Impact of DEI on Berkshire Economic Development Topic of Forum

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Massachusetts LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Alexandra Eberhardt and North Adams City Councilor Andrew Fitch, a business owner, will participate in a panel discussion on Wednesday, May 21, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Heart's Pace Teahouse on Eagle Street.

The panel is part of the Berkshire LGBTQ+ Business, Professional & Community Leaders Networking Event. 

The discussion will focus on how the Berkshire region's ongoing commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) is attracting new businesses, leaders, economic development, and innovation. The speakers will also address the potential acceleration of this trend due to North Adams and Pittsfield's designation as Sanctuary Cities for Trans and Gender Diverse People.

Berkshire LGBTQ+ business owners and professionals have been convening on the third Wednesday of each month for networking events aimed at fostering connections and increasing the community's capacity to address political, economic, and demographic challenges relevant to the rural LGBTQ+ community and its businesses. These events also serve to highlight new LGBTQ+ businesses and leaders establishing themselves in the Berkshires, attributed to the region's public support for diversity and equity.  

The monthly networking event is a collaboration between the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce, Q-MoB, and media sponsor Berkshire Magazine. It aims to provide a platform for local LGBTQ+ business owners, professionals, community leaders, and allies to connect and engage in dialogue.  

"In this time of tumultuous change, it's vital that our local LGBTQ+ business owners and professionals come together to support one another and work in solidarity with our many allied businesses, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations to improve the region’s economic development and creative economy, particularly as LGBTQ businesses and business owners from more repressive parts of the country look for a place where they will be welcomed," said Q-MoB Executive Director Bart Church. 

Registration for the May 21 Networking Event is free and can be accessed here.

Clarksburg Students Write in Support of Rural School Aid

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
07:25AM / Sunday, March 15, 2026

Mason Langenback calculated that Clarksburg would get almost $1 million if the $60 million was allocated equally.

CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Eighth-graders at Clarksburg School took a lesson in civic advocacy this week, researching school funding and writing letters to Beacon Hill that call for fully funding rural school aid. 

 

The students focused on the hardships for small rural schools and their importance to the community — that they struggle with limited funding and teacher shortages, but offer safe and supportive spaces for learning and are a hub for community connections.

 

"They all address the main issue, the funding for rural schools, and how there's a gap, and there's the $4 million gap this year, and then it's about the $40 million next year, and that rural schools need that equitable funding," said social studies teacher Mark Karhan.

 

A rural schools report in 2022 found smaller school districts cost from nearly 17 percent to 23 percent more to operate, and recommended "at least" $60 million be appropriated annually for rural school aid. 

 

Gov. Maura Healey has filed for more Chapter 70 school aid, but that often is little help to small rural schools with declining or static enrollment. For fiscal 2027, she's budgeted $20 million for rural schools, up from around $13 million this year but still far below the hoped for $60 million. 

 

Karhan said the class was broken into four groups and the students were provided a submission letter from Rural Schools Advocacy. The students used the first paragraph, which laid out the funding facts, and then did research and wrote their own letters. 

 

They will submit those with a school picture to the governor.