BCC Receives Funding for ESOL Classes

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) announced that it has received funding from 1Berkshire for two cohorts of adult students enrolling in BCC's English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program.

1Berkshire will provide $15,000 per cohort for the spring and fall 2025 semesters, allowing ESOL students to receive full tuition assistance.

BCC's ESOL classes are designed to assist non-native English speakers, primarily immigrants, in assimilating into the community and achieving their academic and career goals. Classes focus on English reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills, while also integrating critical thinking, digital literacy, civics, and navigation of systems skills. Students learn not only the English language but also how to access the resources necessary to thrive in their community and workplace.

"This is outstanding news, because we currently have about 150 students on the ESOL waiting list. That means BCC can now offer more access to more students for ESOL language learning," said Executive Director of Workforce and Community Education Linda Clairmont. "I'm super excited about the partnership with 1Berkshire."

Clairmont explained that the program will include a bridge between workforce ESOL students and the for-credit Humanities 101 ESOL class. The Humanities 101 ESOL for-credit class will be offered to advanced ESOL language learners who are currently on BCC's waiting list or who have completed the ESOL program.

"We are eager to offer advanced language learning to people who may have earned a college degree from their home countries," Clairmont said.

The first cohort will begin at the end of January. Classes will be held on the BCC campus during the early evenings, one night a week, for three hours per class.

ServiceNet Warming Center Hosted 126 People This Winter

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:46AM / Monday, April 07, 2025

ServiceNet manages the warming shelter next to the church. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — ServiceNet's warming center has provided more than heat to unhoused individuals over the last four months and will run to the end of April.

It opened on Dec. 1 in the First United Methodist Church's dining area, next to ServiceNet's 40-bed shelter The Pearl. The agency has seen 126 individuals utilize the warming center and provided some case management to regulars.

While this winter was a success, they are already considering next winter.

"I've been on this committee many years now. There's probably only a few months out of the year that I don't talk about winter, so I'm always trying to plan for next winter," Erin Forbush, ServiceNet's director of shelter and housing, told the Homelessness Advisory Committee on Wednesday.

"We are in this winter and I'm already thinking what's going to happen next winter because I want to be really clear, winter shelter is never a given. We don't have this built into the state budget. It's not built into our budget, so there is always trying to figure out where we get money, and then where do we go with winter shelter."

She pointed out that warming centers are "very different" from shelters, which have a bed. The warming center is set up like a dining room, open from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m., and folks are welcome to stay for breakfast.

"We are asking people to come in, get warm, be out of the elements," Forbush explained.

The warming center will close on April 30.