CATA Reading at the Mount

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LENOX, Mass. — Community Access to the Arts (CATA) and The Mount, Edith Wharton's Home, present a reading celebrating the work of writers with disabilities on Sept. 27 at 5pm. 
 
The event takes place at the Stable at The Mount, located at 2 Plunkett St. A free reception will follow the reading where attendees can meet and celebrate CATA writers.
 
Reservations are required for this free event. Register online at CATAarts.org/themount2023 or by contacting CATA at (413) 528-5485 or by email at KateHarding@CATAarts.org.
 
"We're thrilled to partner with The Mount once again to share the work of CATA writers," said CATA Executive Director Margaret Keller. "CATA writers express their creative voices each week in our workshops. By sharing their writing in this dynamic program, we get to spotlight their talent—and our community gets to see the world from their perspective."
 
The event will feature guest readers in a program of writing created in the CATA Writers' Workshop—a weekly class where writers with disabilities hone their craft and express their perspectives. CATA faculty artist Janet Reich Elsbach leads the workshop with an inventive curriculum that helps each CATA writer develop their own style in poetry, haiku, autobiography, and short stories.
 
Some CATA writers work with "scribes" to help them put their ideas on paper. CATA artists also work with guest artists throughout the year, including poet Dante Micheaux who guest-taught two workshops with CATA writers last fall (work created during those workshops will be featured in the reading on Sept. 27).
 
The CATA Writers' Workshop is one of 28 weekly inclusive arts workshops for people with disabilities taking place at CATA's Great Barrington studios during the 2023-2024 program year. Each workshop is designed as a series, and enrollment is on a rolling basis throughout the year. A current course catalog is available on CATA's website at CATAarts.org/joincata.
 
CATA's reading at The Mount is made possible by Berkshire Magazine, Massachusetts Cultural Council, and other supporters.

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Berkshire Natural Resources Council Welcomes Director of Advancement

LENOX, Mass. — Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC) announced the appointment of Emily Daunis as the organization's new Director of Advancement. 
 
With a background spanning over 15 years in strategic fundraising, major donor development, and building inclusive philanthropic programs, Daunis will lead BNRC's fundraising and engagement initiatives to support its mission of land conservation and access to nature in the Berkshires.  
 
In her most recent role as Director of Development at Berkshire United Way, Daunis played a part in advancing the organization's revenue goals by conducting new sponsorship initiatives and engagement strategies. Her extensive background also includes fundraising roles at prominent regional institutions such as the Clark Art Institute, MASS MoCA, and UMASS Amherst. 
 
"Daunis joins BNRC at a critical time, when we need to do even more to conserve land and help people connect to nature in the face of a changing climate. Her ability to connect to people in all walks of life and to create innovative fundraising strategies will enable BNRC to reach its ambitious strategic goals of conserving 20,000 more acres of habitat by 2030," Jenny Hansell, president of BNRC said. "I'm really looking forward to seeing how her leadership will help BNRC forge deeper connections with our supporters, engage new allies, and broaden our impact across the Berkshires." 
 
Daunis, an active member of the local community, holds leadership roles in North Adams, including serving as an elected member of the North Adams Public School Committee. In her new role at BNRC, she will continue her commitment to fostering a culture of philanthropy that is inclusive and rooted in the local community. 
 
"Joining BNRC is an opportunity to help conserve the landscapes that mean so much to everyone in Berkshire County," said Daunis. "I look forward to collaborating with the dedicated team, board of directors, volunteers, and supporters who care so deeply about protecting natural resources. Together we can make an impact that lasts generations." 
 
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