South Berkshire Monthly Kitchen Table Talks

04:07PM / Friday, February 06, 2026Print Story | Email Story

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass — The South Berkshire Community Health Coalition, a program of Railroad Street Youth Project, has partnered with the South Berkshire Rural Health Network to offer monthly Kitchen Table Talks/Community Care Sessions at the Great Barrington Family Resource Center, 141 West Avenue on Tuesdays in February, March and April from 5:30-7:30 pm.

Combining two synergistic programs, Kitchen Table Talks/Community Care Sessions are designed for parents and caregivers interested in building their knowledge and communication skills with their children around big issues including substance use while receiving meaningful support, care and belonging in a wellness setting.

"Parenting is hard, prevention matters, and the most effective support meets people where they are," said Jennifer Goewey, Director of the Southern Berkshire Rural Health Network. "I am excited for parents and caregivers to have this opportunity to share, learn, and prioritize their own well-being – something that is both important and too often sacrificed."

Each session begins at 5:30 pm with a Kitchen Table Talk and community dinner. Kitchen Table Talks provide a supportive, peer-to-peer environment where a trained facilitator guides fellow parents through a prosocial, preventive approach to helping parents and caregivers improve communication with their children and other youth in their lives. This will be followed at 6:30 pm with a Community Care session with offerings such as guided meditation and light movement – all led by a wellness provider.

Three Tuesday sessions will be held on Feb. 24, March 24, and April 28. Childcare will be provided to attendees.

For more information about these events, including registering or arranging for free childcare, contact Laura Rodriguez, Director of SBCHC at (413) 717-7070 or at laura@rsyp.org.

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Greenagers Founder Will Conklin Honored as Business Person of the Year

By Breanna Steele12:17PM / Saturday, October 03, 2026

Casey Pease of state Sen. Paul Mark's office presents William Conklin, right, with a state Senate proclamation.

EGREMONT, Mass. — The Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce honored a local businessman and nonprofit leader on Sept. 24 at Catamount Mountain Resort.

William Conklin was this year's Business Person of the Year, recognizing his work as founder and executive director of Greenagers, a nonprofit that helps youth and children engage in work in environmental conservation, sustainable farming, natural resource management, and vocational skills building.

Conklin and his family also run Sky View Farm and he is a managing partner of Konkapot Tree and Timber, a small-scale forest products business.

"If you spent any amount of time in Southern Berkshire, chances are you've heard his name, whether you realize the connection at the time or not," said board member Sierra King Watson, who emceed the event. "You might be having a conversation about farming, a new barn or structure that was built, students learning hands-on skills in sustainable agriculture, or a family that receives donated firewood to help keep their home warm through a cold Berkshire winter, or maybe you're simply talking about one of those community leaders who somehow manages to show up, support everyone, and seemingly be everywhere all at once.

"Well, one name has a way of continuously popping up, and that is Will Conklin."

Board President Mark Rulison said the region has more than 1,200 nonprofits. One in four jobs in the county is in the nonprofit sector, which ranks 27th nationally for nonprofit employment. He said the economic impact on the community is huge, thanking those who help.

For the event on Thursday, Conklin requested that as much of the food as possible was sourced locally. Most of it came from Greenagers, Sky View Farm, Indian Line Farm and Fancy Feast Supper Club, creative dinner series.

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