Barrington Stage Company Black Voices Legacy Awards

PITTSFIELD, Mass.—Barrington Stage Company (BSC), under the leadership of Artistic Director Alan Paul and Managing Director Greg Reiner, announced the inaugural Celebration of Black Voices Legacy Awards, a community-centered evening honoring the past, celebrating the present, and uplifting those shaping the future of the local Black community.

The event will take place Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, beginning with a pre-show reception at 5:00 PM at Mr. Finn's Cabaret, followed by the awards ceremony at 6:00 PM at the St. Germain Theatre at the Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center (36 Linden Street). 

"Barrington Stage Company has always believed that theatre lives most powerfully when it is rooted in community," said Greg Reiner, Managing Director of Barrington Stage Company. "The Celebration of Black Voices Legacy Awards affirm that commitment by honoring the individuals and leaders whose contributions have shaped, strengthened, and sustained the Berkshires. As an inaugural event, this evening marks not just a celebration, but a promise—to listen, to uplift, and to continue building a more inclusive future together."

The evening will begin with a festive reception featuring a live jazz performance by Living Legend Award recipient Wanda Houston, accompanied by her band—Andy Wrba, Conor Meehan, and Benny "Fingers" Kohn. Guests will enjoy drinks and light refreshments while gathering in celebration and connection.

At 6:00 PM, the Celebration of Black Voices Legacy Awards Ceremony will commence, hosted by Broadway veteran and BSC Associate Artist Alan H. Green. Directed by Josh Adam Ramos, the ceremony will include award presentations, special performances, and moments of reflection honoring individuals, businesses, and organizations whose contributions continue to enrich, empower, and shape the Berkshire community. 

"This inaugural celebration is about visibility, gratitude, and joy," said Sharron Frazier-McClain, Barrington Stage Company's Director of Community Engagement and the event's Creator and Producer. "It is a moment to acknowledge those whose work—often behind the scenes—has built foundations, opened doors, and inspired future generations. Every voice matters, and every legacy deserves to be seen."

Honors

Ancestors' Legacy Award: Shirley Edgerton
Honoring elders and trailblazers whose wisdom, leadership, and sacrifice laid the groundwork for today's community strength.

Shirley Edgerton is an educator, DEI practitioner, and community activist. In 2010, she launched Rites of Passage and Empowerment, a mentoring program for young people of color identifying as female or non-binary.

Pillars of the Community Award: Dennis L. Powell (NAACP)
Recognizing those who consistently show up—quietly or boldly—to provide stability, guidance, and care across generations.

Dennis L. Powell is an accomplished chef, a graduate and former faculty member of the Culinary Institute of America, and President of the NAACP Berkshire County Branch since 2015. He was born and raised in Pittsfield.

Living Legend Award: Wanda Houston
Celebrating a legacy still in motion—uplifting, mentoring, and amplifying Black voices through art and leadership.

Wanda Houston has performed on stages throughout the U.S., Europe, and Australia, as well as on Broadway, film, recordings, and television. Berkshire Magazine named her one of the Berkshire 25 in 2022.

Celebration of Black Voices All-Star Award: Sherrie Bethel
Honoring a contributor whose talent, heart, and storytelling have shaped the spirit of the Celebration of Black Voices Festival.

Sherrie Bethel is a local poet and a core collaborator with the Celebration of Black Voices since its inception. She has been foundational to several CBV programs, including the Gospel Choir, Devised Theater, and Poetry Slam.

Allyship in Action Award: John Bissell (Greylock Federal Credit Union)
Recognizing the meaningful use of influence and resources to actively support and uplift communities of color.

John Bissell is President and CEO of Greylock Federal Credit Union and, alongside Julianne Boyd, a co-founder of Berkshire Underground. He was named CEO of the Year in 2019 by the Cooperative Credit Union Association.

Culture Keeper Award (Past & Present): Dr. Frances Jones-Sneed
Honoring those who preserve, teach, and advance Black culture, history, and traditions.

Dr. Frances Jones-Sneed is Professor Emeritus of History at MCLA. A scholar, writer, and civil rights activist, her work centers on the African American experience in rural and small-town America, with a focus on both the Deep South and the Berkshires.

Rising Changemaker Award: Dashine Moore (Beat the Streets)
Highlighting an emerging leader demonstrating vision, promise, and commitment to community transformation.

Dashine Moore is the founder of Beat the Streets, a program dedicated to empowering Pittsfield youth through basketball and mentorship.

Dream Forward Award: John Lewis
Recognizing visionary leadership that builds pathways for Black excellence, sustainability, and freedom.

John Lewis is the Founder and CEO of R3SET Enterprises, pioneering equitable resource distribution models for disenfranchised communities and reimagining how commerce, governance, and social equity intersect.

Celebration of Black Voices Legacy Awards host Alan H. Green is an actor whose three-decade career has taken him from Broadway to the White House and from the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem to stages across the country. He is an Associate Artist and Board Member of Barrington Stage Company.

The evening's director, Josh Adam Ramos is a director, producer, and arts educator whose work centers community-driven storytelling and inclusive artistic collaboration.

Infused with artistry, storytelling, and deep appreciation, the Celebration of Black Voices Legacy Awards promises an evening of recognition, reflection, and collective joy—honoring the legacies that shaped our past while lighting the way forward.

Tickets are $30 available by calling 413.242.6411, or online at https://barringtonstageco.org/cbv-legacy-awards/  

NAMI Raises Sugar With 10th Annual Cupcake Wars

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
06:09PM / Saturday, April 25, 2026

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. To contact the Crisis Text Line, text HELLO to 741741. More information on crisis hotlines in Massachusetts can be found here. 

Whitney's Farm baker Jenn Carchedi holds her awards for People's Choice and Best Tasting.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Berkshire County held its 10th annual cupcake wars fundraiser Thursday night at the Country Club of Pittsfield.

The event brought local bakeries and others together to raise money for the organization while enjoying a friendly competition of cupcake tasting.

Local bakeries Odd Bird Farm, Canyon Ranch, Whitney's Farm and Garden, and Monarch butterfly bakery each created a certain flavor of cupcake and presented their goods to the theme of "Backyard Barbecue." When Sweet Confections bakery had to drop out because to health reasons, NAMI introduced a mystery baker which turned out to be Big Y supermarket.

The funds raised Thursday night through auctions of donated items, the cupcakes, raffles, and more will go toward the youth mental health wellness fair, peer and family support groups, and more. 

During the event, the board members mentioned the many ways the funds have been used, stating that they were able to host their first wellness fair that brought in more than 250 people because of the funds raised from last year and plan to again this year on July 11. 

"We're really trying to gear towards the teen community, because there's such a stigma with mental illness, and they sometimes are hesitant to come forward and admit they have a problem, so they try to self medicate and then get themselves into a worse situation," said NAMI President Ruth Healy.

"We're really trying to focus on that group, and that's going to be the focus of our youth mental health wellness fair is more the teen community. So every penny that we raise helps us to do more programming, and the more we can do, the more people recognize that we're there to help and that there is hope."

They mentioned they are now able to host twice monthly peer and family support groups at no cost for individuals and families with local training facilitators. They also are now able to partner with Berkshire Medical Center to perform citizenship monitoring where they have volunteers go to different behavioral mental health units to listen to patients and staff to provide service suggestions to help make the unit more effective. Lastly, they also spoke of how they now have a physical office space, and that they were able to attend the Berkshire Coalition for Suicide Prevention as part of the panel discussion to help offer resources and have also been able to have gift bags for patients at BMC Jones 2 and 3.

Healy said they are also hoping to expand into the schools in the county and bring programming and resources to them.

She said the programs they raise money for are important in reaching someone with mental issues sooner.

"To share the importance of recognizing, maybe an emerging diagnosis of a mental health condition in their family member or themselves, that maybe they could get help before the situation becomes so dire that they're thinking about suicide as a solution, the sooner we can reach somebody, the better the outcome," she said.

The cupcakes were judged by Downtown Pittsfield Inc. Managing Director Rebecca Brien, Pittsfield High culinary teacher Todd Eddy, and Lindsay Cornwell, executive director Second Street Second Chances.

The 100 guests got miniature versions of the cupcakes to decide the Peoples' Choice award.

The winners were:

• Best Tasting: Whitney's Farm (Honey buttermilk cornbread cupcakes)
• Best Presentation: Odd Bird Farm Bakery (Blueberry lemon cupcakes)
• Best Presentation of Theme: Canyon Ranch (Strawberry shortcake)
• People's Choice: Whitney's Farm

Jenn Carchedi has been the baker at Whitney's for six years and this was her third time participating in an event she cares deeply about.

"It meant a lot. Because personally, for me, mental health awareness is really important. I feel like coming together as a community, and Whitney's Farm is more like a community kind of place," she said