Berkshire Co-Act, Community Organizing for Action, is a nonprofit 501 (c) (3) based in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, where we are working to solve area issues by creating new approaches to community development and engagement. Co-Act utilizes a collaborative, grassroots approach that gets results. Our present activities include:

1. Local food support through a program called “The Food Net”
2. A comprehensive transportation website for Berkshire County
3. The campaign for a Common Good Economy
4. A service TimeBank
5. A community coalition forum that meets monthly and which is currently developing:
6. A day center for the homeless, unemployed, and underemployed of central Berkshire County
7. An initiative to transform the old firehouse in Great Barrington into a community building with a focus on food support
8. And developing clean energy through the utilization of small hydro-electric dams.

These seemingly diverse initiatives all share the one common approach of developing a grassroots system that solves problems and benefits the inhabitants of our community.

Berkshire Co-Act Food Net

The Food Net is the main supplier of fresh produce to 14 local pantries and meal sites in central and southern Berkshire County. In 2009, the pilot program collected and transported 6,000 pounds of fresh organic produce to these meal sites and pantries. That figure increased to 9,000 pounds in 2010. This growing food network includes four community gardens, a school garden, a number of local farms, and private gardens.

Our plan for 2011 is to increase the numbers of community gardens, school gardens, and private gardens for low income households, and, in addition, to educate more school children and adults in food growing, cooking, nutrition, and food preservation. The plan weaves together 14 separate food-related components to create a new local, sustainable system that greatly improves nutritional access, health education, community engagement, and entrepreneurship. The main beneficiaries will continue to be the food insecure of central and southern Berkshire County who frequent the 33 meal sites and pantries.

Please see “Update on Co-Act’s Food Net” under the heading “Food Net” on this website for a detailed look at our plans for 2011. If you would like to participate in any way with this initiative, through donations of time or money, please contact Co-Act Director, Paul Deslauriers at 413-232-7888 or paul@co-act.org.

Community Coalition Forum

Co-Act continues to facilitate a monthly forum involving over 70 health and human service organizations in central and southern Berkshire County to address long-standing community concerns such as: food support, a community calendar, homelessness, and assisting the faith-based community to interface with social needs. The meetings are held at The First United Methodist Church in Pittsfield.

The coalition is currently involved in the following project, which is being facilitated by Co-Act:

Pearl Street Day Center

Fourteen different health and human service agencies, local government, and faith-based organizations are currently running a day center, where members of the community who are homeless, unemployed, and underemployed can gather during the day, stay out of the weather, visit with each other, watch educational videos, receive peer support, use available computers and phones, participate in day labor programs, and get help in obtaining needed services, such as overnight shelter, utility assistance, job counseling, health support, and case worker support.

There are professionally trained staff on hand to greet persons coming in and to help fill out forms, according to the desires of the individuals. Partnership models are being used. One aspect of the program provides an opportunity for skilled clinicians to teach college students and provide valuable experience while, at the same time, increasing the clinicians’ effectiveness through the assistance of the student helpers.

This program is being held at the First United Methodist Church at 55 Fenn St. in Pittsfield. Currently, the days of operation are Tuesdays and Thursdays. Depending on funding, participation, and other factors, the days may be increased.

All persons who are interested in volunteering, donating, or attending the day center are invited and welcomed. Or, if you would like more information, contact Co-Act Director, Paul Deslauriers at 413-232-7888 or paul@co-act.org.

Common Good Economy

Please go the website http://www.commongoodbank.com for a veritable encyclopedia of information about this innovative approach to creating democratic, community-based economic solutions for sustainability and economic justice. Co-Act is wholeheartedly supporting this initiative.

Establishing a Common Good Economy means having the potential to right the wrongs of the present monetary system by providing a viable, democratic alternative that serves the common good and returns power to the people. The Common Good Bank™ (CGB) project plan has evolved over many years. From the website: “The idea for it began in 2002 in Ashfield, Massachusetts, a small rural community in the foothills of the Berkshires. It began with a spiritual imaging exercise and informal theoretical discussions on how our society — especially our economic system and governance — might be restructured to work better, to create a more peaceful, just, and environmentally sustainable world. Inspired by dozens of other economic systems and democratic systems, through many surveys, discussions, experiments, and detours, the Common Good Bank model evolved. Hundreds of professionals and volunteers have contributed to the design.”

The campaign is now at the point that it is soliciting both the financial and hands-on support of new Founding Members in order to create the first bank in Massachusetts, after which other “virtual” banks can follow. Rick DeVoe is the National Campaign Director. For more information, please call Rick at 413-644-0101.

Berkshire County Transportation Website

Co-Act has been involved in the development of a comprehensive transportation website for Berkshire County. The prototype can be seen at www.berkshiret.com.

In 2010 Co-Act received input from 14 managers and caseworkers in the health and human services field, which showed the need for a user-friendly transportation website that would list all transportation options in one place. It was noted that it is not easy to find options for special mobility transportation, senior transportation, and social service transportation, in particular. Eighty percent of those surveyed wanted to expand the scope of the site to include recreational travel, thereby encouraging wider use of the site and the possibility of acquiring promotional partners. Over the months, the participation increased to 32 managers and caseworkers, who provided feedback regarding the various stages of development of the website.

The categories displayed on the website mock-up include: bus, ride share, special mobility services, seniors, social service transport, taxi, rental, air, train, hike/bike, and boating.

Please take a look at the website mock-up and give us your feedback on changes to incorporate to make the site more user-friendly or more complete or accurate. Contact Co-Act Director, Paul Deslauriers, at 413-232-7888 or paul@co-act.org. REMINDER: This is a design tool; it is not a working site. We have not yet listed all of the transportation information for each category.

Berkshire TimeBank

This is a social- and community-based network of people who serve each other’s needs by banking and spending time as an alternative to money. This allows labor and service exchange among those with limited dollars. There are presently over 90 active members with numerous types of services, many unusual and useful, being offered.

We invite you to participate in the Berkshire TimeBank. Contact Bob Connors raconnors@yahoo.com 413-464-3345 or Becky Meier beckyjmeier@gmail.com or go to www.timebanks.org for more information. There is also more information here.

The Energy Net

Co-Act has been involved in investigating 19 dams in western Massachusetts for hydroelectric generation using a unique watershed approach. Eleven dams found along the Housatonic can produce $1,000,000 in revenue per year, and eight other dams in the Pioneer Valley can produce $500,000 per year. Hydroelectric generators last a hundred years, while photovoltaics only have a 20-30 year life span. Proceeds from these dams would be paid directly to the town from which the power is generated. Another beneficial goal is to improve river recreation and the habitat.