Nominations Open For BCC's 40 Under Forty Awards

08:17AM / Wednesday, October 15, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) announces nominations are now open for its annual 40 Under Forty awards, which will be held Thursday, March 26, 2026.

To make a nomination, visit www.berkshirecc.edu/40-under-forty. The deadline for nominations is Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.

40 Under Forty is an annual celebration of talented people in the Berkshires, under the age of 40, who are dedicated to improving the quality of life for those living and working in our community.

Nominees are eligible for this award through:

Their professional work and how it makes a difference; or
Their personal commitment to their community; or
Other efforts to improve the quality of life for those living and working the Berkshires.

Mill Town Foundation will provide each 40 Under Forty Award winner with the opportunity to re-grant $1,000 to an eligible Berkshire-based nonprofit organization.

The event is made possible by sponsorships from 1Berkshire, Mill Town Foundation, and Berkshire Community College Foundation. All proceeds from this year's 40 Under Forty event support workforce programs at BCC, addressing immediate needs and helping to build a lasting endowment.

For more information, email 40under40@berkshirecc.edu or call (413) 236-2185.

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Pittsfield Council Revisiting DEI Office Restructure

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
04:11PM / Tuesday, October 13, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The conversation about the DEI office renaming that was halted by a charter objection will resume on Tuesday.

The City Council will discuss a request from Mayor Peter Marchetti to restructure the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

It proposes to rename the DEI office to the Office of Equity, Access, and Opportunity and merge the Human Rights Commission and Affirmative Action Committee into an Equity, Access and Opportunity Commission.

The Ordinance and Rules Subcommittee supported the changes in August, and in September, Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham delayed the vote with a charter objection.

Pittsfield's City Code prohibits charter states that "if a single member present objects to the taking of the vote, the vote shall be postponed until the next meeting of the city council." It also stipulates that at least four members must object if it is an emergency measure.

Cunningham also submitted a petition, which was referred to O&R under Rule 27, to replace the DEI Office and the Human Rights Commission with an equity, access, and opportunity coordinator in the Department of Community Development, with formal complaints and Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action functions assigned to Human Resources.

At the last meeting, he spent more than an hour querying the mayor and chief diversity officer about functions and effectiveness of the department, wanting more quantitative data. Cunningham proposed an ordinance that he says keeps Pittsfield's commitment to equity, access, and opportunity, "refocuses it on measurable results for our residents, and delivers it at a fraction of the current cost."

Under this petition, the equity, access, and opportunity coordinator would be a $60,000 to $80,000 per year position.

The DEI Office's fiscal year 2027 budget was about $200,000 after cuts during budget season; $106,700 for the chief diversity officer and $58,000 for the administrative assistant. The coordinator would be appointed by the director of community development and the mayor.

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