Thinking Like A Region

Episode 14: Beryl Jolly - The Trustees of Reservations

by Johan Serrano

MCLA student Johan Serrano returns to host the final episode of the season! In this episode of Thinking Like a Region, Serrano interviews Beryl Jolly, arts manager, community engagement professional, former executive director, fundraiser, and currently working as the Vice President of Cultural Properties at The Trustees of Reservations: a land conservation and historic preservation organization dedicated to preserving natural and historical places in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Jolly describes her pathway to this position and the skills her early creative experiences gave her that she puts to use every day.

This episode focuses on the creative capacities of communicating, adapting to different settings, attention to detail, and exploring what constitutes high-quality artworks.

You can find the transcript for this episode here:https://tinyurl.com/TLAR-BRJ

Thinking Like A Region is a production of the C4 Initiative, Berkshire County’s Creative Compact for Collaborative and Collective Impact, based at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, MA, and grant-funded by the National Endowment for the Arts. This podcast is produced by Lisa Donovan and Leslie Appleget.

For more information about the show or the C4 Initiative, visit brainworks.mcla.edu/c4.

THIS EPISODE’S VOICES:

Beryl Jolly is the Vice President of Cultural Properties at The Trustees. Beryl joined The Trustees in June of 2020. Prior to joining The Trustees, Beryl was the Executive Director at Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center where she worked for 15 years. 

Johan Serrano is an arts management student at MCLA.

Episode 13: Leslie Appleget - C4 Initiative

by Skylah Zayas

This episode was recorded in the spring of 2022. Some information may be dated.

Episode host Skylah Zayas is a sophomore at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. In this episode of Thinking Like a Region, Zayas interviews Leslie Appleget, District Arts Integration Specialist for North Adams Public Schools, the former project coordinator of BRAINworks and the C4 Initiative, and the producer of this podcast. The two discuss Appleget’s arts-based education and how it led to the creation of Thinking Like A Region and the initiative as a whole. Along with this, Appleget tells how her experiences with the arts, such as dance, have taught her project management and collaboration skills.

This episode focuses on the creative capacities of verbal and nonverbal communication, time management, collaboration, and awareness of both self and others. Listen in to hear Appleget’s passion for arts education.

You can find the transcript for this episode here: https://tinyurl.com/TLAR-LAA

Thinking Like A Region is a production of the C4 Initiative, Berkshire County’s Creative Compact for Collaborative and Collective Impact, based at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, MA, and grant-funded by the National Endowment for the Arts. This podcast is produced by Lisa Donovan and Leslie Appleget. Additional technical podcast support by Audrey Perdue.

For more information about the show or the C4 Initiative, visit brainworks.mcla.edu/c4.

THIS EPISODE’S VOICES:

Leslie Appleget is the former project coordinator for both the Berkshire Regional Arts Integration Network (BRAINworks) as well as the C4 Initiative, and the producer of this podcast. Her current role as the District Arts Integration Specialist at North Adams Public Schools allows her to continue to drive the goals of the Berkshire Blueprint for Arts Integration and Arts Education forward in the region. Leslie holds an MA in Arts Management from Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, and a BA in Communications & Government from American University. Leslie is the daughter of a public school educator of 40 years and the direct result of a vibrant arts education program.

Skylah Zayas is a student at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts currently pursuing art and elementary education.

Episode 12: Emily Schiavoni - North Adams Public Schools

by Mackenzie Liddle & Michael Brassard

NOTE: This episode was recorded in Spring 2021, so some information may be dated.

Today’s episode is hosted by Mackenzie Liddle, a senior and arts management major at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, and Michael Brassard, a senior at BART Charter. In this episode of Thinking Like a Region, Liddle and Brassard interview Emily Schiavoni, the Community and Family Engagement Coordinator at North Adams Public Schools. The three discuss how Schiavoni’s art degree led her to her career in education.

This episode focuses on the creative capacities of communication, presentation skills, collaboration and perseverance.

You can find the transcript for this episode here: https://tinyurl.com/ES-TLAR

Thinking Like A Region is a production of the C4 Initiative, Berkshire County’s Creative Compact for Collaborative and Collective Impact, based at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, MA, and grant-funded by the National Endowment for the Arts. This podcast is produced by Lisa Donovan and Leslie Appleget. Additional technical podcast support by Audrey Perdue.

For more information about the show or the C4 Initiative, visit brainworks.mcla.edu/c4.

THIS EPISODE’S VOICES:

Emily Schiavoni is the Community and Family Engagement Coordinator at North Adams Public Schools in North Adams, MA. Schiavoni received her B.A. in Studio Art at Keene State College and her Master of Education at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.

Mackenzie Liddle is a graduate of the arts management major at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.

Michael “Mikey” Brassard is a graduate of BART Charter Public School.

Episode 9: Quray Clarke - MCLA Student

by Jolyne Allegro

Episode host Jolyne Allegro is a senior at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. In this episode of Thinking Like a Region, Allegro interviews Quray Clarke, a visual artist and photographer from Queens, New York with a specialty in creative portraiture. Clarke is also a student at MCLA, providing listeners with an inside look into how MCLA’s art programs translate into real-world careers in the arts.

This episode focuses on the creative capacities of changing the ways we act, self-expression, community building, human connection, and building confidence.

For a look into Clarke’s work, visit his portfolio at https://okayarchive.com/

You can find the transcript for this episode here: https://tinyurl.com/QC-TLAR

Thinking Like A Region is a production of the C4 Initiative, Berkshire County’s Creative Compact for Collaborative and Collective Impact, based at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, MA, and grant-funded by the National Endowment for the Arts. This podcast is produced by Lisa Donovan and Leslie Appleget. Additional technical support by Audrey Perdue.

For more information about the show or the C4 Initiative, visit brainworks.mcla.edu/c4.

THIS EPISODE’S VOICES:

Quray Clarke is a visual artist and activist from Queens, New York with a concentration in creative portrait photography. Clarke is also a student at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.

Jolyne Allegro is a transgender senior at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, studying theater and anthropology. Jo has been an active member of the arts community throughout high school and college. Her experiences in the art community have given her a unique perspective on the way that art affects people, both the creation of art, as well as the ways that taking in works of art can affect the soul.

Episode 9: Erica Barreto - MCLA Institute for Arts and Humanities

by Alana O’Connor

Today’s episode is hosted by Alana O’Connor, a senior at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. In this episode of Thinking Like a Region, O’Connor interviews Erica Barreto, a 2018 graduate of MCLA now working as the MCLA Institute for the Arts and Humanities (MCLA-IAH) Coordinator. O’Connor and Barreto discuss the role of arts in the Berkshires, along with talks about her previous work as well as her working at MCLA, and what being a collaborator of IAH entails.

This episode focuses on the creative capacities of communication, translation of experiences, project management, and the ability to approach difficult conversations.

You can find the transcript for this episode here: https://tinyurl.com/EB-TLAR 

Thinking Like A Region is a production of the C4 Initiative, Berkshire County’s Creative Compact for Collaborative and Collective Impact, based at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, MA, and grant-funded by the National Endowment for the Arts. This podcast is produced by Lisa Donovan and Leslie Appleget.

For more information about the show or the C4 Initiative, visit brainworks.mcla.edu/c4.

THIS EPISODE’S VOICES:

Erica Barreto is the former Coordinator of the MCLA Institute of Arts and Humanities. Barreto graduated from MCLA in 2018 with a degree in English/Communications with a Creative Writing concentration and Arts Management. She sits on the boards of WAM Theatre and BRIDGE, and is currently the Executive Assistant to the President of the Berkshire Black Economic Council.

Alana O’Connor is a senior at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.

Episode 7: Pamela Tatge - Jacob’s Pillow

by Emi Bailey

Today’s episode is hosted by Emi Bailey, a freshman at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. In this episode of Thinking Like a Region, Bailey interviews Pamela Tatge, Executive & Artistic Director of Jacob’s Pillow, an international dance festival, professional school, and dance archive in Becket, MA. Tatge and Bailey discuss the Pillow’s work, Tatge’s history in dance, the importance of inclusion in the art world, and more.

This episode focuses on the creative capacities of improvisation, partnership and discipline. Listen in to learn more about one of the most famous dance centers in the region.

You can find the transcript for this episode here: https://tinyurl.com/PT-TLAR

Thinking Like A Region is a production of the C4 Initiative, Berkshire County’s Creative Compact for Collaborative and Collective Impact, based at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, MA, and grant-funded by the National Endowment for the Arts. This podcast is produced by Lisa Donovan and Leslie Appleget. Additional technical podcast support by Audrey Perdue.

For more information about the show or the C4 Initiative, visit brainworks.mcla.edu/c4.

THIS EPISODE’S VOICES:

Pamela Tatge is the Executive & Artistic Director at Jacob’s Pillow in Becket, MA. Tatge previously served as the Director of the Center for the Arts at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT. She was named one of “The Most Influential People in Dance Today” by Dance Magazine in 2017 and is the recipient of the Association of Performing Arts Presenters’ 2010 William Dawson Award for Programmatic Excellence and Sustained Achievement in Programming. Tatge holds a B.A. in History and an M.A.L.S. from Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut.

Emi Bailey is a student at Massachusetts College of Liberal arts. She is a dancer who is passionate about accessibility.

Episode 7: Craig Langlois - Berkshire Museum

by Johan Serrano

Episode host Johan Serrano at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts returns to host another episode of Thinking Like a Region. Serrano interviews Craig Langlois, the Chief Experience Officer at Berkshire Museum. The two discuss Langlois’ formal art training, his work in ceramics, and his philosophy around making art and accessing individual creativity.

This episode focuses on the creative capacities of perseverance, self-discovery, designing experiences to get to spark curiosity, and finding creative solutions to creative problems. Listen in to hear Langlois’ perspective on the concepts of permanence and growth in his own artwork.

You can find the transcript for this episode here: https://tinyurl.com/CLBM-TLAR

Thinking Like A Region is a production of the C4 Initiative, Berkshire County’s Creative Compact for Collaborative and Collective Impact, based at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, MA, and grant-funded by the National Endowment for the Arts. This podcast is produced by Lisa Donovan and Leslie Appleget, with additional technical podcast support from Audrey Perdue.

For more information about the show or the C4 Initiative, visit brainworks.mcla.edu/c4.

THIS EPISODE’S VOICES:

CRAIG LANGLOIS has devoted his professional life to developing innovative educational experiences in the arts as a teacher and a curator. As the museum’s Chief Experience Officer and during nearly a decade of service to the museum in other roles, Craig, who holds a Master of Fine Arts degree, has created and implemented a wide variety of programs and exhibitions at the Berkshire Museum. A member of the museum’s senior leadership team, Craig has been and continues to contribute to setting the museum’s New Vision. Craig is active as a community leader as well, working with local nonprofit organizations and schools to strengthen education and expand learning in the region.

JOHAN SERRANO is a senior and arts management major at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.

Episode 6: Tom Bernard - Berkshire United Way

Today’s episode is hosted by Leslie Appleget, District Arts Integration Specialist at North Adams Public Schools and former C4 Coordinator at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. In this episode of Thinking Like a Region, Appleget interviews Tom Bernard, President and CEO of Berkshire United Way, and the former mayor of North Adams, MA. The two discuss the goals of the nonprofit, the role of arts education in the nonprofit world, and the countless ways that engagement with art builds confidence.

This episode focuses on expression, communication, confidence, and presence. Listen in to hear more of Bernard’s passion for serving the region.

You can find the transcript for this episode here: https://tinyurl.com/TLAR-TWB

Thinking Like A Region is a production of the C4 Initiative, Berkshire County’s Creative Compact for Collaborative and Collective Impact, based at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, MA, and grant-funded by the National Endowment for the Arts. This podcast is produced by Lisa Donovan and Leslie Appleget. Additional technical podcast support by Audrey Perdue.

For more information about the show or the C4 Initiative, visit brainworks.mcla.edu/c4.

THIS EPISODE’S VOICES:

Tom Bernard is the President and CEO of the nonprofit Berkshire United Way. Previously, he served as Mayor of North Adams, MA from January 2018 to January 2022, and worked in various positions at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts for 8 years. Bernard received his B.A. in History & Religion from Williams College and his Masters of Public Administration from Westfield State University.

Leslie Appleget (she/her) is a researcher and arts manager who has worked with arts and cultural organizations in both the U.S. and the U.K. for a decade.  As the District Arts Integration Specialist at North Adams Public Schools and manager of the Berkshire Cultural Asset Network, Leslie is driving change region-wide in arts education through collective impact in Berkshire County. Leslie holds an MA in Arts Management from Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, and a BA in Government from American University. She produces this podcast, Thinking Like A Region, as part of the C4 Initiative, which she leads with Dr. Lisa Donovan. A former dancer, Leslie is the daughter of a public school educator and the direct result of a vibrant arts education program.

Episode 5: Ben Lamb - 1Berkshire

by Lisa Donovan

Today’s episode is hosted by Lisa Donovan, Ph.D., a professor in the Fine & Performing Arts Department at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. In this episode of Thinking Like a Region, Donovan interviews Ben Lamb, Director of Economic Development at 1Berkshire. Donovan and Lamb discuss the role of the arts in economic development, Lamb’s history as a student at MCLA, and projects he has been a part of across Berkshire County.

Lamb shares his insights on the importance of exposing our youth to the arts, the skills employers are looking for, and how the arts can develop these skills and capacities including community engagement and working collaboratively.  Listen in to hear how Lamb works to serve the arts programs across the region.

You can find the transcript for this episode here: https://tinyurl.com/benTLAR

Thinking Like A Region is a production of the C4 Initiative, Berkshire County’s Creative Compact for Collaborative and Collective Impact, based at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, MA, and grant-funded by the National Endowment for the Arts. This podcast is produced by Lisa Donovan and Leslie Appleget. Additional technical support by Audrey Perdue.

For more information about the show or the C4 Initiative, visit brainworks.mcla.edu/c4.

THIS EPISODE’S VOICES:

Ben Lamb is the Director of Economic Development at 1Berkshire. Lamb’s work focuses on what he calls ‘wraparound economic development,’ which creates connective tissue between traditional and non-traditional participants in the region’s economic ecosystem — most notably through his development and launch of the Berkshire Blueprint 2.0, an economic-development imperative for the region’s next decade.

Lisa Donovan, Ph.D. is a Professor in the Fine and Performing Arts Department at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. Previously, she served as Lesley University’s Director of the Creative Arts in the Learning Division. Dr. Donovan has published widely and presented across the country and internationally on arts integration, rural arts education, and arts integration assessment. She is co-director of BRAINworks and the Director of the Institute for the Arts and Humanities. She is the 2021 Recipient of the Massachusetts Arts|Learning Irene Buck Service to Arts Education Award.