Blog/News

2024 Annual Meeting & October Events!

Buy Tickets Join us in a celebration of our achievements, electing new board members, sharing personal stories of resiliency, and networking with others.    Tickets are $45 and include a buffet lunch. RSVP by October 15th.  Receive a copy of our 2024 Impact Report at the event and experience the impact of 18 Degrees. We hope …

September 2024 Highlights from 18 Degrees

  Taking a Stand For Teachers and Our Children Danielle Butler, Assistant Director of Child Care Services on our Early Education & Care (EEC) team has been a dedicated advocate for teachers, affordable childcare, and investment in early education programs.   In partnership with Berkshire United Way (BUW), Danielle has been participating in collaborative community …

August 2024 Highlights from 18 Degrees

August 2024 Newsletter Creating a Brighter Day for Immigrant Families 18 Degrees Family Resource Center staff and volunteers who went above and beyond! When immigrants from Haiti arrived in Pittsfield last fall, 18 Degrees Family Resource Center staff and volunteers (including Alexia, Maria, Joachim, and Makhete) and other local service providers stepped in to help. …

July 2024 Highlights from 18 Degrees

  Pride in Everything We Do During Pride Month in June and every day, 18 Degrees stands by the LGBTQIA+ community and allies. Our Family Resource Center provides essential education, advocacy, and safe spaces for individuals and the broader community. And, our programming fosters a sense of belonging, strengthens connections, enhances safety, and cultivates youth …

Kids 4 Harmony July News

  2024 K4H Gala Recording Now Available! Maybe you missed it, or maybe you want to see it again! See below for details. Enjoy the recording of this year’s performance in Ozawa Hall at Tanglewood, and other Kids 4 Harmony Gala-related videos, photos, and information on our event page! Thank you again to our generous …

Kids 4 Harmony to Receive $10,000 Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts  

Pittsfield Casual Concert Tuesday, June 4th at 5:30 pm Zion Lutheran Church 74 First Street, Pittsfield Pittsfield, MA—Kids 4 Harmony, a program of 18 Degrees, is pleased to announce it has been approved by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for a Challenge America award of $10,000. This grant will support the program’s free …

April 2024 Highlights from 18 Degrees

Are You Enjoying This Newsletter?Our monthly newsletter provides a closer look at the impact that you–our volunteers, supporters, and community members–have on bringing new beginnings to light. Please let us know how we are doing by taking the brief 5-question survey below. All responses are anonymous. Thank you! Take The Survey   April is National …

March 2024 Highlights from 18 Degrees

 A New Day for Families and Children Our Intersection with the MA Dept. of Children and Families 18 Degrees' Family Networks teams are housed in the offices of the MA Department of Children and Families (DCF). They provide an access-hub of services providing stabilization support and advocacy.   The work and pace are demanding, yet …

Kids 4 Harmony Spring 2024 Concert Schedule

Upcoming Performances CIAO! with Kids 4 Harmony Monday, May 20 at 7:00 pm St. John's Episcopal Church 35 Park St, Williamstown Once again, our friends from CIAO! have invited Kids 4 Harmony to share the stage with them at this annual concert. K4H musicians include students from both Pittsfield and North Adams. Kids 4 Harmony …

January 2024 Highlights from 18 Degrees

Happy New Year From 18 Degrees!  Anniversary Reflection from our President Thanks to my long history with 18 Degrees, I have a familiarity with the challenges our communities in Berkshire County and the Pioneer Valley face, as well as their potential. During my first year as President & CEO, I’ve gained a new perspective highlighting …

December Highlights from 18 Degrees

Monthly News Highlights Introducing Our New Board Chair Sheila Heffernon's relationship with 18 Degrees began five years ago when she attended a Kids 4 Harmony Gala. It was clear to her that 18 Degrees is an agency that truly makes a difference in the lives of the people it serves.   Shortly thereafter, Sheila joined the board …

18 Degrees Community Cookbook

Click below to view recipes submitted by 18 Degrees staff and families for our Community Cookbook.

November Highlights from 18 Degrees

Monthly News Highlights 18 Degrees Permanency Services Federal data documents roughly 400,000 children in foster care in the US and 113,000 waiting to be adopted. 18 Degrees is the only state-contracted adoption management service in Western MA guiding foster children and families toward permanent placement. In the last 6 months, we've helped facilitate 7 adoptions.  Darien and …

October Highlights From 18 Degrees

Recognized for our ImpactExperts in our Field 18 Degrees was honored with a Peer Provider Award from the Provider's Council. President & CEO Stephanie Steed proudly accepted the award at the ceremony.  Founded in 1975, the Providers’ Council is the largest human services trade association. The Peer Provider Award is presented by the Council to agencies …

September Highlights From 18 Degrees

Summer Wrap-Up & Back-to-SchoolHighlights of our Early Education and Care Programming Our early education staff and teachers are committed to providing a fun, creative, and nurturing atmosphere, helping young children grow and thrive. We offer two childcare locations in Pittsfield with a social-emotional learning curriculum from infancy until Kindergarten.   Out-of-school care Kid's Clubs are …