FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, October 24, 2022
Contact
Amanda Powers
2nd Street
(518) 928-9888
[email protected]
Formerly incarcerated women invited to informal meetings
PITTSFIELD, MA —2nd Street, an organization supporting men and women in Berkshire County who were formerly incarcerated, will begin holding weekly Women’s Aftercare Group meetings on Tuesday, November 1 from 4-5 pm. The informal meetings, open to all formerly incarcerated women in Berkshire County, will be held at the 2nd Street building located at 264 Second Street, Pittsfield. The meetings are free and no registration is required; drop-ins are welcome. Women on open probation or parole are also welcome to participate. Food and beverages will be supplied.
Lindsay Maynard, a corrections caseworker for the Berkshire County Sheriff’s Office, is coordinating the event. Maynard, who said the program enjoyed several years of popularity before COVID-19 temporarily halted it, is excited to restart it.
“It’s a great way to meet people to socialize, network and share stories,” Maynard said, calling the group a safe space. “It’s very informal and really doesn’t have any rules. You can share as little or as much as you’d like.”
Maynard said one of the most impactful parts of the program is when older women share their stories with younger participants. “Experienced women often share stories of hope and strength,” she said. “They are proof that it is possible to recover and to break the cycle of incarceration.”
Guest speakers will occasionally visit the group to present sessions on topics like financial planning, mindfulness and healthy relationships. While some participants may initially feel reluctant to actively engage in meetings, Maynard said, “they leave happy. It’s a positive outcome for everyone.”
About 2nd Street
Second Street Second Chances, Inc., better known as 2nd Street, supports formerly incarcerated persons in Berkshire County and connects them with the tools, programs and support they need to successfully reenter their community. 2nd Street is committed to treating formerly incarcerated individuals with respect and encouragement; providing them with job readiness skills and access to employment opportunities; preparing them to become productive and contributing citizens; and educating and advocating for communities to embrace them as such. Services and referrals include medical and mental health resources, substance use disorder services, financial resources and literacy, transportation, family reunification, housing, job training and employment, and legal services. Visit 2nd Street at www.2nd-street.org.