Meet Our Leadership Team
Officers

Dennis Powell
President
Freedom Fund Committee co-chair
Bio
I am a community activist, the president of the Berkshire County Branch NAACP since 2015, and Chair of the Freedom Fund Committee, an Executive Committee member of the New England Area Conference (NEAC) NAACP, and I serve on its Education Committee. I am vice-chair of the Clinton Church Restoration Project. I serve on the Pittsfield Licensing Board, the Pittsfield School Committee, the Pittsfield 4 Freedom Coalition, the Greylock Community Development Advisory Board, the Railroad Street Youth Project Board (RSYP) in Great Barrington, the Steering Committee of the WEB. Du Bois Educational Series, also in Great Barrington.
I am a veteran of the United States Army, completing my tour of duty in 1966. I am a graduate of the class of 1968 from the Culinary Institute of America (CIA). And from 1972 – to 1986, I held positions of instructor and administrator at the CIA. 1987 – 1990 Chef-owner, Wendell House Bistro Pittsfield, MA; 1997 – 1999 Executive Director, Christian Center, Pittsfield, Ma.; 1990 – 2000 Chef-owner Catering By Design; 2000 – 2003 Food Service Manager BSO, Boston Ma.; 2003 – 2010 Director of Food Service/Culinary/Hospitality – Berkshire Farm Center and Services for Youth, Canaan, NY.
The Berkshire Eagle feature me in their Executive Spotlight Series in 2020. Berkshire Magazine recognized me as one of “Berkshire 25” (Most Dedicated, Most Creative, Most Influential person of 2018. In the 1990s, I received Berkshire Center for Families and Children’s – Outstanding Volunteer Award; and was named by the South Advocate as Pittsfield’s M.V.P (Most Valuable Person). 1977 I was a Culinary Team member. We won five (5) Gold Medals at an International Culinary Competition in Basel Switzerland; and received the Diploma of Honor from the Societe Culinaire Philanthropique; in 1973, received the Culinary Teachers Association – Recognition Award.
I am MAPP Certified – (Massachusetts Approach To Partnerships In Parenting)

Sabrina Allard
Vice-President
Bio
Originally from Teaneck, NJ, she spent her early childhood years in South County growing up in North Egremont, later residing in all 4 corners of CT over the span of 25 years. She returned to her Berkshire roots with her family in 2013. She is the mother of two amazing middle schoolers.
Early in her career, she worked at St. Francis Behavioral Health as a mental health worker in the adolescent and schizophrenic units, moving into social work as a family health advocate for CT’s H.U.S.K.Y insurance program. Sabrina continued her career in the insurance industry spending 8 years with Liberty Mutual in sales and sales management, managing 3 offices in Fairfield County, CT, earning multiple Pacesetter awards, the Lamplighter award, and a LUTCF designation.
In 2010, Sabrina left Liberty Mutual to start her own fashion styling business, Sabrina Allard, Inc. along with running a home-based business in renewable energy with Viridian Energy for 6 years. There she served as Chairwoman of the Associate Sustainability Council organizing local beach and park cleanups with her team along the east coast. Her work in renewable energy and sustainability allowed the opportunity to help build an international library in Ghana, Africa, and a water accessibility/solar panel project in West Java, Indonesia.
Upon moving to the Berkshires, Sabrina pivoted from the corporate/business world to continue work in social services and pursue her artistic passions. She spent her first two years back in the Berkshires getting to know the south county community as a server at a local restaurant, Prairie Whale. In 2016 Sabrina started work with Railroad Street Youth Project serving as the Mentor Coordinator. In 2017, she became the Director of Empowerment and in 2020, the Deputy Director.
In 2020, the Berkshire Eagle recognized Sabrina as one of the “next generation” change makers for International Women’s Day and she received the Berkshire Nonprofit’s Unsung Hero award. Sabrina is a committee member for the Clinton Church Restoration Project and member Pittsfield Moves, a community project through Jacob’s Pillow. You can find her being a hermit at home, where she paints, writes poetry, sings and creates improv & choreographed dance pieces.

Daryl Shreve
Membership Secretary
Bio
Daryl is a graduate of Drake University where he majored in English and Rhetoric & Communication. In 2015 he received his Master’s Degree from Boston College in Higher Education Administration.
Daryl’s hobbies include playing basketball, hiking through the Berkshires with Ashley, running, playing table tennis with neighbor dads, watching sports, trying to learn Spanish, and going to the Beacon Theater for popcorn while occasionally seeing a movie as well. However Daryl spends most of his time hanging out with his daughters eating ice cream, playing chase, and going to state capitol buildings (we’ve made it to 20 so far).

Marisa Massery
Recording Secretary
Bio

Marcus Coleman
Treasurer
Bio
Other Executive Committee Members
![Emmanuel Bile Picture[1661]](https://www.naacpberkshires.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Emmanuel-Bile-Picture1661.jpg)
Dr. Emmanuel Bile
ACTSO co-chair
Bio
Dr. Emmanuel Bile is an adjunct professor of social work at Elms College, Chicopee, Massachusetts. Dr. Bile also serves as a medical social worker/clinical consultant at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany, New York, and works with the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services (DDS), Berkshire Area Office in Pittsfield. Dr. Bile has experience in leadership roles at various Human Service Organizations in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. Dr. Bile Co-founded the Choices Mentoring Initiative program to help decrease risk aspects and unearth resiliency to promote the emotional welfare of African American youths ages 10 to 17.
Dr. Bile’s primary interest is fostering learning and collaborating with teams and community partners to provide dignified services and equal opportunity for all the individual protected categories, including age, different abilities, gender identity and sexual orientation, military personnel, national origin or ancestry, race color, or religion. Dr. Bile is a learning facilitator with excellent organizational and leadership skills, proficient in collaborating with others, a team builder, a fast learner, and committed to enhancing the well-being and dignity of all people.
Dr. Bile earned an Associates of Human Services at Berkshire Community College, a Bachelor of Social Work from Elms College, a Master of Social Work from Springfield College, and a Doctor of Social Work from the School of Public Leadership at Capella University. Dr. Bile completed the Commonwealth of Massachusetts CORE Management Program in 2018 and Berkshire Leadership Program in 2017.

Jerome Edgerton, Jr.
ACTSO co-chair
At Large Member
Bio
Jerome is not only a creative genius in the arts but he was inducted into the New England Regional Basketball Hall of Fame for his prowess and athletic abilities on the court as a high school player in August 2015. He attended Nichols and Livingstone Colleges where he played Varsity basketball. Last, but not least Jerome is a minister at New Generation Global Ministry. His passion is to share his talents, experiences and insights with youth.

Shirley Edgerton
Education Committee co-chair
At Large Member
Bio
In 2015 after 21 years of employment she retired from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services as the Director of the Berkshire Service Group. She currently serves on the 18 Degrees Human Services Agency Board, City of Pittsfield Preservation Committee, and other task forces.
Shirley is the founder of the Women of Color Giving Circle of the Berkshires and The Rites of Passage and Empowerment program. The mission of R.O.P.E. is to celebrate and honor the entry of adolescent girls into womanhood and provide them with the skills and knowledge that they need to be successful, independent, and responsible women! It is designed to help them discover their voice and support all components of personal development. Two primary projects of R.O.P.E are college tours locally, in neighboring states, and to Historical Black College and Universities. The second is international service-learning projects in South and West Africa.
Shirley Edgerton earned a M.Ed from MCLA in 2004 and has been recognized for her community work with an honorary Doctorate of Humanity from The College of Our Lady of the Elms, May 2017 and a Doctorate of Humane Letters from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, 2018.

A.J. Enchill, Jr.
Economic Development and Justice Committee chair
At Large Member
Bio
Since 2017 A.J. has performed constituent services and community outreach as the District Aide for State Senator Adam G. Hinds. He was formerly the board co-chair for Multicultural BRIDGE. He is a board member of Berkshire Community Action Council and Community Health Programs.
A.J. has returned home with the goal to impact his community in a way that inspires young folks to return to the Berkshires to strengthen the place that raised them. A.J. and his wife Grace look forward to raising their family in the Berkshires.

Linda Evans
Education Committee co-chair
Bio
KEY CONTRIBUTIONS Continually earns high marks for the quality of classroom teaching, lesson plans, and instructional materials used in teaching diverse subjects (language arts, math, science, social studies, history, life skills, and vocational skills), to a diverse population of students. Consistently commended for ability to redirect students by replacing disruptive, unproductive patterns with positive, productive behavior patterns.
EDUCATION: FITCHBURG STATE UNIVERSITY, FITCHBURG, MA —CAGS JANUARY 2014 – MAY 2016,
Interdisciplinary Studies – Special Education and Reading, 2012-2016
AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE, SPRINGFIELD, MA — M. ED JANUARY 2008 – MAY 2010
School Administration, 2010 Principal/ Assistant
Principal Certification (Grades 9-12) Administrative
Practicum, 2010- Monument Mountain High School

Antony Haynes
Legal Redress Committee co-chair
Bio
He is a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he was recognized as the top computer science graduate. He received his M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign, where his thesis focused on machine learning and expert systems. He is an entrepreneur who leverages his background in computer science, technology, business and the law to advise startup companies. In addition to advising startups, he has spent time acquiring and growing companies.

Kate Hocker
Communications, Press, and Publicity Committee co-chair
Bio
Her freelance career took root after she moved to the Berkshires with her husband, Tom, to raise their two young children. She spends her days telling stories, with beautiful typography and imagery, from her home office in Pittsfield. She works with many nonprofits in the region, including the NAACP Berkshire County Branch.

Dr. Frances Jones-Sneed
Education Committee co-chair
Bio

Helen Moon
Political Action / Housing Committee co-chair
Bio
In 2017, Moon was the first Asian American to be elected to the Pittsfield City Council. Because of her own lived experiences, she brought a unique voice to the 11-member council while approaching her role with a lens of equity, dignity, and justice.
During her tenure, Moon was honored by the Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus with a Public Service Award. She is a card-carrying union member of AFT, serves on the Board of Directors for both the Berkshire Immigrant Center and Progressive Mass, is a member of the Mass Democratic State Committee, and a member of the Berkshire Brigades. She is excited to now serve on the executive committee of the Berkshire Branch of the NAACP as the co-chair of the Political Action Committee.
Moon is passionate about electing women of color up and down the ballot, Korean food, her family – Dakota Dog, Taco Cat, and Brian Husband, and sleeping.

Caterina Penna
Freedom Fund Committee co-chair
Bio

Darcie Sosa
Communications, Press and Publicity Committee co-chair
Bio

Kamaar Taliaferro
Political Action / Housing Committee co-chair
Bio
I am a lifelong resident of Pittsfield, Ma. born and raised in subsidized housing. I graduated from Pittsfield High School in 2011 and was awarded a Christian A. Herter Memorial Scholarship, and attended Williams College from 2011 to 2014. I provided editing, analysis, and writing for the 2020 Black Economic Council’s Idea Jam Success Report. I am a co-steward of Growing Legends–a project which seeks to develop an Urban Nursery and Youth Forestry Corp in Pittsfield and to inform new ways of communal gathering and collaborating utilizing art and gardening. In 2021 and early 2022, I was a fellow lead researcher on a case study of the Westside neighborhood in Pittsfield, examining the historical record for the presence, and investigating the ongoing effects of redlining in New England’s mill towns. Currently, I chair the standing committee on Housing for the NAACP, Berkshire County Branch, and am one of a growing handful of Farmers of Color in Berkshire County. You can often find me in Pittsfield at my urban farm tending to and being tended by the earth.

Rebecca Thompson
At Large member
Website Manager
Bio
