BERKSHIRE COUNTY, MA – 1Berkshire
July 31, 2019 – 1Berkshire is excited to welcome its 10th class into the Berkshire Youth Leadership Program! This group of 29 high school juniors from across the Berkshires came together for the first time as a class at Williams College over the weekend of July 26th – 28th for their kickoff retreat.
With participants from all corners of the Berkshires, this year’s participants bring a wide breadth of experiences, backgrounds, and potential to this program. The 1Berkshire Youth Leadership Program is focused on helping young leaders in our region develop and grow through career opportunity awareness, leadership skill development, and the completion of a 10-month-long collective-impact project focused on positively impacting the Berkshires.
Over the next 10 months, these 29 students will come together monthly at locations all around the Berkshires to participate in workshops, learn from speakers, and to develop and execute their selected project. Ben Lamb, Director of Economic Development at 1Berkshire, and program coordinator of the Youth Leadership Program notes, “students in this program leave with a new group of friends from all around the county, a unique and deep understanding of career opportunities right here in the Berkshires, and the pride of completing a project that has positively impacted their community.”
Made possible through the financial support of Berkshire Bank, Greylock Federal Credit Union and Cohen Kinne Valicenti & Cook, the 1Berkshire Youth Leadership Program is coordinated by 1Berkshire with the dynamic support of the volunteer Youth Leadership Program Steering Committee. Co-chaired by Karen Ruiz Leon of Berkshire Community College and Matthew Martin of Mildred Elley, this committee is composed of professionals across the region who commit their time and expertise to develop and facilitate the monthly sessions for the class, while also offering advice to them as they look to their own futures.
The 2020 Youth Leadership Class participants are:
De’Lisia Adorno – Pittsfield High School
Gianna Arace – Taconic High School
Lauren Bean – Wahconah Regional High School
Marlon Binns – Pittsfield High School
Quinn Burnell – Lee Middle and High School
Cecelia Caldwell – Mount Everett Regional High School
Fiora Laina Caligiuri-Randall – Home School
Caroline Cellana – Drury High School
Gabrielle Cohan – Pittsfield High School
Felicia Deane – BART Charter School
Marley Gamberoni – Lenox Memorial Middle and High School
Olivia Gazzillo – Wahconah Regional High School
Ryan Goodell – Drury High School
Connor Hayford – Pittsfield High School
Isabella Kemp – Mount Everett Regional High School
Andrew King – Taconic High School
Benjamin Klose – Wahconah Regional High School
Evelyn Layden – Pittsfield High School
Sage Macken – Monument Mountain Regional High School
Patience MacPherson – Wahconah Regional High School
Mickey Masters – Mount Everett Regional High School
Emmanuel Nda – Pittsfield High School
Vienne Peltier – Wahconah Regional High School
Luke Peplowski – Pittsfield High School
Jaleix Rosa Soto – Pittsfield High School
Ava Sinopoli – Taconic High School
Aleah Tarjick – Hoosac Valley High School
Timothy Therrien – Wahconah Regional High School
Grace Towler – McCann Technical School
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, 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.
For more information, contact:
Benjamin Lamb,
Director of Economic Development
1Berkshire Strategic Alliance
(413) 499-1600 x148
blamb@1berkshire.com
