1Berkshire Youth Leadership Program

05/27/2026

CALLING ALL YLP/YOULEAD ALUMNI!

Are you interested in helping us to develop a network of program alumni? We're asking all YouLead/YLP alumni to respond to the Alumni Needs Assessment to help us determine what would be most valuable to a YLP alumni network. Complete the assessment to be eligible for selection to a limited-opportunity alumni retreat happening later this summer!

05/20/2026

Congratulations to YLP Class of 2026 alumnus Gloria Williams, who was presented with the Samya Rose Stumo Youth Leadership Award at yesterday's Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires awards breakfast! Program Director Kevin Pink was thrilled to be in attendance to celebrate. Gloria, we can't wait to see all that you accomplish as your next chapters unfold!

05/01/2026

Check out these great learning opportunities for teens!

Calling all local teens!

🎥Beginning on June 6th, the BerkShares Digital Media Ambassador Program is a great way for local youth to learn skills in social media content creation and small business marketing!📱

This free and fun program is available to all teens in the area looking to support a small business while learning new skills! See a program schedule below.

Are you or is someone you know interested in this program? Sign up today at https://berkshares.org/dmap/ 📝

Meeting schedule:
🗓️ 6/6, 6/13, 6/20, 6/27, 7/5
⏱️ Noon - 1:30 (Noon - 12:45 on 7/5)
📍 Great Barrington (specific location TBA)

04/21/2026

Congratulations to Gloria Williams (Class of 2026), the winner of this year's Samya Rose Stumo Youth Leadership award as part of this year's Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires honorees! Way to go, Gloria!

We love ending our week with joyful news-

Announcing the 2026 Berkshire Nonprofit Award Honorees:
Liliana Atanacio/Board Leadership
Sabrina Allard/ Executive Leadership
Cathy Marchetto/ Lifetime Achievement
Jennifer Golin/ RockStar
Kathryn Benson/ Unsung Hero
Lisa Alberti/ Volunteer
Gloria Williams/ Samya Rose Stumo Youth Leadership

Congrats to all and all the nominees.
And thank you to our 22 judges from across the county (nonprofits, businesses and municipal employees) who spent care and time reading through each nomination.

Get your TICKETS now to celebrate with this wonderful group on May 19th from 8-10:30am at the Country Club of Pittsfield: https://npcberkshires.org/product/nonprofit-awards-ticket/

04/17/2026

Congratulations to the Class of 2026, who celebrated their commencement last night at Greenock Country Club in Lee! In addition to learning professional skills and exploring career opportunities here , this year's class focused their project on food insecurity, and together collected over 2,800 food items for Berkshire food pantries at a time where the need is greater than normal.

Thank you to our lead sponsors, BeaconBank, Camp Becket, Berkshire Health Systems, and Greylock Federal Credit Union, as well as our program supporters Berkshire Agricultural Ventures and NBT Bank! Thank you also to Greenock Country Club and our caterer, KJ Nosh Catering Company! A special thanks to the Youth Leadership Program Steering Committee, who help us plan and host our monthly sessions and lend their experience and expertise to our students all year.

Congratulations, YLP Class of 2026!

04/15/2026

Meet the Class of 2026! Each week, we will highlight a new young leader from this year’s incredible class. Make sure to check back regularly to learn more about each student as the year goes on.

What is your name: Sage Winkler

What is your hometown: Williamstown

What high school do you attend: BART Charter

What is/are your favorite subject(s) in school: History and science

What do you like to do for fun: I like playing frisbee and spending time with people I love.

What is your favorite thing to do/place to go in the Berkshires: I love going to target and taking walks.

What does the word "leadership" mean to you: Leadership means to me being an active community member and good role model.

Who is a leader that you look up to? What is it about them as a leader that inspires you: I really look up to my mom as a leader. She leads in her interests so strongly and inspires a lot of other community members.

Tell us about a time in life you took a leadership role. How did it work out: A time I was a leader was when I had a friend who was really anxious to go on stage and I helped her through it.

What do you hope to learn from the Youth Leadership Program this year: I hope to learn that there’s more in Berkshire County.

What goals do you have for your future? What do you want to achieve: I hope to inspire people through leadership.

04/08/2026

Meet the Class of 2026! Each week, we will highlight a new young leader from this year’s incredible class. Make sure to check back regularly to learn more about each student as the year goes on.

What is your name: Gloria Williams

What is your hometown: Pittsfield

What high school do you attend: Pittsfield High School

What is/are your favorite subject(s) in school: Biology, history, performance arts, and English.

What do you like to do for fun: Act, sing, travel, and do things that are adventurous.

What is your favorite thing to do/place to go in the Berkshires: Beacon Cinema or the park.

What does the word "leadership" mean to you: Leadership means being willing to sacrifice and put your needs aside for the benefit of other’s needs.

Who is a leader that you look up to? What is it about them as a leader that inspires you: A leader that I look up to is Shirley Edgerton because she just has quite a fascinating life story, and she’s an amazing influence on young girls of color and people in the Berkshires.

Tell us about a time in life you took a leadership role. How did it work out: A time in my life where I took a leadership role was when I accepted the position of being the youth chair for the NAACP in the Berkshire. It will continue to lead me to so many life changing opportunities.

What do you hope to learn from the Youth Leadership Program this year: Just different options and that it’s okay for my plans to change.

What goals do you have for your future? What do you want to achieve: I just want to make sure that nothing holds me back from achieving what I want to achieve.

04/01/2026

Meet the Class of 2026! Each week, we will highlight a new young leader from this year’s incredible class. Make sure to check back regularly to learn more about each student as the year goes on.

What is your name: Alan Victor

What is your hometown: Pittsfield

What high school do you attend: Lee Middle and High School

What is/are your favorite subject(s) in school: Biology/science and physics/math.

What do you like to do for fun: Play video games.

What is your favorite thing to do/place to go in the Berkshires: The gym.

What does the word "leadership" mean to you: Being able to motivate others to want to follow you.

Tell us about a time in life you took a leadership role. How did it work out: Reese and I started a competition at a camp. It worked great and everyone had fun. I couldn’t have done it without Reese.

What do you hope to learn from the Youth Leadership Program this year: I want to learn more about myself, and how to become a person that people look up to.

What goals do you have for your future? What do you want to achieve: I want to become a man who is worth something.

03/25/2026

Meet the Class of 2026! Each week, we will highlight a new young leader from this year’s incredible class. Make sure to check back regularly to learn more about each student as the year goes on.

What is your name: Abraham Vengalil

What is your hometown: Pittsfield

What high school do you attend: Pittsfield High School

What is/are your favorite subject(s) in school: I really enjoy math and history.

What do you like to do for fun: My favorite hobbies are playing/watching soccer, running, and video games.

What is your favorite thing to do/place to go in the Berkshires: I really like to go to BCC and play soccer on their turf field.

What does the word "leadership" mean to you: To me, leadership means to take initiative on behalf of others and helping a group reach a common goal.

Who is a leader that you look up to? What is it about them as a leader that inspires you: I really look up to my track captain, Aidan, as a leader. He’s always encouraging everyone to get better, focusing on beating their previous times instead of others,

Tell us about a time in life you took a leadership role. How did it work out: I took a leadership role when I joined my school’s student government. It’s been a great experience where I’m given more responsibility.

What do you hope to learn from the Youth Leadership Program this year: I really hope to learn about different business sectors and possible career paths.

What goals do you have for your future? What do you want to achieve: I’m not sure what I want to do, but I want to attend college and find a stable and fulfilling job.

03/18/2026

Meet the Class of 2026! Each week, we will highlight a new young leader from this year’s incredible class. Make sure to check back regularly to learn more about each student as the year goes on.

What is your name: Olivia Silvernail

What is your hometown: Adams

What high school do you attend: Hoosac Valley High

What is/are your favorite subject(s) in school: Biology and environmental
sustainability

What do you like to do for fun: Skateboard and talk with friends.

What is your favorite thing to do/place to go in the Berkshires: Russell Field

What does the word "leadership" mean to you: It means a bunch of different things. Being there, working with others, and just being a good person.

Who is a leader that you look up to? What is it about them as a leader that inspires you: My grandmother because she is the person who will always show up and just be with you. She works with you to give you guidance.

Tell us about a time in life you took a leadership role. How did it work out: Some of the time I try to run everything but forget I am able to work with others which makes a good leader.

What do you hope to learn from the Youth Leadership Program this year: I hope to become a leader and not even know it.

What goals do you have for your future? What do you want to achieve: I want to be some type of leader but I’m not sure what that looks like.