The mission of the Coalition is to improve the quality of life for people in Northern Berkshire by organizing, supporting, and empowering the community. The Coalition works to achieve its mission by:

PROVIDING A PUBLIC PLACE FOR THE COMMUNITY
Monthly meetings averaging over sixty participants are held the second Friday of each month, from September through May, at the First Baptist Church of North Adams. These meetings are open to all. Each year of forums begins in September with a public hearing offering the community an opportunity to help set the Coalition’s year long agenda. The Coalition News, mailed and e-mailed to over a thousand local citizens and organizations every month, includes articles about regional issues written by community members and Coalition staff. The Coalition also produces a monthly TV show about topics that will be presented at the monthly forum.

BUILDING STRONGER NEIGHBORHOODS
The Northern Berkshire Community Coalition provides support, technical assistance, and leadership development for area neighborhoods through Northern Berkshire Neighbors. Northern Berkshire Neighbors works to engage residents in recognizing and addressing neighborhood and community issues through a variety of programs including neighborhood meetings and community events.

PROMOTING POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
UNITY (United, Neighboring, Interdependent, Trusted Youth), the Coalition’s youth development program, has been offering innovative, youth-driven programs since 1994.  Two staff serve as adult advisors to a variety of programming that involves students ages 11-19 from all over the Northern Berkshire area.  Current projects include the Grooove concert series, a Teen Writing Workshop, the Youth Leadership Program, and the “411 in the 413″ Youth Conference.

Anyone who works or lives in the Northern Berkshire area and is interested in the work of the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition is considered an affiliate of the Coalition. Coalition affiliation has included people of the Northern Berkshire community representing human services, businesses, clergy, higher education, local schools, local and state government, and local citizens. Voluntary contributions to help defray expenses are requested, but they do not affect affiliation with the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition.

A letter from Al Bashevkin, Executive Director:

Since 1986, I have been honored to be associated with the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition. As an organization, we are much different from what we started as, and our changes are a reflection of the evolution of the Northern Berkshire community. What I enjoy most about my association with the Coalition is the seat I have as the Northern Berkshire community grows and matures. It’s a box seat, and one of the best in the community. I have been able to watch change from all levels. I see change from the viewpoint of the leaders of the faith and political communities, through the eyes of our youth, our aging residents and others. Many wonderful changes have been occurring at many different levels and places in our community.

Over the years, we have moved from a forum for health and human service providers to a forum for community issues. Our Community Coalition has worked with neighborhood leaders to foster dialogue at the most important level, that of our neighborhoods. We have worked with youth to create a noncompetitive forum for the youth of our communities through UNITY and have helped our young people capture the exciting opportunities in the arts that are happening here though the CommUNITY Arts Program. We have continued to focus on prevention of social problems, whether they be child maltreatment, domestic violence, or substance abuse. And we have continued to support the area services to do the best job they can.

An organization is as good as the people behind it, and our success is due to the involvement of so many in the community. If you’re part of our organization, thanks. If not, join us in this exciting adventure. Whether it be attending a neighborhood meeting, supporting the youth in our community, or participating in one of our many community forums, you’ll be participating in the maturation of the Northern Berkshire community.

Al Bashevkin