Berkshire Leadership Program (BLP)

A Comprehensive Course in Local Leadership.

BLP seeks, prepares, involves, and sustains leaders from diverse backgrounds who are committed and competent to address community challenges and improve the quality of life in the Berkshires.

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About Berkshire Leadership Program

Berkshire Leadership Program (BLP) seeks, prepares, involves, and sustains individuals from diverse backgrounds who are committed and competent to address community challenges and improve the quality of life in the Berkshires. More than 640 community-minded individuals have graduated from the program since its inception in 1997. Each year, up to 30 candidates are selected to participate in the program. The cost of tuition is $800.

In-person weekly sessions are held at various locations throughout Berkshire County from 5:00-9:00pm on Thursday evenings. You are expected to attend all of the weekly sessions. Missing more than 15 minutes of a session is considered a ½ absence. Participants who have more than two absences will be withdrawn from the program and will forfeit their tuition.

Applications for the Class of 2024 will be made available this Fall.

Apply Today!

2024 Session Schedule

The Spring 2024 schedule will be posted November/December 2023. For planning purposes, in-person weekly sessions are held at various locations throughout Berkshire County from 5:00-9:00pm on Thursday evenings. Although, the Spring 2024 dates have not been decided, the program usually runs April – June. Participants are expected to attend all of the weekly sessions in their entirety. Missing part of a session is considered a ½ absence. In addition to the weekly sessions, there are 3 mandatory programs: the Kick-off Retreat, Economic Development Bus Tour and Commencement. Participants who have more than two absences or who can not attend a mandatory program will be withdrawn from the program and will forfeit their tuition.

Program Benefits

Heightens awareness of key issues affecting the Berkshire region
Enhances creative problem-solving and team-building skills
Offers interaction with prominent leaders who influence our community
Establishes a professional network, which is utilized beyond the program
Explores specific, demonstrable competencies and characteristics of a successful leader

Selection Criteria

The BLP Steering Committee will select participants based on:

Demonstrated commitment to and interest in serving the Berkshires
Willingness to commit time and energy to completing the program
Berkshires residency or ability to demonstrate significant community involvement in the region

BLP Newsletters

Want to catch up with all things BLP? Check out the latest edition of our Newsletter.

BLP Scholarship Fund

Give to our Berkshire Leadership Fundraiser by donating to our scholarship fund.

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BLP Steering Committee Vacancies

BLP Steering Committee has some vacancies to fill! Put your leadership skills to work to help build class opportunities, recruit and support participants and promote this long-standing program of the Berkshires. You’ll work with a team and build personal and professional connections while experiencing first hand conversations about how the Berkshire economy is developing and changing. Please join us and share this opportunity with other great candidates to help us grow and train local leaders.

Apply Now!

Learn about the Berkshires at weekly sessions.

BLP Alumni Database

Want to get connected with BLP alumni? We keep an updated contact database for all of our alumni. If you are an alum and would like your information updated, please email us at: blp@1berkshire.com.

Past Special Projects

2023

Berkshire County has many attractions from where to live, work and visit that deserve to be showcased in the eyes of the BLP Class of 2023. After much discussion and deliberation, the class chose to focus on Berkshire Gems as defined by the Class of 2023 and highlighted on an interactive, multimedia map to showcase Berkshire County as a magical place to live, work, and visit. This map features clickable links that reveal brief video, written, audio and/or multimedia testimonials about why that curated person, place, product, or space is such a gem to the members of the Class of 2023.

See More Past Projects