MCLA to Host Book Talk

04:06PM / Friday, October 25, 2024Print Story | Email Story

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) will host a lecture by Dr. Derron Wallace, a renowned sociologist of race, ethnicity, and education.

Wallace will present a book talk on his critically acclaimed work, "The Culture Trap: Ethnic Expectations and Unequal Schooling for Black Youth," on Monday, Oct. 28, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in Murdock Hall, Room 218. This event is part of the Commonwealth Honors Program and Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work (SASW) Speaker Series. It is free and open to the public.

Wallace is the Jacob S. Potofsky Chair in Sociology and Associate Professor of Sociology and Education at Brandeis University. His book, "The Culture Trap" (Oxford University Press, 2023), explores the complex ways in which cultural stereotypes and expectations contribute to the educational inequalities faced by Black youth in both national and international contexts. The book has garnered significant recognition, including the prestigious 2024 Pierre Bourdieu Award for Best Book in Sociology of Education and the 2024 Oliver Cromwell Cox Book Award from the American Sociological Association for its contributions to anti-racist scholarship.

In addition to his authorship, Wallace is a distinguished scholar who has earned multiple accolades, including Distinguished Early Career Awards from the American Educational Research Association, the American Sociological Association, and the Comparative

and International Education Society. He holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge, where he was a Marshall Scholar and a Gates Cambridge Scholar. His research, supported by grants from the Fulbright Commission, the Spencer Foundation, and other prestigious

institutions, reflects his deep commitment to issues of youth safety, immigrant rights, and public education.

With experience as both a community organizer and a researcher, Wallace's work has been featured by BBC News, the Guardian, NBC News, and more.

This event is also co-sponsored by MCLA courses including Institutional Equity and Belonging, Core Domains: First Year Seminar, Human Hertiage and Language Arts, Self & Society, and Capstone.

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North Adams Housing Authority Director Steps Down

Staff Reports09:16AM / Friday, October 09, 2026

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Jennifer Hohn, the longtime executive director of the North Adams Housing Authority (NAHA), has stepped down after 24 years with the agency.

The Berkshire Eagle reported that Hohn resigned from her position on Thursday. The NAHA Board of Commissioners is currently developing a transition plan.

Her resignation follows rising tension between Hohn and the tenants association. Residents—particularly at the Spring and Ashland Park apartments—have raised specific concerns regarding building security, drug activity, and trespassers.

This summer, Tenants Association President Corey Fortin posted a video on social media demonstrating that door alarms in some of the buildings were not functioning.

Shortly after the video was posted, the tenants association's office was locked. Members alleged Hohn locked the space in retaliation, while Hohn maintained it was a matter of tenant safety. Hohn also stated that NAHA does not officially recognize the association because it has yet to go through official channels for certification—a claim the tenants association disputes.

The dispute culminated in plans for a formal grievance hearing between Hohn and the association. Both sides agreed to hold a meeting on Oct. 3, but the hearing had not yet been scheduled at the time of her resignation.
During her tenure as director, Hohn oversaw significant changes at NAHA, including expansion and the dissolution of Housing Opportunities Incorporated, a program founded over 30 years ago to assist first-time homebuyers. Most recently, she led efforts to transition NAHA properties from traditional public housing models to the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program. She also directed the rebuilding of a Greylock Valley Apartments building after it was severely damaged by a fire.

The NAHA Board of Commissioners meets monthly, typically on Mondays.

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