Mill Town Foundation

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Mill Town Foundation

Mill Town Foundation is dedicated to empowering and revitalizing our community.

Our mission is to improve the quality of life and drive sustainable change through strategic investments, collaborative partnerships, and community-driven initiatives.

06/02/2026

The Josh Billing Runaground and Mill Town Foundation have teamed up to launch the Finish Line Fund – a new initiative connecting racers, supporters, and Berkshire-based nonprofits through fundraising and community impact.

The Finish Line Fund gives race participants the opportunity to support the local organizations they care about while taking part in one of the Berkshires’ most beloved traditions.

Berkshire-based nonprofits can get involved by:
-Joining the list of organizations, racers can support through their fundraising pages
-Entering a team in the 2026 Josh Billings and hosting a tent at The Bash at Tanglewood

Whether you’re racing, fundraising, volunteering, or cheering from the sidelines, you can help strengthen the organizations making a difference across our community.

Learn more: joshbillings.com/finish-line-fund

05/27/2026

Something special is taking shape...

We’re putting the finishing touches on the 2026 Core Impact Awards — and getting ready for a night that truly celebrates the heart of our schools.

Next week, we’ll honor fifteen outstanding educators and staff from Pittsfield Public Schools who show up, day in and day out, for our students and community.

More than a ceremony, it’s a moment to pause and recognize the people who shape our classrooms, uplift our students, and strengthen our entire community. It’s about the stories of the individuals behind the work in schools — the early mornings, the extra effort, the unwavering commitment that often goes unseen. This evening will bring those stories into the spotlight, reminding us just how powerful their impact truly is.

Pittsfield Public Schools

05/26/2026

Join us for the official ribbon cutting ceremony for the new mural in downtown Pittsfield!

As part of the Let It Shine initiative, muralist Janson Rapisarda has transformed a downtown Pittsfield wall into a vibrant new public artwork shaped by community, creativity, and connection.

This mural reflects what can happen when art is created with community, not just for it. From the earliest sketches to the final brushstrokes, every step of the process has been rooted in representation, storytelling, and a deep sense of place.

If you’ve walked along North Street in recent weeks, you may have watched the mural come to life in real time — layers taking shape, colors emerging, and a powerful story unfolding across the wall.

Join us for the official unveiling on Friday, May 29 at 12:00 PM.

We hope you’ll celebrate this exciting moment with us!

Downtown Pittsfield, Inc.

05/21/2026

Calling all emerging artists!

The Let It Shine Public Art Partnership is seeking an emerging artist to co-create a new public mural alongside mentor artist Jesse Tobin McCauley at the BRTA Intermodal Center in Pittsfield.

This opportunity is open to 2D artists who are currently enrolled in high school or college, or recent graduates, and who live in or attend school in Berkshire County.

The selected artist will develop and execute a 20’w x 6’h mural. This mural opportunity is intended to foster the next generation of mural artists in the City of Pittsfield.

The application deadline is June 14th.

A bilingual application is available! ¡La aplicación está disponible en inglés y español!

Apply now: https://milltownfoundation.org/events-let-it-shine/

05/19/2026

Celebrating Excellence in Leadership: Congratulations to Liliana Atanacio Garcia

We are thrilled to share that our very own Liliana Atanacio Garcia has been honored with the Board Leadership Award at the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires (NPC) Awards.

This recognition celebrates Liliana’s transformative work with Latinas413, where she has championed cultural pride and created vital leadership pathways for Latina women in the County. The NPC Awards honor those who strengthen the Berkshires through service and collaboration—a spirit Liliana embodies every day.

At Mill Town Foundation, Liliana serves as our Grant and Program Administrator, managing the programmatic operations that drive our mission forward. Her commitment to the community further extends to her service on the board of the Flying Cloud Institute.

Please join us in congratulating Liliana for this well-deserved honor and her steadfast dedication to making the Berkshires a more inclusive and vibrant place to live and work.

We also extend our congratulations to Andy Wrba, Program Director at Mill Town Foundation, for his nomination for the Executive Leadership Award in recognition of his outstanding dedication and impact.

05/15/2026

We’re proud to spotlight the incredible work of Berkshire Agricultural
Ventures (BAV) as they launch the fifth year of the Market Match
Fund. This program is a vital resource across our region—expanding
access to fresh, local food while directly supporting the livelihoods of our
farmers.

How it works:
The Market Match Fund offers a $1-for-$1 SNAP (food stamps) match at participating markets, helping households double their purchasing power (up to $30 per transaction) on fresh produce, meat, dairy, and eggs.

Where to find it:
BAV supports 10 partner farmers markets across the region, including:
Pittsfield (Roots Rising), North Adams Farmers Market, Williamstown, Lee, West Stockbridge, Stockbridge, Great Barrington, Sheffield, Berkshire Grown’s Winter Markets and New Milford Farmers Market.

Join the celebration:
Stop by the BAV table at the North Adams Farmers Market season-opener this Saturday, May 16 from 9am to 1pm for giveaways and to learn more.

To learn more about the Market Match Fund—and how your support helps build a more inclusive, food-secure, and economically vibrant community—visit: https://www.berkshireagventures.org/support

Berkshire Agricultural Ventures

05/14/2026

Call for Artists: Dance Performers and Instructors
Wandering Dance Festival 2026

Wandering Dance Festival returns to Pittsfield for its fourth year, November 6th - 14th, 2026 — and we want you to be part of it.

We’re seeking dance artists, performers, and teaching artists to lead workshops, present pop-up performances, and create engaging, community-centered experiences across the city.

Opportunities include:
• Teaching free, inclusive workshops
• Performing in pop-up and featured events
• Collaborating with local and visiting artists

Festival highlights include citywide events and a grand finale at the Colonial Theatre.

Submissions are now open — Visit https://milltownfoundation.org/wandering-dance-festival/ to apply.

05/05/2026

Common Wealth Murals Project: Progress Update

From classroom conversations to community impact—this work is in motion.

As part of the “Murals in School” project, students at four Pittsfield Public Schools—Conte Community School, Crosby Elementary School, Herberg Middle School, and Reid Middle School— have contributed their ideas to shape the murals that will live in their schools.

Through workshops, discussions, and design sessions, students are sharing what matters to them—their identities, cultures, hopes, and sense of belonging. Their input is guiding the themes and visual direction of each mural, ensuring these pieces are rooted in authentic student voice.

This phase of the process is all about listening, imagining, and co-creating. What’s happening in the classrooms now will soon take form on walls—both inside schools and as part of a larger community mural in downtown Pittsfield.

We’re building something meaningful, together. Stay tuned as these ideas begin to come to life!

Common Wealth Murals .wealth.murals

04/30/2026

Celebrating Community and Connection: New Mural on North Street

We’re excited to welcome muralist Janson Rapisarda as the latest artist in our Let It Shine initiative. Janson will create a new public mural on the exterior wall at 7 North Street in downtown Pittsfield.

Over the past decade, Janson has completed more than 50 people-centered murals across the country, known for work that highlights representation, connection, and the unique character of each community.

While based in Milwaukee, Janson has deep ties to Western Massachusetts. Born in the region, he spent time in Pittsfield visiting family and recalls riding along in his stepmother’s Hilti delivery truck while she worked at Ace Hardware—early memories that make this project especially meaningful.

His approach is human-focused and site-specific, designed to reflect the people who live, work, and gather in a place. Janson also incorporates community engagement into his process and looks forward to creating something vibrant, welcoming, and distinctly Pittsfield.

Join us for First Fridays at Five on May 1 at 5 PM in downtown Pittsfield for a special opportunity to connect with the artist and learn more about his process.

Stay tuned as this next Let It Shine mural comes to life.

Explore more of Janson’s work

04/29/2026

Highlights from our Spring Newsletter:

From celebrating emerging leaders and supporting local nonprofits through 40 Under Forty, to recognizing outstanding educators across Pittsfield through the Core Impact Awards and engaging hundreds of students in public art through Let It Shine - we’re continuing to support the people and ideas shaping the Berkshires.

Subscribe to stay connected and get a look at the programs, partnerships, events and investments shaping our community: milltownfoundation.org

Click on the link below to view our Spring Newsletter.

https://mailchi.mp/80ec4df6d231/spring-with-mill-town-foundation-from-classrooms-to-community?e=dc5274622d

Address

Pittsfield, MA
01201

Website

http://milltownfoundation.org/

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