Impact of DEI on Berkshire Economic Development Topic of Forum

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Massachusetts LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Alexandra Eberhardt and North Adams City Councilor Andrew Fitch, a business owner, will participate in a panel discussion on Wednesday, May 21, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Heart's Pace Teahouse on Eagle Street.

The panel is part of the Berkshire LGBTQ+ Business, Professional & Community Leaders Networking Event. 

The discussion will focus on how the Berkshire region's ongoing commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) is attracting new businesses, leaders, economic development, and innovation. The speakers will also address the potential acceleration of this trend due to North Adams and Pittsfield's designation as Sanctuary Cities for Trans and Gender Diverse People.

Berkshire LGBTQ+ business owners and professionals have been convening on the third Wednesday of each month for networking events aimed at fostering connections and increasing the community's capacity to address political, economic, and demographic challenges relevant to the rural LGBTQ+ community and its businesses. These events also serve to highlight new LGBTQ+ businesses and leaders establishing themselves in the Berkshires, attributed to the region's public support for diversity and equity.  

The monthly networking event is a collaboration between the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce, Q-MoB, and media sponsor Berkshire Magazine. It aims to provide a platform for local LGBTQ+ business owners, professionals, community leaders, and allies to connect and engage in dialogue.  

"In this time of tumultuous change, it's vital that our local LGBTQ+ business owners and professionals come together to support one another and work in solidarity with our many allied businesses, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations to improve the region’s economic development and creative economy, particularly as LGBTQ businesses and business owners from more repressive parts of the country look for a place where they will be welcomed," said Q-MoB Executive Director Bart Church. 

Registration for the May 21 Networking Event is free and can be accessed here.

Barrett Holds off Fitch in State House Race

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
11:20PM / Tuesday, September 01, 2026

Candidate Andrew Fitch thanks his supporters for their work on the campaign and promised 'we're going to get him next time.'

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — State Rep. John Barrett III showed Tuesday that it is still his time to serve.

 

In an election night cliffhanger that had supporters of each candidate anxiously checking their cell phone screens two hours after the polls closed, Barrett defeated challenger Andrew Fitch in the First Berkshire Democratic primary for the State House of Representatives.

 

With one town, Peru, missing from the vote total, Fitch called Barrett to concede the race at about 10 p.m. with Barrett holding a 3,597-3,476 lead, a margin of 121 votes.

 

With no Republican on the ballot, Tuesday's winner will be unopposed in the November general election.

 

After receiving well wishes from his supporters at the GOAT Sports Bar and Grill, Barrett talked about his win and shared part of his motivation for seeking another two years in the post he has held since 2017.

 

"When [Fitch] called me up and said that he was going to be running against me and said, 'I want to announce I'm going to run in two weeks,' and then he says, 'This is my time and your time to retire,'" Barrett said. "Well, that's when I decided I was going to run."

 

On Tuesday, Barrett congratulated Fitch, a North Adams city councilor, on a well-run campaign after accepting his concession.