BCC to Host Campus Events to Celebrate Black History Month

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) will host a series of student events across campus in February in honor of Black History Month.  
 
The College's Student Engagement Center will be hosting these events for students, led by the College's Coordinator of Student Diversity Programs and Belonging, Erica Barreto. 
 
Black History Month events at BCC include:  
 
• Call and Response: National Freedom Day will take place all month long. National Freedom Day is an annual memorial to the signing of the 13th Amendment by President Abraham Lincoln in 1865. Students will learn more about this holiday and take a moment to reflect on what freedom means. The College will be collecting anonymous responses to the freedom prompt throughout February. At the end of the month, all responses will be shared to visually represent what freedom means to the BCC community. 
 
• On Thursday, Feb. 8, Cravins Soft Serve and Frozen Yogurt will host a pop-up on campus as the College shows its support for Black-owned businesses.  
 
• On Wednesday, Feb. 21, Professor Liesl Schwabe will facilitate "Spotlight on Black Voices: A Writing Workshop," where students will read, write and reflect on prominent Black voices, past and present.  
 
• Finally, the College will host a BCC Alumni panel, "Black Excellence and Joy," on Thursday, Feb. 29. The panel discussion will share stories that celebrate the remarkable achievements of Black alumni to spur a spirit of excellence among our undergrads. 
 

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Possible Measles Exposure at Boston, Logan

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed Wednesday that an out-of-state adult visitor who spent time in Boston and Westborough earlier this month was diagnosed with measles and was present in a number of locations.
 
This could have resulted in other people being exposed to measles virus.
 
The visitor arrived at Logan International Airport on American Airlines flight 2384 from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, on Dec. 11 at 2:39 p.m. They stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Boston-Westborough in Westborough and departed the state on Dec. 12 via Logan at 9:19 p.m. on JetBlue flight 117 to Las Vegas.
 
DPH is working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local partners to identify and notify those who may have been exposed to measles from this individual.
 
"Measles is a highly contagious, airborne disease, which has increased significantly in the United States because of the unfortunate decrease in vaccination rates. It is also a preventable disease," said Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein. "This current situation serves as an important reminder of the critical role vaccination plays in protecting our communities. While Massachusetts has not had a measles case this year, 2025 saw the highest number of nationwide cases in more than a decade — nearly 2,000 in 44 jurisdictions, and sadly, three deaths. 
 
"Fifteen years ago, measles had been considered eliminated in the United States, but that tremendous progress is at risk. Vaccines are one of the most important public health interventions ever — they are safe, effective, and lifesaving."
 
Measles is very contagious. However, the risk to most people in Massachusetts is low because the vaccination rate in the state is high. People who are not immune and visited any of the locations on the following dates and times may be at risk for developing measles.
 
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