1Berkshire is excited to welcome its 15th 1Berkshire Youth Leadership Program class. This group of 32 high school juniors from across the Berkshires was selected through a competitive application process to begin a year-long leadership development program that kicked off in June with a three-day, two-night retreat held at Camp Chimney Corners.

This year’s class brings a wide breadth of experiences, backgrounds, and potential to this program. The 1Berkshire Youth Leadership Program is focused on helping students in our region develop and grow through career opportunity awareness, leadership skill development, and the design and completion of a 9-month-long collective-impact project focused on the betterment of the Berkshires. Selected students have shown a significant capacity to grow their leadership skills and a strong desire to have a positive impact on their communities.

Over the next 8 months, these 32 students will convene at locations all around the region to participate in workshops, engage in meaningful group dialogue, learn from speakers and one another, and to develop and execute their selected collective-impact project. With a focus on sustainability and diversity, equity, and inclusion, this year’s program will also aim to engage students in meaningful discussions that create critical reflection and new levels of self awareness as we seek to support qualities associated with global citizenry and cultural humility.

Kevin Pink, Deputy Director of Economic Development at 1Berkshire and Director of the Youth Leadership Program notes, “During this year’s kick-off retreat, our students met, in many cases for the first time, and began bonding and thinking about how their individual learning and communication styles interact.” He adds, “We are thrilled to kick off another amazing year in which our students will build a stronger understanding of the region and the community, as well as collaboratively design and execute a project to make a positive impact here in the Berkshires and in the world.” Students in the Youth Leadership Program leave with a new group of friends from all around the county, a unique and meaningful perspective on career opportunities in the region, and the pride of completing a project that has positively impacted their community.

Made possible through the financial and resource support of sponsors including Beacon Bank, Berkshire Health Systems, Greylock Federal Credit Union, Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA, NBT Bank, and Berkshire Agricultural Ventures, the 1Berkshire Youth Leadership Program is coordinated by 1Berkshire with the dynamic support of the volunteer Youth Leadership Program Steering Committee, chaired by Julie Haagenson of New Pathways Coaching & Consulting. This committee is composed of professionals from across the region who commit their time and expertise to develop and facilitate the monthly sessions for the class, while also offering advice to the students as they look to their own futures. 

The 2026-2027 Youth Leadership Class participants are:

Myra Annuva – Mount Greylock Regional High School

Sophia Astorino – Charles H. McCann Technical School

Aryanna Bouchard – Wahconah Regional High School

Carter Brbovic – Pittsfield High School

Cole Creighton – Mount Greylock Regional High School

Aubrey Dowd – Wahconah Regional High School

Anima Ekua Gyapong – Pittsfield High School

Devyn Fillio – Lee Middle and High School

Nathan Foster – Mount Everett Regional School

Ruben Fried – Pittsfield High School

Liv Guinan – Lee Middle and High School

Oscar Heeringa – Mount Greylock Regional High School

Sarah Henderson – Pittsfield High School

Mia Hiltpold – Pittsfield High School

Genevieve Lagess – Hoosac Valley High School

Boden Mariano – Winlow Oaks Homeschool

Max Mozian – Lenox Memorial Middle and High School

Olivia Perez – Mount Greylock Regional High School

Jessmirac Perry – Pittsfield High School

Chloe Potash – Pittsfield High School

Genevieve Quinto – Drury High School

Addy Reddington – Wahconah Regional High School

Emily Rosen – Lenox Memorial High School

Corey Rudin – Mount Greylock Regional School

Elizabeth Sahakyants – Lenox Memorial Middle and High School

Jonah Sanabria – Monument Mountain Regional High School

Nora Schoeny – Lenox Memorial Middle and High School

Elizabeth Spelman – Mount Greylock Regional High School

Audra Tresp – Lenox Memorial High School

Megan Tucker – Wahconah Regional High School

Rhaya Wright – Drury High School

Langston Young-Taft – Monument Mountain Regional High School