LitNet Hires First-Gen College Coordinator

08:33AM / Thursday, September 14, 2023Print Story | Email Story

LEE, Mass. The Literacy Network (LitNet) announced the addition of Deisy Escobar to its staff as the organization's First-Generation College Coordinator.

In this newly created role, Escobar will serve as a community ambassador for LitNet by helping to develop programming, outreach, and partnerships centered around supporting and educating first-generation college applicants and their families about the college application process and related opportunities. With Escobar's support, LitNet hopes to launch its first First-Generation College-Goer Fair in spring 2024.

Escobar, a second-generation immigrant and first-year college student, graduated from Mount Everett High School in June of this year. The daughter of a Mexican immigrant and Colombian immigrant, Escobar is Spanish-English bilingual and has served as a LitNet volunteer tutor since 2021. Escobar has independently hosted a bilingual workshop for first-time college-goers and is active in the community as a co-host for the radio show Mundo Latino with her mother, Martha Escobar, with whom she also hosts an awards ceremony for community individuals and organizations who have provided outstanding support to Berkshire County immigrants.

"Deisy has been steeped and active in service in the Berkshire Community for many years now," LitNet's Executive Director Leigh Doherty said. "She is a perfect example of one we can call 'wise beyond her years!' As a new college student herself, Deisy is well-informed about the process, the challenges, and the excitement of it all. I look forward to having Deisy's first-hand, direct experience to guide us."

LitNet currently serves more than 200 individuals, the majority of whom are immigrants from South and Central America who are working on their English language skills. In 2019, LitNet launched Berkshire County's first scholarship program for prospective U.S. citizens, the Matthew and Hannah Keator Family Scholarship for New Americans, which supports recipients financially and legally and provides English and civics tutoring in preparation for the citizenship interview.

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Pittsfield Considers Repairing East Part Cemetery

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
06:57AM / Friday, October 02, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Historical Commission will consider grant opportunities for repairs to East Part Cemetery.

A resident reached out to the city with concerns about degradation in the half-acre burial ground at the top of Williams Street. East Part Cemetery was established in the early 1800s and has about 300 interments.

“It's a nice old cemetery, and basically, (the resident) had had concerns that the stone wall had taken some damage, the gravestones have taken some damage, and was wondering if there's anything that could be done to repair the gravestones and the wall," City Planner Kevin Rayner told the commission on Monday.

In cooperation with cemetery leadership and residents, the Historical Commission will consider applying for Community Preservation Act funds to support repairs. West Part Cemetery, on the other side of Pittsfield, has previously used CPA funds for revitalization work.

The 1080 Williams St. property is owned by the city and managed by the Pittsfield Cemetery Commission. Rayner presented photos of broken and overgrown gravestones, parts of the stone wall collapsing, and knocked-over obelisks.

Some aspects could use general maintenance and restoration, he observed.

According to the Pittsfield Cemetery and Crematory's website, East Part Cemetery was established around 1808 on land owned by Nathan Webb, who permitted and authorized its use as a public burying ground.

In 1842, Nathan Webb's son, also named Nathan Webb, deeded the property to the Methodist Episcopal Society of Pittsfield as a public burying ground, and in 1893 the Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Society transferred their control of the cemetery to the Proprietors of the Pittsfield Cemetery. Their action was confirmed by the Berkshire Probate Court.