Al Bashevkin

Executive Director
email: abashevkin@nbccoalition.org

Al has been the Director of the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition since its inception in 1986.  He has seen many changes for the Northern Berkshire community since the mid 80’s.  A native of North Adams, Al turned back to the Northern Berkshire community midway through his career.  To stay healthy for the work of the Coalition, Al enjoys bicycling, cross country skiing, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, and singing with the Battenkill Chorale in Cambridge, NY.  Al lives in Bennington, VT with his family.

Natalie Cain

Northern Berkshire Neighbors
email: ncain@nbccoalition.org

Natalie Cain began her work with the Coalition by initiating the Northern Berkshire Neighbors program in 1993.  She is a well-rooted native of the Berkshires, having grown up in North Adams where she attended St. Joseph’s School and later became a sister of St. Joseph.  She values the relationships and connections her work enables her to form among people of all ages and backgrounds working together in a community setting.  A student of the Jane Houston Mystery School, she is committed to helping others discover and use their gifts to create healthy and happy social networks, and therefore contribute to building a society that works for everyone.

Kate Merrigan

UNITY Program Coordinator
email: kmerrigan@nbccoalition.org

Kate, a proud North Adams native, has been working in the Coalition’s UNITY programs since 2005.  She feels honored and lucky to have a job that allows her to explore her dual passions for youth empowerment and engaging people in community change.  When she’s not at work, Kate can be found spending time at local coffee shops with her father, volunteering with the New Hampshire Teen Institute, trying to make the perfect cupcake, working on plays with Mill City Productions, and talking endlessly about Battlestar Galactica.  Kate, who holds a BA in American Studies/ Gender Studies from Marlboro College, previously worked as a counselor at Tapestry Health Family Planning (you might also recognize her from her years cooking and wise cracking behind the counter at the Appalachian Bean Cafe).

Lois Daunis

Grants Manager, CMCA
email: ldaunis@nbccoalition.org

Lois Daunis works as the Grants Manager at the Coalition, and also as Program Coordinator for Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol (CMCA) and Safe Homes of North Berkshire.  Contact her at the Coalition for more information on making your home safe for youth.  Lois also owns Papyri Books in North Adams, and divides her time between these responsibilities.  When not grantwriting or bookselling, Lois enjoys spending time with her family, walking, teasing her cats, mission and relief work, and, of course, reading.

Liz Boland

Business Manager
email: lboland@nbccoalition.org

Liz Boland came to the Coalition from the Mount Williams Greenhouses and Flower Shop, where she had kept the books for 22 years.  Liz claimed the Coalition was to be her first experience with a non-profit organization, but she is one of a five-member committee that organizes Berkshire Idol, a yearly singing competition that raises funds for local charities, and she also volunteers with the parent-teacher group at Greylock Elementary School.  A graduate of North Adams State College (now MCLA) with a B. S. in Computer Science, this Northern Berkshire native is drawn to the non-profit world.  At the center of Liz’s life are her two boys, Sully, age 11, and Jon, who is 8.  In the precious bit of free time that comes her way, Liz follows her two passions: football (she cheers for the Patriots!) and good ole rock ‘n’ roll.

Tim Briggs

Brayton Hill After School Program Coordinator
email: tbriggs@nbccoalition.org

Tim has lived in the Berkshires his entire life, growing up in North Adams.  After graduating from McCann Technical High School, he traveled the earth seeking adventure and later returned to settle and raise his family here.  Tim has prior experience working as a child development counselor at the Eagleton School, Inc. in Great Barrington, MA.  Tim is a graduate of MCLA, with a degree in Sociology, and minors in Social Work and Philosophy.  Tim plans to pursue a master’s degree in Social Work.  In his spare time, Tim enjoys spending time with his wife and three children, fishing, golfing, and playing softball.  Tim says, “anything worth doing is worth doing right.”

Ashley Benson

Northern Berkshire Neighbors Coordinator

email: abenson@nbccoalition.org

Ashley, a Berkshire mountain native, comes to the Coalition with a wide range of social service experience ranging from community outreach programming to coordinating service learning programs at the college level and providing therapy to children and adults who have experienced significant trauma.  Ashley is a proud graduate of Mass College of Liberal Arts and has recently graduated from Smith College School for Social Work with her MSW.  At nbCC Ashley coordinates the Northern Berkshire Neighbors Program.  Ashley believes in the core mission of NBN because of its grassroots foundation in organizing individuals to unite and empower each other to become a stronger community.  When Ashley is not working, she likes to kayak, hike with her dog, spend time with her family in NY and listen to good music.