News
Berkshire County’s first Second Chances Job and Resources Fair connects those with criminal records with work opportunities
November 12, 2022 The Berkshire Eagle One attendee said his time at the Berkshire House of Correction was transformative PITTSFIELD — Nathan Demo counts his time at Berkshire House of Correction as transformative. Demo, 37, got out of jail Aug. 8 and has since managed...
ABC Incubator Spotlight: What it Looks Like When Art Builds Community
October 27, 2023 Deirdre McKenna Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation What Does Expanded Access to the Arts Look Like? Second Street, Second Chances, Inc., an ABC (Arts Build Community) Incubation grant recipient, is a Pittsfield-based organization that offers...
Jason Cuyler: Second chances matter in the workplace
October 26, 2022 The Berkshire Eagle Jason Cuyler: Second chances matter in the workplace At Second Street Second Chances, our name makes our intentions clear: to treat formerly incarcerated individuals with respect and encouragement, to provide them with job...
Berkshire Bank Foundation provides $426K in third-quarter investments
October 25, 2023 The Berkshire Eagle PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Bank provided more than $426,000 in foundation philanthropic investments during the third quarter of 2023. The bank assisted 124 nonprofit organizations with funding to support the communities Berkshire Bank...
Letter: Applause for ‘Release’ and the women of 2nd Street
October 14, 2023 Berkshire Eagle Letter to the Editor To the editor: A few weeks ago, we were fortunate enough to witness a performance of “Release,” a powerful play performed at Berkshire Community College and created in conjunction with Second Street, Second...
Pittsfield: Panel discussion on youth mental illness
October 4, 2023 Berkshire Eagle Pittsfield, MA — A group of local organizations that deal with youth issues will discuss the increasing rates of youth mental illness from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 10, at Barrington Stage, 30 Union St. Called the Berkshire County...
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...