2nd Street Seeks Submissions for Literary Project

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — 2nd Street seeks submissions for Using Our Outside Voices, a literary project created in partnership with Berkshire Community College (BCC) that is designed to promote creativity, acceptance and inclusion for presently or formerly incarcerated men and women in Berkshire County. The deadline for submissions is June 15, 2024.
 
Authors whose work is selected will receive a cash award of $200, and winning submissions will be published in a journal. The initial run of 400 printed copies of the free journal will be distributed locally, and digital copies will be available online. In addition, public readings will be held at various venues in the Berkshires.
 
Any presently or formerly incarcerated resident of Berkshire County is invited to submit original poetry, short fiction, personal essays or other literary works. Those who need editorial help can bring their work to 2nd Street, located at 264 Second Street, Pittsfield.
 
For more details on how to submit a literary work, visit www.2nd-street.org and click Special Projects, or call (413) 443-7220, ext. 1275. 
 
Financial and in-kind support of Using Our Outside Voices is provided by Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation’s Arts Build Community initiative with funding from the Barr Foundation; by Berkshire United Way; by Berkshire Community College; and by Pittsfield Cultural Council, a local agency supported by Mass Cultural Council.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Pittsfield Council Appoints Department Heads, Requests Meetings on Gun Violence

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council on Tuesday appointed new department heads and requested that community mobilization meetings be held to address recent gun violence. 

Mark Pompi was appointed director of Veterans Services, and Rian Dowd was as the new building commissioner. They will begin work on July 27. 

"She is going to be an extremely resident- and business-friendly building commissioner," Mayor Peter Marchetti said about Dowd. 

"… It was one of the questions in the interview: how do we get people to know that we have a friendlier environment? And she's already working on it." 

A petition from Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren and Ward 6 Councilor Dina Lampiasi requesting that 18 Degrees Inc. organize and host at least two community mobilization meetings was sent to the community-based organization. 

"The recent gun violence that occurred in the city has left many residents feeling concerned, and also like they would just like to have more information about what we, as a city, and our partner is doing to help interrupt gun violence," Lampiasi said. 

Last month, 29-year-old Pittsfield resident Justin Crawford was fatally shot near the intersection of Pleasure Avenue and Tyler Street. 

18 Degrees has received a total of $1,391,170 in grants from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's Gun Violence Prevention Program since fiscal year 2019; $394,780 in FY23 for outreach and engagement with youth and young adults ages 17-24 who have been impacted by trauma and violence. 

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