News
Berkshire County’s first Second Chances job fair is timed to help people land on their feet after jail — and ease the labor shortage
Berkshire Eagle September 28, 2023 Jane Kaufman, Community Voices Editor PITTSFIELD — With recommendations from the sheriff’s department, Sammy Centaio landed a job at LTI Smart Glass in January 2016 starting at $10 an hour shortly after leaving jail. Since...
Release shares women’s stories of incarceration and courage
September 25, 2023 BTW Berkshires "I would have kayaks … I may not touch the fish … I will catch it , but I won’t clean it and cook it because … we live in Pittsfield." On a spring evening, a woman imagines floating on the Housatonic, watching for brook trout in the...
Pittsfield program gives ex-cons ‘Second Chances’
September 22, 2023 Pittsfield, MA NEWS10 PITTSFIELD, M.A. (NEWS10) — A local organization is trying to help the formerly incarcerated get access to services that will help them continue their lives and not get back into trouble. Second chances. That’s the opportunity...
BCC to Host the First Berkshire County Second Chances Job and Resource Fair
Friday, September 22, 2023 iBerkshires PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC), in collaboration with the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, Berkshire County Jail and House of Correction, 2nd Street, and MassHire Berkshire Career Center, will hold...
Berkshire Museum Displays Artwork by Ex-Incarcerated Individuals
September 8, 2023 iBerkshires The Berkshire Museum has partnered with Second Street Second Chances for its new exhibit "Insight Out" that is on view until Oct. 1. Article:...
Formerly incarcerated women in 2nd Street hope sharing their experiences in a new theater piece will help others
September 13, 2023 Berkshire Eagle 'If I can get my story out there, it could help another young woman who's going the wrong route'Throughout the monthslong process of developing the theater piece, women from 2nd Street participated in a series of storytelling...
Second Street Second Chances Triples its Outreach Goal
September 11, 2023 iBerkshires PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Since launching a little over a year ago the nonprofit Second Street Second Chances has tripled its original goal. When the organization first started out its goal was to help 150 people in its first year but as of...
Berkshire Museum Displays Artwork by Ex-Incarcerated Individuals
September 8, 2023 iBerkshires The installation displays 12 pieces of work from poetry to paintings made by presently and formerly incarcerated individuals in Berkshire County. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Museum has partnered with Second Street Second Chances...
Berkshire Museum exhibit showcases artworks created by residents who were once, or are currently, incarcerated
September 8, 2023 The Berkshire Eagle A visitor to the Berkshire Museum takes a closer look at the work of artists featured in "Insight Out," such as Dan Lowenstein, who took a "wonderful" art class with Phyllis Kornfeld while incarcerated. (Photo provided by Cody...
Housing Resource Fair Scheduled Sept. 7
August 29, 2023 The Berkshire Eagle PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city's Homeless Advisory Committee is sponsoring its second Housing Resource Fair from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, Sept. 7, at Persip Park, 175 North St. The fair will offer a variety of resources and...