department of Community Development, with formal complaints and Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action functions assigned to Human Resources.

At the last meeting, he spent more than an hour querying the mayor and chief diversity officer about functions and effectiveness of the department, wanting more quantitative data. Cunningham proposed an ordinance that he says keeps Pittsfield's commitment to equity, access, and opportunity, "refocuses it on measurable results for our residents, and delivers it at a fraction of the current cost."

Under this petition, the equity, access, and opportunity coordinator would be a $60,000 to $80,000 per year position.

The DEI Office's fiscal year 2027 budget was about $200,000 after cuts during budget season; $106,700 for the chief diversity officer and $58,000 for the administrative assistant. The coordinator would be appointed by the director of community development and the mayor.

View Full Story