1Berkshire Youth Leadership Program Accepting Applications

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

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The 1Berkshire Youth Leadership Program, open to all current sophomores in the Berkshires, selects a cohort of up to 30 students from all backgrounds for this ten-month experience that will allow them to explore the regional economy and develop their leadership skills.

Once selected, students will begin the program with a 3-day, 3-night retreat in June near the end of their sophomore year. At the retreat, students will meet for the first time, begin to build connections, and learn about their individual leadership styles.

Over the following ten months, students will reconvene for eight full-day sessions, held at various locations across the Berkshires (or virtually, in the case of severe weather conditions). During these sessions, students will meet with business leaders and dynamic community members to learn about a sector of the regional economy, including but not limited to advanced manufacturing, food and agriculture, healthcare and wellness, outdoor recreation, the creative economy, and hospitality and tourism. Students will develop leadership traits through activities within the sessions, and as a class, will develop and execute a collective impact project that will enhance life in the Berkshires.

"The Youth Leadership program provides an amazing opportunity for students to grow as individuals and as members of a community spanning the Berkshires," Kevin Pink, deputy director of Economic Development at 1Berkshire and program coordinator of the Youth Leadership Program, said. "The sessions allow students to explore key segments of our regional economy, gaining a deep understanding of career opportunities available to them in the Berkshires and working together on a project that makes a positive impact in the place they call home."

This program is made possible through the ongoing financial support of Berkshire Bank, Greylock Federal Credit Union, Camp Becket Chimney Corners, NBT Bank, Berkshire Agricultural Ventures, and others. The 1Berkshire Youth Leadership Program is coordinated by 1Berkshire with the dynamic support of the volunteer Youth Leadership Program Steering Committee, composed of professionals from across the region who commit their time and expertise to develop and facilitate the entire program.

Until the Feb. 13 deadline, sophomores from any school in the Berkshires, and equivalent-aged home-schooled students, may submit an application for the program. Apply here. Contact economicdev@1berkshire.com with any questions.

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Fenton: Governor's Council Must Deliver for the Berkshires

Community submissionGuest Column
10:22AM / Friday, August 28, 2026

I am a Springfield lawyer running for Governor's Council and I am asking for Berkshire County residents to support me over an incumbent from North Adams.

Here's why: Last year I learned about staffing issues in our regional courts that I could not ignore. In 2025, it was reported that four of Western Massachusetts' 11 Superior Court judgeships were vacant, all at the same time. A few weeks later, that grew to five vacancies. This meant there were only six Superior Court judges serving all of Western Mass at a time when Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin, and Hampden counties had more than 100 pending homicide cases.

Those numbers were alarming to me, so I started to engage with leaders in the community who work most closely with the court system and I came to learn that these vacancies were only the tip of the iceberg here in Berkshire County.

I learned that no Superior Court or District Court judge had been appointed from the Berkshires since the current incumbent took office. As a result, there is not a single Superior Court judge who lives in the Berkshires today, and several of the District Court judges drive in from other counties to support Berkshire courts in Pittsfield, Great Barrington, and North Adams. Court staff also informed me about severe staffing shortages at the Berkshire Clerk of Courts office resulting in other counties needing to loan staff to the Berkshires just so hardworking employees can take a brief and planned summer vacation. This is not normal. These issues are a reflection of genuine problems with the Berkshire County court system and show a lack of proactive attention from our Governor's Councilor.

Instead of focusing on regional equity, I watched as the current incumbent celebrated that she has voted against the governor's nominees more than any other councilor, without much explanation as to why. Most recently, she voted against two extremely qualified former prosecutors for the Parole Board. This was despite an in-person plea from the governor and a letter of support from all the three of the district attorney's from Western Mass. Those votes do not show independence or standing up for principles, they demonstrate naivete, and an unwillingness to work with the key stakeholders.

I had seen and heard enough. I decided to jump in the race and challenge the incumbent to address these problems head-on.

I am a partner of a regional law firm. I understand our courts and the importance of having qualified, fair and hardworking judges. And I know how important it is to have judges from the Berkshires serving the Berkshires. To achieve that, you need strong relationships with the legal community and local stakeholders. You need to know how to use the power of the Governor's Council to fight forcefully for our region. And you need to be laser focused on identifying vacancies before they occur so that they can be filled quickly with local candidates.

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