Letter: CHP Supports MCLA Homeless Shelter

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To the Editor:

CHP Berkshires [Community Health Programs] wishes to express its support for repurposing a dormitory at MCLA into a residence for homeless families. This is a commendable and progressive initiative in our Northern Berkshire community.

There are reasonable questions about what support services would be available to residents of Berkshire Towers. CHP Berkshires and its mobile health team already care for residents of a Pittsfield shelter, and we are prepared to provide medical care for Berkshire Towers residents as well, if this plan comes to fruition. CHP North Adams Family Medical and Dental is open to all patients, and our practice staff is uniquely committed to caring for underserved patients. And we are confident that other nonprofits in our area will step up as partners in this important effort to help meet the needs of families.

CHP Berkshires serves patients who are well off, and patients who have little. For those with little, housing insecurity and homelessness are key stressors for families, especially those with children. We are prepared to step up to provide health care at Berkshire Towers.

Michelle Derr
Senior vice president of family services, CHP Berkshires

Dawn Kohanski
Associate medical director, CHP Berkshires

 

 


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MCLA's Gallery 51 to Debut 'Materialscape' Exhibition

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — MCLA's Gallery 51 will host an opening reception for a new exhibition titled "Materialscape" featuring the work of three visual artists who explore the intersection of materiality and land.  
 
The exhibition opens on Friday, Sept. 6, with an opening reception from 5 to 8 p.m. including light refreshments and a performance by Marissa Baez. The exhibition is on view through Nov. 3. 
 
According to a press release:
 
"Materialscape" introduces the work of three visual artists—Marissa Baez (Mexican American), Delaney Keshena (Menominee), and Mikayla Patton (Oglala Lakota), each distinctively exploring the intersection of materiality and land. Their intentional use of material is deeply rooted in their cultural and personal journeys, manifesting either as a form of reclaiming or as a continuation. Ash, beeswax, metal, porcupine quills, paper, animal hide, and plants are not merely mediums but pivotal elements central to their expressive practices. By employing both natural and synthetic materials, the artists collectively share stories, memories, and histories that powerfully reflect on the contemporary Indigenous experience. 
 
Through diligent research and the embrace of communal knowledge, these artists delve into the complexities of identity, resistance, and resilience. Their works act as a dynamic exploration of the interplay between culture, environment, and personal narrative, illustrating how deeply embedded materials can convey profound thematic inquiries. As they navigate through themes of dispossession and regeneration, their artworks resonate as potent symbols of cultural reclamation and personal revelation, offering insights into both shared and unique paths of Indigenous persistence and creativity. 
 
The reception is free and open to the public. Gallery 51 is located at 51 Main St., North Adams, MA.  
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