Get to Know us
About Us
Your Community Nonprofit: Berkshire South
Berkshire South Regional Community Center is a nonprofit organization serving residents of the Southern Berkshires and neighboring communities in Massachusetts, New York, and Connecticut. Through fitness, aquatics, youth programs, arts and culture, education, community events, and financial assistant opportunities, we bring people together and strengthen our region through connection, wellness, and lifelong learning.
Our Mission
Our mission is to build a sense of community and common purpose throughout the region, and to enhance the recreational, educational, cultural, health and social well-being of the residents of the Southern Berkshires. Berkshire South is a non-sectarian, nonprofit organization open to all, regardless of ability to pay.
Every day, Berkshire South provides opportunities for people of all ages to connect, learn, grow, and thrive. From a child discovering confidence in swim lessons, to an older adult building friendships in a water therapy class, to families at a Community Supper, we create meaningful experiences that strengthen communities and enrich lives.
Come be a part of our community. You belong here.
Community & Inclusivity
Berkshire South is more than a building, it is a community built on the strength of our diversity, the passion of our members, and the relationships we create together. We welcome people of all backgrounds, lived experiences, races, ethnicities, religions, national origins, gender identities, ages, sexual orientations, education levels, and abilities. We celebrate the diversity of the Southern Berkshires and are committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable environment where employees, volunteers, members, and guests feel valued, respected, and empowered to full participate.
We believe that diverse perspectives, experiences, and ideas strengthen our community and help it grow and thrive. Berkshire South strives to be a place where individuals and families connect with opportunities, resources, wellness programs, educational experiences, and one another.
Since opening in 2002, Berkshire South has served thousands of children, adults, older adults, and families through health, wellness, and education programs and initiatives. As a nonprofit organization, we are committed to ensuring that everyone can participate, regardless of financial circumstances. Through hundreds of thousands of dollars in financial assistance for memberships and programs, Berkshire South continues to remove barriers and expand access to recreation, education, health, and community connection.
How we started
In 1996, Ed Jaffe brought together a group of community leaders to address a growing concern: many residents in the area lacked access to affordable recreational, cultural, educational, and social opportunities. Their vision was to create a community center that would offer high-quality, affordable programs for people of all ages and abilities, regardless of financial circumstances. That vision became Berkshire South Regional Community Center.
In 1997, the Berkshire United Way and Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation release the Lodestar I Report, identifying the region’s most pressing community needs. In South County, the lack of recreational facilities and programs emerged as a top concern. At the same time, local volunteers interviewed more than 100 leaders from nonprofit organizations, businesses, government agencies, and schools. Their findings revealed significant gaps in services for youth, older adults, and families. Berkshire South was created to help fill those gaps.
The Community Center opened its doors in July 2002 and has since become a vital gathering place for residents throughout the Southern Berkshires and neighboring communities. More than two decades later, Berkshire South remains dedicated to its founding vision: creating a welcoming, accessible community center where everyone belongs and everyone has the opportunity to participate, connect, and thrive.