NAACP-Berkshire County Branch

Here's why Pittsfield might rename its DEI office If approved by the Pittsfield City Council, a proposed amendment would rename the city's DEI Office to the Office of Equity, Access and Opportunity.

The embattled police chief of Hinsdale, Mass., is preparing to step down after months of outcry over a mental health call that ended in a young man's death.

According to the agenda for Wednesday night's town select board meeting, the body that governs the small Berkshire County community is prepared to accept the resignation of Chief Shawn Boyne.

In January, his on-scene handling of Biagio Kauvil's request for help during a mental health crisis ended with the 27-year-old shot to death by a Hinsdale officer.

The outcome prompted outcry from the community and criticism from both the Berkshire District Attorney and the neighboring Dalton Police Department. The latter, officers of which responded to the incident, ended its mutual aid agreement with Hinsdale citing concerns about Boyne's leadership and professionalism. The Hinsdale Police Department is in the midst of an audit from an external law firm.

Hinsdale police chief at heart of shooting scandal to resign According to the agenda for Wednesday night's town select board meeting, the body that governs the small Berkshire County community is prepared to accept the resignation of Chief Shawn Boyne.

Thank you for another great report, Josh at WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

For decades, a historically Black neighborhood in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, has grappled with poverty, crime and a lack of state and city funding. Now, an invested group of community members is focused on once again making the Westside a place where everyone can thrive. This weekend, a first-of-its-kind summit that will discuss everything from housing and health to safety and solar panels.

A 2022 report on redlining from the NAACP-Berkshire County Branch detailed how structural discrimination set up the Westside and its inhabitants for failure. Decades of denying people of color access to financial resources consolidated Pittsfield’s Black community into the neighborhood over the 20th century by preventing their ability to buy homes in the city’s more affluent districts. It pushed them into what banks and loan institutions determined the least desirable part of the city.

“The findings were amazing. It really hit home for me because it showed how discrimination against people of color really affected those people, and having to remove themselves from their home to another place of the town, and trying to fit in." said Westside Legends President Tony Jackson. "It was a personal thing with my family. My grandparents owned a house on Satinet Street, and they made enough money to afford the house and buy the house, but weren't able to because they couldn't get a loan. And it was pretty sad to think that you could basically live there, afford to buy it, but you wouldn't be able to buy it because of the color of your skin.”

Historic summit to look at revitalizing Pittsfield's Westside For decades, a historically Black neighborhood in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, has grappled with poverty, crime and a lack of state and city funding. Now, an invested group of community members is focused on once again making the Westside a place where everyone can thrive. This weekend, a first-of-its...

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The Supreme Court Shredded America’s ‘Most Powerful’ Law The Voting Rights Act turns 61 on Thursday, but a recent ruling by the Supreme Court has left the landmark legislation gutted. On this anniversary, we examine the legacy and future of the VRA.

First Fridays at Five: Youth Alive Step, Dance, and Drumline
Friday, August 7, 6 and 7 pm

During the August 7 First Fridays at Five, on North Street near the Center Island, across from the Beacon Cinema, Youth Alive Step, Dance, and Drumline will perform at 6 pm and 7 pm.

Youth Alive is a multicultural community-based arts program providing arts and educational opportunities to young people 8-18 years of age with a focus on dance forms including Step, African, and Hip-Hop. Youth Alive marked its 30th anniversary this year!

The Step portion of the performance will consist of junior and senior squads performing their individual routines, followed by them joining together as the dance squad to perform with a dance mix.