As April got underway you may have seen your news feed fill with articles on population loss in the Berkshires. It is more evident than ever how important the next generation is for our area. With an array of programs focused on attracting, retaining, and training millennials 1Berkshire is continuing a number of programs deeply invested in our future.
On April 1, the 2016 Berkshire Leadership Program class began with a two-day retreat, where the students participated in a number of activities focused on leadership and team-building. They will continue to meet and grow every week until they graduate in June. This is the 19th class to participate in the program, which boasts almost 500 graduates from local businesses.
Later this month we will announce the upcoming class of the Youth Leadership Program, a program designed to develop young individuals to be the next generation of community leaders, allowing them opportunities to explore civic responsibility and the various roles they can play in the Berkshires.
The Berkshire Young Professionals continues to connect young people with each other and good business resources. On April 14 at Boundless in West Stockbridge, the BYP hosted a wellness workshop and networking social. The group continues to grow and positively affect the next generation.
The final program we’d like to talk about is the Berkshire Initiative for Growth (BIG) a coordinated effort amongst 1Berkshire staff, community leaders, and young adults to develop programs and mobilize resources to boost the population in Berkshire County. On April 13 we hosted “Our Next B.I.G. Idea: Understanding the Future of Work and How to Attract and Retain Millennials” at the Colonial Theatre.
The next generation is our future so at 1Berkshire we want to foster and help develop this population subset for a brighter Berkshire economy.