For additional information, please contact
Benjamin Lamb, Director of Economic Development
1Berkshire Strategic Alliance
(413) 499-1600 x148
blamb@1berkshire.com
For Immediate Release
1Berkshire Extends Youth Leadership Program Application Deadline
Berkshire County, MA – February 10, 2022 – 1Berkshire’s Berkshire Youth Leadership Program is extending the deadline for applications to the YLP Class of 2022-2023 to 11:59PM on Friday, February 18. Until the February 18th deadline, sophomores from any school in the Berkshires, and equivalent-aged home-schooled students, are encouraged to submit an application for the program.
The application can be found at: https://1berkshire.com/
“Students and school staff have faced unprecedented challenges to the normal course of life throughout the pandemic, but especially over the last few months,” said Ben Lamb, 1Berkshire’s Director of Economic Development and Program Coordinator of the Youth Leadership Program. “In order to ensure that as many current sophomores as possible have an opportunity to apply to participate in the Youth Leadership Program, we wanted to provide interested students an additional week to prepare and submit their applications.”
The 1Berkshire Youth Leadership Program, open to all current sophomores in the Berkshires, selects a cohort of up to 30 motivated students from all backgrounds for this ten-month experience that will allow them to explore the regional economy and develop their leadership skills. Once selected, students will begin the program with a 3-day, 3-night retreat from June 9th-12th, at the conclusion of their sophomore year. At the retreat, students will meet for the first time, begin to build deep connections, and learn about and advance their individual leadership skills.
Over the following ten months, students will reconvene for one full day each month, held at various locations across the Berkshires (or virtually, in the case of severe weather conditions). During these sessions, students will meet with business leaders and dynamic community members to learn about sectors and careers in the regional economy, including but not limited to advanced manufacturing, healthcare, nonprofits and community service, the creative economy, and hospitality and tourism. Students will develop leadership competencies through activities within the sessions, and as a class, will develop and execute a collective community impact project that will enhance life in the Berkshires.
This program is made possible through the ongoing financial support of a variety of business and organizational sponsors. If you are interested in pursuing a role as a program sponsor, please contact Ben Lamb at blamb@1berkshire.com to learn more. The 1Berkshire Youth Leadership Program is coordinated by 1Berkshire with the dynamic support of the volunteer Youth Leadership Program Steering Committee, composed of professionals from across the region who commit their time and expertise to develop and facilitate the entire program.
Please contact economicdev@1berkshire.com with any questions, and encourage any Berkshire County sophomores you know to apply.
About 1Berkshire
1Berkshire is a county-wide organization focused on economic development and promotion of the region as a preferred place to visit, to live, to work, and to grow a business. It provides programs that connect businesses with each other and with potential customers, as well as works to develop future leaders and support entrepreneurs. For more information, visit 1Berkshire.com.
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