MCLA to Host Community Panel 'How to Speak About Peace'

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — MCLA faculty and staff invite the campus and North Adams community to a panel discussion "How to Speak About Peace" to discuss urgent calls for a permanent ceasefire in Palestine on Thursday, Nov. 30.  
 
The discussion will start at 7 p.m. in Murdock Hall Room 218. 
 
Panelists include Associate Professor of Anthropology Dr. Mohamad Junaid, Associate Professor of English & Communications Dr. Victoria Papa, Assistant Professor of Art History and Museum Studies Dr. Eunice Uhm, Associate Professor of Modern Language Dr. Mariana Bolivar, and Assistant Professor of Psychology Dr. Carter Carter. The discussion will be moderated by Assistant Professor of English & Communications Dr. Caren Beilin and interim director of The Mind's Eye – an initiative featuring interdisciplinary academic programming. 
 
"As an educational institution with scholarly expertise in our community, one thing we can do to try to cope with the unfolding events is to gather for conversation and to contend with current events. It is notable that this panel includes Jewish, Arab, and Muslim faculty members and those whose research addresses many of these intertwined topics," MCLA President James Birge stated in a message to the campus community. "I encourage our community's participation in this important conversation."  
 
This community panel is a follow-up and continuation of the previous panel about the war in Israel and Gaza. This comes after a weekend of horrific violence that took place in Burlington, Vt involving three Palestinian college students.  
 
"We must continue to talk with one another about peace, to find the words, and indeed the information, to speak and act on this urgent issue," Dr. Beilin said. 

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Community Hero of the Month: George Canales

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff

George Canales was gifted a rocking chair by the North End Athletic Association for his work on the baseball exchange.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — La Festa Baseball Exchange founder George Canales has been nominated as July's Community Hero of the Month.
 
The Community Hero of the Month series recognizes individuals and organizations that have significantly impacted their community. 
 
The series is in partnership with Haddad Auto and will run for the next five months. Nominate a community hero here
 
To Canales, baseball is more than just a sport — it is an opportunity to instill sportsmanship and unity, and teach youngsters important life lessons. 
 
"I've coached Little League in Williamstown. I coached Little League in North Adams. I've coached Babe Ruth and I coach varsity baseball at McCann Technical High School for over 25 years," said Canales, also McCann School Committee member. "I've been into baseball a lot. I just enjoy working with kids. It's my life working with kids."
 
His La Festa Baseball Exchange has used baseball to connect North Adams with Boston for the past 33 years. 
 
Canales has collaborated with his friend John Romano of the North End Athletic Association to provide North County ballplayers the opportunity to play against The Hub's squad and give the big city kids a chance to visit the rural Berkshires.
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