CULTURE HUB

Jacob’s Pillow is a National Historic Landmark, recipient of the National Medal of Arts, and home to America's longest-running international dance festival, currently in the midst of its transition to becoming a year-round center for dance. Each Festival includes more than 50 national and international dance companies and over 500 free and ticketed performances, talks, tours, classes, exhibits, events, and community programs.

ARTIST

Dante Brown is a dancer, choreographer, teacher, and the founder of Warehouse Dance collaborative, which focuses on highly physical movement, an intellectual commitment to exploring social justice, and a deep-rooted dedication to cultivating community. He trained at Wesleyan University and The Ohio State University and has worked with artists such as Esther Baker-Tarpaga, Christal Brown, David Dorfman, Nicole Stanton, Noa Zuk, and at the Dance Exchange.

SOCIAL IMPACT INITIATIVE

Roots Rising is a woman-led nonprofit whose mission is to empower youth and build community through food and farming. Roots Rising’s vision is to lift up teenagers as community changemakers and strengthen the local food system through the transformational power of meaningful work. The organization has two main initiatives: The Pittsfield Farmers Market, the first teen-run market in the region, and Youth Crews, which focuses on hiring teens to work on farms, in food pantries, and at the market.