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We want Black entrepreneurs and businesses to utilize our services and programming for their growth and self-sufficiency.
By encouraging economic justice and implementing new regional initiatives, we hope to open access to capital, technical assistance, and patronage. We are here to provide support to entrepreneurs and promote existing businesses. We aim to attract and inspire other Black businesses to relocate to the Berkshires.
Brianna Christie was born in St. Anns Bay, Jamaica on June 27, 2000. Soon after, her mother and brother immigrated to the United States where she was raised in Kissimmee, Florida for the first 16 years of her life.
In 2016, Brianna moved to Wells, Maine receiving her high school diploma from Wells High School in 2018. Brianna attended Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and graduated in 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Communication. Brianna returned to Maine and entered the Communication graduate program at the University of Maine in the fall of 2022. Brianna received her Master of Arts degree in Communication from the University of Maine in May 2024.
Born & raised in Connecticut, Andrea has always been attracted to diverse & artistic communities. So much so, that she received an arts education in Europe.
In 2023, Andrea graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art, Media and Technology, from Parsons Paris, The New School, Paris, France. In 2021-2022, she undertook a year long Mobility Program majoring in Illustration at Camberwell College of Art, The University of the Arts London, UK.
Andrea continues to pour her energy into creative projects & people. Her work has been in several community based exhibitions; Solo Exhibitions include, WE ARE RADIANT, at Holister Gallery, Wellesley, MA. Group Exhibitions include, Palace of Varieties, Camberwell College of Art year two Illustration exhibition, at Peckham Levels, London, UK, 2022. As well as, A Seat at the Table, Parsons Paris, at La Chaufferie, Foundation Fiminco, Romainville, France, 2023.
Since these events, Andrea has relocated to Massachusetts, US, to focus on creative growth within herself & be present with the local art communities surrounding her.
Ndey Awa Touray was born in North Carolina, the first daughter of two Gambian immigrants. Two years later, her family moved to the Berkshires, where she and her siblings were raised. Since 2022, Awa has been a part of the Black Arts Council, striving to introduce Black artists and art enthusiasts to spaces where the black creatives historically have not been welcomed. In 2024, Awa worked with the Black Arts Council manager as an intern to organize and plan community events.
Outside of the Black Arts Council, Awa carries the same principles into her undergraduate studies at Williams College. Holding positions in the Williams Outing Club and Ultimate Frisbee Club, Awa balances her personal passions with her commitment to serving her local community.
Born in the Bronx but raised in the Berkshires, Cashey has spent time looking for ways to embrace her culture. While still currently a high school student, she hopes to make as much change in the Berkshires through art and brining the black community together before going off to college.
She sees art as everything, from painting to music and much more. She is a firm believer that anyone can do art and that black art is so powerful.
Her future goals include attending an hbcu and bettering whatever community she lands in after.
She plans on dedicating many more years to the Black Arts Council and seeing it continue to grow and the Berkshires being exposed to more Black art.
Jean-Charles (J.C.) Innocent is a Haitian-American visual artist born in Port au Prince, Haiti and raised in Boston, Massachusetts who creates artworks. As a visual artist, he utilizes symbolism through body language, facial expressions, clothing, jewelry, and tattoos to tackle themes and issues concerning identity, race, feminism, economics, political themes, and mental health.
J.C. attends Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, double majoring in Art with a focus on Design and Arts Management. He attended Boston Collegiate Charter School where he cultivated himself as an artist, acting in annual musicals and taking AP Art classes. His social justice background includes working with youth groups in the greater Boston area including Teen Empowerment (TE) and Young Man with A Plan(YMWAP), to promote the growth and development of young people of color.
J.C. continued his artistic endeavors by exhibiting his work in the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Pittsfield Campus Gallery during his freshman year at the college. He was awarded the Massachusetts Internship Incentive Grant and acquired an internship at Gallery 51 his sophomore year, studying under the 2022 Benedetti Teaching Artist in residence WANG Chen during his sophomore year. These experiences enabled him to receive Undergraduate Research Conference Grant and participate in the Berkshire Art Association Fellowship during his junior year.
Regina East is a dedicated Youth Worker, activist and artist who is intentional in making connections and solving multi tier problems. She has deep experience working with transitional age youth through various positions. Some of which include youth program leadership, advocacy support, crisis care and motivational interviewing. She currently holds a role with a non profit in upstate NY, working with youth of all ages on social perspectives, substance misuse and conflict resolution.
In addition to her experience as a non profit professional she has been an artist for over 20 years. Her media of choice is 3D multi-media canvases that uplift marginalized communities. She is currently the Founder of Revolutionary Sweetheart, an art collective that works to empower small artists who want to gain a wider reach across the country. Check out her mural at Tucker park and learn more about Revolutionary Sweetheart through Instagram – @revolutionary_sweetheart
Born to immigrants from Ghana, A.J. is a native of Pittsfield and the eldest of four brothers. A.J. is a graduate of The Governor’s Academy, where he was a dorm proctor and lacrosse captain. He went on to play varsity lacrosse at Tufts University, where he was also a BLAST scholar, a Latin Tutor, and he earned a B.A. in American Studies. A.J. is a two-time National champion and facilitated class discussion for an American Studies prerequisite course called “Race in America.”
Since 2017, A.J. has performed constituent services and community outreach as the District Aide for State Senator Adam G. Hinds. He was formerly the board co-chair for Multicultural BRIDGE. A.J. is a past board member of Berkshire Community Action Council and Community Health Programs. He also served on the C4 Arts Initiative. A.J. is on The Executive Committee of the Berkshire County Branch of The NAACP where he serves as the Economic Development and Justice Chair. A.J. is the founder and President of the Berkshire Black Economic Council. A.J., is now participating in the Boston Fed’s Leaders for Equitable Local Economies where he and his brother Auric, support BIPOC businesses in The City of Pittsfield by working with city and key institutions to shift approaches to small business support and purchasing.
In 2022, A.J. was awarded the Non Sibi Sed Aliis Award by The Alumni Council of The Governors Academy and he was named Berkshire 25 by Berkshire Magazine. The Healy-Driscoll Transition Policy Committee appointed A.J. to serve as a Co-Chair for The Jobs and Flourishing Economies Transition Committee for Governor Maura Healy’s administration. A.J. has since been appointed by Governor Healy to serve on The Governor’s Advisory Committee on Black Empowerment for The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
A.J. returned to his hometown to impact his community in a way that inspires young folks to return to the Berkshires to strengthen the place that raised them.
Born and raised in the Berkshires. Nyanna has been very involved in the community with her parents Manny and Vannessa Slaughter. She grew up playing sports at the local YMCA and Boy’s & Girl’s club. She was Captain of her high school varsity sports teams. She was a member of the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce Youth Leadership Program now referred to as 1Berkshire Youth Leadership Program. During her tenure at Taconic she was a part of Business Professionals of America. She was one of the first members of the Rites of Passage Empowerment Program. She graduated from the University of New Haven with a Bachelor Degree in Criminal Justice for Investigative Services with a Minor in Business Management in 2018. She was on the Basketball team for two years. Nyanna volunteered with the New Haven Reads Program to help provide literacy to elementary and middle school children. She is currently working to finish her Masters of Business Administration concentrating in Accounting from Fitchburg State University.
Nyanna worked as a camp counselor, coordinator, and co-director for the Marilyn Hamilton Sports & Literacy Program for over 7 years. She was a host at her local Applebee’s and administered drug tests and performed security work for the Berkshire Community Correction Center. She interned for the U.S. Senate her junior year of college and after graduating she joined the staff as a Staff Assistant. After six months she transitioned to the Regional Director for Western Massachusetts. She currently serves as the Regional Director for Central Massachusetts. She has been with the Senate for three years now. She is a member of the Pittsfield School Committee.
Nyanna has a heart and drive for service for her community. Nyanna is enrolled in an educational platform to bring access, exposure, and understanding to financial literacy and the foreign exchange market. She is utilizing this platform and her experiences throughout her career to enrich and empower her community.
Warren C. Dews Jr. has worked in the media industry for close to three decades. Dews has extensive knowledge in Advertising, Marketing, Sales and Operations. Dews is well regarded as a senior management professional with extensive experience in the development and leadership of core business processes; a creative problem-solver; and someone who is able to innovate strategies that increase productivity, enhance customer satisfaction, and improve cost-effectiveness. Fittingly, in 2004 Dews was named one of Press Time’s “Top 20 Under 40” by the Newspaper Association of America in the entire newspaper industry. Dews understands the importance of staying connected to his business and the community. Over the past 10 years Dews has sat on the Boards of Pittsfield Economic Revitalization Commission, Pittsfield Community TV, 1Berskhire Chamber Association, and Downtown Pittsfield Inc. He currently sits on the Boards of Berkshire United Way, Boys & Girls Club of the Berkshires, Black Economic Council and the New England Association of Circulation Executive where he was named the first African American President in 102 years of the organization. Dews is currently the Publisher of two newspapers in Greenville and Ravena NY, Real Estate Sales Executive with The Kinder Group and is also the CEO of The Country Club Cigar Lounge and Dews Management Inc./ In his role as DMI he manages the careers of many musical artist and other talents across the spectrum. One of his artists currently sings background for John Legend.
Dews graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Virginia State University (HBCU) in 1993. In 1988, he also graduated from the very famous “FAME” High School in New York City now called Fiorello H. LaGuardia HS of Music and the Performing Arts. In 1995, he was signed with Atlantic Records as a recording artist. He has worked with artist such as Jam Master Jay for the well-known Group Run DMC, Eddie F from Heavy D and the boys to name a few. He has also sung on stage with Billy Preston and Patti Labelle for a 4th of July celebration. Dews is also a Minister at Price Memorial AME Zion Church in Pittsfield MA. He is married to his wife Roberta and the couple has three children, Warren III, West and Kennedy.
Alfred Enchill “Al”, migrated to the United States from Ghana in 1988 and lived in Bridgeport, CT. He moved to Pittsfield, MA in 1991 where he has settled since and raised his four sons, A.J., Auric, Adrian, and Alec Enchill. He attended University of Ghana, Legon and also studied Business Administration at Berkshire Community College.
He is the Owner/President of Elegant Stitches Inc. an embroidery, screen printing, and promotional product company established in 1997 and located in Pittsfield, MA. He is a founding member of United Africans of the Berkshires. Al is also the president of African Catholic Community of Saint Marks in Pittsfield, MA. A member of Knights of Columbus, Al enjoys movies, documentaries and he is an avid scrabble player.
Dr. Bile Co-founded the Choices Mentoring Initiative program to help decrease risk aspects and unearth resiliency to promote the emotional welfare of youths ages 10 to 17. Dr. Emmanuel Bile is an adjunct professor of social work at Elms College, Chicopee, Massachusetts. Dr. Bile also serves as a medical social worker/clinical consultant at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany, New York, and works with the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services (DDS), Berkshire Area Office in Pittsfield. Dr. Bile has experience in leadership roles at various Human Service Organizations in Berkshire County, Massachusetts.
Dr. Bile earned an Associate of Human Services at Berkshire Community College, a Bachelor of Social Work from Elms College, a Master of Social Work from Springfield College, and a Doctor of Social Work from the School of Public Leadership at Capella University. Dr. Bile completed the Commonwealth of Massachusetts CORE Management Program in 2018 and the Berkshire Leadership Program in 2017.
Dr. Bile’s primary interest is fostering learning and collaborating with teams and community partners to provide dignified services and equal opportunity for all the individual protected categories, including age, different abilities, gender identity and sexual orientation, military personnel, national origin or ancestry, race color, or religion. Dr. Bile is a learning facilitator with excellent organizational and leadership skills, proficient in collaborating with others, a team builder, a fast learner, and committed to enhancing the well-being and dignity of all people.
Michael J. Wynn is a 1988 graduate of Taconic High School in Pittsfield and attended the U.S. Naval Academy before graduating from Williams College. He earned a master’s degree in criminal justice from Anna Maria College in Paxton in 2001.
He started his career in Pittsfield in 1993 as the first director of the Westside Neighborhood Resource Center. In 1995, Wynn joined the Pittsfield Police Department as a patrol officer. He worked his way to sergeant six years later. He was named a lieutenant in 2004 and a captain in 2007. In 2007 he was named “Acting Captain in Charge”. He held that role until January 2009 when city leaders made him “acting chief.” And then in 2017 was officially named the Chief of Police.
Chief Wynn has served as a Use of Force, Defensive Tactics and Firearms Instructor for over 20 years, and is cross-certified under a variety of certifying organizations in defensive tactics, baton, TASER, less-lethal options, and special operations tactics. Wynn, who is the author of “Rising Through the Ranks: Leadership Tools and Tactics in Law Enforcement,” has also developed numerous policies and regulations, and has overseen hundreds of Uses of Force reviews.
As an officer with PPD, Wynn created the department’s full-time Training Unit. Additionally, under his direction as an Officer and Sergeant, the department’s internal training was expanded to include all essential training topics.
In July of 2023, Mike retired from the Pittsfield Police Department to focus more attention on his growing family. In January of 2024, he returned to the workforce, after being selected by the Town of Adams as the first Executive Director of the Greylock Glen Outdoor Center and development project.
Additional highlights of Chief (ret) Wynn’s career:
Chief (ret) Wynn resides in Pittsfield with his wife, newly adopted son, and a second pre-adoptive foster child. Their family also includes their rescued pup, cat, and shared custody of PPD’s therapy dog.
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