United Way awards grant to Berkshire South

GREAT BARRINGTON – Berkshire United Way recently awarded a $16,100 grant to Berkshire South Regional Community Center (BSRCC) to partially sponsor the center’s Teen Leadership Training (TLT) program.

TLT is a key program in the community center’s multi-faceted youth intervention/prevention curriculum, which is centered on the benefits of healthy, productive youth development opportunities.

“We are pleased that, through the support of Berkshire United Way, we are able to expand our TLT program to reach more young people while focusing on long-term goals for personal accountability and achievement,” said Jenise Lucey, BSRCC executive director.

For youth entering grades seven through nine, three TLT sessions will run for three consecutive weeks each over the course of the summer, beginning the first week of summer vacation.

Sessions will be based at the center five days a week, for seven hours each day. TLT participants will engage in team-building and leadership activities through various outdoor lessons, plus take part in financial and goal-setting activities.

Throughout the three weeks, participants will gain a better sense of self, community and partnership.

According the Ms. Lucey, the funding from Berkshire United Way provides the Center with the ability to expand the TLT program this summer to have two tracks, a core track and an advanced track.

This year, the center has included a second level, which emphasizes employment and college readiness while still incorporating the idea of fostering relationships with peers and community. TLT experiential learning activities provide hands-on opportunities to foster leadership, decision-making and team-building skills.

Posted by Kameron Z. Spaulding on June 20, 2013. Filed under Community News,News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry