community engagement – Page 9 – Berkshire Bridges

BERKSHIRE CONSUMER SERVICES OFFICE, In Cooperation with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office

Will Offer a FREE Presentation On A Variety of CONSUMER ISSUES
Presented by Kate Alexander, Consumer Counselor/Mediator at

The Christian Center in Pittsfield
193 Robbins Avenue, Pittsfield, MA
Thursday, July 21, 2016
Beginning at 11:45 am

Did You Know: Used Car Purchases/Auto Repair is the #1 Complaint in Berkshire County? Sampling of Topics That May Be Discussed:

What are your rights when you buy something at a store?
What should you look for BEFORE you sign ANYTHING?
What homework should you do before car shopping, Used OR New?
How to order your FREE annual credit report.
What are your rights and responsibilities as a Tenant? As a Landlord?
How to spot a telephone SCAM.
How to reduce telemarketing calls.
Why you should NEVER wire money!!
What Identity Theft is and how to reduce the risk of becoming a victim.
What a Payday Loan is and whether it’s a good idea for you.

Questions and Answers(we hope!)

Over 100 of you (not counting the dozens of kids) joined us in Durant Park under the beautiful Eastern Cottonwood tree to celebrate the Working Cities Pittsfield initiative! We each believe that all people in Pittsfield can experience a safe, thriving, and just community. This is a WE movement, and only together can we move forward and make this work possible.

Earlier this month we learned that Pittsfield is selected for the Boston Federal Reserve’s Working Cities Challenge, a multi-year collaboration to increase opportunities for low-income residents. Habitat executive director Carolyn Valli explained what’s coming next with Working Cities: we are seeking a hiring committee for the Initiative Director; the budget and work plan are under final review; and we are signing up anyone who is interested in taking the Getting Ahead program to be a paid Community Navigator. We will post our theory of change charts and sign ups on this website soon.

We are so thankful for Vivaldis pizzeria for catering this event and Heart2heart Ministry for bringing salads and Pastor Keith Evans for leading the blessing. Thank you to the staff, volunteers, and coalition partners that made this amazing celebration and showing of community possible!

To learn more on how to join the Working Cities movement, visit this page to contact us. Please enjoy the photos below, and click here or the facebook post below to view more.