BFAIR Announce Promotion of Director of Day Habilitation Services

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — BFAIR announced the promotion of Leanne Martin to Director of Day Habilitation Services, effective Nov. 5, 2025. 
 
Martin has been a member of the BFAIR team since 2014. Since 2023, she has served as Assistant Director, where she managed daily operations, guiding staff development, and supporting program delivery. 
 
"Leanne's promotion reflects her exceptional leadership, strong communication, and deep understanding of both our staff and the individuals we support," said Erin Shea, VP of Quality Compliance. "Her growth and accomplishments over the past year have prepared her well for this next step." 
 
In her new role, Martin will oversee the continued development and enhancement of BFAIR's Day Habilitation Services, ensuring programs remain person-centered, innovative, and aligned with the agency's mission. 

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'Into Light': Addressing Addiction One Portrait at a Time

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The "Into Light" exhibit is sketching a new path toward transforming the conversation around addiction — one portrait and story at a time. 
 
Since 2019, the nonprofit's founder Theresa Clower has put on close to 21 exhibitions around the country, sharing the stories of more than 600 people who have lost their lives to addiction. 
 
Now, the installation will be on view at Hotel Downstreet from Friday, March 13, through June 30, featuring 10 portraits of local community members who died from addiction and 20 portraits from the eastern Massachusetts exhibit. 
 
This collaborative effort combines municipal opioid settlement funds and lead sponsor Berkshire Health Systems, in collaboration with the Northern Berkshire Opioid Abatement Collaborative, HEAL Coalition, Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, and North Adams Regional Hospital.
 
In addition to the installation, the team has developed programs and forums to be held throughout the three months to start a conversation and improve education on the disease. 
 
"The core to our efforts around 'Into Light' is the community education, especially building on people's awareness of addiction as a disease and as a disease that is curable," said Andy Ottoson, BRPC senior public health planner. 
 
Ottoson stressed the importance of treating substance use disorder like any other disease, reducing stigma, and normalizing open conversations around addiction and the resources out there to help recover.
 
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