Katie (left) and Janaya (right) are Taconic High School Students who spent the summer interning at Bloom Creativity.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board has facilitated 27 youth in the completion of paid summer internships at 14 businesses throughout the Berkshire community.
Internship Sites include Berkshire Arts Center, Berkshire Museum, Berkshire Pediatrics / CHP, Bloom Creativity, Clarksburg School Summer Camp, Hotel Downstreet, Emporium Antiques & Art Center, Historic Valley Campground at Windsor Lake, Kayla Civello Training LLC, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, Moresi & Associates, Porches Inn, Red Shirt Farm and Williamstown Farmers Market.
"All of the youth participants demonstrated tremendous dedication to their employment experiences this summer and exemplified what it means to have a strong work ethic," Heather Shogry-Williams, Youth Director at MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board said. "We are incredibly grateful to have these young adults as part of the program, and we extend our sincere thanks to their host employers for providing enriching work opportunities that will lay the foundation for their future career success."
Katie and Janaya, interns at Bloom Creativity in Pittsfield, have dedicated their summer to enhancing the startup's social media presence. Collaboratively, they researched and proposed the integration of a social media post scheduler, which now plays a pivotal role in strategically planning the content and visuals they have crafted.
Reflecting on their internship, Katie shared: "This has been an incredible experience for me to learn about social media marketing and content creation." Janaya, on the other hand, highlighted her acquisition of Microsoft Excel skills, acknowledging it as both a challenge and a personal achievement.
The two interns are also developing time management skills, both independently and within a collective setting.
Maizy Broderick Scarpa, the founder and facilitator of Bloom Creativity, commended Katie and Janaya for their initiative and independence.
This program is made possible by donations provided by the First Congregational Church of Williamstown, A Better Community, MountainOne, Smith Bros.-McAndrews Insurance and Berk12. Many thanks to the MassHire Berkshire Career Center and its Youth Department for supporting this program and the youth it serves!
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Central Berkshire Habitat Honors President Carter
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Former President Jimmy Carter never visited Berkshire County but the impact of his post-presidential efforts can be seen every day here.
Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, are easily the most famous volunteers for Habitat for Humanity, which has chapters in both Central and North Berkshire. For more than 35 years, they helped to build affordable housing with the organization.
"I had the opportunity to meet President Carter and Rosalynn a few times in Atlanta over the years. I believe they are truly the most caring and thoughtful people in the world and represent the best of humanity," said Central Berkshire Habitat's CEO Carolyn Valli.
Central Berkshire Habitat was established in 1992 and serves Central and Southern Berkshire County.
James Carter died on Dec. 29 at age 100; Rosalynn last year in November at age 96. Carter only served one term as president, from 1977 to 1981.
They first volunteered with Habitat for Humanity in Americus, Ga., near their home of Plains, in March 1984. Later that same year, the Carters joined Habitat volunteers in New York City's Lower East Side to renovate an abandoned building in partnership with families in need of affordable housing. That trip marked Habitat for Humanity's first Jimmy Carter Work Project (later renamed the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project).
"We are deeply saddened by President Carter's passing, and our prayers are with the rest of the Carter family," said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. "President and Mrs. Carter began volunteering with Habitat for Humanity near their home in southwest Georgia, soon bringing worldwide attention to the need for decent and affordable housing. We are grateful for the incredible impact the Carters have had on Habitat and on the families who have benefited from their shining example. The Carters put Habitat for Humanity on the map, and their legacy will live on in every family we serve around the world."
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