MCLA Environmental Studies Department 2025 Green Living Seminar

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — MCLA's annual Green Living Seminar Series returns with a series of lectures on the theme of "Rewilding Our World." 
 
Presentations occur every Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. in the Feigenbaum Center for Science and Innovation (FCSI) Room 121.  
 
Every semester the Green Living Seminars center around a different topic, timely and relevant in current sustainability issues. The series, which runs through April, will kick off on Jan. 29 with Chief Scientist of Conservation Science, Inc. Dr. Reed Noss and his talk "What is Rewilding?"  
 
Future Green Living Presentations include: 
 
January 29: What is Rewilding?; Dr. Reed Noss, Conservation Science, Inc., Chief Scientist (via Zoom) 
 
February 5: Urban Rewilding; Sarah Greenleaf, Massachusetts DCR Greening the Gateway Cities Program, Urban Forester 
 
February 12: Restoring Forests to Reduce the Spread of Disease; Dr. Paula Prist, Forest and Grasslands Unit, IUCN, Senior Programme Coordinator (via Zoom) 
 
February 19: Rewilding in an Unlikely Landscape: The Recovery of the Northern Forest of the Northeastern United States; Jon Leibowitz, Northeast Wilderness Trust, President and CEO 
 
February 26: The Future of Wolves in the Northeast Renee Seacor, Project Coyote, Carnivore Conservation Director 
 
March 5: Restoring Old-Growth Characteristics to the Forest in New England, Paul Catanzaro, University of Massachusetts, Professor and State Extension Forester 
 
March 12: Land Conservation for Wildlife in Massachusetts; Andrew Madden, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, Western District Supervisor 
 
March 26: Land Protection from the Indigenous Perspective; Paula Peters, Native Land Conservancy, Communications and Programs Coordinator (via Zoom) 
 
April 2: Restoring Rivers and Rewilding Wetlands in Massachusetts; Beth Lambert, Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration, Director 
 
April 9: Green Roofs: Rewilding our cities; Mark Winterer, Recover Green Roofs, Co-Founder and Owner 
 
April 16: Rewilding for Pollinators; Amy Meltzer, MA Pollinator Network Steering Committee, Co-Chair 
 
April 23: Rewilding to Combat Climate Change; Dr. Os Schmitz, Yale School of the Environment, Oastler Professor of Population and Community Ecology 
 
Each presentation is free and open to the public. Podcasts will be posted online following each presentation.  
 
All lectures will be recorded and can be replayed on the MCLA ENVI Youtube Channel and broadcast on Northern Berkshire Community Television Channel (NBCTC) 1302 at the following times: 
  • Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. 
  • Fridays at 4 p.m. 
  • Saturdays at 3:30 p.m. 
  • Sundays at 11:30 p.m. 
  • Mondays at 5:30 p.m.  
Community members can find up-to-date information about the schedule at mcla.edu/greenliving. 

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North Adams Housing Authority Director Steps Down

Staff Reports

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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