Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires seeks Nominations for Berkshire Nonprofit Awards

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass.—The Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires, in partnership with The Berkshire Eagle, will present the ninth annual Berkshire Nonprofit Awards breakfast on Tuesday, May 19, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Country Club of Pittsfield.

The awards recognize individuals who work in the nonprofit sector to serve the Berkshire community.

"In the midst of some challenging years for the nonprofit sector, it's imperative that we make space to honor those in our community who are doing incredible work day in and day out," said McCaela Donovan, Associate Director of the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires. "This event creates space for joy and recognition, which is essential in this moment. If you know someone making a difference, please take the time to nominate them."

Nominations are being solicited from across the Berkshires in seven categories: Executive Leadership, Board Leadership, Unsung Hero, Volunteer, Rock Star, Lifetime Achievement, and the Samya Rose Stumo Youth Leadership Award. 

Honorees—one in each category—will be selected by a committee of business and nonprofit leaders. Nomination forms are available at npcberkshires.org/nominate. The deadline for submissions is March 13.

The Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires is an infrastructure and support organization for the Berkshire nonprofit sector- which employs one in four people in Berkshire County. Now in its tenth year, NPC is currently seeking sponsors for this celebratory event. For more information about sponsorship opportunities, contact McCaela Donovan at mccaela@npcberkshires.org.

Lee Library Hosts 'Jacob's Pillow in Lee, Mass.' Exhibit

01:56PM / Thursday, April 23, 2026

LEE, Mass. — A new public history exhibit, "Jacob's Pillow in Lee, Mass.," will open Monday, June 1, in the Scolforo Gallery at the Lee Library.

 

The exhibit traces the long and often overlooked relationship between the internationally renowned dance hub in Becket and the neighboring town of Lee from the early 1930s to today.

 

Researched and curated by Lee resident Joshua D. Bloom, a member of the Lee Historical Society and a former academic researcher, the exhibit will be on display through June 30. It will be open to the public during the library's regular hours when the gallery is not hosting other programming.

 

The exhibit tells the story of relationships between  Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival and the town as they developed alongside one another through business, civic engagement, and personal connections.

 

Pamela Tatge, executive and artistic director of Jacob's Pillow, praised the project for highlighting the Pillow's community roots.

 

"This exhibit shines a light on the longstanding connections between Jacob's Pillow and the town of Lee," Tatge said. "The Pillow's history is deeply intertwined with the people and communities that have supported it for generations."

 

Several public programs will accompany the exhibit throughout June:

• Tuesday, June 2, 4-5:45 p.m.: Opening reception with Pamela Tatge at the Lee Library
• Saturday, June 6, 12:30-1:30 p.m.: Family Dance Party with dance educator Sarah Daunt (sponsored by the Lee Youth Commission)
• Thursday, June 11, 11-noon: History of Lee seniors dancing at Jacob's Pillow (sponsored by the Lee Council on Aging, at 21 Crossway St.)
• 4:30-5:45 p.m.: "Secret" gay history of Jacob's Pillow with historian Norton Owen (sponsored by Lee Pride, a project of Berkshire Pride, and Berkshire Stonewall Community Coalition)
• Saturday, June 13, 12:30-2 p.m.: "Secret" LGBTQ-plus history of Lee walking tour led by Bloom (beginning and ending at Park Square during Lee Pride; tour sponsored by Lee Pride, a project of Berkshire Pride, and Berkshire Stonewall Community Coalition)
• Monday, June 22, 4:30–5:45 p.m. — History of the Cantarella School of Dance in Lee with Madeline Cantarella Culpo and her Lee dancers (sponsored by the Lee Historical Society)
• Monday, June 29, 4:30–5:45 p.m.: Closing reception on marketing, tourism, and business relations between Jacob's Pillow and the Town of Lee (sponsored by the Lee Chamber of Commerce)

This exhibit is made possible, in part, through a grant from the Lee Cultural Council, a local agency funded by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.