CHP Welcomes New Board Members

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GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Community Health Programs (CHP) welcomes new board members, Marlene Eichholz and Derek Scammahorn. 
 
Marlene Eichholz has been a patient with CHP since moving to the Berkshires almost 20 years ago, and her partner and mother also rely on CHP for their care. 
 
"CHP plays a critical role in delivering care, and maintaining that access, especially for those who may otherwise face barriers, is something I care deeply about," said Eichholz.
 
Her background in community health began with her service as a Peace Corps volunteer, where she worked on health and nutrition programs in rural communities. That experience shaped how Eichholz thinks about healthcare.
 
"It's a perspective I continue to carry with me," she said. "As a member of the Berkshire community, I want to do my part to help ensure that CHP remains strong and accessible, and continues to serve as a vital resource."
 
A Senior Leader at SAP Americas, Inc., since 2012, Eichholz brings experience in governance, strategy, and operational leadership, including building scalable programs, aligning stakeholders, and strengthening systems to support sustainable growth.
 
Derek Scammahorn's career spans human resources, community engagement, behavioral health operations, and creative industries. As the current Community Engagement/Public Relations Coordinator at Guidos Fresh Marketplace, a natural foods grocery rooted in the Berkshires community with locations in Great Barrington and Pittsfield, Scammahorn manages outreach initiatives, community involvement, and strategic planning to enhance the company's investment in the community. His commitment to community wellbeing drew him to CHP's mission of expanding access to health and human services across the region. 
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Reps. Leigh Davis, Bud Williams Filing Legislation Honoring Freeman

SHEFFIELD, Mass. — State Reps. Leigh Davis of the 3rd Berkshire District and Bud L. Williams, of the 11th Hampden District, are filing legislation establishing Aug. 22 as Elizabeth Freeman Day of Equality, Healing, and Remembrance in the commonwealth.
 
The legislation would direct the governor to annually issue a proclamation recognizing the courageous contributions of Elizabeth Freeman, an enslaved Black woman known as Mum Bett, whose landmark freedom suit helped spark the legal end of slavery in Massachusetts.
 
"Elizabeth Freeman's story began here in the Berkshires, but its impact reached every corner of the commonwealth," said Davis. "More than two centuries later, her legacy continues to inspire us. Establishing Elizabeth Freeman Day will ensure that future generations learn not only about her extraordinary bravery, but also about the power of one person to change the course of history."
 
In 1781, Freeman, of Sheffield at the time, challenged the institution of slavery by filing suit against her enslaver, Col. John Ashley. In the landmark case Brom and Bett v. Ashley, a Berkshire County jury ruled in favor of Freeman and her fellow plaintiff, Brom, granting them their freedom. The case demonstrated the power of the Massachusetts Constitution's declaration that all people are born free and equal and helped pave the way for the Quock Walker decisions that ultimately ended slavery in the commonwealth. 
 
"Freeman's courage changed the course of history in Massachusetts," said Williams. "At a time when the odds were stacked against her, she stood up and demanded that the promises of liberty and equality contained in our Constitution apply to her as well. She risked everything to challenge an unjust system, and her victory helped lay the foundation for the end of slavery in our commonwealth. Her legacy deserves to be recognized and remembered by every resident of Massachusetts."
 
Although unable to read or write, Freeman understood the meaning of freedom and equality and took extraordinary action to secure those rights for herself and others. Her story remains one of the most powerful examples of individual courage in the face of injustice. 
 
Elizabeth Freeman Day will provide an opportunity for reflection, education, healing, and remembrance, said Williams. 
 
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