Leah Penniman to Speak at BCC Earthseed Series.

Print Story | Email Story
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) will host Leah Penniman as part of its Earthseed Speaker Series & Skillshare on Thursday, April 10, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. 
 
The event, which is open to the public, will take place in the Koussevitzky Arts Center, Room K111. Registration is available at www.berkshirecc.edu/earthseed.
 
Penniman, co-founder and co-executive director of Soul Fire Farm in Petersburg, NY, will speak about her work in food justice and sustainable agriculture. Soul Fire Farm, established in 2010, focuses on addressing racial disparities within the food system and promoting land access for Black and Brown communities. Penniman's work includes farmer training programs, food distribution initiatives, and advocacy for equitable food systems.
 
Penniman holds a Master of Arts in science education and a Bachelor of Arts in environmental science and international development from Clark University. Her experience includes farming since 1996, teaching high school biology and environmental science for 17 years, and training in organic farming practices. She has received recognition such as the Soros Racial Justice Fellowship, Fulbright Program, and James Beard Leadership Award. She is the author of "Farming While Black: Soul Fire Farm's Practical Guide to Liberation on the Land" (2018) and "Black Earth Wisdom: Soulful Conversations with Black Environmentalists" (2023).
 
A Skillshare: Work-and-Learn Day will follow the speaking event on Tuesday, June 24, at Soul Fire Farm. Participants will learn about farming practices and support Soul Fire Farm's operations. Soul Fire Farm utilizes Afro-indigenous agroforestry, silvopasture, wildcrafting, polyculture, and spiritual farming practices. The farm produces fruits, plant medicine, livestock, honey, mushrooms, vegetables, and preserves, with a focus on providing food to communities experiencing food apartheid. Registration details for the Skillshare event will be announced later.

Tags: BCC,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Truck Crashes Into Pittsfield's Samel's Deli

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

Elm Street will be partially closed as cleanup continues. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Wednesday morning was busy for Pittsfield first responders, as a pickup truck crashed into Samel's Deli & Catering and a fire broke out on First Street.

Around 9:45 a.m., the police reported that the street in front of Samel's Deli & Catering would be closed or down to one lane as a result of a two-car collision that sent the truck careening into the deli.

The department posted two photos on Facebook, one depicting the silver truck with New York license plates crashed through the glass of the front entrance and another of a white Honda CR-V with significant damage to the front end.

"A vehicle was coming out of one of the alleyways here and struck this truck, which continued into the building," Police Officer Craig Jones explained when iBerkshires arrived on the scene.

Jones reported that there was one injury but whether it was someone in the vehicles or in the deli. A crossing signal near Samel's front entrance was also taken out by the truck.

Around this time, crews worked to clear debris in front of the restaurant as the truck was towed away. That section of the road reopened around 11 a.m.

The police, firefighters and an ambulance responded to the accident and police intend to release a statement on the incident.

Around 6:15 a.m., the Fire Department reported that it had responded to a possible structure fire at 233-235 First St. Windows on all three floors of the multi-family building are now broken or boarded up and the cause is under investigation by the Fire Investigation Unit and investigators from the State Fire Marshal's Office.

View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories