BCC to Hold Alumni Appreciation Day on Jan. 12

10:45AM / Wednesday, January 11, 2023Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) invites all alumni to the annual Alumni Appreciation Day on Friday, Jan. 12.

The event includes two creative workshops, held in the College's newest student spaces, followed by a buffet dinner in the Connector.

Maker Space Demo and Hands-on Activity: 4–5 pm and 5–6 pm in the newly created Berkshire Science Commons. Colin Wilson, Director of Berkshire Science Commons, and Eric Drury, Instructional Program Manager: Making, Manufacturing and Technology, will lead a tour and demonstration of the creative technological tools featured in the Maker Space, including Prusa 3D printers and a Glowforge laser cutter. Attendees will complete a small project.

Berkshire Days Writing Workshop: 5–6 pm in the BCC Writing Center. Liesl Schwabe, Coordinator of Writing Across the Curriculum, will facilitate a writing workshop encouraging participants to generate original personal narrative reflecting on their time at BCC while integrating new insights.

A buffet dinner in the Connector, BCC's newest gathering space, concludes the event. To register, visit www.berkshirecc.edu/alumni-appreciation.

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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.

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