BCC Hires Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Director

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College has hired a director of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Former Director of Alumni Relations Antonia "Toni" Buckley has taken on the role of DEI director for the college. President Ellen Kennedy announced her appointment at the BCC Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday.

"I just want to share that I'm really grateful and super excited about this opportunity to support the college in this next phase to becoming the most inclusive organization that we can be," Buckley said, adding that her heart lies within equity efforts and with BCC.

Buckley was born in Germany to two Syrian parents and moved to the United States in 2015. She has a master's degree in communications and design and is approaching another master's degree in management of nonprofits and cultural organizations.

The DEI director sees herself as an artist, activist, and active volunteer in the community. She was the former coordinator of the Berkshire Immigrant Stories project, which collects and shares the stories of recent local immigrants and their families.

In the last year, other communities and organizations in Berkshire County have made similar moves.

The city of Pittsfield appointed North Adams City Councilor Michael Obasohan as the head of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in February. During the fiscal 2022 budget season, a six-month budget of $99,760 was passed for the office.

Counting Birds Now a Christmas Tradition

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
06:38AM / Saturday, December 28, 2024

The bird counts are important in collecting data for ornithologists and conservationists. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A team of birders will be heading out across North County on Saturday to participate in the annual Christmas Bird Count.

 

The count has become a tradition for many over the last 125 years while providing valuable environmental insights for researchers, conservation biologists, wildlife agencies, and others. 

 

Participating in this wildlife census allows people to observe and interact with birds in their local environments directly and can inspire a deeper connection to nature, instilling a desire to protect it, said Tom Tyning, former Hoffmann Bird Club president and longtime Christmas Bird Count participant. 

 

Bird watching is the most popular leisure time activity in the United States, said David Schaller, North County count compiler and a leader of Saturday's team. 

 

"It's a way to be outside. It's a way to connect with nature. It's good exercise. It's good mentally — you're trying to look at a bird and figure out what kind of bird it is," he said.

 

"For some participants in our group, it's a family tradition that is as important to them as other Christmas traditions."

 

This one-day activity is far more than that for many. It introduces new participants to a wealth of knowledge in environmental and natural science and can transform into a lifelong hobby because of its vast number of topics, Tyning said.