Blackshires June 19 Graduation

Print Story | Email Story
LENOX, Mass. — On June 19, 2026, the Blackshires Community Empowerment Foundation and R3SET Enterprises will gather at Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum in Lenox to honor thirteen leaders who have spent months learning, building, connecting, and preparing to shape the future of their communities.
 
This is the fourth cohort of the Blackshires Leadership Accelerator, a BIPOC-led civic and entrepreneurial development program rooted in Berkshire County. Since its founding, the program has graduated more than 40 community members. It has distributed over $100,000 in completion grants. It has built a growing alumni network of leaders now serving on boards, launching businesses, and driving civic change across the region, stated a press release. 
 
Each fellow receives a $1,700 completion stipend. Participation is completely free.
 
The Accelerator moves fellows through three structured phases. The first centers personal growth, civic identity, and leadership foundations. The second immerses fellows in business development, workforce strategy, and community problem-solving. In the third, fellows develop individual Impact Charters. These are concrete and community-rooted plans that define each leader's contribution to the region's future.
 
Along the way, fellows engage in government fishbowl sessions at Pittsfield City Hall, cross-sector relationship building with employers and elected officials, community exposure tours throughout the Berkshires, storytelling and pitch workshops, health equity dialogues, arts and culture convenings, and an overnight wellness and DEI retreat. 
 
The thirteen members of the 2026 cohort are Abigail Horace, Adam Liccardi, Adrian Lynch, Cameo Brown, Chauncey Dozier, Claudette Grant, Erline Saintilet, Harmony Edwards, Mackenzie Colvin, Otis West, Shadre Domingo, TJ West, and Tyeesha Keele Kedroe. 
 
Among this cohort's initiatives:
 
Abigail Horace — The Black Berkshires Social Club
Creates inclusive, culturally grounded social spaces for Black and BIPOC residents in the Berkshires, fostering connection, belonging, and community through curated arts, culture, and nature-based experiences.
 
Adam Liccardi — Aequitas Consulting
Supports returning citizens in navigating reentry through pre-workforce development, fair- chance resource procurement, and individualized high-level reentry consulting. The goal: to advance employment access, housing stability, and long-term economic mobility ofr returning citizens across Berkshire County.
 
Adrian Lynch — Stubborn Ibex Studios: Digital Foundations Built to Climb
Provides website design, SEO, and brand strategy services that help businesses and nonprofits build strong digital foundations, expand visibility, and grow with purpose in an increasingly digital economy.
 
Cameo Brown — Kinstory (The Kindred Experience)
Develops an educational multimedia platform that explores kinship across people, communities, and the natural world, using storytelling as a tool for remembrance, connection, and collective healing.
 
Chauncey Dozier — 2nd Chance Home Services
Provides reliable property maintenance and home improvement services across Berkshire County while creating workforce development pathways, mentorship opportunities, and stable employment for young adults and individuals seeking a second chance.
 
Claudette Grant — Reckless Optimism Women's Circle
Cultivates a supportive community space where women gather for reflection, healing, and growth through honest dialogue, emotional support, and shared experiences.
 
Erline Saintilet — Carib In-Fusion
Delivers culturally inspired, nutritious meal prep, catering, and packaged food products that increase access to healthy eating, strengthen cultural connection, and support busy families and elders across the Berkshires.
 
Harmony Edwards — Invest in the Berkshires Mixer & Market Tour
Connects investors, entrepreneurs, and community members through curated networking experiences that unlock capital, strengthen local businesses, and advance economic growth and generational wealth in underserved communities.
 
Mackenzie Colvin — Pivot Point Consulting: AI Workforce Training & Human Navigation Services Bridges the digital divide by providing AI literacy training and hands-on support navigating AI-driven systems, equipping both organizations and vulnerable populations to participate in an evolving workforce and service landscape.
 
Otis West & Tajare West — Westside Crosswalk Remix Project
Enhances pedestrian safety and neighborhood identity by transforming crosswalks into vibrant, community-designed public art, reducing risk while fostering pride and visibility in Pittsfield's Westside.
 
Shadre Domingo — Koriyama
Establishes the first Black-owned sake brewery and maturation house, positioning aged sake as a high-value luxury asset while preserving cultural legacy and creating a model for long-term, generational wealth building.
 
Tyeesha Keele Kedroe — Seen & Celebrated
Equips early childhood educators with tools and training to embed meaningful representation of Black and Brown children across classroom environments, fostering belonging, identity development, and equitable learning experiences.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

A Boutique Hotel is Bringing Guests a Luxury Stay in Lenox

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

LENOX, Mass. — A new Inn is bringing a boutique-style stay for visitors and locals to enjoy.

Owners, Sullivan Capital LLC, purchased the property, located on 135 Main Street, in 2024. After a year or renovations, Garden Gables Inn is open for business. 

"Garden Gables started off as one of the many Berkshire cottages, 1790 was the date on that, and it's always operated as an inn," said Hospitality Manager Yvonne Walton. "It's just a great gathering place and relaxation spot for people to come and get the feel of Lenox, and just slow down and enjoy the nature and the surrounding area...get culture and art and see some great concerts. I think it'll be a wonderful place, definitely does more of the upper-scale hospitality." 

Owners Niko Giallouis and Eric Sullivan bought the property from the former owner. Sullivan had his eye on Lenox since attending a wedding almost 10 years ago.

"I came to a wedding in Lenox, probably six or seven years ago. Personally, just kind of fell in love with the area, and I guess that's kind of how it got on my radar. So you know from that perspective, as we got into the hotel business out towards an area, it was a place I was kind of monitoring and waiting for the right property to show up."

After purchasing the two underwent a full renovation, a project that cost around $1.5 million. The building, first built in 1780, required some TLC. Sullivan's wife, Jessica, who owns Jessica Sullivan Design, designed the inn.

Sullivan said they installed a new roof, repainted everything, renovated the bathrooms, installed new floors, a new HVAC system, and new plumbing.

"We really touched everything from the outside...I mean, all the aesthetics and layouts changed a bit," he said. "As I said, put about a million and a half into it. All new furniture, fixtures, everything. The design's completely different. It wasn't a full gut, but it was a heavy, heavy renovation."

The two like to collaborate with local businesses, and they make a point to direct visitors to local restaurants, businesses, and attractions.

"If guests are asking for recommendations, our customer service team, our guest services team, will relay that kind of information. Even if we can call and make a reservation for somebody, happy to do it," he said. "We aren't doing breakfast, but what we do is we have partnerships with a lot of the breakfast places downtown. We actually purchase a gift certificates for each person each day, so that they can use that to go downtown."

Sullivan hopes that guests don't see their inn as just a place to sleep and dump their bags, but make it an experience for anyone who stays.

"We really focus on kind of the experience side of things, so again, we want to give you the best experience you can have here...and we want that not just to be the place you put your bag and go do things. It's important to think of everything," he said.

Sullivan said partnerships are important to their business and are a way to connect with locals.

"The local partnerships, I can't stress that enough, because no matter how much and how great the room is, people are still going to want to go do other things," he said. "So, I think it just benefits everybody if we're all working together and so forth, and supporting the community, being neighborly too, because we are surrounded by residential homes...But we really try to put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, a lot of love into the building, all the details, really care about the senses," Sullivan said.

The Inn's check-in and reservations are completely online. When guests arrive, all they have to do is check in online and receive their code that they will use to enter their room. Sullivan hopes this helps create less stress for guests and gets them to their room as fast as possible, especially after a long trip.

View Full Story

More Lenox Stories