NORTH ADAMS, Mass.— This year the MLK Jr. Day of Service Committee announced that Dr. Gina Coleman has been selected and will be honored during the luncheon with the 2025 Peacemaker Award at this month's annual Northern Berkshire MLK Jr. Day of Service, on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. 

 

The Peacemaker Award is given annually to an individual or group in Northern Berkshire. 

 

The award, which originated as part of the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, is made to persons who have contributed substantially to peace in our region. In general, the Peacemaker Award recognizes persons who have a history of working with people and/or neighborhoods and communities to provide for greater tolerance, understanding, and caring, stated a press release. 

 

Coleman is the Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging at the Brien Center, where she provides training to local organizations on addressing bias and bigotry. She serves on the boards of MCLA, BArT, and the Berkshire Music School and organizes the annual Juneteenth Celebration Concert. Coleman is also a founding member of the Williamstown Diversity, Inclusion, and Racial Equity Committee.

 

Coleman contributed her musical talents to the Black Legacy Project in 2021, a collaboration among local musicians to record songs significant to the Black community. The project is part of Music in Common, a nonprofit fostering unity and understanding through music collaboration.

 

The MLK Day of Service begins at 8:30 a.m. at MCLA's Venable Gym with check-in and registration, coffee and pastries. At 9:00 a.m. there will be a brief welcome and opening remarks before volunteers depart the center to service sites or can stay on site to work on activities at the gym. Participants will choose from local sites to provide service to the community, including: Louison House, Goodwill Industries of the Berkshires, weatherization for homes, ROOTS Teen Center, food collection sites, and meal deliveries. There will be projects suitable for all ages and abilities. 

 

Participants will return to the gym at 12:30pm to share a free luncheon and community celebration, enjoy local entertainment and hear uplifting words in the spirit of Martin Luther King, Jr. The annual Peacemaker Award will be presented during this celebration.

 

Those wishing to participate in the day of service can register the morning of the event or pre-register in one of three ways:

 

Call: 413-663-7588

 

Email:Lboland@nbccoalition.org

 

Online:https://bit.ly/2025nbMLK-service-day