Freeman Center Welcomes New Board Members

12:54PM / Friday, July 18, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Elizabeth Freeman Center has welcomed Myla Franklin, Laurie Gallagher, Chris MacBeth and Tess Sorrentino to its board of directors.

Franklin is a community leader and grassroots organizer with 10 years of experience in project management, advocacy and relationship building. She is currently the community lending officer at Greylock Federal Credit Union.

Gallagher is an attorney who served as senior counsel for 25 years for GE and SABIC. She has served locally as interim CEO and board chair for Berkshire United Way and as a mentor at 18 Degrees.

MacBeth has more than 35 years of experience working in social services and health care agencies 15 of which were at the Brien Center where she served as president and CEO.

Sorrentino is senior vice president and chief financial officer for Adams Community Bank. A 40 under 40 honoree, she is involved in many Berkshire non-profits, and a past Volunteer of the Year for St. Vincent de Paul Parish and Unico of Pittsfield.

"All four members bring their exceptional skills and their shared passion to advance the mission of the Elizabeth Freeman Center which for the past 50 years, has provided life changing services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault," according to the statement from Leslie Ioffredo, co-president of the board of directors.

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Pittsfield's Christian Center Seeks Community Input on Services, Name

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:57PM / Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Worker Dionisio Kelly, left, board member Kenny Warren, Executive Director Jessica Jones, and Food and Services Director Karen Ryan.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — It's a new year, and The Christian Center is looking at how it can serve the area in 2026 and beyond.

This includes a possible new name fueled by community forums in late January and early February.

"We're hoping people will come in and talk about the name, talk about what programs, what services they would like to see from us. What would be most meaningful," Executive Director Jessica Jones said.

"Because the population in this area has changed quite a bit, and we no longer serve just the West Side. We serve people from other parts of Berkshire County. So the hope is just to make it more inclusive."

The Christian Center was a stop on Berkshire Community College and NAACP Berkshires' Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.

The nonprofit will hold three input sessions at 193 Robbins Ave. to inform future programs and branding, and ensure that West Side voices are heard.

The sessions will be held on:

Saturday, Jan. 31, from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Thursday, Feb. 5, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 10, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.

The center dates back to the early 1890s, when it was the Epworth Mission started by the Methodist Church to serve newly arrived immigrants and help them assimilate. The Christian Center was incorporated in 1974.

Over the decades, it has drifted away from a faith-based organization to a space for anyone who needs a meal, a warm jacket, a place to bring their child, or a meeting place. A space for everyone.

This is what center officials wanted reflected in the name.

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