Northeast Wilderness Trust President and CEO to Present at MCLA's Green Living Seminar

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Jon Leibowitz, president and CEO of the Northeast Wilderness Trust, will give a presentation titled "Rewilding in an Unlikely Landscape: The Recovery of the Northern Forest of the Northeastern United States" on Feb. 19 as part of MCLA's Green Living Seminar Series.
 
Leibowitz's presentation will focus on protecting wilderness across the Northeast and how it's increasingly being recognized as a vital strategy to reverse the extinction crisis and mitigate climate change. He will also address common myths about wilderness and explain why rewilding the Northeast by dramatically expanding wildlands across the region is essential.
 
Leibowitz has served in his current role at the trust since 2017 and began his career as a transaction specialist at Montezuma Land Conservancy in Colorado in 2012, where he later became executive director. He is also a co-owner of WildEdge Brewing Collective in Cortez, Colo.
 
He earned a juris doctor and a master's in environmental law and policy from Vermont Law School and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Leibowitz contributes to various state, regional, and national committees. His roles include serving on the Steering Committee of Wildlands, Woodlands, Farmlands & Communities, the Leadership Council of The Rewilding Institute, and the National Land Trust Alliance Leadership Council.
 
In his free time, Leibowitz enjoys gardening and exploring the forests of the Northeast, particularly those near his home in Middlesex, Vt., at the southern edge of the Worcester Range. He lives there with his wife, two sons, a border collie, chickens, and an abundance of wildlife. Among his favorite wild neighbors are Hermit Thrushes, fishers, and red efts.
Presentations occur every Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. in the Feigenbaum Center for Science and Innovation (FCSI) Room 121. 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

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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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