MCLA Announces Tamar Sarai as 2024 Hardman Journalist in Residence

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass.— Writer and journalist Tamar Sarai will deliver the Hardman Journalist in Residence Lecture on Monday, April 8, at 6 p.m., in the Feigenbaum Center for Science and Innovation Atrium. 
 
The lecture is free and open to the public.
 
"Tamar Sarai represents a refreshing journalistic practice which our Beacon and Beacon Web News journalism students will find energizing and modern," said MCLA Professor Michael Birch. "Her writing will offer new topics and focus for their learning, as will her emphasis on the power and value of good writing in the service of exceptional storytelling. This will be an excellent learning opportunity for our students."
 
According to a press release, Tamar Sarai is a writer and journalist currently based in Philadelphia. She is a features writer at Prism, a non-profit media outlet that seeks to highlight the perspectives and voices of those directly impacted by some of today's most pressing issues. Tamar's work focuses on race, culture, and the criminal legal system. Both her writing for Prism and her freelance work often focus on the ways Black women and girls are impacted by policing and the prison system. Her work has been featured in outlets including Shadowproof, Capital B, and Essence. Tamar is a graduate of Wellesley College and Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism.
 
MCLA's Hardman Lecture Series presents in-depth discussions with some of the leading journalists of our time and is made possible through the Hardman Family Endowment.

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Mass MoCA Commission Approves Mental Health Practices as Tenants

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Mass MoCA Commission on Thursday approved three new tenants for Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art. 
 
Kimma Stark, project manager at the museum, gave the commission the rundown on each of the new tenants. 
 
Eric Beeman is a licensed mental health counselor who uses art in his therapy. He holds a master's degree in expressive arts and arts therapy from Lesley University, where he's also taught graduate-level practices and principles of expressive art therapy.
 
He integrates creative arts based interventions into his clinical work including drawing painting, poetry, writing, brief drama and roleplay, movement and sound. Beeman works one-on-one and with small groups and said he mostly works with adults. 
 
He will be operating as Berkshires Expressive Arts Therapy on the third floor of Building 1. 
 
Beeman said Stark has been very helpful. "It's different than just renting a space and she's been very helpful and personable and accessible," he said. 
 
Mary Wilkes, a licensed clinical social worker and therapist, works with individuals with severe mental illness, with attachment and relationship issues and needing support navigating major life transitions. She works with teenagers, college and students and adults. 
 
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